Keys to Winning the Race of Faith: Discipline and Diligence

Hebrews 12:1-6 >>
God’s Discipline Proves His Love

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,

“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t give up when he corrects you.
6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

–

1. I need to strip off all the burdens and sin min my life because it slows us down in this race!
2. In order to win the race before us, I need to get rid of any sin that trips me up, run with ENDURANCE knowing that this is a long race, and keep my eyes on Jesus. And also know that at the end it will be worth it.
3. I want to make a new commitment to refocus on Christ again and put away any shame and pride if I need help.

Self-Control

Titus 1:4-9
4To Titus, my true son in our common faith:
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
5The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. 6An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

–

1. As a follower of Christ, characteristics I need are: blamelessness, monogomous, have believing children who aren’t wild and disobedient, not overbearing, patient, not given to drunkeness, not violent or greedy or dishonest, but having self-control, uprightness, holiness and discipline and hold firm to truth of GOd’s Word and able to encourage others with sound doctrine and oppose those who refute it.
2. Some of the ones I can improve are having more discipline for my mind, body and spirit and not being lead by emotions or what “feels” right but knowing what God’s will is and following it. This way I can also stand against temptation because I’ll be led by the SPirit and not by my carnal desires. I want to develop good habits that are good, pure, full of obedience, truth, and all things spiritual. “IN ORDER TO GAIN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE, GIVE FULL CONTROL TO CHRIST.”

Attain Life’s Goals Through Discipline

1 Timothy 6:12,
12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

1 Cor 9:24-27
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

—
1. To win the race of faith in life, I need to have discipline and make my body my slave so “after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize (v.26-27).”

2. Areas in my life which still needs more discipline and self-control is bedtime, organization, cleanliness and planning.

Attain Life’s Goals Through Discipline

1 Timothy 6:12 >>

Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 >>

24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

—

1. In order to win the race of faith in this life, I need to “run with purpose in every step,” and “discipline my body [verse 26-27].”
2. Some areas in my life that still needs discipline and self control is my sleep schedule and being on time…and not spreading myself too thin.

Have Discipline

Hebrews 12:7-13 >>

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?

8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.

9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!

10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.

11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.

13 “Make level paths for your feet,”so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

—

1.   When the Lord disciplines us using our situation, parents, spiritual leaders, etc., it means He loves us as His children. He wants to mold us to become better people. There are many benefits of being disciplined, like we can be more focused, productive and not get sidetracked or easily swayed to do stupid things.

2.   Some parts of my life that need to be disciplined and/or put back into order is maintaining a clean room and car, as well as spending more alone time with God, and also practicing self-control.

3.  Each time I am being disciplined by the Lord or when I am disciplining myself, I must be remember that although no discipline feels good during the time and may be painful, it will later on produce a “harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it [verses 11-13],” so I should not be bitter or angry, but rather give thanks.

[T] – TAKE ACTION / APPLY: Today I will give thanks for all things, even for the problems that I may face and restrain myself from cursing and/or saying any negative words.

PLANS TO HAVE A VICTORIOUS LIFE

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

24Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours.  25Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither. 26Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary.  27But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit].

1 Corinthians 10:12 >> 12
12Even if you think you can stand up to temptation, be careful not to fall.

[C] – CONTEMPLATE/MEDITATE ON:

1. Why do I need to make a strategy, prepare and plan to have victory over tests and temptations from the media, from the environment and bad associations (negative friends) all around me? I need to make a strategy, prepare and plan to have victory over tests and temptations because I want to win the prize. I don’t want the circumstances to have control over me or dictate my life. Rather, I need to be wise and seek God’s direction and actively pursue victory. This will also help us defeat the devil because we’re prepared!
2. How is the Apostle Paul’s plan/strategy in today’s reading in winning the race of faith in his life? The Apostle Paul’s plan in winning the race of faith is to not just run aimlessly, but to have an aim and to discipline ourselves so that we do not become unfit or counted as a counterfit by God and man.
3. Take time to meditate on recent failures that happened in your life. Analyze the cause and make plans/strategy with the Lord to overcome them in the near future.

Discipline and Rebuke: parts of character of molding (2)

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Hebrews 12:11-17, 25
11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

12Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13″Make level paths for your feet,”[a] so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

Warning Against Refusing God
14Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.

25See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?

1. In order for discipline and rebuke to produce fruits of rightousness, we need to strengthen ourselves and endure it. We need to make our paths level. We shouldn’t complain but know that we are going to get through this process–God will never leave nor forsake us. It also helps to know that at the end we will grow through this process and we will reap a “harvest of rightousness and peace.”
2. My response towards crisis/problem these days is that I want to make everyone happy if possible, but I know all I can do is just to do what I know is right and pray and pray and pray…and leave the rest up to God. I believe He will always give me the best. And I pray that He also gives everyone else involved in this the best. Amen!

Discipline and Rebuke

Hebrews 12:3-10

3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”^[a]

7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.

1. According to God’s Word, in responding to crisis that comes up in life, I must remember that to not make light of God’s discipline and not to get discouraged.

2. It’s because God loves us and is only treating us like His children that He disciplines so we can “share in His holiness.” So we should rejoice and persevere with the knowledge that He is molding us to be better and more like Him, and to rely on Him.

3. YES…I’ve experienced His correction, warning, discipline, like when in 10th grade in high school, I used to do my homework right before I had to turn it in, like during class. One time I couldn’t answer the questions (I couldn’t do it off the top of my head and should needed time to really think about how to do the problems X_____X). Thank God I did not cheat. Instead, I faced reality and got in trouble with the teacher. I told him I needed help, which he provided for me after class, along with a dose of reality (aka a lecture kind of, but now that I think back on it, I needed it), and told me that I can’t do this any longer and must take assignments seriously because if I want to be a good student, then I need to take assignments seriously.

2.