SELF-DISCIPLINE
1
Cor. 9:24-ff Paul was in a race for life.
The
finish-line was ahead of him. But
winning requires self-discipline.
Our
race begins when we are raised from the waters of baptism. At
that point we are "babes in Christ." From there we must
grow.
This
growth requires mental
exercise:
Heb.
5:12-14 "For
though by this time you ought to
be teachers, you need
someone to
teach you again the first principles of
the
oracles of God; and you have
come to need milk and not
solid food.
(13) For everyone who partakes only
of milk
is unskilled in the word of
righteousness, for
he is a babe.
(14)
But solid food belongs to those who
are of full age,
that is, those who
by
reason of use
have their senses
exercised
to discern both good and
evil."
1
Tim. 4:7-8 "...exercise
yourself toward godliness.
(8) For bodily exercise profits a little,
but godliness is
profitable for all things,
having promise of the life that
now is
and of that which
is to come."
Notice
the race
involved from where we are
to that which
is to come
Bodily
exercise involves the resistance
of the muscles
against an opposing force (weights)
Spiritual
exercise involves the resistance
of our will
against the opposing force of fleshly
lusts
or Satan's temptations.
This
is how a runner trains for a race - he runs with weights on his
ankles
-
until it's time for the race:
Heb.
12:1 "Therefore
we also, since we are
surrounded by so great a cloud of
witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which so easily ensnares us,
and let us run
with endurance
the race
that
is set before us,
(2)
looking unto
Jesus,
the author and finisher of our
faith, who for he joy that
was set before
Him endured
the cross, despising the
shame, and has sat down at the
right
hand of the throne of God."
Notice
that both the exercise & the race involves focusing
on the finish-line In
this we have Christ as our example.
Self-discipline
involves resisting
that
which
works against us - Satan
1
Pet. 5:8-10 "Be
sober, be vigilant; because your
adversary the devil walks
about like a
roaring lion, seeking whom he may
devour. (9)
Resist
him, steadfast in the
faith, knowing that the same
sufferings
are experienced by your brotherhood
in the
world. (10) But may the God of
all grace, who called us to
his eternal
glory by Christ Jesus, after
you have
suffered a while,
perfect, establish,
strengthen,
and settle you."
"Resist"
- anthistemi
- "To set against
(anti
- against; histemi
- to cause to stand) ...signifying to withstand, oppose,
resist.
Self-discipline
as illustrated in the exercise of a wrestling match:
Eph.
6:10-13 "Finally,
my brethren, be
strong in
the
Lord
and in
the power of His
might.
(11) Put on the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to
stand
against
the wiles of the devil. (12) For we do
not wrestle against
flesh and blood,
but against
principalities, against
powers, against
the rulers of the
darkness of this age, against
spiritual
hosts of wickedness in the heavenly
places. (13)
Therefore take up the
whole armor of God, that you may be
able to withstand
in the evil day, and
having done
all, to stand."
Notice
the resistance
against
the opposing forces.
"Withstand"
- anthistemi
-
Same
word Peter used for "resist
"
"Stand"
- histemi
- "To stand or cause to stand." As used here, "of
steadfastness."
Archimedes
-
Greek
mathematician & physicist (287 -212 BC) Discovered
the principle of specific gravity and the power of leverage
in the
fulcrum
and lever.
(Today's seesaw)
He
said, "Give
me a place to stand and I will move the world."
With
a stable foundation upon which to stand - we can resist
any opposing force and move more than we
can otherwise lift by ourself.
That
place is the gospel of Christ.
Rom.
1:16 "For
I am not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ, for it is the power of
God to
salvation for everyone who believes, for
the Jew
first and also for the Greek."
Note
- By
moving the lever across the fulcrum toward
us, we can either gain advantage over the resistance that
weighs down the opposing end, or we can multiply
the amount of our effort needed by moving the lever across the
fulcrum away
from us.
Christ
(our
fulcrum)
gives us the power
(the extended lever)
to overcome.
Phil.
4:13 "I
can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me."
Our
race involves resistance,
focus
and endurance.
The goal is a crown of
righteousness and an eternal home in heaven.
1
Tim. 4:7-8 "I
have fought the good fight, I have
finished the race, I have kept the
faith.
(8) Finally, there is laid up for me the
crown of
righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous Judge, will
give to
me on that Day, and not to me only
but also to all
who have loved His
appearing."
INVITATION
Denying self:
Mk.
10:13-22 The rich young ruler would not
deny himself his riches to
follow
Jesus.
Mk.
8:34-ff (34)"...Whoever
desires to come after
Me, let him deny himself, and
take
up his cross, and follow Me."