FCA: Seize Discipline

Today, I want to plead with you guys to SEIZE DISCIPLINE

Seize = take hold of suddenly and forcibly

Discipline = uncomfortable and usually painful correction or training.

Proverbs 4:13 LSB

13 Seize discipline; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.

2 Timothy 1:6–7 LSB

6 For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and self-discipline.

The bible has very serious things to say about discipline and it’s importance.

We know from living that those who wish to be...

The greatest athletes have to workout, train, and practice.

The greatest musicians have to take lessons, practice, and play with others.

Even those who wish to live godly lives like Jesus have to deny themselves of things and make sacrifices to do so.

The most disciplined person to walk this earth was Jesus.

Jesus was the most disciplined person because He is both God and man and was completely filled with God’s Holy Spirit.

Jesus denied himself sleep in order to pray - early in the morning and late at night.

Jesus denied himself of food so that he could cultivate a deeper hunger for His Father’s will.

Jesus even denied himself of justice in order to save humans from their sin and death - He willing endured brutal torture, mockery, and murder so that you and I wouldn’t have to receive it.

Jesus was constantly putting off things in order to put on the best things!

That’s essentially what discipline is.

And that is what we need to succeed in soccer, school, and, especially, following Jesus!

So let me tell you a few practical ways the Bible says we can seize discipline:

These are all things we can put off and things we can put on.

1. Beg God to do Holy Spirit work in you to form discipline!

If you don’t do it already, I encourage you to wake up 15 minutes earlier so that you can pray.

Be specific though. Make asking for Holy Spirit discipline one of the things you pray for!

*This is you putting off sleep to put on prayer, just like Jesus did!*

2. Change how you think about hard and painful things!

We all need to put off negative thoughts about hard disciplines like practice, homework, prayer, and bible reading and REPLACE those thoughts with the truth!

Negative thoughts about disciplines are TOO SHORT SIGHTED. We tend to focus on the sacrifice here and now rather than the reward later.

Soccer practice at home and after school:

The long reward is success in the game, a winning season, and potential scholarships!

Doing homework in study hall or at home:

The long reward is good grades that enable you to stay on the team, not get complaints from teachers, and actually get smarter!

Waking up early to read the bible and pray:

The long reward is knowing God more intimately, becoming better witness for Him, becoming HOLY, and receiving more delight when you get to heaven!

3. Replace your guilt with God’s grace (unearned good favor)

You are going to fail, and already have failed, at discipline. Discipline for God’s Glory produces holiness.

We suck at it!

So, rather than feel guilty about your failure at discipline, you need to look at Jesus!

Jesus wasn’t just disciplined for you to have an example of discipline. Jesus’ discipline was for your salvation.

Jesus disciplined himself for holiness because it was God’s will for perfectly holy Jesus to suffer on the cross, taking our unholiness and sin on himself, and die for it!

God’s grace for you is that your lack of discipline has now become Jesus’. He has taken your sin and failure, and you, by looking to Him in faith receive His perfect record of discipline!

That is the greatest guilt killer!

So, I beg you guys, Seize Discipline

Beg God to do Holy Spirit work in you to form discipline!

Change how you think about hard and painful things!

Replace your guilt with God’s grace!