Life Hacks - Discipline

Announce

February 1st - Next Sunday Night Annual business meeting - 6pm

Two amendments to the Bylaws that we will be voting on

(One of which will impact the second order of business)

There will an election for trustees

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Message

Today we want to spend some time talking about what it means to live a life of healthy disciplines

This will be the 30,000 ft view of this

When I talk about “Disciplines” today, I’m not wanting to approach this so much from an authoritative “Because God said so” standpoint but out of developing some habits in your life that are “Non-negotiables”.

These non-negotiables and “things I do” is a product of spiritual maturity!

Spiritual disciplines are recorded in the Bible and were exemplified by Christ:

Things like:

Prayer

Worship

Service

Evangelism 

Stewardship

Fasting

Silence

Retreat

There is a reason that we are referring to these as disciplines - they don’t produce themselves accidentally!

You don’t accidentally find yourself praying and fasting!

Here’s the reality:

As my self-discipline increases, my experience with the Holy Spirit transforms.

Look at what the writer of Hebrews said to us:

Hebrews 5:12 (ESV)

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,

Some of us are upset because the Holy Spirit is still talking to you like a child - but you are acting like a child!

Paul said:

1 Corinthians 13:11 (NKJV)

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

He said: I PICKED UP MY TOYS

When I first got saved the Holy Spirit was like a babysitter!

He had to CONSTANTLY correct me

As I mature, the dynamic changes!

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One of the things that I want to do is go on a guided elk hunt out west!

An elk hunt is already time consuming and expensive -

If you add an outfitter, is becomes exponentially more expensive

The reason that people are willing to pay that added expense is because you are receiving EXPERT guidance:

They’ve navigated the mountains before

They know the terrain

They understand how the elk herd moves through that area

They’ve got some honey-holes that nobody else knows about

So, when the guide says: Hey we’re hiking 6 miles into the backcountry today - you do it!

When he says: “We’ve got to cross this canyon to get the wind advantage” - you do it!

Because they know what it takes to have a successful hunt!

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As you mature in your walk with God, the Holy Spirit becomes less like a preschool teacher and more like a guide to position me for the best possible outcome!

He’s the expert!

WHY - BECAUSE:

Spiritual Maturity = Discipline = Obedience

God speaks and we listen - not out of obligation, but out of trust!

That is a learned response!

That’s why Hebrews 5 goes on to say:

Hebrews 5:14 (ESV)

14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

We’ve practiced

We’ve experienced

We’ve tried it!

Next year’s you is going to benefit from the small steps of obedience that you make right now!

It’s going to bring maturity!

For first generation disciples - it’s a process!

I remember feeling conviction for the first time as a Christian

I remember moments when God taught me how to walk by faith

It was a learning process!

But NOW - I have the opportunity to pass along some of this to my kids that their learning process is easier!

How many know that it is a PARENTS job to teach their kids DISCIPLINE?

He’s got all three of mine but it’s not Pastor Ryan’s job to create boundaries that I should have set.

(Bobby Russ: “You are a failure as a minister!”)

We’ve been talking all month about Life-Hacks

Let me give you a parenting hack this morning

PROVIDE CONSISTENT DISCIPLINE

I’m not gonna meddle in your business, because I’ll be quite honest: All three of my children responded to correction differently

I’M NOT HERE TO ARGUE ABOUT:

Are we spanking?

Are we enforcing a timeout

Are we gentle-parenting

Are we helicopter-parenting?

Here’s the reality - throughout the decades, there has always been “experts” who would tell you the latest and greatest strategy to avoid whatever childhood distaste that they grew up with!

THESE “EXPERTS”

Their parents were really strict and now, amazingly, they are an “expert” on loosey-goosey parenting

Their parents were emotionally distant and now they are an “expert” on warm hugs

I’m not here to to affirm or shoot holes in any system or Doctor-Counselor-Dinglehopper Three-step method:

BUT -

If you raise kids according to the world’s research and the world’s culture, you are going to produce wordly children

More than my kids need the latest strategy from Doctor Daddy-issues - they need CONSISTENT BIBLICAL DISCIPLINE

I’ll admit -

The Bible errs on the side of firmer rather than lighter correction

Let me tell you what the Bible says:

Proverbs 22:15 (NKJV)

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.

This is why you can’t leave it up to them - they were never created to carry the burden of disciplining themselves

If any of you can remember what it was like to be young and dumb - you know what I’m talking about:

Foolishness was bound up in our heart!

Proverbs 13:24 (NKJV)

24 He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

Proverbs 23:13–14 (NKJV)

13 Do not withhold correction from a child, For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. 

14 You shall beat him with a rod, And deliver his soul from hell.

Raising children is matter of eternity!

If I allow my little kids to throw a fit and then give them what they want - I’m training them that with enough resistance they always get their way!

I’ve made this statement many times: “It’s cute when they’re 6, it’s a nightmare when they’re 16.”

When I bring CONSISTENT DISCIPLINE into my home I develop my children’s ability to understand CONSISTENT BOUNDARIES from their heavenly father.

I want to give you an example really quickly:

Garden of Eden (Circa somewhere in the beginning)

Genesis 3:1–5 (ESV)

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 

2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 

3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 

4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 

5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

The enemy did not just make them think that sin was more fun than the consequence it carried - He moved the boundary

When boundaries become inconsistent - chaos and confusion create room for sin

“Did God REALLY say that?”

In your home - if you allow the boundaries to move around - chaos and confusion WILL create room for sin:

Discipline/boundaries cannot be:

Mood based

Tantrum based

The rules in my home cannot be subject to popular opinion

There are moments when we throw down a “Because I said so” - but those moments are the stark exception

But when you create consistent boundaries, it creates a safe environment for your kids to develop

Just like you’re learning to mature past your relationship with the Holy Spirit from a preschool teacher to professional guide

They will also mature and realize that you were always on their team, even when you had to coach through some hard moments

I’m not against developing skills or you being creative in how you parent

I would be careful in allowing academics, podcasts and authors have more influence in how you parent than Biblical principal:

Biblical parenting sets the stage for your child’s relationship with God

Discipline From The Lord

Proverbs 3:11–12 (NKJV)

11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; 

12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

I’m literally teaching my children what it means to receive correction from the Lord

I cannot afford to teach them:

That God eventually changes his mind if they ask enough times - because he doesn’t

That God rewards my tantrum for disobedience and blesses it - because He doesn’t

My preferences are above his precepts - because they’re not

The book of Hebrews quotes the Proverb that we just read (This isn’t just an Old Testament idea)

Hebrews 12:5-6 (NKJV)

5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 

6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” 

Hebrews 12:9-11 (NKJV)

9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 

10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 

11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

This morning as we close, there are some of you here that the Holy Spirit has been dealing with you and convicting you about some things

You’ve brushed it off

You’ve tried to pretend it would go away

You may have even (Spiritually) laid in the floor and threw an absolute fit

But today - you realize- that his discipline - his correction were expressions of His love for you and desiring the absolute best for your life.

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As we close (HB,EC)

Who here would say - I feel like God is correcting some things in my life and today I’m going to respond in obedience?

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Offering

Biz Meeting