Jonathan Edward's Advice to Young Converts
Dear Child,
As you desired me to send you in writing some directions on how to conduct yourself in your Christian course, I will now answer your request. The sweet remembrance of the great things I have lately seen at Suffield, and the dear affections for those persons I have conversed with there, give good evidences of a saving work of God upon their hearts and also incline me to do anything that lies in my power to contribute to the spiritual joy and prosperity of God's people there. And what I write to you, I would also say to other young women there who are your friends and companions and the children of God. Therefore, I desire you would communicate it to them as you have opportunity.
one
I would advise you to keep up as great a strife and earnestness in religion in all aspects of it, as you would do if you knew yourself to be in a state of nature and you were seeking conversion. We advise persons under convictions to be extremely earnest for the kingdom of heaven, but when they have attained conversion they ought not to be the less watchful, laborious, and earnest in the whole work of religion, but the more; for they are under infinitely greater obligations. For lack of this, many persons in a few months after their conversion have begun to lose the sweet and lively sense of spiritual things, and to grow cold and flat and dark. They have pierced themselves through with many sorrows, whereas if they had done as the Apostle did in Philippians 3:12-14, their path would have been as the shining light, which shines more and more unto the perfect day.
Not that I have already all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:12-14)
two
Don't slack off seeking, striving, and praying for the very same things that we exhort unconverted persons to strive for, and a degree of which you have had in conversion. Thus pray that your eyes may be opened, that you may receive your sight, that you may know your -self and be brought to God's feet, and that you may see the glory of God and Christ, may be raised from the dead, and have the love of Christ shed abroad in your heart. Those that have most of these things still need to pray for them; for there is so much blindness and hardness and pride and death remaining that they still need to have that work of God upon them, further to enlighten and enliven them. This will be a further bringing out of darkness into God's marvelous light, and a kind of new conversion and resurrection from the dead. There are very few requests that are not only proper for a natural person, but that in some sense are also proper for the godly.
three
When you hear sermons, hear them for yourself, even though what is spoken in them may be more especially directed to the unconverted or to those that in other respects are in different circumstances from yourself. Let the chief intent of your mind be to consider what ways you can apply the things that you are hearing in the sermon. You should ask, What improvement should I make, based on these things, for my own soul's good?
four
Though God has forgiven and forgotten your past sins, yet don't forget them yourself. Often remember what a wretched bond slave you were in the land of Egypt. Often bring to mind your particular acts of sin before conversion, as the blessed Apostle Paul is often mentioning his old blaspheming, persecuting, and injuriousness, to the renewed humbling of his heart and acknowledging that he was the least of the apostles, and not worthy to be called an apostle, and the least of saints, and the chief of sinners. And be often in confessing your old sins to God. Also, let this following passage be often in your mind:
Then, when I make atonement for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your humiliation, declares the sovereign LORD. (Ezek. 16:63).
five
Remember that you have more cause, on some accounts a thousand times more, to lament and humble yourself for sins that have been since conversion than those that were before conversion, because of the infinitely greater obligations that are upon you to live to God. Look upon the faithfulness of Christ in unchangeably continuing his loving favor, and the unspeakable and saving fruits of his everlasting love. De, spite all your great unworthiness since your conversion, his grace remains as great or as wonderful as it was in converting you.
six
Be always greatly humbled by your remaining sin, and never think that you lie low enough for it, but yet don't be at all discouraged or disheartened by it. Although we are exceeding sinful, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, the preciousness of whose blood, the merit of whose righteousness, and the greatness of whose love and faithfulness infinitely overtop the highest mountains of our sins.
seven
When you engage in the duty of prayer, come to the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, or attend any other duty of divine worship, come to Christ as Mary Magdalene did.
When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. (Luke 7:37-38)
Just like her, come and cast yourself down at his feet and kiss them, and pour forth upon him the sweet perfumed ointment of divine love, out of a pure and broken heart, as she poured her precious ointment out of her pure, alabaster, broken box.
eight
Remember that pride is the worst viper that is in the heart, the greatest disturber of the soul's peace and sweet communion with Christ. It was the first sin that ever was, and lies lowest in the foundation of Satan's whole building. It is the most difficult to root out, and it is the most hidden, secret, and deceitful of all lust, and it often creeps in, insensibly, into the midst of religion and sometimes under the disguise of humility.
nine
That you may pass a good judgment on your spiritual condition, always consider your best conversations and best experiences to be the ones that produce the following two effects:
first, those conversations and experiences that make you least, lowest, and most like a little child; and, second, those that do most engage and fix your heart in a full and firm disposition to deny yourself for God and to spend and be spent for him.
ten
If at any time you fall into doubts about the state of your soul under darkness and dull frames of mind, it is proper to look over past experiences. Don't, however, consume too much of your time and strength in poring and puzzling thoughts about old experiences, that in dull frames appear dim and are very much out of sight, at least as to that which is the cream and life and sweetness of them. Rather, apply yourself with all your might to an earnest pursuit after renewed experiences, new light, and new, lively acts of faith and love. One new discovery of the glory of Christ's face, and the fountain of his sweet grace and love will do more towards scattering clouds of darkness and doubting in one minute than examining old experiences by the best mark that can be given for a whole year.
eleven
When the exercise of grace is at a low ebb, and corruption prevails, and by that means fear prevails, don't desire to have fear cast out any other way than by the reviving and prevailing of love, for it is not agreeable to the method of God's wise dispensations that it should be cast out any other way. When love is asleep, the saints need fear to restrain them from sin, and therefore it is so ordered that at such times fear comes upon them, and that more or less as love sinks. But when love is in lively exercise, persons don't need fear. The prevailing of love in the heart naturally tends to cast out fear as darkness in a room vanishes away as you let more and more of the perfect beams of the sun into it:
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (I John 4:18)
twelve
You should be often exhorting and counseling and warning others, especially at such a day as this:
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Heb. 10:25)
And I would advise you especially to be much in exhorting children and young women who are your equals; and when you exhort others that are men, I would advise that you take opportunities for it chiefly when you are alone with them or when only young persons are present.
I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. A woman should learn in
quietness and full submission. (1 Tim. 2:9-11)
thirteen
When you counsel and warn others, do it earnestly, affectionately, and thoroughly. And when you are speaking to your equals, let your warnings be intermixed with expressions of your sense of your own unworthiness and of the sovereign grace that makes you differ. And, if you can with a good conscience, say how you in yourself are more unworthy than they.
fourteen
If you would set up religious meetings of young women by yourselves, to be attended once in a while, besides the other meetings that you attend, I should think it would be very proper and profitable.
fifteen
Under special difficulties, or when in great need of or great longings after any particular mercies for your self or others, set apart a day of secret fasting and prayer alone. Let the day be spent not only in petitions for the mercies you desired, but in searching your heart, and looking over your past life, and confessing your sins before God, not as practiced in public prayer, but by a very particular rehearsal before God. Include the sins of your past life from your childhood up until now, both before and after conversion, with particular circumstances and aggravations. Also be very particular and as thorough as possible, spreading all the abominations of your heart before him.
sixteen
Don't let the adversaries of religion have any grounds to say that these converts don't carry themselves any better than others.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matt. 5:46-48)
How holy should the children of God be! And the redeemed and the ones beloved of the Son of God should behave themselves in a manner worthy of Christ. Therefore walk as a child of the light and of the day, and adorn the doctrine of God your Savior. Particularly be much in those things that may especially be called Christian virtues, that make you like the Lamb of God. Be meek and lowly of heart and full of a pure, heavenly, and humble love to all. Abound in deeds of love to others and of self-denial for others, and let there be in you a disposition to account others better than yourself.
seventeen
Don't talk of things of religion and matters of experience with an air of lightness and laughter, which is too much the custom in many places.
eighteen
In all your course, walk with God and follow Christ as a little, poor, helpless child, taking hold of Christ's hand, keeping your eye on the mark of the wounds on his hands and side. From these wounds came the blood that cleanses you from sin and hides your nakedness under the skirt of the white shining robe of his righteousness.
nineteen
Pray much for the church of God and especially that he would carry on his glorious work that he has now begun. Be much in prayer for the ministers of Christ.
Particularly I would beg a special interest in your prayers and the prayers of your Christian companions, both when you are alone and when you are together, for your affectionate friend, that rejoices over you and desires to be your servant.
In Jesus Christ,
JONATHAN EDWARDS
More from Christopher
written by christopher on sermon index
Too often, I think that many believers are too consumed with the inner mechanical peculiarities than with the purpose, the destination (or even the ride with Christ, so to speak). Also, we frequently fail to remember that “second opinions” exist. We may think that we know something…and that it is from the Lord. Yet, how important is it that we know it? Some people pretend that people will be led to Hell due to a belief (or lack of information) about the End Times, a particular Bible version, or whether or not someone believes that a person can lose or walk away from salvation. Ultimately, it is a relationship with Christ that matters.
I have traveled to the indigenous Tarahumara tribes in the high Sierra Madre Occidental of western Mexico. The Tarahumara are considered one of the last “unreached” people groups by National Geographic and many anthropologists. They live in relative obscurity (mostly in caves and small huts) and are known for their tireless running ability. There, I met a group of believers there who have to Bible in their language. Yet they know the Lord. The pastor came to the Lord when he was dying of tuberculosis. One night when he was near death, he sat outside of his cave and looked at the stars. He was an animist and believed in multiple spirits (in the river, trees, each star, etc…). Yet, as he looked at the position of the stars in the night sky, it dawned on him that there might be a single, all-powerful God. Suddenly, he felt the Lord speak to him. The Lord said, “I am the Lord God who created all there is. If I heal you, will you serve Me?” This young, dying Tarahumara man said yes.
For months, he talked to this God who spoke to him. He was rejected by his family and friends. He didn’t speak Spanish (let alone English), so he couldn’t read a Bible even if he had one. Yet he was completely healed of his infirmity. One day, the Lord impressed upon him to go to the Spanish speaking town (a seven day journey through the mountains) so that he could learn the language of the people. He didn’t understand why…but he went anyway. Somehow, miraculously in a short period of time, this young man learned fluent Spanish…even how to read it. This Tarahumara traveled back to his village located higher in the mountains.
The missionary that I often traveled with had been given an extra offering before leaving the United States. He wondered what the purpose of the money was…because they had the money to complete the church building that they were constructing in a nearby Spanish-speaking village. While he was at the small town buying the supplies for the construction, he saw this young Tarahumara. This missionary had learned the Tarahumara phrase “Chú miriwé?“ (pronounced “chim ear ee way” – which means “What is your name?”). The Tarahumara man replied with his name Spanish. The missionary asked him, “Do you speak Spanish.” The Tarahumara replied, “Yes, the Living God taught me.” The missionary asked him what he was doing in the town. The Tarahumara replied that God had told him to go because he was going to bless him. The Tarahumara explained that he wanted to build a building for the people to meet together in. To make a long story short, the extra offering that was given to the missionary was able to supply the materials needed to build it. The pastor was also provided a Bible (in Spanish…and not a KJV) that confirmed much of what God had already spoken to him.
I don’t think that I have ever enjoyed meeting with believers as much as I enjoyed going to the Tarahumara several times while a teenager. They used to meet together beneath a tree. Now, they meet in a log cabin church building. Over the years, I saw the congregation grow – not just in number, but in faith. Yet most of them still cannot read. They meet and listen to the Pastor recite the Word of God to them. They sing to the Lord in worship. They pray for one another. They encourage one another.
I’ve always thought that it was interesting that they don’t seem to worry about doctrinal peculiarities. They know God for themselves. They are blessed to have a few copies of the Scriptures of which are read to them. Yet they don’t worry about whether or not they will live through a period of tribulation. They don’t argue over whether or not their version of the Scriptures is the most accurate. They don’t argue over whether or not they should wear head coverings. They simply come as they are…and encourage one another in the faith. They have never seen Christian television shows, Christian books or heard of the internet. Most of them have never used electricity (and many have never ever heard of it). Yet they are coming to Christ…by the hundreds (maybe thousands). They don’t spend their time together arguing about what the fourth toe of the beast is supposed to represent. They simply use their time to seek Jesus in order to know Him and His heart. I have watched this soft spoken people lift up their hands in worship…with tears running down their faces…because of their love for Jesus.
It is often disappointing to return to “civilization.” Here, we spend more time debating about what might be heresy…and who might be a heretic…than sitting back and focusing our time and effort on simply knowing Jesus. We attend congregations where we submit to the dogma required for involvement or membership. We question and scrutinize every last dot and tittle of everyone else’s beliefs (including the things that really don’t matter). We fail to remember that the early church didn’t carry a pocket Bible with them. The early Church didn’t even have multiple copies of Paul’s letters…or the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Most of them didn’t even have copies of the Old Testament scrolls.
Today, we are given so much for which we show so little. We who reside in “civilization” live in a time when we are scarcely persecuted for our faith. We have multiple copies of the Scriptures. Some of us even have audio versions of the Scriptures so it can be read to us. We are not hungry. We are not thirsty. We have shelter. Some of us are actually PAID to preach the Gospel (via a salary or by offerings…imagine that). We have concordances, dictionaries and commentaries (some of us even have multiple copies of each). We even can meet together using this technology known as the “internet” to read the Word of God, download sermons and meet with other believers. Indeed, we have been given many, many talents.
I just can’t help but wonder if we are burying our talents under needless doctrinal debates and differences. Instead of using these talents in the world to reproduce a new crop of believers, we stand around with one another…discussing Scripture like the thinkers of Athens. We talk to one another with trepidation or suspicion. Even many of those who would try to do the work of an evangelist spend their time yelling at unbelievers for their worldly habits and dress…and spend very little time simply explaining that this world simply does not know God…but can know God. Instead of seeking converts to Christ, we seek clones. We want to clone ourselves in the world (and Church) around us.
Yes, these tireless debates grow tiresome. Sometimes, I just wish to remain a “child” in a sense that I want to depend upon the Lord to take care of me. The more that I think that I know, the more that I come to realize that there are so many things that I don’t really know. Is there anything wrong with just not knowing the certainty of some petty issues…when we truly want to know Christ and spend time with Him? Is this not better? Yes, some issues that we hold to be so important…so vital…are truly petty in the scope of Eternity. If an issue will deeply divide people who truly are part of the Body of Christ, chances are, it is petty.
Too often, I think that many believers are too consumed with the inner mechanical peculiarities than with the purpose, the destination (or even the ride with Christ, so to speak). Also, we frequently fail to remember that “second opinions” exist. We may think that we know something…and that it is from the Lord. Yet, how important is it that we know it? Some people pretend that people will be led to Hell due to a belief (or lack of information) about the End Times, a particular Bible version, or whether or not someone believes that a person can lose or walk away from salvation. Ultimately, it is a relationship with Christ that matters.
I have traveled to the indigenous Tarahumara tribes in the high Sierra Madre Occidental of western Mexico. The Tarahumara are considered one of the last “unreached” people groups by National Geographic and many anthropologists. They live in relative obscurity (mostly in caves and small huts) and are known for their tireless running ability. There, I met a group of believers there who have to Bible in their language. Yet they know the Lord. The pastor came to the Lord when he was dying of tuberculosis. One night when he was near death, he sat outside of his cave and looked at the stars. He was an animist and believed in multiple spirits (in the river, trees, each star, etc…). Yet, as he looked at the position of the stars in the night sky, it dawned on him that there might be a single, all-powerful God. Suddenly, he felt the Lord speak to him. The Lord said, “I am the Lord God who created all there is. If I heal you, will you serve Me?” This young, dying Tarahumara man said yes.
For months, he talked to this God who spoke to him. He was rejected by his family and friends. He didn’t speak Spanish (let alone English), so he couldn’t read a Bible even if he had one. Yet he was completely healed of his infirmity. One day, the Lord impressed upon him to go to the Spanish speaking town (a seven day journey through the mountains) so that he could learn the language of the people. He didn’t understand why…but he went anyway. Somehow, miraculously in a short period of time, this young man learned fluent Spanish…even how to read it. This Tarahumara traveled back to his village located higher in the mountains.
The missionary that I often traveled with had been given an extra offering before leaving the United States. He wondered what the purpose of the money was…because they had the money to complete the church building that they were constructing in a nearby Spanish-speaking village. While he was at the small town buying the supplies for the construction, he saw this young Tarahumara. This missionary had learned the Tarahumara phrase “Chú miriwé?“ (pronounced “chim ear ee way” – which means “What is your name?”). The Tarahumara man replied with his name Spanish. The missionary asked him, “Do you speak Spanish.” The Tarahumara replied, “Yes, the Living God taught me.” The missionary asked him what he was doing in the town. The Tarahumara replied that God had told him to go because he was going to bless him. The Tarahumara explained that he wanted to build a building for the people to meet together in. To make a long story short, the extra offering that was given to the missionary was able to supply the materials needed to build it. The pastor was also provided a Bible (in Spanish…and not a KJV) that confirmed much of what God had already spoken to him.
I don’t think that I have ever enjoyed meeting with believers as much as I enjoyed going to the Tarahumara several times while a teenager. They used to meet together beneath a tree. Now, they meet in a log cabin church building. Over the years, I saw the congregation grow – not just in number, but in faith. Yet most of them still cannot read. They meet and listen to the Pastor recite the Word of God to them. They sing to the Lord in worship. They pray for one another. They encourage one another.
I’ve always thought that it was interesting that they don’t seem to worry about doctrinal peculiarities. They know God for themselves. They are blessed to have a few copies of the Scriptures of which are read to them. Yet they don’t worry about whether or not they will live through a period of tribulation. They don’t argue over whether or not their version of the Scriptures is the most accurate. They don’t argue over whether or not they should wear head coverings. They simply come as they are…and encourage one another in the faith. They have never seen Christian television shows, Christian books or heard of the internet. Most of them have never used electricity (and many have never ever heard of it). Yet they are coming to Christ…by the hundreds (maybe thousands). They don’t spend their time together arguing about what the fourth toe of the beast is supposed to represent. They simply use their time to seek Jesus in order to know Him and His heart. I have watched this soft spoken people lift up their hands in worship…with tears running down their faces…because of their love for Jesus.
It is often disappointing to return to “civilization.” Here, we spend more time debating about what might be heresy…and who might be a heretic…than sitting back and focusing our time and effort on simply knowing Jesus. We attend congregations where we submit to the dogma required for involvement or membership. We question and scrutinize every last dot and tittle of everyone else’s beliefs (including the things that really don’t matter). We fail to remember that the early church didn’t carry a pocket Bible with them. The early Church didn’t even have multiple copies of Paul’s letters…or the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Most of them didn’t even have copies of the Old Testament scrolls.
Today, we are given so much for which we show so little. We who reside in “civilization” live in a time when we are scarcely persecuted for our faith. We have multiple copies of the Scriptures. Some of us even have audio versions of the Scriptures so it can be read to us. We are not hungry. We are not thirsty. We have shelter. Some of us are actually PAID to preach the Gospel (via a salary or by offerings…imagine that). We have concordances, dictionaries and commentaries (some of us even have multiple copies of each). We even can meet together using this technology known as the “internet” to read the Word of God, download sermons and meet with other believers. Indeed, we have been given many, many talents.
I just can’t help but wonder if we are burying our talents under needless doctrinal debates and differences. Instead of using these talents in the world to reproduce a new crop of believers, we stand around with one another…discussing Scripture like the thinkers of Athens. We talk to one another with trepidation or suspicion. Even many of those who would try to do the work of an evangelist spend their time yelling at unbelievers for their worldly habits and dress…and spend very little time simply explaining that this world simply does not know God…but can know God. Instead of seeking converts to Christ, we seek clones. We want to clone ourselves in the world (and Church) around us.
Yes, these tireless debates grow tiresome. Sometimes, I just wish to remain a “child” in a sense that I want to depend upon the Lord to take care of me. The more that I think that I know, the more that I come to realize that there are so many things that I don’t really know. Is there anything wrong with just not knowing the certainty of some petty issues…when we truly want to know Christ and spend time with Him? Is this not better? Yes, some issues that we hold to be so important…so vital…are truly petty in the scope of Eternity. If an issue will deeply divide people who truly are part of the Body of Christ, chances are, it is petty.
Disciplined Life
Richard S Taylor
"God has given us a spirit of discipline" (2 Tim.1:7)
"The fruit of the Spirit is self-control" (Gal.5:22,23).
Discipline is what modern believers need the most but want the least.
Much of the restlessness and the instability in the lives of many Christians can be traced to the basic fault of an indisciplined way of life. There may be other secondary causes, but somewhere behind all of them is a fundamental need for discipline.
The discipline I am speaking of is far more than just the use of alarm clocks. It involves self-restraint, courage and perseverance as the inner armor of the soul.
Many emotional disorders among believers are the accumulated result of years of self-indulgent living. I am not thinking of backsliders who drink and commit adultery, but of respectable Christians who never do such things, but who are nevertheless indisciplined. A lifelong pattern of running away from trials, of avoiding difficult people, of seeking the easy way, of giving up when the going gets rough, finally produces sick believers, who are incapable either of fulfilling God's perfect will for their lives, or of functioning as useful members of the body of Christ.
The Bible says, "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small" (Prov.24:10).
Days of adversity will come to all of us. Only by consistent, disciplined living can that strength of character be developed in us, that can enable us to face those days of adversity without fainting.
DISCIPLINE - THE KEY TO POWER
Many Christians go through an emotional experience of "the baptism in the Spirit", that seems to be totally unrelated in their thinking to any form of rugged self-denial.
No-one can become genuinely holy, whatever experience he may have had, unless he is disciplined in all areas of daily living. The advantage that a man with a disciplined life has will be seen not only in greater holiness and spirituality, but also in greater efficiency and effectiveness in everything that he does for the Lord.
The strong disciplined character of Madam Guyon enabled her, even when imprisoned in a filthy French prison for many years (in the 17th century), to rise above her surroundings in her spirit, and to write:
"My cage confines me round
Abroad I cannot fly. But though my wing is
closely bound,
My heart's at liberty. My prison walls cannot
control
The flight and freedom of my soul."
There is tremendous spiritual power in such a
life.
The advantage that the disciplined person has over the undisciplined one shows up in many ordinary matters of daily life.
The disciplined person picks up his clothes; the undisciplined one lets them lie around.
One wipes clean the bathroom sink that he uses. The other leaves it dirty for someone else to clean.
One plans his work and works to his plan. The other works haphazardly.
One is always punctual in keeping his appointments. The other is notoriously late. One is always on time for the meetings of the church. The other is never on time.
The difference in all these cases is not one of character, but of habit.
The believers who get God's best in life are the ones who are thoughtful, systematic, thrifty, punctual and neat.
DISCIPLINE - THE MARK OF MATURITY
No-one can reach full maturity unless he is disciplined in daily life.
Our Physical Appetites
Discipline includes the subordination of the body's physical appetites to the Lordship of Christ.
Paul said, "Like an athlete, I punish my body, treating it roughly, training it to do what it should, and not what it wants to. Otherwise I fear that after enlisting others for the race, I myself might be declared unfit and ordered to stand aside" (1 Cor.9:27 - Living).
This begins with discipline in our eating habits and the ability to say at the dining table, "No, thank you. I won't have any more."
It also includes discipline in the sexual area. The sexual urge has to be fully controlled in one's unmarried days. But there is a place for discipline in this area even in married life. The man of disciplined character does not have to have a warm responsive wife, who caters to his every desire, in order to keep himself pure. It is by the grace of God that he keeps himself pure. If his relationship with his wife is happy, he is grateful. If it isn't, and he has to practice total abstinence all through his life, he simply seeks for more grace from God, and experiences the keeping power of God. This has nothing to do with natural temperament, but with discipline.
It is true that Paul warned married couples against subjecting one another to abnormal strain in this matter (1 Cor.7:5). But what can a man do when difficult circumstances make the carrying out of this instruction impossible? Then the disciplined man still lives in triumph, for he knows that God will not allow him to be tempted beyond his ability (1 Cor.10:13).
That great man of God, F.B.Meyer, once said in this connection (to someone who was struggling with sexual temptation), "I have had a cross to bear in this area in my life, and it has made me the man I am."
Emotions
Our emotions too must be brought under control. God certainly wants us to be warmhearted. But the warm heart must be wise. Otherwise it can end up doing and saying many foolish things, that can be regretted later on. We must always distrust our sudden impulses to say or to do something.
"A good man thinks before he speaks; the evil man pours out his evil words without a thought.....There is more hope for a fool than for one who is hasty in his words or his matters” (Prov.15:28; 29:20 - Living Bible, and KJV margin).
Emotional attachments to friends must also be disciplined. Two friends may gradually become so "thick" that they become possessive and exclusive. Such inordinate affection is both unhealthy and harmful.
In conversations with the opposite sex, a certain reserve and distance must be preserved at all costs - for friendship can become affection, and affection can lead to lust - to the shock of both involved. That which began innocently may end disastrously.
The rugged advice of Jesus to pluck out the offending eye, and to cut off the offending hand or foot, is never more appropriate than in such situations. Our soul, our home, our happiness and our testimony can all be saved, only if we take drastic action in such situations, and put our feelings to death ruthlessly.
Don't let Satan make you say, "I couldn't help it." Your emotions may not immediately obey your will. But your actions must.
In due course, your emotions also will follow the lead of your disciplined purpose and your decisive stand.
Don't ignite fires that you will later have to fight feverishly to put out.
Moods
Disciplined character also means the mastery of our moods.
A certain amount of the swing of the pendulum is unavoidable here, as long as we are in the flesh - for sometimes, a failure in our work or study, or physical weariness can bring a temporary cloud of discouragement quite easily. But we can by discipline, ensure that our moods don't hinder our work, our behaviour, or our relationships with others.
When we are slaves to our moods, we can make foolish decisions, spend money unnecessarily, neglect our duties, and alter our behaviour to people around us. At first people may be puzzled. But gradually they will begin to say, "Just one of his moods" - with a hint of scorn. And they will then learn to be careful in their relationships with us, because they never quite know what mood they will find us in. All of this makes for a very poor testimony for our Saviour and for the salvation we profess.
A disciplined Christian however behaves just as well when he "feels bad" as he does when he "feels good". He never complains that he doesn't feel like doing something.
A consistent work for God can be done only by those who have learnt to conquer their moods, and to work even when they "don't feel like it".
Speech
No-one can qualify for the high rating of a truly disciplined man unless his tongue is restrained by wisdom and directed by love (James 1:26).
A man may have a disciplined body, mind, and will, and even disciplined emotions, appetites and habits, but a loose tongue betrays a fatal fault in his armour.
Frankness in speech is not necessarily a Christian virtue. Only a fool expresses everything that comes to his mind. Frankness is a virtue only when it is coupled with intelligent, loving tact and discretion. But it can become an evil thing when it is the uncontrolled expression of opinions, without regard to time, place or human feelings.
It often takes a far higher display of discipline to refrain from speaking than it does to speak.
Forbearance and patience are the virtues that we all need to develop.
Priorities
A truly disciplined person is wise enough to subordinate less important things to the more important ones. Herein lies the most crucial problem that we face in our day and age.
We must learn to give first priority to the kingdom of God and His righteousness in practical daily living. This requires the discipline to reject day by day, that great list of activities that clamour for our attention and time, but that would hinder the doing of more important things.
Selection - selection - selection! This is the law of life.
We cannot do everything. So we must select. We cannot read everything. So we must select. Our spiritual stature will be determined exactly and entirely by our discipline in selecting our priorities.
If we "major in minors" and show "a first-rate dedication to second-rate matters", if we allow our friends, our impulses and the convenience of the moment, to dictate our priorities, we will drift weakly with the tide of daily circumstances, and will end up as shabby, mediocre, carnal Christians - useless to God and useless to men.
At the same time, if we merely give lip-service to the priorities of the kingdom, and allow them to remain forever in the realm of "good intentions", without rigidly adhering to them right now, the end result will again be zero character growth!!
Discipline in this area will push a man out of bed early in the morning to seek God, instead of rolling around for another half an hour, while wide awake.
Submission to Legitimate Authority
Another mark of the disciplined person is the ability to submit to legitimate authority gracefully. In most of life's normal relationships, rebellion is both stupid and destructive.
Habitual rebellion is the mark of carnal Christians, not of spiritual ones. It does not require either intelligence or character to assert loudly, "No-one can tell me what to do." But it requires both to submit graciously and with cheerful goodwill to authority. Insubordination is invariably the result of selfishness, and leads to misery and uselessness.
This does not mean that we are to blindly submit to the wishes and opinions of our authorities, if such submission violates our conscience. No. We must retain our individuality and our convictions, and know when to stand against authority, for the sake of truth.
THE DANGERS OF DISCIPLINE
Among the dangers there are in the pursuit of a disciplined life, the greatest one is imagining that discipline is the supreme value of life. It is not. A right relationship with God is the greatest of all treasures, and discipline must be seen as a servant, not a saviour!
A second danger is that of pride.
There is no doubt that discipline does make a man superior. If he is not watchful, the danger is that he will begin to feel superior too. There can be a sense of satisfaction in self-mastery, that ends up taking the glory to oneself, instead of humbly giving it to God. The most repugnant character of all is the disciplined Pharisee who is proud of what he has made of himself.
A third danger in the pursuit of discipline is that of going to the extreme of unChristian asceticism.
Christian discipline is far removed from pagan asceticism. Asceticism calls attention to itself; discipline does not. Asceticism says, "Touch not, taste not..."etc., (Col.2:20-23), whereas discipline deals only with those matters that affect our spiritual life.
Asceticism believes that all physical matter is evil, and tends to despise the good things of life. It denies joys and experiences that are the gifts of God, and believes that holiness consists of complete denial of everything earthly and physical. In contrast, Christian discipline never despises earthly blessings, but consecrates them to spiritual ends. It uses material things, but is not taken up with them, and does not abuse them (1 Cor.7:29-31). It does not abstain from physical enjoyments, but is self-controlled in the use of them, and uses them all for the glory of God.
It is true that Christian discipline may at times deny itself even God's good gifts, but then such self-denial will be done not in order to be holy, but to serve God and others better - even as Paul gave up marriage in order to be more freely available to serve the Lord and the churches.
A fourth danger is that of undisciplined discipline!
We must not allow discipline to become our god. We must be willing to accept the interruptions of life, with an intelligent flexibility. Helping people - and not discipline itself - must be the supreme goal of all our self-discipline.
The discipline of the Pharisees was so rigid (the old wineskin) that it was incapable of holding the new wine of the kingdom of God. So their virtue - their discipline - became their downfall. That which should have fitted them better for the kingdom of God kept them out of it!!
DISCIPLINE AND HOLINESS
We must not confuse disciplined living with holy living. The two are not the same.
True holiness begins and ends with living for the glory of God, whereas discipline can, if we are not careful, begin and end with living for the glory of Self.
We must also avoid the age-old monastic mistake of assuming that discipline alone is the means of holiness.
Disciplined living is certainly necessary in maintaining holiness and in consolidating it into firm character. But no amount of discipline can make the sinful heart holy. Discipline may tie down certain bad habits, and restrain them. But it cannot create a clean heart. Only partaking of God's nature in Christ can do that.
Even the discipline of suffering cannot make us holy. Suffering itself never purifies anyone. Suffering is meant to drive us to God Who alone can sanctify us entirely. True holiness is imparted to us and inwrought within us by the Holy Spirit, not because we have suffered, but because we have surrendered to Him in the midst of our suffering.
We are sanctified not by our tears, but by faith in Christ's blood, and by submitting to the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. These are the secrets of a clean heart.
The work of holiness is an inward work. Discipline makes that work to be manifest in our external lives.
God's grace alone can help us to discipline ourselves, and give us continual power to keep on denying self, even at times when all of our flesh cries out for an easier path. And God's light alone can purify our motives in our search for a disciplined life. And without Christian motives, no discipline can ever be called Christian discipline.
False holiness is often seen in an extreme and unnatural self-discipline, that is practiced by restless Christians who whip themselves in order to conquer sin and to please God.
Such Christians live a life of tremendous strain. They are overscrupulous, legalistic, petty, quick to criticize others, afraid to laugh (lest they become lighthearted), and unnatural. Such behavior is often an attempt to compensate for some hidden sin, or to overcome some beast of lust within.
These are heroic efforts, no doubt; and so we do not despise them. But they do not lead anyone to true holiness.
It is through an honest confession of our sin, being cleansed and broken, and being filled with the Holy Spirit, that we partake of that "holiness which is no illusion" (Eph.4:24 - J.B.Philips). Then we can relax, breathe freely, act naturally and be normal human beings.
We will still put to death the deeds of the body - but the power for this will be given to us by the Spirit (Rom.8:13).
HOW TO BECOME A DISCIPLINED PERSON
1. Reinforce your motivation for a disciplined life. Think often of the disappointment that you will be to God if you fail to be the man or woman that He wants you to be, just because you are too lazy.
2. Begin with the simple things. A disciplined Christian will always seek to avoid making unnecessary work for others. So hang up your clothes. Make your bed promptly and neatly every morning. Keep the washbasin clean, and put your shoes in their proper place. Clean the tools that you use, and put them back where they belong. Don't despise these trifles as being irrelevant to becoming spiritual. They are the very essence of it. They indicate that extra touch of foresight, carefulness, and thoughtfulness that makes the difference between a spiritual Christian and a carnal one.
3. Show respect to all men - even to the poor and lowly. When speaking or listening to someone, develop the habit of looking at him, as if no-one else mattered to you at that moment. When in a meeting, discipline yourself to keep your eyes on the speaker, instead of allowing your eyes to wander here and there. To gaze around at people, or down at your feet is rude and discourteous, both to the Lord and to the speaker.
4. Tackle the difficult tasks promptly. Do first the things that you would rather do last. Sit down right now, and write that letter (or that article), that you have postponed for so long.
5. Be punctual for the meetings of the church and for your appointments. The habit of being on time will never be acquired, unless you are convinced that Christian courtesy demands it, and unless you plan ahead and allow yourself a sufficient margin of time to get to the appointed place.
6. Don't waste your time in idle daydreaming. Bring every thought into captivity to Christ. Make use of your spare time to read Christian books, or to fellowship with someone, or to help others.
7. Don't be agitated when unexpected events throw your well-laid plans into confusion - for that is only foolishness. Believe on the other hand, that what seems to you at that moment to be nothing but human blundering, may be the gentle steering of God for your very best (Rom.8:28) - and so give thanks to the Lord for His orderings.
8. Love your critics. Cultivate an attitude of sincere gratitude for all correction. This is also a discipline. Getting offended when corrected is a mark of immaturity. Be willing to learn from the lowliest.
9. Be restrained in the areas of curiosity, prejudice and dogmatism. Don't be a busybody in the matters of others. Don't have a bias against any person or community. And don't be stubborn in insisting that you alone are right. Watch yourself constantly in these areas.
10. Conquer gluttony. Eating is not a sin, but gluttony is. Paul said, "All things are lawful for me; but I will not be mastered by anything. Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food; but God will (one day) do away with both of them...The body is for the Lord" (1 Cor.6:12,13).
One should eat heartily and with enjoyment. But we should know what is good for us, and how much, and have the self-control to stop when we should. The best exercise for health is the 'push-ups' from the dining table. Excessive overweight always leads to under-productivity in the work of God, and can also shorten our lives considerably.
If our lives are shortened, because of exposure to difficult climates in the Lord's work, or other unavoidable factors, or because of persecution, we can die with honour. But if our life is shortened because of overeating, what will we say when we stand in the presence of our Lord?
11. Learn to wait. To grab something before God's time is to spoil it. There is a time in God's timetable for all things - for example, in the matter of marriage. Wait for that time, and don't rush ahead. If you would be a disciplined person, learn to respect the time-tags that are found on life's joys and responsibilities and privileges. We don't help God by opening a rosebud - we simply spoil the blossom.
12. Welcome the difficult tasks in life. Cultivate a sense of responsibility in doing them faithfully. Ask yourself these questions:
Can I be depended on to fulfil any task assigned to me?
Am I quick to help when a job needs to be done, or do I find myself slipping away quietly?
Do I accept responsibility for my decisions, and also for my mistakes?
Can I be depended on in money matters?
13. Be systematic in prayer and Bible-reading. This is essential for a disciplined life. The discipline of determining to spend a fixed amount of time for this, at any cost, every day, will by itself bring rich rewards.
14. Avoid unnecessary luxuries and don't be wasteful in spending money. "Suffer hardship as a good soldier of Christ" (2 Tim.2:3).
There are dangers in times of ease and prosperity that can be avoided only by some deliberate acts of self-denial on our part. "When the nest is feathered too well, the eaglets do not learn to fly". This is where fasting has a real value. Our goal in life is Christlikeness, not a comfortable life.
The Christian life is serious, challenging and demanding. Following Jesus will lead us, not to a picnic, but to a battle. And let us remember that our Captain "never pleased Himself" (Rom.15:3).
As His disciples, let us then:
- have a passion for improving the quality of our Christian life;
- have a sense of stewardship towards life, to fulfil God's will;
- be ready at all times for sacrifice or for service;
- apply ourselves faithfully at all times to the task at hand;
- ALL FOR JESUS' SAKE!
"God has given us a spirit of discipline" (2 Tim.1:7)
"The fruit of the Spirit is self-control" (Gal.5:22,23).
Discipline is what modern believers need the most but want the least.
Much of the restlessness and the instability in the lives of many Christians can be traced to the basic fault of an indisciplined way of life. There may be other secondary causes, but somewhere behind all of them is a fundamental need for discipline.
The discipline I am speaking of is far more than just the use of alarm clocks. It involves self-restraint, courage and perseverance as the inner armor of the soul.
Many emotional disorders among believers are the accumulated result of years of self-indulgent living. I am not thinking of backsliders who drink and commit adultery, but of respectable Christians who never do such things, but who are nevertheless indisciplined. A lifelong pattern of running away from trials, of avoiding difficult people, of seeking the easy way, of giving up when the going gets rough, finally produces sick believers, who are incapable either of fulfilling God's perfect will for their lives, or of functioning as useful members of the body of Christ.
The Bible says, "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small" (Prov.24:10).
Days of adversity will come to all of us. Only by consistent, disciplined living can that strength of character be developed in us, that can enable us to face those days of adversity without fainting.
DISCIPLINE - THE KEY TO POWER
Many Christians go through an emotional experience of "the baptism in the Spirit", that seems to be totally unrelated in their thinking to any form of rugged self-denial.
No-one can become genuinely holy, whatever experience he may have had, unless he is disciplined in all areas of daily living. The advantage that a man with a disciplined life has will be seen not only in greater holiness and spirituality, but also in greater efficiency and effectiveness in everything that he does for the Lord.
The strong disciplined character of Madam Guyon enabled her, even when imprisoned in a filthy French prison for many years (in the 17th century), to rise above her surroundings in her spirit, and to write:
"My cage confines me round
Abroad I cannot fly. But though my wing is
closely bound,
My heart's at liberty. My prison walls cannot
control
The flight and freedom of my soul."
There is tremendous spiritual power in such a
life.
The advantage that the disciplined person has over the undisciplined one shows up in many ordinary matters of daily life.
The disciplined person picks up his clothes; the undisciplined one lets them lie around.
One wipes clean the bathroom sink that he uses. The other leaves it dirty for someone else to clean.
One plans his work and works to his plan. The other works haphazardly.
One is always punctual in keeping his appointments. The other is notoriously late. One is always on time for the meetings of the church. The other is never on time.
The difference in all these cases is not one of character, but of habit.
The believers who get God's best in life are the ones who are thoughtful, systematic, thrifty, punctual and neat.
DISCIPLINE - THE MARK OF MATURITY
No-one can reach full maturity unless he is disciplined in daily life.
Our Physical Appetites
Discipline includes the subordination of the body's physical appetites to the Lordship of Christ.
Paul said, "Like an athlete, I punish my body, treating it roughly, training it to do what it should, and not what it wants to. Otherwise I fear that after enlisting others for the race, I myself might be declared unfit and ordered to stand aside" (1 Cor.9:27 - Living).
This begins with discipline in our eating habits and the ability to say at the dining table, "No, thank you. I won't have any more."
It also includes discipline in the sexual area. The sexual urge has to be fully controlled in one's unmarried days. But there is a place for discipline in this area even in married life. The man of disciplined character does not have to have a warm responsive wife, who caters to his every desire, in order to keep himself pure. It is by the grace of God that he keeps himself pure. If his relationship with his wife is happy, he is grateful. If it isn't, and he has to practice total abstinence all through his life, he simply seeks for more grace from God, and experiences the keeping power of God. This has nothing to do with natural temperament, but with discipline.
It is true that Paul warned married couples against subjecting one another to abnormal strain in this matter (1 Cor.7:5). But what can a man do when difficult circumstances make the carrying out of this instruction impossible? Then the disciplined man still lives in triumph, for he knows that God will not allow him to be tempted beyond his ability (1 Cor.10:13).
That great man of God, F.B.Meyer, once said in this connection (to someone who was struggling with sexual temptation), "I have had a cross to bear in this area in my life, and it has made me the man I am."
Emotions
Our emotions too must be brought under control. God certainly wants us to be warmhearted. But the warm heart must be wise. Otherwise it can end up doing and saying many foolish things, that can be regretted later on. We must always distrust our sudden impulses to say or to do something.
"A good man thinks before he speaks; the evil man pours out his evil words without a thought.....There is more hope for a fool than for one who is hasty in his words or his matters” (Prov.15:28; 29:20 - Living Bible, and KJV margin).
Emotional attachments to friends must also be disciplined. Two friends may gradually become so "thick" that they become possessive and exclusive. Such inordinate affection is both unhealthy and harmful.
In conversations with the opposite sex, a certain reserve and distance must be preserved at all costs - for friendship can become affection, and affection can lead to lust - to the shock of both involved. That which began innocently may end disastrously.
The rugged advice of Jesus to pluck out the offending eye, and to cut off the offending hand or foot, is never more appropriate than in such situations. Our soul, our home, our happiness and our testimony can all be saved, only if we take drastic action in such situations, and put our feelings to death ruthlessly.
Don't let Satan make you say, "I couldn't help it." Your emotions may not immediately obey your will. But your actions must.
In due course, your emotions also will follow the lead of your disciplined purpose and your decisive stand.
Don't ignite fires that you will later have to fight feverishly to put out.
Moods
Disciplined character also means the mastery of our moods.
A certain amount of the swing of the pendulum is unavoidable here, as long as we are in the flesh - for sometimes, a failure in our work or study, or physical weariness can bring a temporary cloud of discouragement quite easily. But we can by discipline, ensure that our moods don't hinder our work, our behaviour, or our relationships with others.
When we are slaves to our moods, we can make foolish decisions, spend money unnecessarily, neglect our duties, and alter our behaviour to people around us. At first people may be puzzled. But gradually they will begin to say, "Just one of his moods" - with a hint of scorn. And they will then learn to be careful in their relationships with us, because they never quite know what mood they will find us in. All of this makes for a very poor testimony for our Saviour and for the salvation we profess.
A disciplined Christian however behaves just as well when he "feels bad" as he does when he "feels good". He never complains that he doesn't feel like doing something.
A consistent work for God can be done only by those who have learnt to conquer their moods, and to work even when they "don't feel like it".
Speech
No-one can qualify for the high rating of a truly disciplined man unless his tongue is restrained by wisdom and directed by love (James 1:26).
A man may have a disciplined body, mind, and will, and even disciplined emotions, appetites and habits, but a loose tongue betrays a fatal fault in his armour.
Frankness in speech is not necessarily a Christian virtue. Only a fool expresses everything that comes to his mind. Frankness is a virtue only when it is coupled with intelligent, loving tact and discretion. But it can become an evil thing when it is the uncontrolled expression of opinions, without regard to time, place or human feelings.
It often takes a far higher display of discipline to refrain from speaking than it does to speak.
Forbearance and patience are the virtues that we all need to develop.
Priorities
A truly disciplined person is wise enough to subordinate less important things to the more important ones. Herein lies the most crucial problem that we face in our day and age.
We must learn to give first priority to the kingdom of God and His righteousness in practical daily living. This requires the discipline to reject day by day, that great list of activities that clamour for our attention and time, but that would hinder the doing of more important things.
Selection - selection - selection! This is the law of life.
We cannot do everything. So we must select. We cannot read everything. So we must select. Our spiritual stature will be determined exactly and entirely by our discipline in selecting our priorities.
If we "major in minors" and show "a first-rate dedication to second-rate matters", if we allow our friends, our impulses and the convenience of the moment, to dictate our priorities, we will drift weakly with the tide of daily circumstances, and will end up as shabby, mediocre, carnal Christians - useless to God and useless to men.
At the same time, if we merely give lip-service to the priorities of the kingdom, and allow them to remain forever in the realm of "good intentions", without rigidly adhering to them right now, the end result will again be zero character growth!!
Discipline in this area will push a man out of bed early in the morning to seek God, instead of rolling around for another half an hour, while wide awake.
Submission to Legitimate Authority
Another mark of the disciplined person is the ability to submit to legitimate authority gracefully. In most of life's normal relationships, rebellion is both stupid and destructive.
Habitual rebellion is the mark of carnal Christians, not of spiritual ones. It does not require either intelligence or character to assert loudly, "No-one can tell me what to do." But it requires both to submit graciously and with cheerful goodwill to authority. Insubordination is invariably the result of selfishness, and leads to misery and uselessness.
This does not mean that we are to blindly submit to the wishes and opinions of our authorities, if such submission violates our conscience. No. We must retain our individuality and our convictions, and know when to stand against authority, for the sake of truth.
THE DANGERS OF DISCIPLINE
Among the dangers there are in the pursuit of a disciplined life, the greatest one is imagining that discipline is the supreme value of life. It is not. A right relationship with God is the greatest of all treasures, and discipline must be seen as a servant, not a saviour!
A second danger is that of pride.
There is no doubt that discipline does make a man superior. If he is not watchful, the danger is that he will begin to feel superior too. There can be a sense of satisfaction in self-mastery, that ends up taking the glory to oneself, instead of humbly giving it to God. The most repugnant character of all is the disciplined Pharisee who is proud of what he has made of himself.
A third danger in the pursuit of discipline is that of going to the extreme of unChristian asceticism.
Christian discipline is far removed from pagan asceticism. Asceticism calls attention to itself; discipline does not. Asceticism says, "Touch not, taste not..."etc., (Col.2:20-23), whereas discipline deals only with those matters that affect our spiritual life.
Asceticism believes that all physical matter is evil, and tends to despise the good things of life. It denies joys and experiences that are the gifts of God, and believes that holiness consists of complete denial of everything earthly and physical. In contrast, Christian discipline never despises earthly blessings, but consecrates them to spiritual ends. It uses material things, but is not taken up with them, and does not abuse them (1 Cor.7:29-31). It does not abstain from physical enjoyments, but is self-controlled in the use of them, and uses them all for the glory of God.
It is true that Christian discipline may at times deny itself even God's good gifts, but then such self-denial will be done not in order to be holy, but to serve God and others better - even as Paul gave up marriage in order to be more freely available to serve the Lord and the churches.
A fourth danger is that of undisciplined discipline!
We must not allow discipline to become our god. We must be willing to accept the interruptions of life, with an intelligent flexibility. Helping people - and not discipline itself - must be the supreme goal of all our self-discipline.
The discipline of the Pharisees was so rigid (the old wineskin) that it was incapable of holding the new wine of the kingdom of God. So their virtue - their discipline - became their downfall. That which should have fitted them better for the kingdom of God kept them out of it!!
DISCIPLINE AND HOLINESS
We must not confuse disciplined living with holy living. The two are not the same.
True holiness begins and ends with living for the glory of God, whereas discipline can, if we are not careful, begin and end with living for the glory of Self.
We must also avoid the age-old monastic mistake of assuming that discipline alone is the means of holiness.
Disciplined living is certainly necessary in maintaining holiness and in consolidating it into firm character. But no amount of discipline can make the sinful heart holy. Discipline may tie down certain bad habits, and restrain them. But it cannot create a clean heart. Only partaking of God's nature in Christ can do that.
Even the discipline of suffering cannot make us holy. Suffering itself never purifies anyone. Suffering is meant to drive us to God Who alone can sanctify us entirely. True holiness is imparted to us and inwrought within us by the Holy Spirit, not because we have suffered, but because we have surrendered to Him in the midst of our suffering.
We are sanctified not by our tears, but by faith in Christ's blood, and by submitting to the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. These are the secrets of a clean heart.
The work of holiness is an inward work. Discipline makes that work to be manifest in our external lives.
God's grace alone can help us to discipline ourselves, and give us continual power to keep on denying self, even at times when all of our flesh cries out for an easier path. And God's light alone can purify our motives in our search for a disciplined life. And without Christian motives, no discipline can ever be called Christian discipline.
False holiness is often seen in an extreme and unnatural self-discipline, that is practiced by restless Christians who whip themselves in order to conquer sin and to please God.
Such Christians live a life of tremendous strain. They are overscrupulous, legalistic, petty, quick to criticize others, afraid to laugh (lest they become lighthearted), and unnatural. Such behavior is often an attempt to compensate for some hidden sin, or to overcome some beast of lust within.
These are heroic efforts, no doubt; and so we do not despise them. But they do not lead anyone to true holiness.
It is through an honest confession of our sin, being cleansed and broken, and being filled with the Holy Spirit, that we partake of that "holiness which is no illusion" (Eph.4:24 - J.B.Philips). Then we can relax, breathe freely, act naturally and be normal human beings.
We will still put to death the deeds of the body - but the power for this will be given to us by the Spirit (Rom.8:13).
HOW TO BECOME A DISCIPLINED PERSON
1. Reinforce your motivation for a disciplined life. Think often of the disappointment that you will be to God if you fail to be the man or woman that He wants you to be, just because you are too lazy.
2. Begin with the simple things. A disciplined Christian will always seek to avoid making unnecessary work for others. So hang up your clothes. Make your bed promptly and neatly every morning. Keep the washbasin clean, and put your shoes in their proper place. Clean the tools that you use, and put them back where they belong. Don't despise these trifles as being irrelevant to becoming spiritual. They are the very essence of it. They indicate that extra touch of foresight, carefulness, and thoughtfulness that makes the difference between a spiritual Christian and a carnal one.
3. Show respect to all men - even to the poor and lowly. When speaking or listening to someone, develop the habit of looking at him, as if no-one else mattered to you at that moment. When in a meeting, discipline yourself to keep your eyes on the speaker, instead of allowing your eyes to wander here and there. To gaze around at people, or down at your feet is rude and discourteous, both to the Lord and to the speaker.
4. Tackle the difficult tasks promptly. Do first the things that you would rather do last. Sit down right now, and write that letter (or that article), that you have postponed for so long.
5. Be punctual for the meetings of the church and for your appointments. The habit of being on time will never be acquired, unless you are convinced that Christian courtesy demands it, and unless you plan ahead and allow yourself a sufficient margin of time to get to the appointed place.
6. Don't waste your time in idle daydreaming. Bring every thought into captivity to Christ. Make use of your spare time to read Christian books, or to fellowship with someone, or to help others.
7. Don't be agitated when unexpected events throw your well-laid plans into confusion - for that is only foolishness. Believe on the other hand, that what seems to you at that moment to be nothing but human blundering, may be the gentle steering of God for your very best (Rom.8:28) - and so give thanks to the Lord for His orderings.
8. Love your critics. Cultivate an attitude of sincere gratitude for all correction. This is also a discipline. Getting offended when corrected is a mark of immaturity. Be willing to learn from the lowliest.
9. Be restrained in the areas of curiosity, prejudice and dogmatism. Don't be a busybody in the matters of others. Don't have a bias against any person or community. And don't be stubborn in insisting that you alone are right. Watch yourself constantly in these areas.
10. Conquer gluttony. Eating is not a sin, but gluttony is. Paul said, "All things are lawful for me; but I will not be mastered by anything. Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food; but God will (one day) do away with both of them...The body is for the Lord" (1 Cor.6:12,13).
One should eat heartily and with enjoyment. But we should know what is good for us, and how much, and have the self-control to stop when we should. The best exercise for health is the 'push-ups' from the dining table. Excessive overweight always leads to under-productivity in the work of God, and can also shorten our lives considerably.
If our lives are shortened, because of exposure to difficult climates in the Lord's work, or other unavoidable factors, or because of persecution, we can die with honour. But if our life is shortened because of overeating, what will we say when we stand in the presence of our Lord?
11. Learn to wait. To grab something before God's time is to spoil it. There is a time in God's timetable for all things - for example, in the matter of marriage. Wait for that time, and don't rush ahead. If you would be a disciplined person, learn to respect the time-tags that are found on life's joys and responsibilities and privileges. We don't help God by opening a rosebud - we simply spoil the blossom.
12. Welcome the difficult tasks in life. Cultivate a sense of responsibility in doing them faithfully. Ask yourself these questions:
Can I be depended on to fulfil any task assigned to me?
Am I quick to help when a job needs to be done, or do I find myself slipping away quietly?
Do I accept responsibility for my decisions, and also for my mistakes?
Can I be depended on in money matters?
13. Be systematic in prayer and Bible-reading. This is essential for a disciplined life. The discipline of determining to spend a fixed amount of time for this, at any cost, every day, will by itself bring rich rewards.
14. Avoid unnecessary luxuries and don't be wasteful in spending money. "Suffer hardship as a good soldier of Christ" (2 Tim.2:3).
There are dangers in times of ease and prosperity that can be avoided only by some deliberate acts of self-denial on our part. "When the nest is feathered too well, the eaglets do not learn to fly". This is where fasting has a real value. Our goal in life is Christlikeness, not a comfortable life.
The Christian life is serious, challenging and demanding. Following Jesus will lead us, not to a picnic, but to a battle. And let us remember that our Captain "never pleased Himself" (Rom.15:3).
As His disciples, let us then:
- have a passion for improving the quality of our Christian life;
- have a sense of stewardship towards life, to fulfil God's will;
- be ready at all times for sacrifice or for service;
- apply ourselves faithfully at all times to the task at hand;
- ALL FOR JESUS' SAKE!
Upholding the Truth
Written by Christopher sermonindex.net
Hello all,
I would like to interject my concerns with the difficulty behind the underlying principle of “upholding the Truth.” Everyone who is a real believer assumes that they are upholding “high standards on Truth.” Every man of God (professional or layman) holds to a set of ideals that he believes to be “Truth.” Yet there will always be some man or woman, congregation, apologist or would-be “prophet” and “watchman” who will disagree.
Some people truly believe that they are “upholding the Truth” when they proclaim that the KJV is the only true Word of God. Some people truly believe that they are “upholding the Truth” when they proclaim that there will be no “gathering of the saints” before the period of God’s wrath. Some people think that they are “upholding the Truth” when they proclaim that there WILL be a “rapture.” Some churches truly believe that they are “upholding the Truth” when they set particular standards for modesty that they believe is clearly spelled out in Scripture (such as women wearing only dresses…or physical head coverings). Some people believe that they are “upholding the Truth” when they proclaim that “once you’re saved, you will always be saved.” Others believe that they are “upholding the Truth” when they proclaim an opposite viewpoint. Some people believe that they are “upholding the Truth” when they proclaim that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is evidenced by speaking in tongues. Others believe that they are “upholding the Truth” when they proclaim otherwise regarding tongues.
Do you see the difficulty behind a set definition of “upholding the Truth?” Taking a stand on one or all of these is not necessarily “upholding the Truth.” Rather, it is upholding doctrinal peculiarities. How do I know? Because, a very large percentage of true believers cannot agree on any number of such issues.
I certainly believe in prophets…and defenders of the faith…and watchmen. Yet, it is my experience that many would-be “prophets” and “watchmen” are merely proclaiming doctrinal peculiarities than “Truth.” Far too often, they are willing to point the finger of “heresy” at anyone who disagrees with their particular doctrinal views…with a smugness that comes as though they believe that they are doing their “duty” for Christ. For over five years on SermonIndex, I have noticed that most of the heated disputes occur when one believer proclaims something to be “Truth” in the face of other believers.
One thing that I love about Leonard Ravenhill is that I don’t necessarily know where he “stood” on many of the issues that divide much of the Body of Christ. I don’t know where he stood on “eternal security” or “head coverings.” I don’t know what he thought about music. I don’t know where he stood on many, many issues. Even on those issues that he did have some semblance of a “stand,” I don’t know that I ever saw him “proclaim” such things as “standards” by which he was “upholding the Truth.” This is even interesting in the fact that I met with him in his home when I was a young teenager shortly before he died.
During that meeting, Brother Ravenhill told me that he was going to tell me one of the most important things that he had learned during his life. He didn’t proclaim some supposed “truth” about the coming of the Lord, the extent to which salvation can be lost or not, or whether he felt one translation of the Bible was supreme to all others. He didn’t instruct me about music…or a personal definition about “worldliness.” Rather, Brother Ravenhill simply urged me to “test everything.” He literally told me to not believe anything that I had ever been taught or read…because this is largely the reason why the Church is in the condition that it is in. Believers are too quick to believe something. He explained that the Church is in the condition that it is in because the Church has been operating like it has for a long time. A true revival, he explained, is when each person is consumed with an unquenchable hunger to know and fellowship with Jesus…and where nothing else matters as much.
There are a lot of silly definitions being spread around the Body of Christ regarding what a “revival” will be. Many supposed “watchmen” seem to think that a “real” revival will occur when everyone will embrace and uphold their particular ideas about doctrinal “Truth.” How silly. I seriously doubt that a time will come on this side of Eternity in which all believers will agree upon every last doctrinal detail. Leonard Ravenhill could be considered a “watchman” by some – not because he upheld and proclaimed a particular set of doctrines, but because he stressed the need for mere men to take Christ (and eternity) seriously. Too often, I think, “truth” is lost in the details.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is pure and simple. It is men who complicate it. It is men who create particular standards for “Truth” (which is often what they consider “doctrinal purity”) and then proclaim as much to their listeners. I think that this is what Brother ChrisJD was saying in his post (correct me if I am wrong, brother). I believe part of the reason that the Church needs to be revived is because the Church has left the simplicity of the Gospel and begun focusing upon doctrinal issues and persuasions that divide the Body of Christ. Yet it is possible to have true Biblical unity of the faith without agreeing on every last dot and tittle. Remember, if any person were to stand (even here in SermonIndex) and proclaim EVERYTHING that they believe to be “truth”…quite a few people will stand in opposition.
There are some things that are undeniable foundational truths. These things are spelled out clearly in the Word of God. The most important of these is a deep awareness of our need for the Lord and a longing to have a relationship with Him. I am troubled, however, by those who would choose to proclaim remote doctrinal peculiarities as “upholding the Truth.” Even many of those who would agree on a “need for particular doctrinal clarity” and “obedience” would be surprised to find that many people would agree with the notion but disagree on the definition of “Truth” in regard to such peculiarities.
Please do not make the mistake that I am trying to say that doctrine is not important. We need to uphold what is true. Yet the problem of division comes in the details…in which some men would become confrontational by insisting on a particular set of doctrines that are not largely agreed upon by those people who truly seek Jesus. Thank God that He does not make an exhaustive list of doctrinal “conditions” for becoming a child of God! Many would be prophets walk around with a “victim syndrome” as they complain that some people do not listen to them regarding a peculiarity – and then equate this to a rejection of “Truth.” There is something wrong with this picture…when we can’t distinguish between a peculiar set of doctrinal views and “undeniable truth.”
Anyway, please understand that I am not trying to be discordant about such things. This has been an issue on SermonIndex – and in the Body of Christ – for a long time. If anyone here (including those who believe that they are “watchmen”) were to stand up and proclaim exactly what they considered to be “Truth” – there will be an dispute or debate (even from their closest brethren). Another very sincere believer (with a jealous love for our Lord) will point to what is being proclaimed and say that it is not “truth.” Will the original proclaimer of that supposed "truth" be so bold and audacious as to proclaim that those with whom they disagree to be in an error or delusion...or will they simply feel that they have a difference of opinion on a particular matter?
Hello all,
I would like to interject my concerns with the difficulty behind the underlying principle of “upholding the Truth.” Everyone who is a real believer assumes that they are upholding “high standards on Truth.” Every man of God (professional or layman) holds to a set of ideals that he believes to be “Truth.” Yet there will always be some man or woman, congregation, apologist or would-be “prophet” and “watchman” who will disagree.
Some people truly believe that they are “upholding the Truth” when they proclaim that the KJV is the only true Word of God. Some people truly believe that they are “upholding the Truth” when they proclaim that there will be no “gathering of the saints” before the period of God’s wrath. Some people think that they are “upholding the Truth” when they proclaim that there WILL be a “rapture.” Some churches truly believe that they are “upholding the Truth” when they set particular standards for modesty that they believe is clearly spelled out in Scripture (such as women wearing only dresses…or physical head coverings). Some people believe that they are “upholding the Truth” when they proclaim that “once you’re saved, you will always be saved.” Others believe that they are “upholding the Truth” when they proclaim an opposite viewpoint. Some people believe that they are “upholding the Truth” when they proclaim that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is evidenced by speaking in tongues. Others believe that they are “upholding the Truth” when they proclaim otherwise regarding tongues.
Do you see the difficulty behind a set definition of “upholding the Truth?” Taking a stand on one or all of these is not necessarily “upholding the Truth.” Rather, it is upholding doctrinal peculiarities. How do I know? Because, a very large percentage of true believers cannot agree on any number of such issues.
I certainly believe in prophets…and defenders of the faith…and watchmen. Yet, it is my experience that many would-be “prophets” and “watchmen” are merely proclaiming doctrinal peculiarities than “Truth.” Far too often, they are willing to point the finger of “heresy” at anyone who disagrees with their particular doctrinal views…with a smugness that comes as though they believe that they are doing their “duty” for Christ. For over five years on SermonIndex, I have noticed that most of the heated disputes occur when one believer proclaims something to be “Truth” in the face of other believers.
One thing that I love about Leonard Ravenhill is that I don’t necessarily know where he “stood” on many of the issues that divide much of the Body of Christ. I don’t know where he stood on “eternal security” or “head coverings.” I don’t know what he thought about music. I don’t know where he stood on many, many issues. Even on those issues that he did have some semblance of a “stand,” I don’t know that I ever saw him “proclaim” such things as “standards” by which he was “upholding the Truth.” This is even interesting in the fact that I met with him in his home when I was a young teenager shortly before he died.
During that meeting, Brother Ravenhill told me that he was going to tell me one of the most important things that he had learned during his life. He didn’t proclaim some supposed “truth” about the coming of the Lord, the extent to which salvation can be lost or not, or whether he felt one translation of the Bible was supreme to all others. He didn’t instruct me about music…or a personal definition about “worldliness.” Rather, Brother Ravenhill simply urged me to “test everything.” He literally told me to not believe anything that I had ever been taught or read…because this is largely the reason why the Church is in the condition that it is in. Believers are too quick to believe something. He explained that the Church is in the condition that it is in because the Church has been operating like it has for a long time. A true revival, he explained, is when each person is consumed with an unquenchable hunger to know and fellowship with Jesus…and where nothing else matters as much.
There are a lot of silly definitions being spread around the Body of Christ regarding what a “revival” will be. Many supposed “watchmen” seem to think that a “real” revival will occur when everyone will embrace and uphold their particular ideas about doctrinal “Truth.” How silly. I seriously doubt that a time will come on this side of Eternity in which all believers will agree upon every last doctrinal detail. Leonard Ravenhill could be considered a “watchman” by some – not because he upheld and proclaimed a particular set of doctrines, but because he stressed the need for mere men to take Christ (and eternity) seriously. Too often, I think, “truth” is lost in the details.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is pure and simple. It is men who complicate it. It is men who create particular standards for “Truth” (which is often what they consider “doctrinal purity”) and then proclaim as much to their listeners. I think that this is what Brother ChrisJD was saying in his post (correct me if I am wrong, brother). I believe part of the reason that the Church needs to be revived is because the Church has left the simplicity of the Gospel and begun focusing upon doctrinal issues and persuasions that divide the Body of Christ. Yet it is possible to have true Biblical unity of the faith without agreeing on every last dot and tittle. Remember, if any person were to stand (even here in SermonIndex) and proclaim EVERYTHING that they believe to be “truth”…quite a few people will stand in opposition.
There are some things that are undeniable foundational truths. These things are spelled out clearly in the Word of God. The most important of these is a deep awareness of our need for the Lord and a longing to have a relationship with Him. I am troubled, however, by those who would choose to proclaim remote doctrinal peculiarities as “upholding the Truth.” Even many of those who would agree on a “need for particular doctrinal clarity” and “obedience” would be surprised to find that many people would agree with the notion but disagree on the definition of “Truth” in regard to such peculiarities.
Please do not make the mistake that I am trying to say that doctrine is not important. We need to uphold what is true. Yet the problem of division comes in the details…in which some men would become confrontational by insisting on a particular set of doctrines that are not largely agreed upon by those people who truly seek Jesus. Thank God that He does not make an exhaustive list of doctrinal “conditions” for becoming a child of God! Many would be prophets walk around with a “victim syndrome” as they complain that some people do not listen to them regarding a peculiarity – and then equate this to a rejection of “Truth.” There is something wrong with this picture…when we can’t distinguish between a peculiar set of doctrinal views and “undeniable truth.”
Anyway, please understand that I am not trying to be discordant about such things. This has been an issue on SermonIndex – and in the Body of Christ – for a long time. If anyone here (including those who believe that they are “watchmen”) were to stand up and proclaim exactly what they considered to be “Truth” – there will be an dispute or debate (even from their closest brethren). Another very sincere believer (with a jealous love for our Lord) will point to what is being proclaimed and say that it is not “truth.” Will the original proclaimer of that supposed "truth" be so bold and audacious as to proclaim that those with whom they disagree to be in an error or delusion...or will they simply feel that they have a difference of opinion on a particular matter?