DISCIPLINE A PRE-REQUISITE TO GODLINESS

11/28/99

1 Tim 6:3-16

3If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which God will bring about in his own time-God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.

To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

1 Tim 2:1-4

2:1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all men to

be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

1 Tim 4:6-8

6If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the

present life and the life to come.

2 Peter 1:3-4

3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

A man went to the doctor after weeks of symptoms. The doctor examined him carefully, then called the patient's wife into his office.
"Your husband is suffering from a rare form of anemia. Without treatment, he'll be dead in a few weeks. The good news is, it can be treated with proper nutrition."

"You will need to get up early every morning and fix your husband a hot breakfast--pancakes, bacon and eggs, the works. He'll need a home-cooked lunch every day, and then an old-fashioned meat-and-potato dinner every evening. It would be especially helpful if you could bake frequently. Cakes, pies, homemade bread--these are the things that will allow your husband to live.

"One more thing. His immune system is weak, so it's important that your home be kept spotless at all times. Do you have any questions?" The wife had none.

"Do you want to break the news, or shall I?" asked the doctor.

"I will," the wife replied.

She walked into the exam room. The husband, sensing the seriousness of his illness, asked her, "It's bad, isn't it?"

She nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "What's going to happen to me?" he asked.

With a sob, the wife blurted out, "The doctor says you're gonna die!"

IF I WERE TO TAKE A GENERAL CONSENSUS ABOUT DISCIPLINE THIS MORNING WE WOULD ALL IDENTIFY WITH THIS GUYS WIFE. HE COULD LIVE IF HE CHANGED HIS DIET AND HIS WIFE LOVED HIM ENOUGH TO SUBMIT TO A NEW DISCIPLINE FOR THEIR LIVES.

WHAT IS DISCIPLINE? WEBSTER DEFINES DISCIPLINE AS TRAINING THAT DEVELOPS SELF-CONTROL AND CHARACTER AND RESULTS IN AN ORDERLY AND EFFICIENT LIFE. IT IMPLIES STRICT CONTROL TO ENFORCE OBEDIENCE AND THEN ACCEPTANCE OF AND SUBMISSION TO AUTHORITY. WHERE THERE IS NO DISCIPLINE THERE WILL BE NO CHARACTER. CHARACTER IS NOT YOUR REPUTATION, THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE THINK YOU ARE. CHARACTER IS NOT ACCOMPLISHMENT AND ACHIEVEMENT, THAT’S WHAT YOU DO. CHARACTER IS WHAT YOU ARE. CHARACTER IS WHAT YOU ARE WHEN NOBODY’S AROUND, IT’S THE REAL YOU THAT ONLY YOU AND GOD KNOW ABOUT. CHARACTER IS VITAL TO BUILDING A MEANINGFUL, PURPOSEFUL, FRUITFUL AND SUCCESSFUL LIFE. YOU CAN BE GIFTED AND TALENTED BUT IF YOU DON’T HAVE CHARACTER YOU WON’T MAKE IT, THAT IS, YOU WON’T MAKE IT IN THE LONG HAUL. YOU SEE, ITS NOT HOW YOU START THAT MATTERS WITH GOD, IT HOW YOU FINISH. GOD IS NOT AS MUCH INTERESTED IN HOW MUCH WE ACCOMPLISH IN LIFE AS MUCH AS HOW WE DID IT, WITH WHAT CHARACTER AND WITH WHAT KIND OF MOTIVATION. IN THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS JESUS SAID TO THE 2 MEN THAT INCREASED THEIR TALENTS, WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANTS. HE DIDN’T SAY MUCH DONE BUT HE SAW THE QUALITY OF THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENT AND SAID "WELL DONE!"

2 Peter 1:5-9

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

I WAS WATCHING A CLOSE FOOTBALL GAME LAST SUNDAY NIGHT AFTER CHURCH. THERE WAS AN INTERFERENCE CALL ON # 29 AND HE WENT BALLISTICS AND IN HIS ANGER ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED INTO A REF. IT COST HIM AND HIS TEAM TWO BACK TO BACK PENALTIES WHICH PUT THE FOOTBALL ON THE 1 FOOT YARD LINE AND HE WAS THROWN OUT OF THE GAME ALL BECAUSE OF A LACK OF DISCIPLINE AND SELF CONTROL. ALTHOUGH THAT PLAYER HAS A LOT OF RAW TALENT AND PHYSICAL ABILITY UNTIL HE GETS IN CONTROL HE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A LIABILITY FOR HIS TEAM.

DENNIS RODAMN IS ANOTHER PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE THAT HAS LITTLE OR NO DISCIPLINE. THOSE CHARACTER ISSUES DETERMINE YOUR SUCCESS IN LIFE, NOT THE PERMED HAIR OR THE FISH ON YOUR CAR, NOT HOW LOUD YOU PRAY, NOT WHETHER YOU HAVE A GREAT PROPHESY OR GET SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT OR GET WARM AND GOOEY FEELINGS THE ISSUE IS CHARACTER. THAT’S WHAT HOLDS YOU UP AND YOU DON’T GET THAT BY THE LAYING ON OF HANDS, YOU DON’T GET THAT BY COMING TO CHURCH ITS PRODUCED THROUGH A PROCESS CALLED DISCIPLINE. SO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT DISCIPLINE THIS MORNING AS A PRE-REQUISTE TO GODLINESS.

Prov 29:17-18

17Discipline your son, and he will give you peace;

he will bring delight to your soul.

18Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint;

but blessed is he who keeps the law.

GOD HAS SPOKEN TO US QUITE OFTEN ABOUT VISION, PURPOSE AND DESTINY. WE ARE TO BE A PEOPLE OF VISION, PURPOSE AND DESTINY. WE ARE DESTINED TO BE OVERCOMERS, CHAMPIONS OF FAITH, MORE THEN CONQUERORS AND EXCELLENT IN EVERYTHING GOD HAS CALLED US TO DO IN BUSINESS, IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND IN CHURCH. HE SHOWS US WHERE HE WANTS TO TAKE US BECAUSE HE KNOW’S THERE’S A PRICE TO PAY IN SELF-DENIAL AND DISCIPLNE TO GET THERE. SEVERAL TIMES IN SCRIPTURE THE CHRISTIAN IS PORTRAYED AS A RUNNER IN A MARATHON RACE. LET’S LOOK AT THOSE THIS MORNING:

1 Cor 9:24-27

24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Heb 12:1-3

12:1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

1 Tim 6:11-12

11But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

SOME PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE EVERYTHING GO RIGHT. SOME PEOPLE SEEM TO SUCCEED AT EVERYTHING THEY TRY. THEY GOT SUCCESSFUL CAREERS, THEY RELATE WELL TO THEIR FAMILIES, THEY HAVE AN ACTIVE GROWING RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, THEY GOT GOOD FRIENDS AND THEY’RE FUN PEOPLE TO BE AROUND. THEY ARE CONFIDENT AND USUALLY PHYSICALLY FIT. ONCE WE GET OVER OUR INITIAL JEALOUSY OF THESE KINDS OF PEOPLE AND WE GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO FIND OUT WHY THEIR FULFILLED, WHY THEY’RE SUCCESSFUL WE’LL DISCOVER THE COMMON DENOMINATOR ABOUT ALL OF THEM IS DISCIPLINE. ITS NOT LUCK ITS DISCIPLINE. ON THE OTHER SIDE WE COULD FIND PEOPLE WITH AN EMBARRASSING TRACK RECORD OF REPEATED SETBACK AND REPEATED DISASTER AND REPEATED FAILURE. IF YOU GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO THESE PEOPLE YOU’LL PICK UP CERTAIN THINGS TOO AND IF YOU LISTEN TO THEM TALK YOU’LL HEAR SENTENCES LIKE: "WELL, THINGS WERE GOING FINE FOR AWHILE BUT I JUST LET A FEW THINGS SLIP. I GUESS I JUST DIDN’T THINK IT THROUGH. I STOPPED MAKING CALLS OR I SAT ON THE LEAD. I GOT LAZY OR THE COMPETITION WAS TOO TOUGH. I DIDN’T TAKE CARE OF MYSELF. I DIDN’T LISTEN TO THE WARNING SIGNS. I DIDN’T SPEND ENOUGH TIME WITH MY FAMILY. I LET THE SPENDING GET OUT OF CONTROL. AND THE LIST FOR FAILURE EXCUSES GOES ON AND ON FOREVER BUT YOU CAN BOIL THEM ALL DOWN TO ONE COMMON DENOMINATOR AND THAT IS: LACK OF DISCIPLINE.

SCOTT PACK IN HIS BOOK, THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED WRITES, " DISCIPLINE IS THE BASIC SET OF TOOLS WE REQUIRE TO SOLVE LIFE’S PROBLEMS. WITHOUT DISCIPLINE WE CAN SOLVE NOTHING. WITH ONLY SOME DISCIPLINE WE CAN SOLVE ONLY SOME PROBLEMS BUT WITH TOTAL DISCIPLINE WE CAN SOLVE ALL PROBLEMS." NOW ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION, HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU KNOW THAT ARE HIGHLY DISCIPLINED? DO YOU KNOW 5, DO YOU KNOW 1? DO YOU KNOW WHY ITS HARD TO FIND CROWDS OF PEOPLE LIKE THAT, BECAUSE SOCIETY AS A WHOLE EQUATES DISCIPLINE TO HARDSHIP. IF I WERE TO ASK YOU TO PAINT A WORD PICTURE OF DISCIPLINE THIS MORNING, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY. MOST PEOPLE WOULD PROBABLY THINK OF MILITARY BOOTCAMP, SOME WOULD THINK OF PAIN OR PUNISH-MENT. BUT IN EVERY CASE ITS USUALLY CARRIES A NEGATIVE CONNOTATION.

THE TRUTH IS THAT NOTHING WORTHWHILE OR SIGNIFICANT IS POSSIBLE WITHOUT DISCIPLINE. ALTHOUGH DISCIPLINE REQUIRES HARD WORK IT IS NEVER CONSIDERED A HARDSHIP. IN REALITY IS PERMITTS SUCCESS AND SETS US FREE FROM FRUITLESS, MEANINGLESS LIVING.

Prov.6:23

For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light,

and the corrections of discipline are the way to life,

CONTRARY TO POPULAR OPINION, DISCIPLINE DOES NOT HINDER YOU, DISCIPLINE FREES YOU. GOD SAYS, DISCIPLINE IS THE WAY TO LIFE. I LIKE WHAT ROGER STARBACK SAID, CONFIDENCE IS THE RESULT OF HOURS, DAYS WEEKS AND YEARS OF CONSTANT WORK AND DEDICATION. NOTHING GOOD IN LIFE OR ATHLETICS COMES UNLESS A LOT OF HARD WORK HAS PRECEDED THE EFFORT. ONLY TEMPORARY SUCCESS IS ACHIEVED BY TAKING SHORT CUTS.

I HEARD A STORY ABOUT THE TEAM PSYCHOLOGIST FOR THE MILWAUKEE BUCS BASKETBALL TEAM WHO ARRIVED 3 HOURS BEFORE THE GAME FOR A TEAM MEETING TO HELP PLAYERS DEFINE THEIR PERSONAL GOALS AND TEAM GOALS. WHILE HE’S INSIDE PREPARING FOR THAT MEETING HE HEARS SOMEONE OUT ON THE COURT BOUNCING A BASKETBALL. HE’S THINKING TO HIMSELF, WOW, I GOT MY STAR PLAYER, MY ROLE MODEL WHOSE COMING OUT THIS EARLY TO SHARPEN HIS SKILLS AND HE WANTS TO SEE WHO IT IS. SO WHEN HE WALKS OUT ON THE FLOOR HE DOESN’T SEE A MILWAUKEE BUCK PLAYER, ITS LARRY BIRD OF THE BOSTON CELTICS. LARRY’S OUT ON THE COURT WALKING FROM ONE END OF THE COURT TO THE OTHER. HE’S NOT DRIBBLING THE WAY YOU WOULD THINK OF SOMEONE WHOSE DRIBBLING AROUND TO TAKE A SHOT ITS JUST EVEN STEPS AND CONSTANT, METHODICAL DRIBBLING FROM ONE END OF THE COURT TO THE OTHER. WHEN LARRY’S DONE WITH HIS ROUTINE HE WALKS UP TO HIM AND ASKS HIM WHAT HE WAS DOING. LARRY SAID, WHENEVER I GO TO A VISITING TEAMS COURT I GET THERE EARLY, I WALK EVERY INCH OF THE COURT AND DRIBBLE THE BALL TO SEE IF THERE’S ANY UNLEVELED AREAS AND DEAD SPOTS ON THE FLOOR WHERE I COULD LOOSE BALL CONTROL. I REMEMBER THOSE SPOTS DURING THE GAME AND AVOID GOING THERE. I ALSO WANT TO GAUGE THE DISTANCE TO THE HOOP SO I CAN SHOOT QUICKLY IN THE CLOSING MINUTES OF THE GAME WITHOUT LOOKING. NOW FOLKS, THAT’S CALLED DISCIPLINE. LARRY BIRD WAS NOT AS GIFTED AS MOST NBA PLAYERS: HE WASN’T FAST, HE COULDN’T JUMP HIGH, HE HAD A BAD BACK AND HE LOOKED AWKWARD, YET HE’S AN NBA LEGEND AND IN THE HALL OF FAME AND HE’S COACHING THE INDIANA PACES TODAY. WHY? BECAUSE HE PAID THE PRICE OF HARD WORK AND DISCIPLINE. LARRY BIRD WASN’T LUCKY, IT WASN’T AN ACCIDENT. YOU SEE, THERE’S A PRICE TO PAY TO BECOME A PERSON OF CHARACTER AND THAT’S CALLED DISCIPLINE.

DO YOU REMEMBER THE FRAM OIL FILTER COMMERCIALS THEY USED TO SHOW ON TV AND THEY’D SAY: "YOU CAN PAY ME NOW OR YOU CAN PAY ME LATER." THE GUY WHO PAYS LATER, ALWAYS PAYS MORE. IF YOU LET YOUR CAR GO THE COST ALWAYS GOES UP WHEN YOU DECIDE TO FIX IT. YOU LET YOUR MARRIAGE GO IN THE EARLY STAGES CAUSE OF NO DISCIPLINE, ITS GONNA COST YOU LAWYER AND ALIMONY. COME ON SOMEBODY, THAT’S CALLED STUPID. IF YOU LET YOUR FINANCES GO WITH NO SELF CONTROL AND DISCIPLINE ITS GONNA COST YOU. WHATEVER YOU LET GO IS GONNA COST AND YOU WILL PAY, AND IF YOU DON’T PAY NOW YOU WILL PAY LATER AND YOU WILL ALWAYS PAY MORE! LISTEN TO THE COST OF DISCIPLINE VERSUS THE COST OF REGRET:

1. THE COST OF DISCIPLINE IS HARD WORK, THE COST OF REGRET IS WASTED YEARS.

2. THE COST OF DISCIPLINE IS DEDICATION, THE COST OF REGRET IS INSIGNIFICANCE.

3. THE COST OF DISCIPLINE IS DILIGENCE, THE COST OF REGRET IS A PURPOSELESS LIFE.

4. THE COST OF DISCIPLINE IS DELAYED GRATIFICATION, THE COST OF REGRET IS A SUPERFICIAL LIFE.

SO IF THE COST OF DISCIPLINE IS ONE POUND THE COST OF REGRET WEIGHS A TON. YOU ARE GOING TO PAY A PRICE CALLED PAIN AND YOU’RE GONNA PAY ON THE FRONT END OF DISCIPLINE WHICH HURTS A LITTLE NOW OR YOU’LL PAY AT THE END AND IT HURTS A WHOLE LOT MORE, SO PAY EARLY. WHAT IS DISCIPLINE? ITS HARD WORK, ITS DILIGENCE AND ITS DELAYED GRATIFICATION. DELAYED GRATIFICATION IS SAVING THE BEST FOR THE LAST. LET’S LOOK AT SOME AREAS OF DELAYED GRATIFICATION:

1. DELAYED GRATIFICATION IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE.

2. DELAYED GRATIFICATION IN OUR FAMILY LIFE.

3. DELAYED GRATIFICATION IN OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH.

4. DELAYED GRATIFICATION IN OUR FINANCES.

NOW WE WILL LOOK AT THESE FOUR AREAS OF DELAYED GRATIFICATION NEXT WEEK BUT JUST LET ME MAKE SOME PRELIMINARY COMMENTS TO GET YOU THINKING ABOUT THIS KIND OF DISCIPLINE. DELAYED GRATIFICATION IS SAVING THE BEST FOR THE LAST. FOR INSTANCE, WE CELEBRATED THANKSGIVING ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. I KNOW ALL MY KIDS WILL BE HOME FROM COLLEGE AND IT WILL BE A GREAT TIME TO BE WITH THE FAMILY. BUT, I STILL HAVE TO PREACH ON SUNDAY MORNING AND I DO MOST O MY PREPARATION ON THURS AND FRIDAY. SO I WAKE UP MONDAY MORNING AND WRITE 3/4 OF MY SERMON AND I FINISH THE REST OF IT BY WEDNESDAY. WHY? CAUSE I KNOW I WON’T BE ABLE TO ENJOY THANKSGIVING WITH MY FAMILY CAUSE I’M GONNA BE THINKING ABOUT THAT SERMON I NEED TO PREPARE FOR. IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT WE DO TOGETHER, WATCH A FOOTBALL GAME OR PLAY A GAME TOGETHER. I WON’T ENJOY IT AS MUCH IF I’M WORRIED ABOUT SUNDAY’S SERVICES. SO WHAT DO I DO? I PLAN AHEAD AND DO THE WORK BEFORE SO THAT I CAN MAXIMIZE THE ENJOYMENT OF BEING WITH MY FAMILY. THAT’S DELAYED GRATIFICATION.

THE SAME THING APPLIES TO AN ATHLETE. THEY GO THROUGH RIGOROUS PHYSICAL AND MENTAL TRAINING, PRACTICE, RUNNING DRILLS AND PASSING DRILLS IN ORDER TO ENJOY A WINNING SEASON AND REACH THE GOAL OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. THE SAME PRINCIPAL APPLIES IN SCHOOL. BETHANY DOES THE BEST JOB OF ANY OF OUR KIDS. AS SOON AS SCHOOL IS OVER SHE DOES HER HOMEWORK. WHY? WHAT SHE LEARNED IN CLASS IS STILL FRESH IN HER MEMORY, IT’S EASIER TO DO AND SHE WON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING HER WORK DONE ALL WEEKEND SO SHE CAN ENJOY IT MORE.

IF YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN ANY AREA OF YOUR LIFE, IN BUSINESS, IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS OR IN CHURCH YOU’RE GONNA HAVE TO PRACTICE DELAYED GRATIFICATION. IF YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT ANYTHING YOU DO THEN YOUR GOING TO HAVE TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE OF CHARACTER AND PEOPLE OF DISCIPLINE. SUCCESS NORMALLY FOLLOWS AN INTENSE COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE. LISTEN, EXCELLENCE IS AVAILABLE TO ALL WHO ARE WILLING TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO DISCIPLINE.

THERE ARE FIVE KEYS TO SUCCESS IN LIFE THAT DEFINES THIS IDEA ABOUT DISCIPLINE. NOW BEFORE I SHARE THOSE FIVE THINGS WITH YOU LET ME SUMMARIZE IT WITH THIS SCRIPTURE:

1 John 2:15-17

15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For everything in the world-the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world. 17The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

FIVE KEYS TO SUCCESS IN LIFE:

1. WHAT YOU WATCH.

2. WHAT YOU LISTEN TO.

3. WHAT YOU READ.

4. WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT.

5. WHO YOU ASSOCIATE WITH.

Deut 28:12-14

12The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty,

to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of

your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.

13The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention

to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and

carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. 14Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to

the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.

YOU SEE, WITHOUT DISCIPLINE YOU CAN’T MANAGE THOSE AREAS OF YOUR LIFE AND YOU ARE DOOMED TO FAILURE OR AT THE BEST MEDIOCRITY. THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH MEDIOCRITY IS THAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO EXCELLENCE, TO BE AN OVERCOMER AND TO BE MORE THAN A CONQUEROR. HE’S CALLED YOU TO BE THE HEAD AND NOT THE TAIL. HE’S CALLED EVERYONE OF US TO BE A LEADER IN SOME AREA OF OUR LIFE AND HE’S GIVEN ALL OF US A SPHERE OF INFLUENCE FOR THE TESTIMONY OF CHRIST. THE QUEST FOR SUCCESS IS NOT ALWAYS A COMFORTABLE JOURNEY. NO, TURBULENCE, PAIN AND DISCIPLINE ARE ALL A NECESSARY PART OF THE JOURNEY.

I KNOW THAT THE BIBLE HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT PRIDE BUT I BELIEVE THAT IT’S TIME FOR CHRISTIAN’S IN EVERY AREA OF WALK TO ASSUME SOME PRIDE IN WHO CHRIST MADE YOU TO BE. HERE’S WHAT I MEAN IN THE ACRONYM OF PRIDE:

P: PERSONAL

R: RESPONSIBILITY

I: IN

D: DEVELOPING

E: EXCELLENCE

LISTEN, WHERE THERE IS NO VISION THE PEOPLE CAST OFF RESTRAINT BUT WHERE THERE ARE GOD BIRTHED GOALS AND DREAMS PEOPLE WILLINGLY ACCEPT RESTRAINT AND DISCIPLINE. SUCCESS HAS VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH INTELLIGENCE AND A LOT TO DO WITH DETERMINATION. DON’T ALLOW THE SEED OF DOUBT TO BE PLANTED IN YOUR MIND, SEE YOURSELF AS GOD SEES YOU, A WINNER. LISTEN, IF YOU DON’T START, YOU DON’T HAVE A CHANCE OF GETTING THERE. WILLIAM MARSTON SAID, "ON THE PLAINS OF HESITATION BLEACH THE BONES OF COUNTLESS MILLIONS WHO, ON THE THRESHOLD OF VICTORY, SAT DOWN TO WAIT, AND IN WAITING, DIED." REMEMBER, WITHOUT VISION WE ARE BLIND TO OPPORTUNITY. GOD GIVES US VISION AND HE GIVES US AN ABUNDANCE OF OPPORTUNITY. IF YOU HAVE FAILED AT SOME-THING IN THE PAST BECAUSE OF A LACK OF DISCIPLINE, GET OVER IT CAUSE GOD WILL GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL AGAIN BUT THIS TIME EMBRACE DISCIPLINE AND IT WILL MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL IN EVERY AREA OF YOUR LIFE.

Prov 24:16

16for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again,

but the wicked are brought down by calamity.

LISTEN, WINNERS DO THE LITTLE THINGS EXCEPTIONALLY WELL! SEE YOURSELF AS A WINNER, CAUSE GOD DOES!