C. BOSTIAN DISCIPLINE THE WAY TO SUCCESS 12 3/5/99
Ps 1:1-6
1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6For the LORD knows the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Ps 119:15-16
15I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
16I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
John 8:31-32
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
MUCH OF CHRISTIANITY TODAY IS MOTIVATED BY A RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF PERFORMANCE: DON'T DO THIS OR DON'T DO THAT. IF YOU WANT TO BE A GOOD CHRISTIAN YOU MUST READ YOUR BIBLE AND PRAY EVERYDAY, GO TO CHURCH, PAY YOU TITHES AND WITNESS TO PEOPLE AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. IT COULD BE EASY TO CONFUSE THE DISCIPLINED LIFE AS AN EXPRESSION OF A RELIGIOUS LIFE BUT RELIGION IS NOT THE ANSWER TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH! WE WHO WOULD REACH OUT FOR AN ACCEPTABLE PLACE BEFORE GOD MUST START WITH THE RE-BIRTH OF THE SPIRIT WHICH IS ACCOMPLISHED AS WE RECEIVE THE FORGIVE-NESS OF JESUS CHRIST AND BREATHE IN THE LIFE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
HAVING DONE THAT, WE MUST PREPARE FOR DISCIPLINE. JESUS CALLS US TO THIS DISCIPLINE WITH WORDS FOUND IN MATTHEW 11:29. "TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU AND LEARN FROM ME, FOR I AM GENTLE AND HUMBLE IN HEART, AND YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS." THE YOKE IMPLIES WORK AND THE CONSISTENT APPLICATION OF ENERGY TO ACCOMPLISH A TASK.
THERE ARE OTHER CALLS TO DISCIPLINE IN THE NT INCLUDING THE ONE THAT WE FIND IN 2 PETER 1:3, 5-8....
PRAISE BE TO THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST! IN HIS GREAT MERCY HE HAS GIVEN US NEW BIRTH INTO A LIVING HOPE THROUGH THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD, (5) FOR THIS VERY REASON, MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ADD TO YOUR FAITH GOODNESS; AND TO GOODNESS, KNOWLEDGE; (6) AND TO KNOWLEDGE, SELF-CONTROL; AND TO SELF-CONTROL, PERSEVERANCE; AND TO PERSEVERANCE, GODLINESS; (7) AND TO GODLINESS, BROTHERLY KINDNESS; AND TO BROTHERLY KINDNESS, LOVE. (8) FOR 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.
THERE IS GREAT JOY IN THE DISCIPLINES OF THE SOUL. IN THE DISCIPLINED LIFE THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP HIS SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN US AND KNOW THAT THEY WILL NOT BE WASTED IN SUPERFICIAL AND SELF-CENTERED PURSUITS. THE DISCIPLINED LIFE ENJOYS A FREEDOM UNPARALLELED IN THE LIFE THAT IS WITHOUT GOAL AND PURPOSE.
SO THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE IN THIS SERIES ON DISCIPLINE THE WAY TO SUCCESS BY LOOKING AT THE DISCIPLINE OF MEDITATION AND SOLITUDE. NOW LAST WEEK WE LOOKED AT A PREREQUISITE TO THE DISCIPLINE OF MEDITATION AND THAT IS THE DISCIPLINE OF SIMPLICITY. BEFORE WE CAN REALLY MEDITATE ON GOD’S WORD WE HAVE TO SIMPLIFY OUR LIVES OTHERWISE OUR MINDS WILL BE PREOCCUPIED WITH THE CLUTTER OF THINGS AND WRONG PRIORITIES IN OUR LIFE. LET’S REVIEW JUST A FEW THINGS FROM LAST WEEK’S MESSAGE:
LUKE 10:40-42
BUT MARTHA WAS DISTRACTED BY ALL THE PREPARATIONS THAT HAD TO BE MADE. SHE CAME TO HIM AND ASKED, "LORD, DON'T YOU CARE THAT MY SISTER HAS LEFT ME TO DO THE WORK BY MYSELF? TELL HER TO HELP ME!" 41 "MARTHA, MARTHA," THE LORD ANSWERED, "YOU ARE WORRIED AND UPSET ABOUT MANY THINGS, 42 BUT ONLY ONE THING IS NEEDED. MARY HAS CHOSEN WHAT IS BETTER, AND IT WILL NOT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HER."
AS CHRISTIANS WE ARE CALLED TO BE A SIMPLE PEOPLE OF PLAIN SPEECH, OF CONTENTMENT, WHO ARE NOTED FOR AN UNCOMPLICATED FAITH IN GOD THAT SHAPES ALL THAT WE ARE AND DETERMINES ALL THAT WE DO.HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT IT'S NOT A CULTURAL NORM TO SEEK SIMPLICITY. OUR SOCIETY IS DRIVEN BY COMPETITION. SO WE FIND IT VERY HARD TO BE SIMPLE AND PLAIN. INSTEAD WE ARE COMPLEX, OFTEN HIDING BEHIND IMAGES OF OUR MASKS, AFRAID TO BE OPENLY HONEST ABOUT WHO WE REALLY ARE. WE BUY CLOTHING TO IMPRESS, DRIVE CARS THAT ARE MARKETED AROUND CREATING AN AURA OF SUCCESS, AND STRIVE FOR JOB TITLES THAT PROJECT OUR POSITION. MANY OF US DO NOT DERIVE OUR SENSE OF WELL-BEING, OR OUR SENSE OF IDENTITY FROM AN INNER CENTER THAT IS FORMED AROUND CHRIST. WE HOPE THAT OUR EXTERNAL PROJECTIONS OF WHO WE REALLY ARE, COVERS OUR DEEP INSECURITIES AND FEARS FROM OTHERS.
IN ORDER TO PRACTICE THE DISCIPLINE OF MEDITATION WE MUST EMBRACE THE DISCIPLINE OF SIMPLICITY. THIS SIMPLICITY INVOLVES THREE THINGS.
1. SIMPLICITY MUST FLOW FROM INNER VALUES AND FAITH.
2. SIMPLICITY MUST START IN THE INNER PERSON, THE INNER MAN
OR IN OUR HEART.
3. SIMPLICITY MUST DEVELOP THE INNER ASSURANCE AND
CONFIDENCE THAT GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF US AND OUR
INVESTMENTS.
WHEN THE DISCIPLINE OF SIMPLICITY IS AT WORK IN OUR LIFE THERE WILL BE A REDUCTION OF STRESS, A SILENCING OF THE NOISE AND CLUTTER THAT OFTEN PREOCCUPIES AND DISTRACTS THE BELIEVER SO THAT HE CANNOT HEAR FROM GOD.
IN 1TIMOTHY 4:7-8 ...TRAIN YOURSELF TO BE GODLY. FOR 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. THE PERSON PRACTICING CONSISTENT SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES ENJOYS A FREEDOM TO KNOW AND DO THE WILL OF GOD IN A WAY UNPARALLELED IN THE PERSON THAT DOES NOT "TRAIN HIMSELF" IN THE DISCIPLINES. IN THE DISCIPLINED LIFE THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS OPPORTUNITY TO GRANT GIFTS AND KNOW THAT THEY WILL NOT BE WASTED IN A SUPERFICIAL, MEANINGLESS LIFE.
2 Tim 2:15
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
THERE IS ANOTHER PREREQUISITE TO THE DISCIPLINE OF MEDITATION THAT WE HAVE ALREADY DISCUSSED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AND THAT WAS THE ORDERING OF OUR MIND THROUGH THE DISCIPLINE OF STUDY, AND PRIMARILY THROUGH RECEIVING THE WORD OF GOD. THE BIBLE IS THE CHRISTIAN'S INTELLECTUAL FOUNDATION.
-DISCIPLINE YOURSELF TO BE IN CHURCH SO YOU CAN HEAR THE WORD.
-DISCIPLINE YOURSELF TO MAKE TIME TO READ THE WORD.
-DISCIPLINE YOURSELF TO STUDY THE WORD FOR YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING.
NOW, ONCE YOU ARE PRACTICING THE DISCIPLINES OF STUDY AND SIMPLICITY YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE ON TO THE THE DISCIPLINES OF MEDITATION AND SOLITUDE DOES YOUR LIFE HAVE A CENTER, A POINT OF FOCUS FROM WHICH ALL THE PURSUITS AND PLANS OF YOUR DAY RADIATES? IMAGINE YOUR LIFE AS A SPOKED WHEEL SUCH AS MIGHT BE FOUND ON A BICYCLE. WHAT IS THE HUB TO WHICH THE SPOKES ARE ATTACHED?
FAR TOO MANY OF US ARE WITHOUT A CENTER, A HUB OF LIFE. WE LIVE AT THE SURFACE OF LIFE NEVER TRACING BACK TO THE CENTER OF OUR BEING. ONE SUCH PERSON IS A MAN NAMED, HOWARD RUTLEDGE. HOWARD WAS A USAF PILOT IN THE VIETNAM WAR. EARLY IN THAT WAR, HIS PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN OVER NORTH VIETNAM AND HE BECAME A PRISONER OF WAR IN HANOI, WHERE HE REMAINED FOR YEARS UNTIL THE CONCLUSION OF THE WAR IN 1973. I PICK UP HIS STORY FROM HIS OWN BOOK, IN THE
PRESENCE OF MINE ENEMIES....
DURING THOSE LONGER PERIODS OF ENFORCED REFLECTION IT BECAME MUCH EASIER TO SEPARATE THE IMPORTANT FROM THE TRIVIAL, THE WORTHWHILE FROM THE WASTE. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE PAST, I HAD USUALLY WORKED OR PLAYED HARD ON SUNDAYS AND HAD NO TIME FOR CHURCH. FOR YEARS MY WIFE HAD ENCOURAGED ME TO JOIN THE FAMILY IN CHURCH. SHE NEVER NAGGED OR SCOLDED- SHE JUST KEPT HOPING. BUT I WAS TOO BUSY, TOO PREOCCUPIED TO SPEND ONE OR TWO HOURS A WEEK THINKING ABOUT THE REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS. NOW THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF DEATH WERE ALL AROUND ME. MY HUNGER FOR SPIRITUAL FOOD SOON OUTDID MY HUNGER FOR A STEAK. NOW I WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THAT PART OF ME THAT WILL NEVER DIE. NOW I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT GOD AND CHRIST AND THE CHURCH. BUT IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, THERE WAS NO PASTOR, NO SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER, NO HYMNBOOK, NO COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS TO GUIDE OR SUSTAIN ME. I HAD COMPLETELY NEGLECTED THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION OF MY LIFE. IT TOOK PRISON TO SHOW ME HOW EMPTY LIFE IS WITHOUT GOD.
THE CENTER OF LIFE IS THE SPIRIT OF MAN, A FACT THAT HOWARD RUTLEDGE ONLY DISCOVERED IN A POW CAMP. HE, LIKE MANY BUSY PEOPLE OF THIS PRESENT WORLD, WAS SO TAKEN WITH THE FEEDING AND NURTURE OF THE BODY AND MIND, THAT HE NEGLECTED THE SPIRIT.
1Thes 5:23
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
IF THE CENTER OF OUR BEING, OUR HUMAN SPIRIT, IS IGNORED WE BECOME FRAGMENTED AND DISORGANIZED. THINK AGAIN, FOR A MOMENT, OF THE WHEEL. WHAT WOULD THAT WHEEL LOOK LIKE IF THE HUB WERE REMOVED, LEAVING NO ANCHOR FOR THE SPOKES? THIS IS THE PICTURE OF A LIFE WHERE THE SPIRIT IS NOT NURTURED AND STRENGTHENED. THAT LIFE WILL SPIN INTO DISARRAY AND DISORGANIZATION. NO AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON THE RIM WILL RESTORE ORDER. THE HUB MUST BE STRENGTHENED AND THE SPOKES FASTENED. WHEN THE WHEEL OF LIFE HAS A STRONG HUB THERE WILL BE FORWARD MOMENTUM THAT WILL CARRY US THROUGH TRYING DAYS AND WEARING EXPERIENCES.
Rom 5:1-5
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh
not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts
by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
TWO OF THE DISCIPLINES THAT STRENGTHEN OUR SPIRIT, THE CENTER OF OUR BEING, ARE MEDITATION AND SOLITUDE, OF WHICH MANY OF US KNOW LITTLE OR NOTHING. WE GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO AVOID SILENCE THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO THINK DEEPLY. SILENCE AND CONTEMPLATION ARE FOREIGN TO US. NOISE AND IMAGES ARE PIPED INTO OUR HOMES, CARS, AND EVEN DIRECTLY INTO OUR EARS WHILE WE BIKE, HIKE, OR EXERCISE. THIS CONTINUAL STIMULATION IS LIKE A NUMBING DRUG, KEEPING US THOUGHT AND INTROSPECTION. ADDICTED TO ACTIVITY, WE RUN FROM TASK TO TASK. DO WE PAUSE TO ASK OURSELVES WHY WE ARE DOING WHAT WE ARE DOING? NOT OFTEN. WE JUST DO IT!
EVEN OUR SUNDAY WORSHIP IS OFTEN JUST MORE NOISE. WE RUSH INTO CHURCH, GREETING FRIENDS AND EXCHANGING NEWS. WITH LITTLE TIME TO RE-FOCUS WE BEGIN TO SING SONGS THE MEANINGS OF WHICH WE OFTEN FAIL TO GRASP. A SERMON IS OFFERED TO BECOME A PART OF THE NOISE OF LIFE AND IS OFTEN MOSTLY FORGOTTEN BY THE TIME WE HAVE DINNER. IN TIME, THE CENTER BECOMES DETACHED FROM THE WHOLE PERSON.
RICHARD FOSTER OBSERVES IN HIS BOOK THE CELBRATION OF DISCIPLINE, " IN OUR CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY OUR ADVERSARY MAJORS IN THREE THINGS; NOISE, HURRY, AND CROWDS. IF HE CAN KEEP US ENGAGED IN "MUCHNESS" AND "MANYNESS" HE RESTS
SATISFIED."
Rom 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
ONE OF OUR MOST DIFFICULT TASKS AS A BELIEVER WILL BE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN BEST AND BETTER, TO LEARN TO DISCERN BETWEEN THOSE THINGS WE ARE CALLED BY GOD TO DO AND THOSE TASKS WHICH ARE, THOUGH GOOD AND NOBLE, ARE NOT THE WILL OF GOD FOR US. IF WE TAKE UP EVERY JOB, EMBRACE EVERY OPPORTUNITY OF SERVICE, AND ACCEPT ALL RESPONSIBILITIES THAT OTHERS ASK US TO CARRY- WE WILL FIND OURSELVES DISTRACTED, DISCOURAGED, AND BURNT OUT BY THE PRESSURE OF A TOO FULL LIFE. GOD WILL NEVER CALL US TO TASKS FOR WHICH HE HAS NOT EQUIPPED US. THAT IS NOT TO IMPLY THAT ALL CALLINGS WILL BE "EASY" OR "PLEASANT." GOD'S PRESCRIPTION FOR A CURE OF THE SICKNESS OF BUSINESS AND CONFUSION IS SILENCE AND MEDITATION. HEAR HIS WORD....
JOSHUA 1:8 DO NOT LET THIS BOOK OF THE LAW DEPART FROM YOUR MOUTH; MEDITATE ON IT DAY AND NIGHT, SO THAT YOU MAY BE CAREFUL TO DO EVERYTHING WRITTEN IN IT. THEN YOU WILL BE PROSPEROUS AND SUCCESSFUL.
PSALMS 1:1-3 BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO DOES NOT WALK IN THE COUNSEL OF THE WICKED OR STAND IN THE WAY OF SINNERS OR SIT IN THE SEAT OF MOCKERS. BUT HIS DELIGHT IS IN THE LAW OF THE LORD, AND ON HIS LAW HE MEDITATES DAY AND NIGHT. HE IS LIKE A TREE PLANTED BY STREAMS OF WATER, WHICH YIELDS ITS FRUIT IN SEASON AND WHOSE LEAF DOES NOT WITHER. WHATEVER HE DOES PROSPERS.
NOW ITS VERY IMPORT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR MEDITATION IS ON THE WORD OF GOD! SOME CHRISTIANS ARE DEEPLY SKEPTICAL OF THE PRACTICE OF MEDITATION BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT IT IS SO CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH RELIGIOUS PRACTICES OF THE EAST. YET THERE ARE PROFOUND DIFFER-
ENCES!
1. EASTERN MEDITATION PRACTICES FOCUS ON EMPTYING THE MIND, CREATING AN OPENING FOR INVASION BY SPIRITUAL FORCES OF DARKNESS. CHRISTIAN MEDITATION FOCUSES ON INTERNAL-IZING THE WISDOM OF GOD AS IT IS REVEALED IN HIS WORD.
2. EASTERN MEDITATION TEACHES PEOPLE TO DETACH FROM THEIR PHYSICAL WORLD. FOSTER WRITES, "THERE IS AN EMPHASIS ON LOSING OUR PERSONHOOD AND MERGING WITH THE COSMIC MIND.... PERSONAL IDENTITY IS LOST... THERE IS NO PERSONAL LOVING GOD TO BE ATTACHED TO OR TO HEAR FROM." CHRISTIAN MEDITATION, BY CONTRAST, LEADS US TO BECOME ATTACHED TO OUR LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER AND TO FILLED WITH THE
PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
OUR CHRISTIAN MEDITATION MAY ALSO BE FOCUSED ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO WAS GOD'S WORD SENT IN PERSON. JOHN 1:14 TEACHES US THAT "THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND MADE HIS DWELLING AMONG US. WE HAVE SEEN HIS GLORY, THE GLORY OF THE ONE AND ONLY, WHO CAME FROM THE FATHER, FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH." SO THAT NONE OF US COULD MISS HIS MESSAGE, GOD CAME INTO THE WORLD AND LIVED AMONG US SPEAKING HIS WISDOM IN THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST.
