Sunday, March 16, 2014

Homework:What Discipline Leads You Closer to God?

Today during service my pastor gave us homework: To figure out which  spiritual discipline will lead us closer to God.

The answer to that question came very easy for me. It is a discipline God has been working in me for the past few months and that is self control in eating. When I consciously make an effort to watch the type of food I eat and how much of it I eat, I am honoring God with my body and in turn I am led closer to Him. When I live in the sin of gluttony and idolatry with food and laziness,  I am drawn away from Him. (To read more of my story click here and here )

What Discipline can you work on that will help you become more like Christ and draw you closer to Him?

Spiritual Disciplines that can help us daily to become more like Christ include:
Fasting
Bible reading
Meditation
Serving
Silence
Prayer
Praise
Fellowship
And scripture memory (for tips go here )

We work on these disciplines because:

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 20:24

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.
Psalms 24:4

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James 4:8

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13

If you love me, you will  keep my commandments.
John 14:15

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
James 1:22

After figuring out what Discipline you can work on, you also have to figure out and acknowledge what sin in your life is drawing you away from God.

Sin that is a barrier to your walk can include:
Idolatry
Laziness
Gluttony
Pride
Anger
envy
lying
And self-centeredness

Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
1 Corinthians 15:34

After you acknowledge sin and repent from it take heart for:

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13

Is there a sin you need to confess, or a spiritual discipline you will commit to working on this week, please comment and find accountability and encouragement here. We need to focus on the things that will draw us closer to Christ and make us more like Him.

Hebrews 12:1-11 ESV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.   Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.  For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”  It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.



To listen to the sermon by Pastor Scott Collins visit www.nwcc777.com

2 comments:

  1. What a great activity for Lent! Thanks for sharing this idea with us.

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  2. You have a wise and loving Pastor giving his congregation "home work." Your post is challenging and I thank you for sharing your story with us here at "Tell Me a Story." http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/

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