CHRIST CHOSEN AMBASSADORS MINISTRY

CHRISTIAN DISCIPLINE IS A SURE WAY TO SUCCESS

Discipline is the training that develops self control,orderly and efficient life, acceptance and submission to authority. Discipline isrigorous training that substitutes bad and unwanted characters, habits, behavior,knowledge, understanding in our lives with good ones. No child of God can everwork effectively with God without self control. Today a lot of nasty things arehappening in Christianity because many Christians of today lack self control.Indiscipline in churches has resulted in immorality in churches and illicitaffairs even in the house of God. It may amaze you that even the revered men ofGod are now officiating in the ministry for financial gain without any love forGod. Self is at its highest peak in Christendom today. The church looks likethe world and the world looks like the church because the discipline that isfound in the life of the apostles is lacking in today’s ministries. Note thefollowing facts.

i.                    St Paul is disciplined: Our great Apostle, St.Paul understands the importance of discipline to success hence he said in1Corinthians 9:27 “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do whatit should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might bedisqualified.” This is Christian discipline. The Christian discipline meanstotal submission of our will, emotions, lives, pride, fashion and appetite tomention but a few to the will of God. Paul is so disciplined that he preachedwhat he lived and lived what he preached. He is unlike today’s ministers thatpreach one thing and do another thing. A Pastor of a popular pastor in Lagos Nigeriaraped a young girl Endurance that was entrusted into his hands to death becausehe lacked self control.

ii.                  All great men of God are highly disciplinedpeople:  It was discipline that madeJoseph not to have an illicit affair with Pharaoh’s wife. If it were someChristian of today they will be very glad to commit adultery and fornication.Adultery and fornication is normal today in many churches. It is disciplinethat will help you to resist sexual temptation. Stephen was disciplined evenunto death in Acts chapter 6. Stephen was so disciplined that they people histime could not contradict his life as written in Acts 6:10-11 “None of them wasable to stand against the wisdom and Spirit by which Stephen spoke. Sothey persuaded some men to lie about Stephen, saying, “We heard him blasphemeMoses, and even God.” The same could be said of Daniel because no body couldfind fault in his life except as regards to his faithfulness to the AlmightyGod. I do not know what the world will say about you if they were givenopportunity to write essay about you.

iii.                  He wholives a life of indiscipline will die without honour. Samson was a great man ofGod specially sent to avenge the enemies of God. The Bible says in Judges 13:3-5“The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife and said, “Even though youhave been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birthto a son.  You must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink or eat anyforbidden food.  You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and hishair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite frombirth. He will rescue Israel from the Philistines.” However Samson was not disciplinedhence he allowed the witchcraft barbers to destroy him in the laps of a womanDelilah because he could not control his lust. Judges 16:1 says “One day Samsonwent to the Philistine city of Gaza and spent the night with a prostitute” Fromthe house of prostitute to the house of Delilah, Samson died without honour.

iv.                Christian discipline focuses our spiritual goal.At times we must even give up something good in order to do what God wants.Each person’s special duties determine the discipline and self-denial that heor she must accept. Without a goal, discipline is nothing but self-punishment.With the goal of pleasing God, our sacrifices seem like nothing compared to theeternal, imperishable reward that will be ours.1 Timothy 4:7-9 says “Do notwaste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Spend your time andenergy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise hassome value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises areward in both this life and the next. This is true, and everyone shouldaccept it.

v.                  Christian discipline removes the non essentialsfrom our lives. The Christian life involves hard work. It requires us to give upwhatever endangers our relationship with God, to run patiently, and to struggleagainst sin with the power of the Holy Spirit. To live effectively, we mustkeep our eyes on Jesus. We will stumble if we look away from him to stare at ourselvesor at the circumstances surrounding us. We should be running for Christ, not ourselves,and we must always keep him in sight.

vi.                A Christian must discipline these essentialareas to have good success. One area which many Christians lack discipline istheir tongue. Many have destroyed their life through their words. A Christianshould not involve himself in vain discussions if he want good success. What wewatch in life has a role to play in our life. A Christian to want to resistsexual sin has no business watching pornographic films and other dirty shows.Other areas a Christian should discipline himself are:

a.       What youlisten to

b.      What youread

c.      Who you associate with

d.     What you think about

e.     The places you visit

f.       Your love for women, money and worldly power.