Text: 1 Corinthians 9:25 NKJV
Further Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
1 Corinthians 9:25 NKJV
MESSAGE
Today want to speak about the need for discipline to be a good soldier of Christ. Paul in our text of the day mentioned that those who partake in athletics discipline themselves to achieve the desired goal. They watch what they eat and drink, and also exercise regularly. This they do for temporary gain, but our own warfare is eternal gains.
There are many ways to exercise discipline ourselves, the first one is to be disciplined in our speech. Jesus said, But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
Matthew 12:36 NKJV.
The Bible says that you should avoid coarse talk and foolish jesting, but rather give thanks (Ephesians 5:4). The Bible says your world also must be filled with grace and seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6).
Believers must also be disciplined in the study of the word of God. The Bible says that you must study to show yourself approved of God (2 Timothy 2:15). The truth is that it takes discipline to study the word of God and God’s children must be disciplined as a good soldiers of Christ.
Christians must also be disciplined in the place of prayer. You must always pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonian 5:17). The Bible says that you must pray always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit. As Jesus puts it, you must learn to always pray and not lose heart.
Another area in which you must be disciplined as good soldiers of Christ is in how you eat. You must not be gluttonous. You must learn to fast and pray. Jesus said certain problems do not go except by prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29). Therefore, you must learn to discipline your stomach by fasting.
Finally, the believer must learn to be disciplined in sleeping. In 1 Thessalonians 5:6, the Bible says that you should not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
I Thessalonians 5:6 NKJV. Also, there is a charge to us in this end times:
And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
Romans 13:11 NKJV
Are you a disciplined soldier of Christ? If not, you must take this message to heart by learning discipline.
REFLECTION
But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Galatians 6:4 NKJV
Examine yourself, and check if you are a disciplined fellow. Every believer must learn the Christian discipline.
PRAYER
Father, I receive the Spirit of discipline in Jesus’ name. Amen
