Ecclesiastes 7:8 The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

  • The end is better because if we can tell the desired end, we can form right judgment and make better decision right at the beginning
  • The foundations we lay today not only will determine our future, but also will either be the stepping stones or the stumbling blocks of our children’s tomorrow
  • We all must walk according to the word of God and leave a Godly Legacy

 1 Timothy 4:7-8 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

 

Discipline Begins with Us

Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 4:7-8, was comparing between bodily exercise and spiritual exercise.

  • Discipline is indeed a very important thing in life, so important but yet so difficult to keep up
  • The end of an achieved goal in life is accomplished by every step of discipline
  • The lack of achievement, often is the reflection of one’s character: the lack of discipline.
  • Suffering pain from discipline is better than suffering pain of regret
  • The eternal implications put us in good stead not only in this life, but also in the eternal life
  • Discipline is an ongoing process, not a quick fix. It is a consistent lifetime process.

Develop Godly Discipline by developing Godly habits.

  • Spend time alone with God daily reading His Word and prayer
  • Godly discipline is not about time management, it is about self-management
  • Paul uses “Exercise”, “Discipline”, “Labor” or “Strive” to tell us: discipline involves hard work
    • Discipline (Strong’s G1128 – Gymnazō): from which we get “gymnasium.”
    • This word “Exercise” or “Discipline” also carries a meaning of being “naked” because the Greek athletes would striped themselves naked to run the race
    • To discipline ourselves for godliness, we must strip off anything that can hinder us
    • Say ‘no’ to things that hinder us from achieving our goals; that includes our sin.
  • Paul tells Timothy to “have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women” (4:7).
  • Discipline means acting against your feelings because you have a higher goal.
  • We do not look toward feeling good, but we discipline toward the good feeling of having to accomplish our goals.

 

The Good News about Discipline

Discipline is something in which both God and you must be involved.

  • Galatians 5:22-23 the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
  • Allow God to be Lord over our lives, He then gives us the ability to control ourselves.

Discipline, though it sounds restrictive, is the way to true freedom.

  • “Seek freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek discipline and find your liberty.” Franklin Patrick Herbert, Jr. (October 8, 1920 – February 11, 1986)
  • A disciplined Christian enjoys God in ways which the undisciplined person cannot
  • People who does not have Godly discipline loses focus: of GOD, life, goals, or purposes, etc.

Discipline means fruitful labor and fruitful rest.

  • Discipline is not about driving ourselves relentlessly
  • Obsession to discipline is not discipline at all. It is an obsession, it’s legalistic.
  • Deuteronomy 5:12 God commanded us to observe our Sabbath; our rest.
  • We need to rest, physically, emotionally and mentally. We are not God

Discipline prepares us for greater things.

  • Luke 16:10 If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities
  • 1 Corinthians 9:27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified

 

Discipline Begins with an End

Discipline means keeping your eyes on the goal and the goal is “godliness”.

  • Godliness is to grow to be like Christ conforming to His image and character.
  • We must have godliness in our thought life, words, and actions.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

  • Be courageous to be disciplined and to discipline (GOD’s discipline)

Proverbs 17:6 (KJV) Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

  • When we grow our children in a godly way, they become our crown of glory.

 

Godly Discipline leaves a Godly legacy

 

Application

Pray for the Church daily, individually or as a couple. Fathers to hold one family Altar