Introduction
Today, we continue with our series: God has to win. In our first week, we saw that God has to win in the choices that I made. At the end of the day, can you say that you made more choices for God than you did the world, the flesh, and the devil? And then last week, we saw the consequences of not giving God control over areas of our lives and the resulting mess that occurs. And so, I suggested that we ask ourselves three questions when we are thinking about taking control over an area of our life. Am I willing to settle for less than God’s best? Is this mine to control in the first place? Would it be better if I surrender and wait upon God’s timing?
I would like to introduce the third area that God must win by quoting the words of Dwight D. Eisenhower who was our 34th President of the United States. Before I tell you what he said, let me tell you a little bit about the man. It will put what he says in perspective. Eisenhower is the only President in the history of the United States to be baptized while in office on February 1, 1953 at the age of 62. He was instrumental in adding “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. It was during his term that the official motto of the United States became “In God We Trust” and it was added to our currency. And his spiritual mentor during his Presidency became Billy Graham. That should pretty much tell you all you need to know. At one of Billy Graham’s crusades in Dallas Texas at the Cotton Bowl, seventy-five thousand people bowed their head and prayed that “God would give President Eisenhower wisdom, courage and strength.” And Dwight Eisenhower even invited Billy Graham to preach one Sunday at the church the president attended in Washington. During his administration, the church saw a grow of 20% in church attendance. I tell you all that to tell you that his words have some weight to them. He said: “Choose the pain of discipline and sacrifice or you will get the pain of regret. There are no victories at bargain prices.”
And this brings us to our third God must win. I must embrace discipline, or I will experience regret. I know that is true in day to day life. If you don’t have the discipline to complete college all in one swoop, later on in life you may regret never having completed college because you never went back. If you don’t have the discipline to say “no” to the things that you cannot afford, later on you may regret having to dig out of the financial hole that you created for yourself. If you don’t have the discipline to say “no” to some addictive substance the first time it is offered to you, you may later regret how that addiction has destroyed your life. So, in day to day life-no question lack of discipline will cause regrets later on.
But that is not the only place that lack of discipline will cause regret. It will cause regret in our spiritual lives at well. A rejection of God’s discipline will cause regrets. The Bible is full of stories of man and women with regrets. God warned Cain in Genesis 4:6–7 (CSB)
6 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent? 7 If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” Cain did not receive well God’s discipline over his anger, and he regretted that he was being sent to a land where the people might kill him.
In Joshua Chapter 6, God warns the people of Israel when they conquer Jericho not to take unto themselves any of the possession of the city as they are set apart for destruction. Joshua 6:17–19 (CSB)
17 But the city and everything in it are set apart to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and everyone with her in the house will live because she hid the messengers we sent. 18 But keep yourselves from the things set apart, or you will be set apart for destruction. If you take any of those things, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and make trouble for it. 19 For all the silver and gold, and the articles of bronze and iron, are dedicated to the LORD and must go into the LORD’s treasury.”
But Achan did not have the disciple to heed God’s instruction and took some of the possessions, and it caused regret to Israel in the next battle with Ai and it led to the death of Achan, his family, his servants and livestock.
In 1 Samuel 13, we discovered that Saul did not wait as instructed by God’s prophet Samuel and instead offered a burnt offering and a fellowship offering before his battle with the Philistines, and as result of his lack of disciple to wait on God’s man to arrive, he suffered regret. His kingdom was taken from him and given to David. 1 Samuel 13:13–14 (CSB)
13 Samuel said to Saul, “You have been foolish. You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you. It was at this time that the LORD would have permanently established your reign over Israel, 14 but now your reign will not endure. The LORD has found a man after his own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over his people, because you have not done what the LORD commanded.”
So, seeing the consequences of an undisciplined life, and knowing that I can accept God’s discipline or reject God’s discipline, I want to see what questions that I need to ask myself so that I will accept God’s discipline and have fewer regrets in my life.
Point #1
DO I REALIZE JUST HOW MUCH I NEED GOD’S DISCIPLINE BECAUSE WITHOUT IT I WOULD BE LIVING A LIFE FULL OF REGRETS?
Let me read you a couple of Scriptures to make my point from the Book of Romans Chapter 7.
Romans 7:15 CSB
For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate.
Romans 7:18–19 CSB
For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.
Romans 7:24–25 CSB
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.
Let me give you a little context as to who said this. It was the Paul who met Jesus on the Damascus Road after Jesus already arose and was seated at the right hand of God. So, he encountered the glorified Christ. He was blinded by that same Christ on the Damascus Road and healed through Christ. The Bible says that he was taken up into the third heaven. And this Paul wrote one third of the New Testament.
I would say that Paul had a spiritual edge over me. And if he says that he cannot get it right without Christ directing his life; I know that I cannot get it right without Christ directing my life. And one of those ways is going to be discipline.
Point #2
DO I REALIZE THAT DISCIPLINE DOES NOT DRIVE ME AWAY FROM GOD; IT DRIVES ME TO A DEEPER RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
Hebrews 12:5–6 CSB
And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons:
My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly
or lose heart when you are reproved by him,
for the Lord disciplines the one he loves
and punishes every son he receives.
I am going to tell you that as a young child I got my share of discipline from my dad. Now, I cannot tell you that I liked it the moment that I got it. But you know what? As I grew older, I respected and loved my dad probably more because he did discipline me. I know that his discipline although painful was there because he loved me, and he wanted to spare me greater regrets in the future.
I look at parents today and instead of trying to be the parent they are trying to be the child’s friend. The problem with that is that discipline falls by the wayside and you are setting up your child for a life of regret.
The same way with God, I might not like the moment that I receive discipline from God. But I know that He does it because He loves me, and He is wanting to save me future regret.
Point #3
DO I REALIZE THAT DISCIPLINE IS THE WAY THAT I AM GOING TO ACHIEVE A GODLY AND HOLY LIFE?
1 Timothy 4:7–11 NKJV
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. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. These things command and teach.
I like how the NASB translates it.
7 But [a]have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.
I want you to think today your life would look like if God had not stepped int your life and make you make corrections along the way. I hate to say this, but I believe without it, Anne and I would not be married today. I consider myself a generous person, but without Christ stepping in I probably would have been a hoarder of money. I don’t believe that without God’s correction in my life that Anne and I would have ever given up drinking and probably been labeled alcoholics by this time. And I know without God’s correction in my life I would not be preaching.
Here is the thing. I love my life now. But I got here through God’s correction. I love the person that I am becoming. And I am not where I need to be, but I welcome God’s discipline if it is going to get me to where I need to be.
Let us Pray!
