Being Conformed thru Discipline part 9

Just a few more thoughts about Practicing the Disciplines, that put us in a place to see and be with Jesus.  These are NOT a list to go through, but a way of life that will increase our understanding of Christ’s power and presence in our lives.

Fellowship

Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Submission & Guidance

Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Simplicity, Stewardship & Sacrifice

Psalm 62:10 Do not trust in extortion or take pride in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

When we are truly in this interior simplicity our whole appearance is franker, more natural.  This true simplicity… make us conscious of a certain openness, gentleness, innocence, gaiety and serenity, which is charming when we see it near to and continually, with pure eyes. O, how amiable this simplicity is!  Who will give it to me?  I leave all for this.  It is the pearl of the Gospel. -Francois Fenelon

Simplicity is Freedom.  Duplicity is bondage.  Simplicity brings joy and balance.  Duplicity brings anxiety and fear. -Richard Foster

Simplicity is an uprightness of soul which prevents self-consciousness.  Verily such simplicity is a great treasure. -Francois Fenelon

Worship & Celebration

Revelation 4:8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."
Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'

Today’s man… worships his work, works at his play, and plays at his worship.

To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, to devote the will to the purpose of God. -William Temple

Service

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.
For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Witness

Colossians 4:5-6 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

The present benefit of spiritual discipline is a fulfilled, God-blessed, fruitful and useful life.  If you get involved in spiritual gymnastics, the blessings of godliness will carry me into eternity.  Although many people spend far more time exercising their bodies than their souls, the excellent servant of Jesus Christ realizes that spiritual discipline is a priority. - John MacArthur Jr.

Next time I’d like to talk about my favorite and most exciting part of following Jesus… The Exchanged Life.

Colossians 1:27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.