Discipline: The Importance of Having a Quality Devotion Life

What is it?
Why do we need it?
How do we get it?

Biblical examples:
Moses, Jacob, Elijah, Jesus (Ultimate Example)

Some types of disciplines:

• Word
• Prayer
• Fasting
• Solitude
• Worship
• Service
• Journaling

We don’t practice these things out of religion or have to. We do it out of relationship. And for the desire for a stronger relationship.

Discipline leads to Intimacy
Zakk Cumbess

Romans 8

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16-26

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,[a] fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders,[b] drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 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. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Moses
Exodus 33:18-23
18 And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.”
19 Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” 20 But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” 21 And the LORD said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. 22 So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. 23 Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”

o Moses was desperate to see Him.
o How desperate are you?
o How hungry?
o Are you desperate and hungry enough to follow others examples to catch His heart?

Elijah
11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

o Elijah was running scared and ready to give up. (v 4)
o When you are ready to give up, He is there.
o He won’t always show up in the ways you expect.
o Elijah may have expected God to show up in the loud, thunderous, fiery ways that He had shown up to Moses. But sometimes HE comes when everything in our lives FINALLY gets quiet.
➢ Isaiah 6:1 “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.

Jesus
Matthew 4:1-2
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.

o Jesus is teaching a very important example on “how to be intimate”.
o Fasting is a must for seeking intimacy.
o It is just as important as prayer.
o
• Matt 6:16-17 16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

Jesus Practiced Solitude

Luke 5:16 Jesus often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

Matthew 14:12-14
12 Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
13 When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. 14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.
A few verses later Jesus sends the disciples to the other side while He stayed and prayed. (v 22-23) 22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.

o Jesus is always our perfect example:
• 1 Peter 2:21 For Christ also suffered on our behalf, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps,
• Luke 6:40 The disciple is not above his master, but everyone who is perfect shall be like his master.

The Most Powerful Man in the room
Matthew 13:1-17

12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

A Fathers Heart
A Fathers passion is his children. No matter how old we get, or how many things we learn, we are still Daddy’s little one. Lets act like it. It is time for us to quit trying to be so grown up. I’m not saying for us to be immature! I am saying for us to take the posture of a little child who needs Daddy’s love, Daddy’s help, Daddy’s provision, Daddy’s protection, etc….we need Daddy. And He wants to be the Only One for us.