DISCIPLINE
Character Tour 1 of 8
October 7, 2007
M ike Matijevich
mmatevich@aol.com

Intro
* How do we stay committed in our quest to reflect the absolute & uncompromising image of a holy God?
* The answer is Character. "Character is the outer reflection of our inward connection."
* We will survey several characters in the bible over the next few weeks as we take this "Character Tour"
Character is…
1. DEVELOPED THROUGH METAMORPHOSIS (2 Corinthians 3:18)
- 2 Cor. 3:18 "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
- Paul refers to OT story of Moses to explain that the veil is lifted in Christ & there is FULL access in Christ.
- In OT times God used more of an outside-in to develop faith in His people (now changed)
- "Changed"= to transfigure (metamorphosis) to change from the INSIDE-OUT.
Not depending on anything on the outside … thus character is the outward reflection of an inward connection.
* Connected to what? JESUS (the cross)

2. FORGED IN THE FIRE OF TRIALS & TESTING (1 Peter 1:6-7)
- These are the two most useful tools in the hand of God to develop our character.
- Peter was an expert in this subject matter (on the inside & the outside)
* God is more interested in our growth than our success.
* God knows we need times of failure & suffering to test what is within us to motivate us to follow Him in the transformation PROCESS.
- 1 Peter 1:6-7
* Goldsmith purifying gold- the hotter the fire the quicker the impurities get out of the gold! (He stops when he sees his reflection in the gold)

3. DEEPENED BY AFFLICTION & SUFFERING (Psalm 119:67-71)
- Psalm 119:67-71
- Here we see that struggles & correction come into our lives to bring permanent change to our character & ultimately our actions.
"Afflicted"= humbled
"Went astray"= out of his stubbornness & willfulness he decided to run his own life.
* Affliction & suffering imply a "deeper" work to get greater results.
*** This is a dangerous inclination for all of us.
If this DOESN"T come out of us, it will ruin us.
* So our loving God uses affliction & suffering to generate a deeper work in us.
* David indicates that the only real casualty in metamorphosis is our pride.
* James 1:2-4 God wants us to experience joy in spite of the pain.

Definition: Discipline- "Discipline is doing what you ought to do so you can do what you want to do."
(1) We link up to Jesus get his character- yes I get that but what about what I want to do?
(2) When we accept Christ he wants us to be successful…
"Successful"= living in His will. (Deep with God- by discipline)
"Failure"- is filled with excuses (happens when we stop discipline)…
* "Success"- begins & ends with "DISCIPLINE"…
(Doing what you ought to do so you can do what you want to do.)"
M. Scott Peck "The Road Less Traveled", "Discipline is delayed gratification."
* The question is how do I go deep with discipline?
We must make a decision with discipline to go deep with God.

I. DANIEL WAS INVOLVED IN ADVANCED PLANNING (Daniel 1:8-21)

A. "Purposed"- in the past tense- already made up his mind before he got into that position.
(see 1:4-5)
B. "Favour"- (1:9) discipline (delayed gratification) discipline (doing what you ought to do, so you can do what you want to do)
- (1:10-21) test of discipline
1. Daniel's favour continued for a minimum of 70 years (1:21 "1st year of Cyrus cp Ezra 1:1)
2. 1:17 "God gave them…"
*** Talking about advanced planning…
Prov. 21:5a "The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness…"
* If you want a profitable marriage - need advanced planning
If you want a profitable dating life - need advanced planning
If you want a profitable business - need advanced planning
If you want a profitable career - need advanced planning
If you want a profitable ministry - need advanced planning
Prov. 21:5b "… but of every one that is hasty only to want."
* Can't plan on the fly!
Most of us make the decision in the heat of the moment- can't be disciplined instantaneously.
- Can't plan to be pure sexually when you are in the backseat of a car…
- Can't plan on eating healthy when you are at Cold Stone… you plan in advance…
- Can't plan on being honest when you are in the middle of trying to make a deal & exaggerate…
* Jesus - EVERYTHING he did had advanced planning.

II. DANIEL UNDERSTOOD THE POWER OF CONNECTON (Daniel 1:6, 17)

A. Daniel had linked arms with some other young men that had his type of discipline.
1. They apparently shared the same commitment toward God.
2. 1:11-15 "Us, their, they also "purposed" in their heart.
B. They knew that discipline is most easily maintained in a relationship with others that will stand with you!

III. DANIEL UNDERSTOOD THE POWER OF BITE-SIZING (Daniel 6:10)

A. Discipline develops as we take one small bite of life at a time.
1. Discipline downers- they will wear you out…
- We are all busy- our schedules are CRAZY…
Mt 6:34 "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
- 1440 minutes each day (take little bites)
- Enjoy the moment- God can teach you that.
2. Each small victory can lead to another & another until you are ready for a big bite.
3. Daniel & his three friends were taking small bites in chapter 1 so they could go into a "fiery furnace (chpt. 3) & into a lions den (chpt 6) & the intense spiritual battles in (chpts 7-12)
B. Zechariah 4:6 Highlights discipline…
"… Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."
Gal 6:8 "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."
1. Discipline of the disciplines will produce fruit (farmer plants seed then God…)
NOTE: So I need to be a disciplined person because it gets me into the ground so God can bring fruit in my life.

IV. DANIEL UNDERSTOOD THE POWER OF DEEP DEPENDENCE (Daniel 6:10)

A. Daniel's secret of developing discipline & maintaining self-control was a deep dependence on the Lord.
1. He regularly - three times a day - gave thanks to God & meditated on Him.
- He filled his mind with so much God that there wasn't any room for the enemy.
B. Meditation- not the Eastern kind (where you empty your head) but fill your mind with God's word.
Quote: Richard Foster 'Celebration of Discipline'
"Christian meditation is the ability to hear God's voice & obey His word. It's that simple. I wish I could make it more complicated for those who like things difficult."
1. Meditation on God & His word prepares the soil of our hearts & minds so that God can grow discipline (and other character qualities) in our lives.
Ps. 1:1-3 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
Note: Best illustration of meditation is a COW chewing its cud.
They bring it back up 7 times. WOW 7 times.
- Meditate outside - see nature (the Creator's work)
- Meditate on your face
- Meditate on your past graces- remember.

Conclusion: Daniel 6:4 "Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him."