Never back down on your God given Vision. Part 5
You must be Determined & Disciplined
Grace and peace of God be upon you all, before I travelled to Nigeria, I challenged you on the need to approach God for a new w direction in other to have a winning attitude. I admonished to not to constantly look back into our past. Paul had a past life just like us. But he said I forget those things that are behind me. In other words, he was refusing to be influenced and controlled by my past.
This week I will also like to point out that to press through your God-given vision you must have determination and be disciplined.
In verse 14 of Philippians 8, Paul said "I press toward the mark....
Please note the verb "I press" comes from a Greek word which means literally "to follow after." The Greeks used it to describe a hunter who eagerly and relentlessly pursued after his prey. You cannot become a winning athlete by listening to lectures, watching movies, reading books or cheering at the games. An athlete becomes a winner only when he gets into the race with a determination to win.
Two things I will like you to copy from the Apostle are:
(1) The Apostle Paul had a steadfast determination:
He would not quit.., He would not turn back.., he would not give in.., he would not throw in the towel.., and he would not slow down. He pressed toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
(2) If you want to be a winner in this race of Christianity you must have a spirit of determination:
Sometimes you have got to put some energy and effort in what you are doing for The Lord Jesus Christ. Victory doesn't come easy. It takes a little sweat no, let me rephrase that, It takes a lot of sweat.
Also there is the need to be disciplined to be able to complete the task at hand.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
It takes a great deal of discipline to run this race called Christianity. The very word means "disciplined one." The word discipline is a foreign word to our lifestyle of instant gratification and push-button pleasures. If we are to be winners then we must discipline our selves to study God's word, to pray, and to attend church. It takes no effort or energy at all to fail. All you have to do is sit there.
Let me ask you--Do you have a winning attitude as a Christian? Do you have dissatisfaction, devotion, direction, determination and discipline? Could it be that the Holy Spirit is trying to get you back into the race for God? Could it be that the Holy Spirit is trying to get you to excel in the things of God? Today I'm inviting you to enter the race for Christ and be determined to win.
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