Spirit of Self-Discipline

2 Timothy 1:7 (7KB)
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but a spirit of power, a spirit of love, and a spirit of self-discipline.

The (7KB) translation above translates this verse of scripture in a clear manner. It says that God has not given the believers a spirit of fear or timidity but rather God has given the believers a spirit of power and a spirit of love and a spirit of self-discipline.

When a person becomes saved and is spiritually reborn within, they become a new person in Christ. The point of salvation is the beginning or “starting point” for believers to begin the transformation process that will continue for the rest of their lives. This transformation process will make them increasingly more like Christ as they put away the things which belong to their fallen sin nature. This process is often referred to as sanctification.

See the link “New Creation Born of God” for more details.

So the sin nature within believers must be overcome through a process of denial. The believer must simply use their own human freewill to choose not to yield to sin and refuse to submit to its evil desires. To the extent that a believer denies their sin nature the right to express itself – then this is the extent that they will be able to display godly character instead of sinful behavior.

See the link “Sin Nature Crucifixion” for more details.

The sin nature must be crucified (meaning put to death) by denying it the right to express itself. As the believer learns to refuse the sin nature within them, then this sin nature will grow continually weaker until it is largely subdued. But if they yield to the sin nature in any way, then this ugly side of them (sin nature) will again be revived and become strong and will dominate and control their life – making them into a carnal Christian.

Idols of the Heart

Another aspect of the sin nature is the topic of “idols of the heart” which means that there are numerous believers who still harbor idols within their hearts. They may have carried these idols since childhood and these idols as a result of voids within their hearts – that may have been present since their youth. But instead of denying these idols and repenting of them, there are many Christians who instead invent some sort of “Christian method” of serving these idols. Thus they carry these idols with them into their new life as believers. If they do not repent and forsake these idols they may actually pass the perdition line and if they die in such an idolatrous condition, then it could land them into hell. The Lord is patient and kind and often gives people decades of time to repent (after he exposes these hidden idols). But have known Christians who doubled-down on their idolatry and refused to repent no matter how many times they were rebuked. When they came to the end of their life with their idols in their hearts they will face eternal damnation because they proved that they loved this idol more than Christ – by their stubborn refusal to repent of it (even after decades of conviction for this sin).

See the link “Idols of the Heart” for more details.

Salvation’s Race

It should be noted that salvation is not the end of the matter but only the beginning. This is the start of the race and those who become believers must overcome and run their race with endurance until they finish their course on earth.

See the link “Salvation’s Race” for more details.

Christians in Hell

But if at any time the believers refuse to go any further and they harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit and refuse to repent of sin, then they can become blotted out of the book of life. A carnal Christian can spend their entire lives resisting the Holy Spirit until such time as they either cross the line of perdition or their temporal life on earth expires and dying in such a backslidden state (with unrepentant sin) will land them in hell.

See the link “Christians in Hell” for more details.

Overcoming Christian

The scriptures and lesson links above speak of the human sin nature that is still present within believers after they are saved. Instead of God removing these sin nature, he instead requires that believers become “overcomers” and thus overcome their sin nature.

See the link “Overcoming Christian” for more details.

Difference Between Human Self-Discipline and the Spirit of Discipline

Returning again, to this topic of the “Spirit of Self-Discipline” we must make it clear that human self-effort will always fail because human self-effort does not depend on God for help in anything. In fact human self-effort is a part of the sin nature that exists within humans. A person engaged in human self-effort will even grow proud of their accomplishments and look down on others who have not attained the same level they have and so view them with with contempt. This is an aspect of the fallen sin nature within them that manifests as arrogant human pride. This arrogant human pride is a great sin in the sight of God and Satan was expelled from heaven because of this great pride and arrogance.

See the link “Origin and Operation of Demons” for more details.

Human Self-Sufficiency Judged by God

Daniel 4:28–37 (NASB95)
28 “All this happened to Nebuchadnezzar the king.
29 “Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon.
30 “The king reflected and said, ‘Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’
31 “While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you,
32 and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.’
33 “Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
34 “But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35 “All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’
36 “At that time my reason returned to me. And my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me.
37 “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.”

The King of Babylon was rebuked for his great sin of pride by the prophet Daniel (a Jewish captive that was under service to this king). But even though God gave the king a severe warning for his great sin of pride and even though he was given twelve full months to repent, yet he did not repent. While walking on the roof of his royal palace, the King uttered these prideful words, “Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’ This arrogance is so bad that this king assumed himself into the role of a god! He assumed that his empire was built upon his own human wisdom and he was extremely proud of it. He said that it was by his own power and for the glory of his own majesty that the Babylonian empire existed. While these arrogant words were still within his mouth, God’s judgment fell (just as it had been prewarned to this king 12-months in advance). At that moment, God removed the king’s intelligence and he was reduced to the level of a dumb ox that eats grass. The king remained in this ignorant and “beast-like” condition for seven years – until he learned that it is God who exalts people (not humans exalting themselves by their own self-effort). This arrogant king came to realize that all he had was a gift from God (including his own intelligence). If God removed his intelligence then he would become as dumb as a beast! God proved to this arrogant king that he had nothing to be proud of because even his own intelligence was a gift from God as well. It was God who exalted this king to fulfill his purposes on earth at that time. Yet this proud king sinned by taking the glory for his own achievements without glorifying God who gave him everything.

Daniel 5:20–21 (NASB95)
20 “But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit became so proud that he behaved arrogantly, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him.
21 “He was also driven away from mankind, and his heart was made like that of beasts, and his dwelling place was with the wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he recognized that the Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind and that He sets over it whomever He wishes.

The heart of King Nebuchadnezzar had become proud and lifted up and he behaved arrogantly as if he assumed he was the source of all wisdom and power to create his own global empire (without God’s help)! Therefore, God disposed this arrogant king from his royal throne and his glory was removed form him. His understanding and intellect become like that of a beast and so he lived with the wild donkeys. This insane king was eating grass like cattle and was living outside in the weather and was drenched with dew like a wild animal. This diminished mental state continued for seven-years as a form of judgment and punishment for pride. After this God graciously restored the kings mental capacity again and he then repented and was humbled and acknowledged that God was the ruler over the realm of mankind and it is God who sets over the kingdoms whoever he wishes.

Therefore it was not by self-effort that this king built his empire but in fact he had been empowered by God to fulfill God’s purposes on earth.

Psalm 22:28 (NASB95)
28 For the kingdom is the LORD’S And He rules over the nations.

The kingdom belongs to the Lord and it is God who rules over the nations. Those who are so-called “self-made” men are typically those who do not recognized God working through them and so they become arrogant in the same manner as the king of Babylon had done. It must be noted that human self-sufficiency is a sin and it has its roots in pride. Those who are self-sufficient falsely imagining that they have no need of anyone (including God).

See the link “Sin of Self-Sufficiency” for more details.

Spirit of Discipline

2 Timothy 1:7 (7KB)
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but a spirit of power, a spirit of love, and a spirit of self-discipline.

Again, our foundational text for this lesson is the scripture above which speaks of a spirit of power and a spirit of love and a spirit of self-discipline. This means that one of the attributes which the Holy Spirit can impart to the believer is a Spirit of Discipline. Are you struggling to overcome an undisciplined life? Then as a believer it is important to ask the Lord for a “Spirit of discipline” which comes from the Holy Spirit.

Difference Between Human Self-Discipline and a Spirit of Discipline

The differenced between human self-discipline and a Spirit of discipline can be illustrated by the story of David and Goliath. David depended upon God for his strength rather than on weapons and military training. The giant depended on everything that was natural – in his size and weapons and training.

1 Samuel 17:33 (NASB95)
33 Then Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth.”

David was just a young lad with no weapons training. The giant was a fully grown huge adult who had practiced with weapons and fighting since his youth. The giant was enormous in size and seemed to have all of the natural advantages. However, David depended upon God’s Spirit to help him in battle rather than depending upon natural weapons. The result is that David (who depended fully upon the Lord, defeated the man who depended only on weapons and training and natural strength. This illustrates that a man who depends upon the Lord for help – can accomplish much more than those who rely only upon human self-discipline and human self-sufficiency.

1 Samuel 17:38–39 (NASB95)
38 Then Saul clothed David with his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and he clothed him with armor.
39 David girded his sword over his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. So David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” And David took them off.

So again, David did not depend on natural training or armor or weapons and even removed these things because he was not trained in their use at the time. David then went forth with only slingshot and some stones to face a professional huge warrior – who was many times the size of David.

1 Samuel 17:48–50 (NASB95)
48 Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.
49 And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground.
50 Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David’s hand.

The account of David and Goliath perfectly illustrates the difference between human self-sufficiency and the power of God to enable someone to do exploits without natural ability. Therefore, instead of trying to employ human self-effort in trying to become disciplined, a believer should ask the Lord for a “Spirit of Discipline” which is an impartation from the Holy Spirit. A person who has as a “Spirit of Discipline” can accomplish much more than the most self-disciplined man on earth. The giant was training since his youth to become the best but he was defeated by a young lad with a sling and stone because David operated under God’s anointing. God’s anointing can accomplish much more than any amount of natural human self-effort.

Matthew 5:3 (NASB95)
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The poor in spirit refers to those who have emptied themselves of all human self-sufficiency so they are completely reliant upon the Lord for help. But a rich man is one who falsely supposes he has no need of anything and no need of anyone (including God). A rich man falsely imagines that he can help himself (without God’s help). All such human self-sufficiency is sin and it is rooted in pride and is compared to those who are independent “goat-types” who do whatever they want. But a submissive Christian is a “sheep-type” because he does nothing of his own but depends on the good shepherd (Jesus) to guide him and provide for him and for everything he does. Hell is even called the place of the rich men because these worldly rich men are self-sufficient and vainly suppose they can secure their own salvation without God’s help.

This is why a believer must repent of all self-sufficiency and learn to ask the Lord for a “Spirit of Discipline” which comes from the Holy Spirit. When they are empowered by the Holy Spirit with a “Spirit of Discipline” they can accomplish much more that the sons of “self-discipline” who do everything out of human self-effort.

Again, see the link “Sin of Self-Sufficiency” for more details.