Revival of Doctrine, Truth, Soundness of Mind and Sanity.
Army again - Lessons learned
As I said in the Army?? thread, I'd talk some about what I learned from my military experience that would apply to spiritual warfare. This is the first, and probably the most important lesson I learned from my time in uniform, now with a spiritual perspective:
The first lesson I learned at basic training is that you cannot have discipline without self-discipline.
You might be familiar with the image of drill sergeants presented in movies and on TV: loud, barking orders, screaming insults at trainees, sometimes getting physical with the trainees. Well, that image contains some truth. Drill sergeants have a tough job, and not much time to do it. In six weeks or so, they have to take civilians that are used to having their own way and having things done for them, and turn those civilians into soldiers that obey orders, work as part of a team, and push themselves into and through hard situations. If the drill sergeants were allowed to take their time to do that, basic training would last 6 months. If you had 6 weeks to do a 6 month job, you'd scream too!
But when that drill sergeant yells an order at you, all his yelling and screaming isn't what makes you obey. It's your own self-discipline. The sergeant can flip on the lights at 0545, scream at you to get up and get yourself ready for first formation in fifteen minutes, but you are the one who has to make yourself jump out of that warm, comfortable bunk, make the bunk, shave, put on your uniform, put on your boots, and scramble out the door to the formation area. He can't do any of that for you.
Of course, you could stay in your bunk, and ignore the orders, but you will also face the consequences. Sadly, some soldiers are moved into action by fear of those consequences. But most soldiers know they have made a commitment they wish to keep. If keeping that commitment means getting up when "the sun isn't even awake yet," getting out in the cold, the heat, the dust, the mud, thick underbrush, gritty desert sand, whatever - you'll do it!
Each soldier has his own reason for making that commitment. For some, it's love of country. For others, it's love of family and seeing the need to protect their families from harm. Some go in for money, but usually because they have no other way to get money for college, or they have signed up for training in an area where they will gain knowledge and skills they can use in civilian life to make good a good living. Whatever the reason, if it is a proper one, it will motivate you to discipline yourself to keep your commitment.
For Christians as soldiers of Christ, our motivation is love: love for God, for each other, for our families, for our friends, even love for those who would be our enemies.
Drill sergeants do not instill discipline into anybody. They just develop the discipline that is already there. While they can only work on a human level to develop discipline in the soul, the Holy Spirit works on us to develop discipline in our born-again spirits.
As Paul said in Galatians, "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Gal. 5:22 -23 NASB) That fruit is placed within you when you were born again. The Holy Spirit, through guidance, correction and encouragement, either dealing with you directly or through ministers of the Word, develops that discipline.
Next time, I'll talk about the role of discipline in a soldier's life.
The first lesson I learned at basic training is that you cannot have discipline without self-discipline.
You might be familiar with the image of drill sergeants presented in movies and on TV: loud, barking orders, screaming insults at trainees, sometimes getting physical with the trainees. Well, that image contains some truth. Drill sergeants have a tough job, and not much time to do it. In six weeks or so, they have to take civilians that are used to having their own way and having things done for them, and turn those civilians into soldiers that obey orders, work as part of a team, and push themselves into and through hard situations. If the drill sergeants were allowed to take their time to do that, basic training would last 6 months. If you had 6 weeks to do a 6 month job, you'd scream too!
But when that drill sergeant yells an order at you, all his yelling and screaming isn't what makes you obey. It's your own self-discipline. The sergeant can flip on the lights at 0545, scream at you to get up and get yourself ready for first formation in fifteen minutes, but you are the one who has to make yourself jump out of that warm, comfortable bunk, make the bunk, shave, put on your uniform, put on your boots, and scramble out the door to the formation area. He can't do any of that for you.
Of course, you could stay in your bunk, and ignore the orders, but you will also face the consequences. Sadly, some soldiers are moved into action by fear of those consequences. But most soldiers know they have made a commitment they wish to keep. If keeping that commitment means getting up when "the sun isn't even awake yet," getting out in the cold, the heat, the dust, the mud, thick underbrush, gritty desert sand, whatever - you'll do it!
Each soldier has his own reason for making that commitment. For some, it's love of country. For others, it's love of family and seeing the need to protect their families from harm. Some go in for money, but usually because they have no other way to get money for college, or they have signed up for training in an area where they will gain knowledge and skills they can use in civilian life to make good a good living. Whatever the reason, if it is a proper one, it will motivate you to discipline yourself to keep your commitment.
For Christians as soldiers of Christ, our motivation is love: love for God, for each other, for our families, for our friends, even love for those who would be our enemies.
Drill sergeants do not instill discipline into anybody. They just develop the discipline that is already there. While they can only work on a human level to develop discipline in the soul, the Holy Spirit works on us to develop discipline in our born-again spirits.
As Paul said in Galatians, "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Gal. 5:22 -23 NASB) That fruit is placed within you when you were born again. The Holy Spirit, through guidance, correction and encouragement, either dealing with you directly or through ministers of the Word, develops that discipline.
Next time, I'll talk about the role of discipline in a soldier's life.
Comment
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Comment by Charles Atkinson on April 10, 2009 at 11:45am -
To add to my comments above about griping and complaining (this could be its own post, but fits so well with Doug's Army one)...
When the children of Israel were coming out of Egypt they began to complain against Moses because in their minds they considered his authority separate from God's authority. They had become dissatisfied with the leader God had placed over them. They were complaining about ineffective techniques and how those decisions made their lives miserable. At times they were convinced Moses had missed hearing God and somehow began to consider his authority separte from God's.
But Moses put things in perspective when he relayed the word of the Lord "The Lord hears your complaining which you are making against Him. What are we? Your complaints are not against us, but against the Lord." Those people thought their insubordination was not connected to God. Because Moses' preaching brough them hardship they began to call down divine judgment on him. But in turn they were the ones judged for their lack of honor.
There were many times in the Corps (as well as at some jobs I've worked) that I joined in complaining about decisions and methods of the leadership. I would resist their authority not realizing that often, the Lord will use the decisions of our leaders to expose the rebellion and independence of our hearts.
"The Lord disciplines those he loves." I thank God I'm not dead. My rebelliousness opened the door for the enemy who could have "steal, kill and destroy" my life had I not had an intercessor praying on my behalf. As Jesus said, "The Truth will make you free." Coming to understand the seriousness and fragility of honoring the authority God has placed over me has set me on a path where I began to discipline myself (at least at first to hold my tongue) until the Holy Spirit could work a transformation in my heart to truly honor with heart submission (respect) for my pastors/leaders/presidents/etc.
In boot camp we first tend to obey our DI's out of fear (afraid). But the fear (respect) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. If we respect the Holy Spirit's leadership over us (and the people he'll use in positions of authority) we will self-discipline ourselves to yield to Him to train us in the shortest amount of time.
Deut.10:12 "What does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord, to walk in his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord with all your heart and soul."
Ps.33:18 "But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love."
Ps.118:4 "Let those who fear the Lord say: 'His love endures forever.'"
Ps.147:11 "the Lord delights in those who fear him [that is, in those] who put their hope in his unfailing love."
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Comment by Charles Atkinson on April 8, 2009 at 10:31am
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From my years in the Corps, many times I heard the saying "A griping Marine is a happy Marine." As odd as that sounds, when we were in a difficult and uncomfortable place, our outlet was to gripe about it. The Israelites in the desert were complainers and gripers because they didn't have the motivation to be in the situation from a spirit of love and thankfulness to a God who led them out of bondage. They were more focused on the comfort of their flesh; rather than operate out of a new nature. Which is an example to us to keep our eyes on Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith.
Self-discipline will grow with maturity. When I was in Desert Storm my main concern was when I would next be fed. I did not care about the cause of the war; I cared only for my own needs. I had the self-discipline to do what I was told, but griped about it. Later when at home and seeing the beginning images of Iraqi Freedom, a desire stirred in me to re-join and participate. This time it was born of maturity - it was born of a desire to help, to do something for my country, to give my life and strength for a purpose greater than myself.
This post about self-discipline reminds me a Alan Taylor's message wherein he said that praying in tongues will not make you obedient - that is a choice you will have to make, but it will enable you to see what you need to deal with. But you have to choose to obey.
Last week I had a break through after having received grace. I surrendered my will (in the words of Gary), "I am willing to be made willing." Either He is bigger than our will or else scripture is wrong in saying, "If our hearts condemn us, he is greater than our hearts."
Self-discipline will grow in me (us) as I realize His love for me. "We love him because He first loved us."
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