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The David Alliance
Ever just get punched in the face… I mean straight out, strong arm swinging for the fences punched in the face… like a train down a track right into your eye socket… you are bruised, bloodied and broken…
What did Mike Tyson say: Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face… but what if that is your plan?
1 Cor. 9
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 [i]obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize [j]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.
I discipline my body…
HoopOpeeadzo - punch in the face
In face in verse 26 just before this he says fight for a spiritual reward… and that word there means a spiritual fist fight… for a reward!
Disqualified… a phony, a fake, a poser.
What does he say about how he treats his body… he beats it, he severely whoops it in a strict spiritual manner… in fact he says he makes it his slave.
HE OWNS HIMSELF.
QUESTION… do you own up to yourself? Do you take responsibility of who you are and the discipline you have been practicing on your spiritual body. Do you gladly point out how you have been punching yourself in the face spiritually to be more like Christ?
WHY? Look if you have been around long enough you- just like me have seen dozens of pastors blow it. Some ran off with Lisa the secretary… some ran off with Bob the Janitor, many busted for porn, embezzlement, beating their wife or kids, running a sex ring, molesting boys… These are all true stories of Pastors I know because they were unwilling to punch themselves in the face daily.
In this chapter Paul is talking about preaching the gospel, the why’s, if’s ands how’s where’s etc… and he is speaking as probably the most well known, apostle with the biggest ministry and has written the most books of the Bible… and yet he realizes if I don’t live in such a way that ends up with me in heaven with the angels rejoicing… what a sad pathetic man I am.
Get used to hard things…. Like I said yesterday comfort is the bodies slow adaptation of death. As Jocko has said “get used to doing uncomfortable things, embrace the suck”. But even more so in spiritual matters….
Here is a list you can work on…
Memorize scripture
Pray out loud in public for someone to be healed
Witness out in public to someone
Pray an hour a day
Read your bible and journal 30 minutes a day
Go to a bible study with other men
Give up drinking, smoking and drugs and use that money for missions
Wear a t shirt that tells people Jesus loves them
Go out and give money to the needy
LOOK it does not matter what it is, just practice doing something hard.
Now here is what is truly worthy and truly punching yourself in the face spiritually…. Ask other Godly men to keep you accountable. I mean the kind of men who will pray and know things about you that only god knows and will call you on it. Ask them to punch you in the face daily….
