Discipline - Chapter 25 - Personal Revival Manual

From "Catch the Revival Fire" by Ps Paul Quadros

25. DISCIPLINE

Discipline is one more important key required to maintain this revival fire. We may catch the fire through our intimacy with God and obedience, but without discipline we may soon lose what we have caught. Discipline is enforcing restraint on oneself.

A winner in any field did not get to the top without discipline. Many times we feel lazy, moody, or unwilling. But a winner does not give up, he brings his body into subjection and does things which he knows he must do. He even does things that he may not initially like to do.

2 Timothy 2:1-7 gives us the example of a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. We must be like a good soldier, enduring hardships, pleasing the Lord, not getting entangled with worldly things. Also we must develop the character of a good athlete who competes according to the rules. Then on being strong in His grace, we will be fruitful models for others to learn and follow. (2 Timothy 2:182).

Paul also says that he buffets his body and brings it under submission. The bible tells us how we must run the race with endurance, looking at Jesus, laying aside (throwing off) any things that could hinder us. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Remember, if we run after God and commit ourselves to him, the things of this world will not ensnare us. Jesus is our forerunner, our model, our example, and focus (author and finisher, i.e. he will initiate and he will complete). Praise be to him!

Hence, we must understand and develop a disciplined life because this is mandatory if we want our revival fire to burn on.

We must learn to be disciplined in our food, sleep and also in other bodily needs. Often during personal or corporate prayers we catch this fire, but we end up losing it because of our own lack of discipline:

Food: Food is needed for the body, but not body for the food. We should not allow our bodies to become slaves to food. This could lead to unwanted desires to rise up in our flesh like excessive sleep, lust, laziness and even sickness.

It is good to be sensitive to the Spirit in our food like what to eat, how much to eat and when to eat. All these three things could affect our walk with God in catching and maintaining the fire of the Spirit.

Jesus said “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34) NKJV

We must therefore live to do the will of God by His grace, more than focus on the necessities of the body.

Just as in the case of food we also need good rest (sleep) for the body, but the body should not become a slave to excessive sleep.

When we are spiritually awake (watchful) in our sleep, even our spirit is awake and we can get up anytime when the Lord awakes us. And during this time we can be fresh on fire when we wake up. Many times we could have songs on our lips early morning the moment we wake up. We must be in the Spirit all the time even in our sleep (1 Thess 5:6). It is good for us to check our hearts, and to pray and meditate on His Word before we sleep. This will help us to keep the fire burning.

Sensitivity in the Spirit

As we learn to walk in the Spirit our conscience becomes very sensitive to every situation around us. Any unbelief or any negative words, actions, motives etc. can disturb our conscience.

It is His will that we should become mature even in our words as our words carry life and blessings. What we speak could defile our hearts and could quench the fire. It is therefore important to guard our hearts and tongues in order to maintain and increase the fire of revival. The Bible says “if anyone does not stumble in word he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body” (James 3:2) NKJV. It also says “let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good and necessary for edification that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Eph 4:29-30)