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A Life of Self-Discipline

Watch A Life of Self-Discipline
Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah
December 2, 2020
27:29

During this message Dr. Jeremiah explains how and why we should win the battle for a disciplined life.

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A Life of Self-Discipline

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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Dr. David Jeremiah: Eachof us has just one life to live.
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  • Our life should count.
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  • It should matter.
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  • It should have purpose and,frankly, it should be amazing.
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  • But as I look around me,I see lives lived in disarray,
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  • in defeat, and discouragement.
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  • I've been deeply burdened aboutthis because, you see,
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  • an unfulfilled lifeis just no way to exist.
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  • And from what I read in theScripture, God promises us
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  • a life of blessings beyondour comprehension, literally
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  • a life beyond amazing.
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  • So I asked a few friendsof mine, friends who I believe
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  • demonstrate a life beyondamazing, to sit down together
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  • with me and discuss what ittakes to live a vibrant
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  • and victorious life.
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  • We gathered together for a mealin San Diego and what you're
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  • about to see is a partof our amazing conversation.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Dr. Jeremiah: You know,so many of these things
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  • we've been talking about today,we all know that
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  • we have a long way to go.
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  • Interestingly enough,the thing that people
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  • believe today that's not true,maybe you've even heard
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  • people say that and I don't meanthis in any critical way
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  • but I've heard people say,"You need to let go
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  • and let God."
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  • And I see a lot of peopleletting go.
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  • They let go of everythingand they want God
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  • to do everything for them.
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  • God has given us everythingwe need for life and holiness
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  • and then he's given usall the wonderful promises
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  • of the Word of God.
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  • But every oneof these disciplines that
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  • we've talked about is commandedof us in the New Testament.
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  • We're all commanded to loveone another.
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  • We're commandedto rejoice evermore.
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  • We're commanded to livein peace.
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  • And it takes self-disciplineto do that.
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  • Interestingly enough,the word "self-discipline"
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  • in the New Testamentis the word from which we get
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  • the word "government."
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  • It means to govern ourselves.
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  • So anybody haveany issues with that?
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  • Kirk Cousins: As an athlete,discipline shows up
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  • all the time.
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  • We constantly have to bedisciplined and
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  • the most disciplined playersare the one who are successful.
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  • The most disciplined teamsare the ones who are successful.
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  • And it takes great coaches whodemand discipline and preach
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  • discipline and, as you said,no more importantly
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  • than in our spiritual livesas well where discipline
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  • is what ties allthe other fruits of the Spirit
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  • together.
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  • Bobby Schuller: One ofthe mistakes that people make,
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  • though, is that, like,you take football playing
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  • as an analogy,a lot of people think
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  • self-discipline meanstrying harder.
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  • But that's not what it isin football, right?
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  • It means training, right?
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  • And very often we forgetthe fact that a discipline
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  • is actually a form of training.
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  • It's something you do to prepareyou for the time of testing.
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  • So a lot of people waituntil that time of testing
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  • and then they wanna get throughwith sheer will-power but they
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  • haven't done the things likebonding with one another,
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  • studying the Bible daily,praying, and a lot of the key
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  • disciplines, even things likefasting or caring for the poor,
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  • other things that build into uscharacter beforehand before
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  • the time of testing comes.
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  • It's just like a football team.
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  • If you don't catch itin the end zone,
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  • it's like, well, where didthe breakdown happen
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  • in training, right?
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  • So it's also true in faith.
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  • Dr. Jeremiah: Actually,Paul wrote to Timothy.
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  • In 1 Timothy 4:7 he said,"Train yourself to godliness."
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  • And the word "train" is the wordfrom which we get
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  • the word "gymnasium."
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  • In other words, work outspiritually like you work out
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  • physically, and you don't putyour Bible under your pillow
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  • at night and wake up godlythe next day.
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  • I mean, you have to get involvedin this and you have
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  • to take responsibility for it.
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  • It's like anything else.
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  • There is a parallelbetween physical training
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  • and spiritual training.
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  • There is a certain amountof effort that goes into it.
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  • Bobby: And the lesson thereis don't give up
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  • on your training, right?
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  • Because so many of us,we beat ourselves up
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  • when we fail morallyor when we're just--
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  • or other areasof our lives where
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  • we lack discipline, we're, like,"Oh, I wanna be in this place."
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  • And Paul shows us right there,like,
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  • "I'm an apostle of Jesus Christand I've got some thorn and,"
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  • in Romans, "I do the thingsI don't wanna do and I don't do
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  • the things I wanna do."
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  • And so I think it's so importantthat we don't, like,
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  • just beat up ourselves,bully ourselves,
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  • when we're notwhere we wanna be at.
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  • Mandisa: Yeah,I'm so good at that.
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  • I beat myself up on adaily basis and so you and I,
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  • when we got together,we were talking about that,
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  • how it's so easy for me to lookin the mirror and to nitpick
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  • every little thing that I do notlike about myself and,
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  • if I'm being honest,the main area of these nine
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  • that we're talking about,the main area that
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  • I struggle the most withis self-discipline.
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  • And so I like how you define it.
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  • When I think of it as training,you don't think of training
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  • as how far do I have to goa year from now.
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  • You just--today, I need to traintoday and what can I do today?
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  • So when I think of discipline,instead of thinking how far
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  • I have to go, I simply say,"Okay, what can I do today
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  • to get me the next stepthat I know that
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  • I'm gonna wanna be in tomorrow?"And so, for me, just because
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  • of the way that my mind works,instead of being overwhelmed
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  • with how far I have to go,I like thinking of it as
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  • "Just today, what can I do?"
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  • Dr. Jeremiah: We can makesome of these choices but we
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  • have to be aware that there arechoices that need to be made.
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  • Some say we live in thisself-absorbed world and there's
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  • nothing you can do about it.
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  • You just gotta flow in it.
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  • And I say, "No, that's not true.
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  • We can make a difference."
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  • Dr. Jeremiah: As I sat withmy friends and reflected on what
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  • was shared, I was once againreminded that self-discipline
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  • is a decision, a decisionthat transforms one's life
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  • and in the next few minutesI will share with you
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  • how a life of self-disciplineis necessary to live a life
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  • beyond amazing.
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  • male announcer:From Tampa, Florida,
  • 00:05:43.793 --> 00:05:45.027
  • this is "Turning Point"
  • 00:05:45.061 --> 00:05:46.429
  • with Dr. David Jeremiah.
  • 00:05:46.462 --> 00:05:48.865
  • ♪ Give thanks to the Lord ♪our God and King ♪
  • 00:05:51.167 --> 00:05:54.504
  • ♪ His love endures forever ♪♪ For He is good ♪
  • 00:05:54.537 --> 00:06:00.476
  • ♪ He is above all things ♪♪ His love endures forever ♪
  • 00:06:00.510 --> 00:06:06.115
  • ♪ Sing praise ♪♪ Sing praise ♪
  • 00:06:06.149 --> 00:06:14.390
  • ♪ With a mighty hand ♪♪ and an outstretched arm ♪
  • 00:06:14.424 --> 00:06:18.528
  • ♪ His love endures forever ♪♪ And for the life ♪
  • 00:06:18.561 --> 00:06:24.233
  • ♪ that's been reborn ♪♪ His love endures forever ♪
  • 00:06:24.267 --> 00:06:29.939
  • ♪ yeah ♪♪ Sing praise ♪
  • 00:06:29.972 --> 00:06:34.243
  • ♪ Sing praise ♪♪ Sing praise ♪
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  • ♪ Sing praise ♪♪ Forever God is faithful ♪
  • 00:06:41.884 --> 00:06:50.293
  • ♪ Forever God is strong ♪♪ Forever God is with us ♪
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  • ♪ forever ♪♪ Forever God is faithful ♪
  • 00:06:58.401 --> 00:07:06.309
  • ♪ Forever God is strong ♪♪ He is strong ♪
  • 00:07:06.342 --> 00:07:10.580
  • ♪ Forever God is with us ♪♪ forever, yeah ♪
  • 00:07:10.613 --> 00:07:20.623
  • ♪ His love endures forever ♪♪ Whoa ♪♪
  • 00:07:22.758 --> 00:07:32.768
  • announcer: Coming upon "Turning Point."
  • 00:07:41.310 --> 00:07:44.080
  • Dr. Jeremiah: The Beatitudessays we are blessed
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  • when we hunger.
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  • We are blessed when we thirst.
  • 00:07:47.483 --> 00:07:49.919
  • We are blessed whenwe are unsatisfied with where
  • 00:07:49.952 --> 00:07:53.856
  • we are and want to get onto the next place, amen?
  • 00:07:53.890 --> 00:07:57.894
  • announcer: What are the signsof a life beyond amazing?
  • 00:07:59.729 --> 00:08:02.465
  • Among them, joy that is notdependent on circumstance,
  • 00:08:02.498 --> 00:08:05.902
  • integrity that settlesfor no exceptions,
  • 00:08:05.935 --> 00:08:08.337
  • and self-disciplinethat stands firm.
  • 00:08:08.371 --> 00:08:11.407
  • But how do you get theminto your life?
  • 00:08:11.440 --> 00:08:13.876
  • It takes a decision; actually,nine decisions each day
  • 00:08:13.910 --> 00:08:17.747
  • to commit theseinto your heart and actions.
  • 00:08:17.780 --> 00:08:20.783
  • Discover the steps to the lifeof blessings God has for you
  • 00:08:20.816 --> 00:08:24.120
  • in Dr. David Jeremiah'sinspiring book,
  • 00:08:24.153 --> 00:08:26.923
  • "A Life Beyond Amazing:Nine Decisions That Will
  • 00:08:26.956 --> 00:08:29.525
  • Transform Your Life Today."
  • 00:08:29.559 --> 00:08:31.627
  • Order this transformational bookfrom Dr. Jeremiah today when
  • 00:08:31.661 --> 00:08:35.197
  • you give a gift of any amountin support of this program.
  • 00:08:35.231 --> 00:08:38.334
  • And if you give $60 or more,Dr. Jeremiah will send you
  • 00:08:38.367 --> 00:08:42.171
  • in appreciationhis comprehensive
  • 00:08:42.204 --> 00:08:44.707
  • "A Life Beyond Amazing" set.
  • 00:08:44.740 --> 00:08:46.842
  • It contains his book,his entire teaching series
  • 00:08:46.876 --> 00:08:49.645
  • on CD or DVD,a correlating study guide,
  • 00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:52.715
  • and the "Life Beyond Amazing"Scripture cards.
  • 00:08:52.748 --> 00:08:55.851
  • Also available, the "30 Daysto a Life Beyond Amazing"
  • 00:08:55.885 --> 00:08:59.689
  • workbook.
  • 00:08:59.722 --> 00:09:00.856
  • Implement the nine key decisionsfrom a life beyond amazing
  • 00:09:00.890 --> 00:09:03.593
  • in powerful and practical ways.
  • 00:09:03.626 --> 00:09:06.262
  • Plus, it includes a DVDwith video instructions
  • 00:09:06.295 --> 00:09:09.498
  • from Dr. Jeremiah.
  • 00:09:09.532 --> 00:09:10.967
  • Available on its ownfor $30 or more, or as part
  • 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:14.103
  • of the "Life Beyond Amazing" setfor a gift of $85 or more.
  • 00:09:14.136 --> 00:09:18.808
  • Decide today to start livinga life beyond
  • 00:09:18.841 --> 00:09:22.011
  • what you thought possible,a life beyond amazing.
  • 00:09:22.044 --> 00:09:25.381
  • Order these resourceswhen you contact
  • 00:09:25.414 --> 00:09:27.450
  • "Turning Point" today.
  • 00:09:27.483 --> 00:09:29.485
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:09:30.419 --> 00:09:32.388
  • female announcer: Thank youfor watching
  • 00:09:32.421 --> 00:09:33.923
  • "A Life Beyond Amazing"here on "Turning Point."
  • 00:09:33.956 --> 00:09:36.425
  • In appreciationof your viewership,
  • 00:09:36.459 --> 00:09:38.394
  • Dr. Jeremiah would liketo send you
  • 00:09:38.427 --> 00:09:40.796
  • the "Life Beyond Amazing"Scripture cards absolutely free.
  • 00:09:40.830 --> 00:09:44.433
  • Contact "Turning Point" today.
  • 00:09:44.467 --> 00:09:46.769
  • And now, here's Dr. Jeremiahwith his message:
  • 00:09:46.802 --> 00:09:50.506
  • "A Life of Self-Discipline."
  • 00:09:50.539 --> 00:09:52.541
  • Dr. Jeremiah:The last characteristic
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  • of the fruit of the Spiritis self-control.
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  • Let's face it,if you wanna love more
  • 00:10:00.116 --> 00:10:02.518
  • but you don't have anyself-control, you won't do it.
  • 00:10:02.551 --> 00:10:05.187
  • If you want to have greatergenerosity in your life,
  • 00:10:05.221 --> 00:10:07.790
  • you don't have any self-control,you won't be more generous.
  • 00:10:07.823 --> 00:10:11.427
  • If you wish that you were morecompassionate, you gotta get
  • 00:10:11.460 --> 00:10:14.363
  • a hold of yourself.
  • 00:10:14.397 --> 00:10:17.566
  • Someone has said,"Self-discipline is choosing
  • 00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:20.169
  • to do what's right when youfeel like doing what's wrong."
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  • It's knowing you canbut deciding that you won't.
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  • I love this one.
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  • It's not eating all the popcornbefore the movie starts.
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  • My favorite descriptionof this character trait is this,
  • 00:10:34.583 --> 00:10:38.654
  • self-control is the ability tomaintain progress toward a goal
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  • even when you're notin the mood,
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  • when you don't feellike making the effort,
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  • when you wouldmomentarily enjoy something else
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  • or find workingtoward your goal
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  • downright unpleasant.
  • 00:10:53.169 --> 00:10:55.304
  • The New Testament uses a wordto describe this characteristic
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  • that I wanna share with youtonight, and it's related to
  • 00:10:59.709 --> 00:11:02.645
  • our English word, "democracy."
  • 00:11:02.678 --> 00:11:05.347
  • In other words, self-disciplineis about governing yourself.
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  • And contrary to the opinionof many,
  • 00:11:11.153 --> 00:11:13.689
  • this is not a limiting life.
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  • This is a life that totallyfrees you up to be the person
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  • God created you to be.
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  • Let me explain to us all tonightso we understand it
  • 00:11:21.464 --> 00:11:24.133
  • why we all struggle with this.
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  • No exemptions.
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  • This is a message for everybodyhere, if you will receive it.
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  • The Bible tells us very honestlythat, as Christians, we have
  • 00:11:32.108 --> 00:11:35.444
  • a struggle going on within us.
  • 00:11:35.478 --> 00:11:37.313
  • Here are the words of Paulto the Galatian church.
  • 00:11:37.346 --> 00:11:39.648
  • He said, "For the flesh,"that's the old nature,
  • 00:11:39.682 --> 00:11:43.619
  • "lusts against the Spirit,"that's the new nature,
  • 00:11:43.652 --> 00:11:47.056
  • "and the Spirit againstthe flesh; and these two natures
  • 00:11:47.089 --> 00:11:50.826
  • are contrary to one another,so that you do not do
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  • the things that you wish."
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  • Can I get a witness?
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  • We live in a conflicted state,even as believers.
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  • And if we don't understand that,we will never be able to have
  • 00:12:05.441 --> 00:12:09.245
  • any kind of self-disciplinein our lives.
  • 00:12:09.278 --> 00:12:11.647
  • We will be victimizedall the time.
  • 00:12:11.680 --> 00:12:13.749
  • Years ago, somebody gave mea little bit of poetry that set
  • 00:12:13.783 --> 00:12:17.486
  • this in my spirit so thatI would never forget it.
  • 00:12:17.520 --> 00:12:20.756
  • I hope you'll never forget this.
  • 00:12:20.790 --> 00:12:21.957
  • I am not a poet and I don't usea lot of poetry but listen
  • 00:12:21.991 --> 00:12:24.760
  • to this poem.
  • 00:12:24.794 --> 00:12:26.495
  • "Two natures beatwithin my breast.
  • 00:12:26.529 --> 00:12:29.865
  • The one is foul,the one is blessed.
  • 00:12:29.899 --> 00:12:34.136
  • The one I love, the one I hate.
  • 00:12:34.170 --> 00:12:38.541
  • But the one I feedwill dominate."
  • 00:12:38.574 --> 00:12:42.778
  • Isn't that true?
  • 00:12:42.812 --> 00:12:46.015
  • So one of the first thingsyou learn when it comes to
  • 00:12:46.048 --> 00:12:48.317
  • self-control is that you gottatake control of which of your
  • 00:12:48.350 --> 00:12:51.520
  • two natures you're gonna feed.
  • 00:12:51.554 --> 00:12:53.956
  • I mean, let's face it,if you spend all of your time
  • 00:12:53.989 --> 00:12:56.192
  • watching modern television,you're feeding the old nature.
  • 00:12:56.225 --> 00:13:00.863
  • In fact, you might have to spendhours finding anything on many
  • 00:13:00.896 --> 00:13:03.866
  • televisions that would feedthe new nature.
  • 00:13:03.899 --> 00:13:07.970
  • If you're into pornography,you're on a road to destruction.
  • 00:13:08.003 --> 00:13:12.007
  • You will self-destruct becauseyou're feeding your old nature
  • 00:13:12.041 --> 00:13:15.845
  • and your old nature has onepurpose and that's to destroy
  • 00:13:15.878 --> 00:13:18.414
  • you and your influence for God.
  • 00:13:18.447 --> 00:13:22.084
  • The battlefor a disciplined life.
  • 00:13:22.117 --> 00:13:23.886
  • Let me talk to you aboutthe blessings of such a life.
  • 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:26.589
  • As you and I mature asChristians, we increasingly
  • 00:13:26.622 --> 00:13:29.658
  • experience the many battlesof self-discipline.
  • 00:13:29.692 --> 00:13:34.230
  • Think about what commonlyderails all of us:
  • 00:13:34.263 --> 00:13:37.299
  • impulsiveness, procrastination.
  • 00:13:37.333 --> 00:13:40.236
  • How many of you haveever been on a diet?
  • 00:13:40.269 --> 00:13:43.639
  • Just about everybody herehas been on a diet.
  • 00:13:43.672 --> 00:13:45.774
  • We all have our diet.
  • 00:13:45.808 --> 00:13:47.276
  • We all have our diet stories.
  • 00:13:47.309 --> 00:13:50.412
  • So here's what I've triedto do in this book more than
  • 00:13:50.446 --> 00:13:52.581
  • any book I've ever written.
  • 00:13:52.615 --> 00:13:54.049
  • At the beginning of a chapter,I kind of explain
  • 00:13:54.083 --> 00:13:56.619
  • what the discipline is.
  • 00:13:56.652 --> 00:13:59.021
  • But I spend most of the chaptertrying to help us
  • 00:13:59.054 --> 00:14:01.857
  • find strategiesthat we can put to work
  • 00:14:01.891 --> 00:14:04.526
  • that help us become the peopleGod wants us to be.
  • 00:14:04.560 --> 00:14:07.696
  • So let me run through some ofthose tonight in this message.
  • 00:14:07.730 --> 00:14:09.698
  • The building blocksof a disciplined life.
  • 00:14:09.732 --> 00:14:13.702
  • Here are some strategies.
  • 00:14:13.736 --> 00:14:15.471
  • First of all,here's one that I never really
  • 00:14:15.504 --> 00:14:18.207
  • thought of but this isso powerful I don't want you
  • 00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:19.775
  • to miss it:embrace your dissatisfactions.
  • 00:14:19.808 --> 00:14:24.914
  • Say that with me.
  • 00:14:24.947 --> 00:14:26.315
  • Embrace your dissatisfaction.
  • 00:14:26.348 --> 00:14:28.684
  • Now, if that doesn't sound likedouble-talk,
  • 00:14:28.717 --> 00:14:30.386
  • I don't know what does.
  • 00:14:30.419 --> 00:14:32.121
  • In fact, I remembered thinkingabout this as I read
  • 00:14:32.154 --> 00:14:34.623
  • the Beatitudes one day.
  • 00:14:34.657 --> 00:14:36.592
  • One of the great Beatitudesthat's misunderstood
  • 00:14:36.625 --> 00:14:39.028
  • but should be understood betteris this one: "Blessed are those
  • 00:14:39.061 --> 00:14:43.532
  • who hunger and thirstafter righteousness."
  • 00:14:43.565 --> 00:14:47.269
  • Do you know how we read that?
  • 00:14:47.303 --> 00:14:48.938
  • We read it this way:"Blessed are those
  • 00:14:48.971 --> 00:14:51.874
  • who are righteous."
  • 00:14:51.907 --> 00:14:53.275
  • That's not what it says.
  • 00:14:53.309 --> 00:14:54.944
  • I mean, that's true but that'snot what the Beatitude says.
  • 00:14:54.977 --> 00:14:58.013
  • The Beatitude says:"We are blessed
  • 00:14:58.047 --> 00:15:00.282
  • when we hunger.
  • 00:15:00.316 --> 00:15:01.650
  • We are blessed when we thirst.
  • 00:15:01.684 --> 00:15:03.786
  • We are blessed whenwe are unsatisfied with where
  • 00:15:03.819 --> 00:15:07.623
  • we are and want to get onto the next place," amen?
  • 00:15:07.656 --> 00:15:13.128
  • The Bible says God wantsto make something beautiful
  • 00:15:13.162 --> 00:15:15.297
  • out of us.
  • 00:15:15.331 --> 00:15:16.498
  • He wants us to have an amazinglife but it's not going to
  • 00:15:16.532 --> 00:15:18.934
  • happen if we don't understandthere's more to this than
  • 00:15:18.968 --> 00:15:21.603
  • what we are experiencingand we hunger for it
  • 00:15:21.637 --> 00:15:23.872
  • and we desire that Godwould give it to us.
  • 00:15:23.906 --> 00:15:26.141
  • And I believe that whenwe do that, God will respond.
  • 00:15:26.175 --> 00:15:29.745
  • So ask yourself this tonight.
  • 00:15:29.778 --> 00:15:31.814
  • Have I justkind of mailed it in?
  • 00:15:31.847 --> 00:15:35.517
  • Have I just come to the placewhere, hey, I'm not where
  • 00:15:35.551 --> 00:15:37.987
  • I should be, I know that,but I'm okay with it.
  • 00:15:38.020 --> 00:15:40.122
  • I'm gonna just kind of coaston into heaven?
  • 00:15:40.155 --> 00:15:45.661
  • If we're not unhappyand dissatisfied with how much
  • 00:15:45.694 --> 00:15:48.397
  • and what kind of love, joy,and peace we have in our hearts,
  • 00:15:48.430 --> 00:15:51.667
  • nothing will change.
  • 00:15:51.700 --> 00:15:53.335
  • If we're not convinced thatwe fall short in generosity
  • 00:15:53.369 --> 00:15:56.538
  • and compassion,we'll stay the same.
  • 00:15:56.572 --> 00:15:59.274
  • And if we think we're humbleand resilient when we're not,
  • 00:15:59.308 --> 00:16:03.012
  • we fool ourselvesand a life beyond amazing
  • 00:16:03.045 --> 00:16:05.514
  • for us will just be a nice titleto a new book.
  • 00:16:05.547 --> 00:16:09.685
  • So embraceyour dissatisfactions.
  • 00:16:09.718 --> 00:16:12.621
  • Go home tonight andsay, "Lord, I'm thankful
  • 00:16:12.654 --> 00:16:15.224
  • that I don't have this,'I'm already there.
  • 00:16:15.257 --> 00:16:18.093
  • I finally made it.
  • 00:16:18.127 --> 00:16:19.261
  • I'm all the way,'"'cause none of us are.
  • 00:16:19.294 --> 00:16:21.530
  • Give him praise that he's putwithin your heart this hunger
  • 00:16:21.563 --> 00:16:24.333
  • and thirst for righteousness.
  • 00:16:24.366 --> 00:16:25.734
  • It will take you places younever thought you would ever go.
  • 00:16:25.768 --> 00:16:29.638
  • Number two:beware of good intentions.
  • 00:16:29.671 --> 00:16:35.544
  • Be careful that you don't foolyourself that you're doing
  • 00:16:35.577 --> 00:16:38.147
  • something when you're not.
  • 00:16:38.180 --> 00:16:40.883
  • And don't get vicariousblessings when you read
  • 00:16:40.916 --> 00:16:43.419
  • the stories of other peoplewho are doing it.
  • 00:16:43.452 --> 00:16:45.287
  • Get motivated but ifyou're not careful you'll say,
  • 00:16:45.320 --> 00:16:48.090
  • "Oh, that is so wonderful.
  • 00:16:48.123 --> 00:16:49.391
  • It's like it happened to me."
  • 00:16:49.425 --> 00:16:51.126
  • But it didn't happen to you.
  • 00:16:51.160 --> 00:16:54.163
  • It happened to them.
  • 00:16:54.196 --> 00:16:57.800
  • Now, this one, you're gonna haveto hang in there with me 'cause
  • 00:16:57.833 --> 00:17:00.302
  • I'll explain it and you'll feelbetter about it when I'm done.
  • 00:17:00.335 --> 00:17:03.072
  • But here's the third principle:begin working out.
  • 00:17:03.105 --> 00:17:10.145
  • Now, wait a minute,don't get mad at me.
  • 00:17:10.179 --> 00:17:14.216
  • I'm gonna tell you the Scripturetells us that we should do this.
  • 00:17:14.249 --> 00:17:17.920
  • When Paul wrote to young Timothyto instruct him
  • 00:17:17.953 --> 00:17:20.322
  • in his Christian life, he gavehim the secret to godliness
  • 00:17:20.355 --> 00:17:23.826
  • and this is what he said.
  • 00:17:23.859 --> 00:17:24.893
  • 1 Timothy 4:7:"Train yourself to be godly."
  • 00:17:24.927 --> 00:17:31.366
  • When he says, "Train yourself,"he means train with a plan
  • 00:17:31.400 --> 00:17:34.203
  • and with discipline.
  • 00:17:34.236 --> 00:17:35.704
  • When the text says:"Work out your own salvation,"
  • 00:17:35.737 --> 00:17:38.574
  • in Philippians chapter 2,it means working something
  • 00:17:38.607 --> 00:17:41.710
  • through to its full completion.
  • 00:17:41.743 --> 00:17:43.579
  • Working out our salvationis working out what God
  • 00:17:43.612 --> 00:17:47.015
  • has already worked in.
  • 00:17:47.049 --> 00:17:49.084
  • One way to masterself-discipline
  • 00:17:49.118 --> 00:17:50.719
  • is to create new habits.
  • 00:17:50.752 --> 00:17:53.255
  • Begin to read the Bible.
  • 00:17:53.288 --> 00:17:54.523
  • I know I'm speaking to the choirtonight and I'm sure your pastor
  • 00:17:54.556 --> 00:17:57.059
  • talks to you about thisall the time.
  • 00:17:57.092 --> 00:17:59.328
  • You have to begin working out.
  • 00:17:59.361 --> 00:18:00.395
  • Here's one: talk backto your body.
  • 00:18:00.429 --> 00:18:04.666
  • Do you ever have conversationswith your body?
  • 00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:09.304
  • In one of the great athleticpassages of the New Testament,
  • 00:18:09.338 --> 00:18:12.007
  • the Apostle Paul likensthe Christian life
  • 00:18:12.040 --> 00:18:15.077
  • to an Olympic eventand zeroes in on the rigors
  • 00:18:15.110 --> 00:18:18.046
  • of personal training.
  • 00:18:18.080 --> 00:18:20.282
  • Here's what he wrote in1 Corinthians chapter 9:
  • 00:18:20.315 --> 00:18:23.185
  • "Don't you realize thatin a race everyone runs,
  • 00:18:23.218 --> 00:18:26.722
  • but only one persongets the prize?
  • 00:18:26.755 --> 00:18:29.825
  • So run to win!
  • 00:18:29.858 --> 00:18:31.293
  • All athletes are disciplinedin their training.
  • 00:18:31.326 --> 00:18:33.896
  • They do it to win a prize thatwill fade away,
  • 00:18:33.929 --> 00:18:36.598
  • but we do itfor an eternal prize."
  • 00:18:36.632 --> 00:18:40.335
  • Then Paul giveshis own personal testimony.
  • 00:18:40.369 --> 00:18:43.005
  • Listen to what he said.
  • 00:18:43.038 --> 00:18:44.840
  • "So I run with purposein every step.
  • 00:18:44.873 --> 00:18:47.476
  • I am not shadowboxing.
  • 00:18:47.509 --> 00:18:48.810
  • I discipline my body likean athlete, training it
  • 00:18:48.844 --> 00:18:52.614
  • to do what it should.
  • 00:18:52.648 --> 00:18:54.416
  • Otherwise, I fear that afterpreaching to others I myself
  • 00:18:54.449 --> 00:18:57.586
  • might be disqualified."
  • 00:18:57.619 --> 00:19:00.923
  • The older I get, the more thispassage resonates with my life.
  • 00:19:00.956 --> 00:19:06.495
  • There are some days whenmy body tells me
  • 00:19:06.528 --> 00:19:10.732
  • it doesn't want to obey meanymore.
  • 00:19:10.766 --> 00:19:14.203
  • I have arguments with my body.I talk back to it.
  • 00:19:14.236 --> 00:19:18.840
  • My body wants to sleep.I need to get up.
  • 00:19:18.874 --> 00:19:25.347
  • My body wants to eat.I've eaten enough.
  • 00:19:25.380 --> 00:19:29.718
  • My body wants to stopexercising.
  • 00:19:29.751 --> 00:19:31.954
  • I know that if I stop,I might not ever start again.
  • 00:19:31.987 --> 00:19:36.458
  • My body resists the effortto pray and read the Bible
  • 00:19:36.491 --> 00:19:39.528
  • but I cannot let my bodywin this battle.
  • 00:19:39.561 --> 00:19:42.731
  • My body wants to give upwhen the going gets tough
  • 00:19:42.764 --> 00:19:45.467
  • but I know I must go on.
  • 00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:48.337
  • Paul gives us this clue.
  • 00:19:48.370 --> 00:19:50.038
  • He says, "I keep my body under."
  • 00:19:50.072 --> 00:19:53.208
  • Under what?
  • 00:19:53.242 --> 00:19:54.042
  • Under control.
  • 00:19:54.076 --> 00:19:56.612
  • And I find more and moreas I've gotten older, there are
  • 00:19:56.645 --> 00:19:58.814
  • a lot of days when I siton the floor after I get up
  • 00:19:58.847 --> 00:20:02.017
  • and pray and I say,"Body, I don't wanna do today.
  • 00:20:02.050 --> 00:20:09.358
  • I just want--I just want to--body,
  • 00:20:09.391 --> 00:20:12.761
  • let's just stay here today."
  • 00:20:12.794 --> 00:20:16.131
  • Then I know better than that.
  • 00:20:16.164 --> 00:20:19.034
  • The battle with our bodies isan all-inclusive struggle
  • 00:20:19.067 --> 00:20:21.970
  • because--listen to this.
  • 00:20:22.004 --> 00:20:24.006
  • I wrote this down many years agoin my Bible: "our bodies
  • 00:20:24.039 --> 00:20:28.277
  • and our souls live so closetogether that they catch
  • 00:20:28.310 --> 00:20:32.914
  • each other's diseases."
  • 00:20:32.948 --> 00:20:36.485
  • I don't know who said thisbut it has been in my spirit
  • 00:20:36.518 --> 00:20:39.054
  • for all these years.
  • 00:20:39.087 --> 00:20:40.155
  • When I don't feel goodphysically, it has an impact
  • 00:20:40.188 --> 00:20:42.424
  • on my spiritual life.
  • 00:20:42.457 --> 00:20:43.925
  • Can I get a witness?
  • 00:20:43.959 --> 00:20:45.560
  • And when you get in a spiritualfunk, it tears your body apart.
  • 00:20:45.594 --> 00:20:49.898
  • So we do well to talk about thatand, at least, once in a while,
  • 00:20:49.931 --> 00:20:53.669
  • visit it.
  • 00:20:53.702 --> 00:20:54.936
  • If you wanna serve the Lordfor a long time, you gotta
  • 00:20:54.970 --> 00:20:57.539
  • take care of your body.
  • 00:20:57.572 --> 00:20:59.941
  • I used to have a chiropractorback in Fort Wayne when I was
  • 00:20:59.975 --> 00:21:02.544
  • getting started, and he hada sign on his wall and it was
  • 00:21:02.577 --> 00:21:05.781
  • a very important sign'cause I've never forgotten it.
  • 00:21:05.814 --> 00:21:08.150
  • It said this:"So when you wear out this body,
  • 00:21:08.183 --> 00:21:11.453
  • then where are you gonna live?"
  • 00:21:11.486 --> 00:21:14.656
  • So isn't that a good thought?
  • 00:21:14.690 --> 00:21:16.892
  • Here's another thingfor all of us here tonight
  • 00:21:16.925 --> 00:21:18.660
  • who are Christians.
  • 00:21:18.694 --> 00:21:20.062
  • Almost all the ministrywe have is in our body.
  • 00:21:20.095 --> 00:21:22.998
  • We pray.
  • 00:21:23.031 --> 00:21:24.266
  • We pray, that's a ministry butthe vast majority of ministry
  • 00:21:24.299 --> 00:21:27.202
  • we have is in our body.
  • 00:21:27.235 --> 00:21:29.271
  • So we gotta talk backto our body.
  • 00:21:29.304 --> 00:21:32.674
  • Number five:fast forward your life.
  • 00:21:32.708 --> 00:21:36.812
  • The writer of Hebrewscaptured this principle
  • 00:21:36.845 --> 00:21:38.980
  • in the life of Jesus.
  • 00:21:39.014 --> 00:21:40.449
  • Here's what he said,and listen carefully
  • 00:21:40.482 --> 00:21:42.851
  • to the motivationin this passage.
  • 00:21:42.884 --> 00:21:45.387
  • "And let us run with endurancethe race that God has set
  • 00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:48.690
  • before us.
  • 00:21:48.724 --> 00:21:50.492
  • We do this by keeping our eyeson Jesus,
  • 00:21:50.525 --> 00:21:53.628
  • the champion who initiatesand perfects our faith.
  • 00:21:53.662 --> 00:21:57.165
  • Because of the joy awaiting him,Jesus endured the cross,
  • 00:21:57.199 --> 00:22:02.938
  • disregarding its shame.
  • 00:22:02.971 --> 00:22:05.107
  • Now he's seated in the placeof honor beside God's throne.
  • 00:22:05.140 --> 00:22:08.577
  • Think of all the hostilityhe endured from sinful people;
  • 00:22:08.610 --> 00:22:13.115
  • and you won't become weary."
  • 00:22:13.148 --> 00:22:14.583
  • Here's what I know.
  • 00:22:14.616 --> 00:22:15.717
  • Look around at your neighborsfor just a moment.
  • 00:22:15.751 --> 00:22:18.153
  • You know who you guys are?You know who we are tonight?
  • 00:22:18.186 --> 00:22:20.522
  • We're the joy thatthe Lord Jesus endured
  • 00:22:20.555 --> 00:22:23.725
  • the cross for.
  • 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:25.460
  • We're the reason he wentto the cross.
  • 00:22:25.494 --> 00:22:27.229
  • The Lord Jesus was willing to goto the cross and suffer the
  • 00:22:27.262 --> 00:22:30.665
  • indignity of a Roman crucifixionbecause he saw beyond the cross
  • 00:22:30.699 --> 00:22:34.703
  • and beyond the grave to a daywhen several thousand people
  • 00:22:34.736 --> 00:22:38.707
  • would be seated in an arenain Tampa, Florida,
  • 00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:41.343
  • giving him honorand glory and praise.
  • 00:22:41.376 --> 00:22:43.512
  • And he saw that and he went on.
  • 00:22:43.545 --> 00:22:47.482
  • And all of us are in the processhere tonight of trying to figure
  • 00:22:50.218 --> 00:22:54.923
  • out what it is that God wants usto do and trying to sort
  • 00:22:54.956 --> 00:22:58.260
  • through decisions that we have.
  • 00:22:58.293 --> 00:23:00.462
  • Don't ever minimize theimportance of your decisions.
  • 00:23:00.495 --> 00:23:05.801
  • And don't ever think that Godhas finished with you because
  • 00:23:05.834 --> 00:23:08.336
  • you are at a certain place whereyou don't have clear direction.
  • 00:23:08.370 --> 00:23:11.673
  • You keep doing what Godtells you to do every day,
  • 00:23:11.706 --> 00:23:14.276
  • knowing that whenyou get to the place where
  • 00:23:14.309 --> 00:23:16.077
  • you need to make a move,he'll help you.
  • 00:23:16.111 --> 00:23:18.747
  • I wanna tell youwhat I know about you
  • 00:23:18.780 --> 00:23:22.250
  • 'cause it's true about me.
  • 00:23:22.284 --> 00:23:24.920
  • There are moments in lifewhen we get discouraged about
  • 00:23:24.953 --> 00:23:27.689
  • how things are going,maybe where we are in our walk
  • 00:23:27.722 --> 00:23:31.059
  • or what's happening around us,and we think about quitting.
  • 00:23:31.092 --> 00:23:34.663
  • Wherever you are, whateverGod is doing in your life,
  • 00:23:34.696 --> 00:23:37.199
  • whatever disciplineyou're walking through,
  • 00:23:37.232 --> 00:23:39.501
  • don't quit.
  • 00:23:39.534 --> 00:23:41.369
  • You will never ever recoverfrom quitting.
  • 00:23:41.403 --> 00:23:46.007
  • Ask God to give youspecial grace.
  • 00:23:46.041 --> 00:23:47.943
  • Get through the challenge you'rein right now and keep going.
  • 00:23:47.976 --> 00:23:50.612
  • Almighty God is saying to us,"Keep going.
  • 00:23:50.645 --> 00:23:53.715
  • Keep running the racewith endurance.
  • 00:23:53.748 --> 00:23:55.817
  • Don't quit."
  • 00:23:55.851 --> 00:23:57.285
  • male announcer: Dr. Jeremiahwill return
  • 00:23:58.153 --> 00:23:59.754
  • with one more inspirational wordto close today's
  • 00:23:59.788 --> 00:24:02.357
  • "A Life Beyond Amazing" programright after this.
  • 00:24:02.390 --> 00:24:05.560
  • announcer: Discover the stepsto the life of blessings
  • 00:24:07.162 --> 00:24:09.297
  • God has for youin Dr. David Jeremiah's
  • 00:24:09.331 --> 00:24:11.867
  • inspiring book,"A Life Beyond Amazing:
  • 00:24:11.900 --> 00:24:14.736
  • 9 Decisions That Will TransformYour Life Today."
  • 00:24:14.769 --> 00:24:18.006
  • Order this transformational bookfrom Dr. Jeremiah today when you
  • 00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:21.776
  • give a gift of any amountin support of this program,
  • 00:24:21.810 --> 00:24:24.813
  • and if you give $60 or more,Dr. Jeremiah will send you
  • 00:24:24.846 --> 00:24:28.550
  • in appreciation,his comprehensive
  • 00:24:28.583 --> 00:24:31.186
  • "A Life Beyond Amazing" set.
  • 00:24:31.219 --> 00:24:33.288
  • It contains his book, his entireteaching series on CD or DVD,
  • 00:24:33.321 --> 00:24:37.792
  • a correlating study guide,and the "Life Beyond Amazing"
  • 00:24:37.826 --> 00:24:40.629
  • Scripture cards.
  • 00:24:40.662 --> 00:24:42.631
  • Also available, the "30 Daysto a Life Beyond Amazing"
  • 00:24:42.664 --> 00:24:45.667
  • workbook.
  • 00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:46.968
  • Implement the 9 key decisionsfrom "A Life Beyond Amazing"
  • 00:24:47.002 --> 00:24:50.171
  • in powerful and practical ways;plus, it includes a DVD
  • 00:24:50.205 --> 00:24:54.276
  • with video instructionsfrom Dr. Jeremiah,
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  • available on its ownfor $30 or more
  • 00:24:57.212 --> 00:24:59.681
  • or as part of"A Life Beyond Amazing" set
  • 00:24:59.714 --> 00:25:02.450
  • for a gift of $85 or more.
  • 00:25:02.484 --> 00:25:05.086
  • Decide today to start livinga life beyond what you thought
  • 00:25:05.120 --> 00:25:08.690
  • possible, a life beyond amazing.
  • 00:25:08.723 --> 00:25:11.493
  • Order these resources when youcontact Turning Point today.
  • 00:25:11.526 --> 00:25:15.096
  • announcer: And now,with one last word
  • 00:25:17.132 --> 00:25:19.034
  • for today's program,here is Dr. Jeremiah.
  • 00:25:19.067 --> 00:25:23.038
  • Dr. Jeremiah: Have you everconsidered that self-discipline
  • 00:25:23.071 --> 00:25:25.640
  • is like a wall that protectsan ancient city?
  • 00:25:25.674 --> 00:25:29.544
  • I know that's a powerful imagebut self-discipline
  • 00:25:29.578 --> 00:25:33.381
  • is your personal fortress.
  • 00:25:33.415 --> 00:25:36.484
  • I've seen all manner ofdestruction in human lives
  • 00:25:36.518 --> 00:25:39.621
  • through the years, much of whichcould have been prevented
  • 00:25:39.654 --> 00:25:43.458
  • with a bit of self-control.
  • 00:25:43.491 --> 00:25:46.328
  • But we need to recognize thatself-discipline is not easy.
  • 00:25:46.361 --> 00:25:50.899
  • It requires strength,courage, and endurance.
  • 00:25:50.932 --> 00:25:54.202
  • It's no surprisethat Paul listed
  • 00:25:54.235 --> 00:25:56.738
  • self-control as evidenceof supernatural power.
  • 00:25:56.771 --> 00:26:01.242
  • And gaining that powerbegins with faith in Christ.
  • 00:26:01.276 --> 00:26:04.679
  • And that relationship beginswith a biblical understanding
  • 00:26:04.713 --> 00:26:07.549
  • of who he is.
  • 00:26:07.582 --> 00:26:09.351
  • So to help you, I would loveto send you these free resources
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  • from "Turning Point"that will guide you
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  • toward Jesus.
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  • First, "Life Beyond Amazing"Scripture cards to help you
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  • stay focused every day on theamazing life we have in Christ.
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  • Second, a booklet about knowingand living for Christ called
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  • "Your Greatest TurningPoint," and third,
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  • our monthly devotional magazine,"Turning Points,"
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  • to encourage youwith inspiring articles
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  • and devotionals.
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  • And we'll send all these giftsto you, free of charge,
  • 00:26:39.981 --> 00:26:42.784
  • if you will contact us here at"Turning Point" today.
  • 00:26:42.817 --> 00:26:46.988
  • announcer: Next timeon "Turning Point."
  • 00:26:48.023 --> 00:26:50.325
  • Dr. Jeremiah: But as long asyou keep holding on to your own
  • 00:26:50.358 --> 00:26:52.394
  • ambitions and you wanna do ityour way and you wanna do
  • 00:26:52.427 --> 00:26:54.729
  • your thing and you're notwilling to trust him,
  • 00:26:54.763 --> 00:26:57.599
  • you will get what you can getbut it will never be as much
  • 00:26:57.632 --> 00:27:00.268
  • as God wants you to have.
  • 00:27:00.301 --> 00:27:02.437
  • The Bible says:"Commit your way unto the Lord."
  • 00:27:02.470 --> 00:27:04.706
  • Listen to this.
  • 00:27:04.739 --> 00:27:05.907
  • "And he will give youthe desires of your heart."
  • 00:27:05.940 --> 00:27:10.045
  • announcer: Thank youfor being with us today
  • 00:27:11.446 --> 00:27:13.048
  • for Dr. Jeremiah's series,"A Life Beyond Amazing."
  • 00:27:13.081 --> 00:27:16.718
  • Join us next timefor Dr. Jeremiah's message,
  • 00:27:16.751 --> 00:27:19.554
  • "A God-Inspired Life,"here on "Turning Point."
  • 00:27:19.587 --> 00:27:23.391
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:24.793 --> 00:27:27.495