105 Sermon Illustrations on Spiritual Discipline

When our son was playing high school football, he looked like the tattooed man at the circus, with bruises all over his body. Doug always dreamed of playing football. And he had his dream, but he paid a price. As soon as practices started in August, the coaches had those players running 'til they almost dropped - hitting, and tackling, and straining, and sweating. Some guys quit because it was just too much. Finally, the season began, and Doug's team started winning - a lot. I remember one incredibly rowdy victory celebration on the bus home after they had managed this 20-0 shutout. Doug had weighed the pain of playing against the pleasure. What he concluded may help you weigh yours.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A WORD WITH YOU today about "The Payoff For The Pain."

Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Romans 8:17-18 ... written by a man with plenty of bruises for taking his stand. But when he weighs the pain of his commitment against the pleasure of the payoff, there's no comparison. Paul says, "We are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

Now that was the conclusion of spiritual warrior Paul. Now, here's what football player Doug concluded when he weighed the pain against the payoff. He told me, "Dad, the feeling of victory is worth all those hours of practice. You didn't think so when you're slugging it out in practice, but it is." Same conclusion. The victory more than makes the pain worth it. But there is one major difference between Doug's equation of football-suffering and Paul's equation of suffering for Christ.

Doug said, "Unfortunately, the pleasure of winning doesn't last very long." That was true - 15 hours of practice a week for a few hours of joy. But when it comes to the pain-and-victory comparison in Christ, the opposite is true. Paul said any hurt we have here is like minutes compared to the forever celebration of victory we're going to enjoy.

But right now you're in practice, and you don't feel very victorious. It hurts. You're under a lot of pressure; you're trying to do what's right but it doesn't seem to be working. And maybe God has trusted you with the assignment to show His joy and His love in the midst of physical suffering. Or perhaps you're paying a price for the stand you're taking. It's tempting to compromise, to back off, maybe to give in to despair, or even to quit. Remember, God will record your faithfulness so He can reward your faithfulness 100 times over! If you decide what to do based on comfort or convenience, you will never know the thrill of ultimate victory.

Our son said the suffering was "worth it all." Those words make me think of the values-clarifying words of a great old hymn: "It will be worth it all when we see Jesus. One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrow will erase. So gladly run the race 'til we see Christ."

That kind of outlook enabled the Apostle Paul to have a very different perspective on his hurts. He says in Romans 8:31, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" And then in verse 37, "In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us!"

So take the hits that you're getting in practice right now. The victory will be so glorious, you will soon forget the wounds. Don't quit now. The practice is just a little while - the party is forever!

*

A number of years ago the most magnificent diamond in the history of the world was found in an African mine.

It was then presented to the king of England to embellish his crown of state. The king sent it to Amsterdam to be cut by an expert stonecutter. Can you imagine what he did with it? He took this gem of priceless value and cut a notch in it. Then he struck it hard one time with his hammer, and the majestic jewel fell into his hand, broken in two. What recklessness! What wastefulness! What criminal carelessness!

Actually, that is not the case at all. For you see, that one blow with the hammer had been studied and planned for days, and even weeks. Drawings and models had been made of the gem. Its quality, defects, and possible lines along which it would split had all been studied to the smallest detail. And the man to whom it was entrusted was one of the most skilled stonecutters in the world.

Now do you believe that blow was a mistake? No, it was the capstone and the culmination of the stonecutter's skill. When he struck that blow, he did the one thing that would bring that gem to its most perfect shape, radiance, and jeweled splendor. The blow that seemed to be the ruin of the majestic precious stone was actually its perfect redemption, for from the halves were fashioned two magnificent gems. Only the skilled eye of the expert stonecutter could have seen the beauty of two diamonds hidden in the rough, uncut stone as it came from the mine.

Thought: Sometimes, in the same way, God lets a stinging blow fall on your life. You bleed, feeling the pain, and your soul cries out in agony. At first you think the blow is an appalling mistake. But it is not, for you are the most precious jewel in the world to God. And He is the most skilled stonecutter in the universe. Someday you are to be a jewel adorning the crown of the King. As you lie in His hand now, He knows just how to deal with you. Not one blow will be permitted to fall on your apprehensive soul except what the love of God allows. And you may be assured that from the depths of the experience, you will see untold blessings, and spiritual enrichment you have never before imagined. (JHM)

“The hand of the LORD has done this...” (Job 12:9).

________

Source: Weekend Encounter, by Dick Innes, Copyright (c) ACTS International, 2004, http://www.actsweb.org/subscribe.php

*

Prayerwalking is an exercise in obedience to Christ. As an act of intercession on behalf of others, it is an attempt to saturate an area where people live with prayer that they might come to the love of Christ.

I have experienced firsthand the joy of prayerwalking. Most memorably, I have prayerwalked with international missionaries and others the streets of various cities in distant parts of the world where people need to hear and heed the Gospel of Christ.

During my tenure as a state missionary, I have also learned to do some prayer driving. Since I am often in my vehicle and traveling the highways and byways here in Alabama and beyond, I have learned to focus my attention on the communities and cities across our landscape.

When entering an area, I pray generally for the people who live there. In passing churches -- many of them I know well -- I pray for the pastor by name as well as the family of faith. My prayer for the church is that they will always see themselves as an outpost of the Kingdom of God and a church family on mission with the Great Commission.

If I pass a city hall or the courthouse, I pray for the political leaders of that area. When I pass through major cities on the interstate, I pray for those metro areas too. In the open rural areas of our state, I remember those who work in agriculture.

With all the roadwork on our interstates, I find myself sitting in traffic trying not to be frustrated. Roadwork signs are abundant in our state currently. I thought I saw a sign that indicated “Roadwork Next 187 Miles.” That was misreading on my part, but I must admit that I sometimes think the work on the roads is endless.

What is a good use of the time idling in traffic or rolling at a snail’s pace in roadwork-related traffic? Looking at Waze (a traffic and navigation app) and trying to see how many miles more of frustration I have? No, I try to remind myself that this is a good time to pray.

My prayer list is no different from yours. I pray for the needs of people. I seek to unburden myself of the worries and concerns that weigh heavily upon my heart. I see the cars around me and whisper a prayer for those people who are unknown to me.

Prayer driving is becoming a spiritual discipline for me. It has helped me to be in touch with the Lord and the needs of others. It has calmed my spirit and cleared my mind. There are times when I find myself lost in thought and prayer as I make my way traveling. Of course, do not do prayer driving with your eyes closed.

I cannot say that I enjoy driving in traffic or in the roadwork areas of Alabama, but prayer driving has served to remind me that this state is my first mission field and therefore it needs to be immersed in prayer.

Perhaps you can find some unique times of prayer while driving. It may bring clearer focus in your walk with the Lord as a contemporary application of Paul’s admonition, “Pray without ceasing.” I think the apostle would say, “Amen.”