Hebrews 12:11 [AMP] “For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems sad and painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness [right standing with God and a lifestyle and attitude that seeks conformity to God’s will and purpose]’

DAILY READING; Ephesians 2; Ezekiel 6-7; Isaiah 40

‘The ‘Modesto manifesto’ was the resolutions made by Billy Graham and his close friends early in their ministry on how to escape temptations.
By that time in 1948, Billy Graham was a good looking 31-years old Charismatic evangelist who was beginning to draw a lot of attention with his crusades.
The Media often commented on his good looks and how he had repeatedly turned down offers to go into the movies.
As different people, including celebrities, flocked to the revival meetings, temptations loomed. Billy Graham then decided to take concrete steps to avoid the slightest whiff of controversy.
While holding evangelistic meetings in Modesto, California, he called together the four closest members of his ministry team. These charismatic young men gathered in a hotel room in Modesto, to draw up a compact that became known as the “Modesto Manifesto.”
They drew up resolutions to guide them in terms of financial integrity, sexual morality’, and publicity.
The most famous provision of the manifesto is what became known as the “Billy Graham Rule”, which was Billy’s decision to never be alone with any woman other than his wife.
The “Billy Graham Rule” created some controversy as people thought he went too far, but for Billy Graham, the pledge helped him to discipline himself and dodge any accusations of immorality. He was determined to follow Apostle Paul’s mandate to “Flee … youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 1:22).
Billy Graham also backed up his resolutions with great spiritual discipline. He followed a strict regimen of daily prayers, fellowship and diligent study of the Scriptures.
His ability to avoid scandals led to his appearing 57 times in Gallup polls annual list of “Ten Most Admired People”.
Billy Graham ended up preaching the Gospel to an estimated 2.2 billion people worldwide. He is believed to have preached to more people than any other person in history.

To attain God’s high calling for our lives we need to do everything possible to discipline ourselves to live in accordance to His Word.
Our personal walk with God will determine our outward manifestation before men.

No matter how gifted you are, if you lack self-discipline, you may never realize your maximum potential. Truly to conquer the world, you must first conquer yourself.

Today, we live in an out-of-control, over-indulgent and self-centered society, where many people are taking the path of least resistance and giving in to temptations. Just as a car without brake eventually crashes, many destinies are crashing for lack of applying the brake of self- control.
To be able to live for God in such a generation, every serious believer has to be willing to undergo the training for self-discipline.

Hebrews 12:11 tells us that though discipline for the moment seems painful and unpleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Self-discipline is really Christ-discipline. The more we give ourselves to Him the more we are strengthened by Him to overcome the world.
In these last days, God is grooming us for special assignments of manifesting His wonders on the earth.
This is why it is essential that we begin to receive the necessary spiritual training and pruning to align with His Word.
We are living at a time in the world when distractions and temptations are at the highest level in human history.
At such a time, we can no longer afford to live carelessly because those who live anyhow end up anyhow. We must therefore strive to be controlled totally by God’s Word.
It has been said that the best time to plant a tree is twenty five years ago…The second best time is today.
So starting today let’s take the decision to be more self- disciplined and do all that is necessary to get our lives in alignment with God’s will.
There are many things God wants to do in our lives right now.
And as we begin to sincerely seek His Word, and worship Him in spirit and truth, we are going to see a manifestation of His glorious power that will establish us in the life of wonders He has designed for us.

PRAYER: Lord, Please enable me to constantly discipline myself to walk in Your Will. Indeed by Your grace I shall overcome the lures of the world, as I press forward in Your high calling upon my life in Jesus Name.
QUOTE;
God is preparing you for the season He prepared for your breakthrough WORDBITE 222.