Discipline, without doubt, is a key element of immeasurable growth and maturity, whether it is in sports, academics, spiritual life, or even the workplace. Regardless of the genre in which an individual desires change, progress towards an anticipated outcome cannot be obtained without aspiration, willingness, and a do whatever it takes attitude. In professional circles, discipline without competent practice is an exercise in futility ("Professional Growth," 2015). The same could be said concerning servanthood in the Christian faith. Discipline is an aid to maturity, without it, servanthood is an impossibility (Sanders, 1994). Paul demonstrated the concept of maturity best by being a master of his circumstances and by allowing difficulties
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Fortunately, would be disciples have the assistance of the Holy Spirit in their development towards spiritual maturity. Before understanding how the Holy Spirit aids in the development of the servant, a close examination of what cultivates the right attitudes and habits is needed. Above all else, total submission to the Lordship of Christ is paramount (Sanders, 1994). Next, a disciple of Christ must be willing to endure external trials and temptations, while becoming masters of their circumstances, like the apostle Paul (Sanders, 1994). During external trials and temptations, a servant must also avoid becoming victims of their circumstance, and evade the temptation and seduction of sin in weakness (Sanders, 1994). These trials are purposed to build character and perseverance while serving as a precursor to the formulation of new habits, and the process of breaking old ones (Sanders, 1994). Like an athlete in training, a potential servant must recognize their ambition first, and be prepared to pay any price, and make any sacrifice (Sanders, 1994). Likewise, they must know the rules of the contest (Sanders, 1994, p. 93), and have the ability to evade obstacles in training, while keeping all eyes on the goal, and the ultimate prize of laboring with Christ …show more content…
When faced with changing times and difficult circumstances, the Holy Spirit grows our spiritual abilities to innovate change; furthermore, the Holy Spirit facilitates increased productivity from that change (Fritz, 2015). Lastly, and most importantly, the Holy Spirit enables the servant in training the ability to integrate the proper mindset of faith into prayer life and our relationships with others, including God (Fritz, 2015). The Holy Spirit is indispensable in the servant’s training and progress in the creation of new habits and attitudes. One of those new habits is a committed devotional life where the servant learns to pray within the will of God, and, with both, authority and audacity in order to move mountains, while conquering evil (Sanders, 1994). The mature servant will also wrestle and be persistent in prayer and not become discouraged when prayer goes unanswered (Sanders, 1994). Instead, they will check their motives and examine whether faith in prayer is being replaced for faith in God (Sanders, 1994). Neither will they be wrought with deterrence when an answer is delayed, for God knows better, and perhaps, has much bigger plans than a mature servant might expect (Sanders, 1994). The ultimate goal of spiritual maturity, and thusly habits, is to become a laborer alongside Christ in the harvest. The elements that characterize the
Fortunately, would be disciples have the assistance of the Holy Spirit in their development towards spiritual maturity. Before understanding how the Holy Spirit aids in the development of the servant, a close examination of what cultivates the right attitudes and habits is needed. Above all else, total submission to the Lordship of Christ is paramount (Sanders, 1994). Next, a disciple of Christ must be willing to endure external trials and temptations, while becoming masters of their circumstances, like the apostle Paul (Sanders, 1994). During external trials and temptations, a servant must also avoid becoming victims of their circumstance, and evade the temptation and seduction of sin in weakness (Sanders, 1994). These trials are purposed to build character and perseverance while serving as a precursor to the formulation of new habits, and the process of breaking old ones (Sanders, 1994). Like an athlete in training, a potential servant must recognize their ambition first, and be prepared to pay any price, and make any sacrifice (Sanders, 1994). Likewise, they must know the rules of the contest (Sanders, 1994, p. 93), and have the ability to evade obstacles in training, while keeping all eyes on the goal, and the ultimate prize of laboring with Christ …show more content…
When faced with changing times and difficult circumstances, the Holy Spirit grows our spiritual abilities to innovate change; furthermore, the Holy Spirit facilitates increased productivity from that change (Fritz, 2015). Lastly, and most importantly, the Holy Spirit enables the servant in training the ability to integrate the proper mindset of faith into prayer life and our relationships with others, including God (Fritz, 2015). The Holy Spirit is indispensable in the servant’s training and progress in the creation of new habits and attitudes. One of those new habits is a committed devotional life where the servant learns to pray within the will of God, and, with both, authority and audacity in order to move mountains, while conquering evil (Sanders, 1994). The mature servant will also wrestle and be persistent in prayer and not become discouraged when prayer goes unanswered (Sanders, 1994). Instead, they will check their motives and examine whether faith in prayer is being replaced for faith in God (Sanders, 1994). Neither will they be wrought with deterrence when an answer is delayed, for God knows better, and perhaps, has much bigger plans than a mature servant might expect (Sanders, 1994). The ultimate goal of spiritual maturity, and thusly habits, is to become a laborer alongside Christ in the harvest. The elements that characterize the