Children hate naps because they want to be up, involved, playing with their toys, or watching their shows. If they stay awake, they may have more fun today, but it will hinder their development, even damaging their brains, and make them cranky tomorrow.

We too must sabbath in Jesus so we can dream and develop according to God’s will for our lives. rest and Without rest in His presence and His word, you cannot grow into who God created you to be. We become spiritually developmentally challenged.

Just as you have to cultivate the discipline of nap-time with children, we also must discipline ourselves in resting in Him.

This means dying to ourselves, our selfish wants and desires, so we can become who God wants us to become.

Matthew 16:24-25 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let them deny themselves, and take up their cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for My sake will find it.”

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Some of us may give our lives physically to the sake of the gospel, but all of us are called to die to ourselves so we can live for God’s purposes.

John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

Matthew 20:25-28 You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

This means that God has to reveal, challenge, and purify our motives. Not just what we do, but more importantly, why we do what we do.

2 Corinthians 2:14-17 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

We are to be living martyrs, dying to our preferences and laying down our “rights” so that others may benefit from the love truth and power of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 25 Parable of 10 Virgins – oil in the lamp from anointing

Grapeseed oil? Crushing. Olive oil? Crushing. Baby oil? A byproduct of refining crude oil.

As we are pressed and refined, that is where anointing comes from.

Psalm 23

Refined as gold - Refiners fire – kingdomculturecc.org/fast

2 Corinthians 4:7-12 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.

Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Philippians 2:5-9 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.

What does taking up our cross look like? Dying to our own desires and living for God’s. It means obedience in every situation. But it’s not only about the willingness to obey, but also about the ability to obey.

It’s not just about being ready for the things we plan for, but also about being ready when life happens.

This is where discipline comes in. This is why we are called disciples.

If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.

There are two guys walking down the street. Jim pays close attention to what he eats, exercises regularly, and plays basketball several times a week, but Phil is a couch potato. All the sudden, a dog comes out of nowhere and starts barking and growling and starts chasing them. Who is going to be successful in getting away? Did he train to run from dogs, no but his regular disciplines allowed him to respond to that situation. Sorry Phil.

So, if we must rest or sabbath in order to dream, and we must train and work to see those dreams become a reality, then what disciplines are we to cultivate? What does sabbath or resting in Jesus look like in the real world?

Sitting at His feet. Making time for Him and trusting Him that He will take care of us if we do. It means inviting and encountering His presence. Getting into His word, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal His word to us. It looks like getting into worship to honor Him and praise to thank Him.

In short, it means discipline. It means we discipline ourselves in prayer, intercession, and spiritual warfare. It means that we read, study, journal, meditate on His word, to pray in the Spirit, to practice silence, to meet the needs of others, to sacrifice for other people’s benefit, and so many other things that are so counterintuitive to out flesh.

To say yes to the dream of God, means to say no, or to die, to our flesh and selfish desires. Am I going to partner with God in intercession to save a life and even a soul? Or am I going to shrug off the prompting of the Holy Spirit to play video games, go golfing, or to go shopping?

3 Main Disciplines: The Word, Prayer, & Worship.

1. The Word

Psalm 1:1-2 Blessed is the person who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law they meditate day and night.

Psalm 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Job 23:12 I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth, more than my necessary food.

2. Prayer

Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Prayer: talking to God

Supplication: Going to God for your needs

Jude 1:20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 Intercession and tearing down strongholds.

3. Worship

Worth-ship

Not about music only but about ascribing to God the worth He is due. Hallelujah.

There is a communal aspect to worship as well.

Psalms 22:3 You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.

As we die to ourselves, allow God to discipline us and refine us, our lives will start flowing with oil. We draw closer to Him, deeper in love with Him, but also start moving in our true identity and authority as sons and daughters of God and into our purpose.

Many are struggling to find significance. How do we find it? In Him by first dying to ourselves.

Matthew 16:24-25 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let them deny themselves, and take up their cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for My sake will find it.”

Repent of our selfishness, self-will, and rebellion.

Help us to cultivate the discipline of sitting at Your feet and resting in You.

Help us to dream with you and give us the grace to walk it out.

Help us to crucify our flesh and to die to ourselves so that Your dreams can become a reality in our lives.     Lord, give us a dream to die for, in Jesus’ name.

Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.