Striving for Masteries

2 Timothy 2: 3* Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

4* No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may pl

ease him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

5* And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

Mastery means to have full command or understanding of a subject

It means to have outstanding skill; expertise , the power of command; control victory or superiority so as to win when you are engaged in a 1. contest, 2. contending in public games, 3. contending for a prize

“ First is first, second is nothing!” Bill Shankley

“ Second is first loser!” Dale Earnhardt

I Corinthians 9: 24* ¶ Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

25* And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

To win in life we must become masters.

1. Master your thought life

2. Master your emotions

3. Master your will

Mastering your thought life

Proverbs 23: 7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee

You are the result of your thought life. You change your thoughts and in no time you will change your life. What keeps people down is not the colour of their skin, where they were born or the language they speak. It is all in the mindset. They say the difference between a rich man and a poor man is in the way they think.

You need to master your thought life. Stop thinking on negatives and on impossibilities

. Think positively and on possibilities. The biggest warfare is in your mind. The Apostle Paul encourages us by saying’ “fight the good fight of faith.” It is a good fight. You can do it. I want to encourage you, “you can do it.” You can master your thought life. You know how I know? Because I did it. If I can, I know you can. There are times when negative, unwholesome thoughts arise in my mind. I speak out loud to myself and say “No!’ and I change my thought. It is hard at first. However, the more you do it the better and easier it gets. It is a continual training exercise. You will not get there in one day. Rome wasn’t built in a day neither will your thought life. Keep slugging it out.

2 Corinthians 10: 4* (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty throu

gh God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5* Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Very often people discourage their friends from going to a certain church. They say things like, “Don’t go there; they will brainwash you!”. Family, that is what it is all about. Getting your brain washed. Changing your stinking thinking.

Philippians 4: 8* Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Mastering your emotions

Proverbs 16:32* ¶ He that is slow to anger is better than the mi

ghty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Emotion is Energy-in-Motion. It is a way of expressing yourself in life. Energy is the capacity to function.

There are two types of emotions: Negative and Positive.

Some negative emotions are: grief, fear, hatred, shame, blame, anger, envy, discouragement

Some positive emotions are love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, self control, laughter, enthusiams, optimism, action, power, courage.

The greatest enemy of success is negative emotion of all kinds.

Negative emotions have done more harm than any plagues of history. When you let a negative emotion control and dominate you, your capacity to function is reduced. You feel low and incapable.

Philippians 4:13* I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

The Bible recounts the story of King David going through a very bad time. He did not stay down.

1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

Negative emotions well up when we go through distressing times. We need to encourage ourselves. God will not overcome these emotions for you, you have to do it yourself. When Moses died, the whole of Israel were in mourning. God appeared to Joshua and three times commanded him to be strong and of a good courage. In other words he had to master his emotions of fear and discouragement to be the next great leader.

You can do it as well. You have the kahuna to do it.

Mastering your will

Will - to do the right thing. Will - not to give up and quit.

Become strong willed.

Discipline your will.

Don’t be ruled by your urges. Rule over it.

Say to yourself, “I will not smoke, I will not get angry, I will not watch this x rated movie.”

Confession

When I drop my kids off to school, I tell them to make this confession.

Father God

Thank you for today

This is the day that you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

You are an awesome God,

A great and mighty God,

You are Elohim, the creator

Yahweh the Great I AM

El shaddai the One that can reverse the law of nature

You are the Ancient of days

The Lily of the valley

The Balm of Gilead

The Rock of Ages

The Rose of Sharon

The Cedar of Lebannon

The Prince of Peace

Lord of lords

King of kings

The Alpha and Omega

The First and the Last

The One who Is, Was and Is to come

Praise you Lord

Thank you for the cross

Thank you for the blood

Thank you for your Holy Spirit

I am an ace

I am a champion

I am a winner in life

I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.

My mind is alert

My emotions are stable

My will is strong

I am blessed and highly favoured

Angels are watching over me

They are bearing me up in their hands

Lest I dash my foot against a stone

I’m Blessed at home

Blessed at school (outside)

Whatever my hands find to do prospers

Wherever my feet tread belongs to me

No weapon formed against can prosper

Every tongue that rise against me I condemn.

The curse is broken

The drought is over

My future is bright

I am wealthy, healthy and wise.

In the Mighty Name of Jesus

AMEN

Let these be your confession and becoming.