Hebrews 12:4-11 The Need for Correction

Intro:

Good start for our Men’s Breakfast

Good turn out for Altar and Usher Training

Year of Outreach

I love God’s timing

The way the scripture falls in Hebrews gives us three really great messages to start the new year

Last week we looked at running the race with endurance

This week we are going to look at the Discipline of God

Next we will look at Spiritual renewal

Today we are going to look at our need for correction

I’m kinda hooked on these chiropractor videos on Youtube

There is one in particular called the ringer dinger

The Dr puts people on a table lying on their back with their feet propped up.

He then locks in the hips and puts a towel around the person’s neck

He then proceeds to pull, elongating the person’s spine

You hear the cracks of the many vertebrae

Some of these people feel relief from pain for the first time in years

Sometimes we need a spiritual correction

That’s where the discipline of the Lord comes in

Today we are going to look at the need for correction

Read Hebrews 12:4-6

Transition

The key word of 12:4–11 is discipline, used both as a noun and a verb.

It is from the Greek paideia, which, in turn, comes from pais (“child”) and denotes the training of a child.

The word is a broad term, signifying whatever parents and teachers do to train, correct, cultivate, and educate children in order to help them develop and mature as they ought.

It is used nine times in these eight verses.

God uses hardship and affliction as a means of discipline, a means of training His children, of helping them mature in their spiritual lives.

We must realize that there is a great difference between God’s discipline and His judgmental punishment.

As Christians we often have to suffer painful consequences for our sins, but we will never experience God’s judgment for them

This punishment Christ took completely on Himself in the crucifixion, and God does not exact double payment for any sin.

Though we deserve God’s wrathful punishment because of our sin, we will never have to face it, because Jesus endured it for us.

Neither God’s love nor His justice would allow Him to require payment for what His Son has already paid in full.

In discipline, God is not a judge but a Father

This morning we are going to look at five things that factor into God’s Discipline

Struggle w/ Sin? vs. 4

The need for correction may come because we are struggling with sin

The Hebrews had suffered in Rome

Many of them were considering on bailing on the faith

They were struggling with sin and God’s correction was evident

They could’ve been complaining a little bit

The writer asks them if in their struggle with sin have they resisted to the point of shedding blood

This is a reference to the struggle that Christ went thru on the cross

It’s not a guilt trip

He’s being blunt telling them that their pain and struggling may be a result of the Lord’s discipline

God will bring correction to get us out of sin and on the right path

Psalm 89:30–32 ESV

If his children forsake my law and do not walk according to my rules, if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments, then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes,

It will be painful, but it won’t be harmful

Psalm 89:33–34 ESV

but I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness. I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips.

Discipline is a Sign of Love vs. 5-6

When we are going thru correction we need to remember that discipline is a sign of love

God is seen as a father here, not as a judge

Every parent, who loves their children, will discipline them

They realize that it is best for their growth

The parent who withholds discipline spoils the child

Proverbs 13:24 ESV

Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

God isn’t going to withhold correction

In fact, discipline is a sign that God loves you enough to want the best for you

So how do we handle all of this love?

vs. 5 Don’t Despise it

First off, don’t despise it

Don’t get angry or throw a pity party if God decides to correct you

The Jews in Rome had forgot this

Forgetfulness causes a lot of unnecessary problems and heartaches.

Our greatest need is not for new light from God, but for paying attention to light we already have.

The writer quotes Job

Job 5:17 ESV

“Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty.

When God’s Word is neglected it is forgotten.

If discipline is happening don’t get discouraged and despise it

That only makes it worse

Victim culture

Recently my wife and I were at a party

One part of the party was a gift exchange

One couple opted out of the exchange

During the party they became upset when they realized that the other couples were still going to exchange the gifts at the party

They disappeared during the exchange

The next day they went to the party hosts and told them how hurt they were that we exchanged gifts

They were trying to be victims of their own decision

Accept the consequences of your decisions

vs. 6 Lord Disciplines those He Loves

Instead of getting butt hurt, ask God why He is loving you so much

When we discipline our children, even for something serious, we do not put them out of the family.

We discipline them to correct their behavior, not to disown them.

Neither does God put us out of His family when He disciplines us, His children.

He wants to draw us deeper into the fellowship of His family.

Revelation 3:19 ESV

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

The quickest way out of the correction of the Lord is to Repent

You need to acknowledge you done something wrong

Ask for forgiveness

Then turn away from the transgression and don’t do it anymore

Discipline is a Sign of Belonging vs. 7-8

When we are going thru correction we need to remember that discipline is a sign of belonging

God is our father

We are His children

Fathers correct their children because they love them

vs. 7 Endure it

If you are going thru discipline do one thing… Endure it

You endure it because

It is in your best interests

God is protecting you from something

You are part of the family

Deuteronomy 8:5 ESV

Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you.

Softy Parent

If my children want something they go to me, they don’t ask mom

I’m Mr Yes and She is Mrs Heck no! What were you thinking

Yesterday, my son asked me to go to Oxnard with his girlfriends family

I told him no, he has finals next week

Afterwards I felt bad

A few minutes later he texted and asked if Pismo was okay and I said yes

vs. 8 Illegitimate without it

If you went without discipline it would be more harmful

All of God’s children have to go through the discipline

If you aren’t going through discipline you may not be a child of God

There is no reason to fear discipline

God is perfect and holy and probably nothing like your earthly parents

When he decides to discipline us, he will do it in the right way

Submit & Share in Holiness vs. 9-10

When we are going thru correction we need to submit to the discipline so that we can share in the holiness

Submission has become a bad word

We fool ourselves to think that we are in some way in control of our lives

Rhonda & Jen speeding

When a police office pulls you over you have two choices, submit now or submit later

The same goes for God

You can submit to his correction or you can extend it and make it worse

vs. 9 Respect the Discipline

Discipline brings respect

We may not have enjoyed it in the moment, but later on we understood and respected it

The people who don’t respect discipline are those who have never been disciplined

Job 12:10 ESV

In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.

vs. 10 Lasts for a Brief Time

The discipline is short lived

It only last a brief time

It is for our good

Why? It helps us to share in his holiness

You can always tell those who haven’t been disciplined

They are selfish and entitled

The Fruit of Discipline vs. 11

We endure the correction of the Lord so that we can bear the fruit of discipline

Discipline Trains Us

For the moment discipline is painful

It is not pleasant, nor should it be

No training whatsoever is pleasant

If it is then its not working

Training is there to mold and shape you out of what you are into what you need to be

Our bodies and brains resist that kind of change

Riding my Mountain Bike

Discipline Produces Fruit

Discipline also produces fruit

Give it some time and you will see change in your life

For the Believer it produces righteousness

We get a clue what that means in its description

Peaceful fruit

Discipline brings peace

James 3:17–18 ESV

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Testimony of Lex Luger

Closing: Best News

Bad News: Our sin has separated us from God

Romans 3:23 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 (ESV)

For the wages of sin is death

Worse news: We can do nothing to remove our sin

Ephesians 2:8 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Good News: At the cross, Jesus did for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves. He died on the cross and shed his blood to pay for our sins.

1 John 1:7 ESV

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Best News: Thru faith, we freely receive forgiveness and eternal life

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What Now: Accepting the free gift of salvation

Romans 10:9 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Prayer: I am a sinner, and I want to be forgiven. I believe that Jesus Christ, Your Son, died for my sins and is alive right now. I turn away from my sin and now confess Jesus Christ as my Lord and receive him into my life. I ask you, Lord Jesu, to control my life and I thank you for giving me eternal life.