The Discipline of A Loving Father.
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Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Key Scriptures:
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
God’s Discipline Proves His Love:
I. We have a race to run.
Verse 1. The writer of Hebrews uses the illustration of a race for the believer. Believers are to run a race of endurance (patience). This race is a long race, a distance race, and the goal is to cross the finish line. In this race, everyone that crosses the finish line is a winner. Jesus himself says:
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
In this race, there will be some suffering but if you hang in there.....you’ll come out a winner!
In this race however, if we are to run this race, we have to run not being encumbered, you can’t be weighed down. If you run any race howbeit natural or spiritual you won’t win......if you run this race weighed down.....you won’t make it to the end. The writer says, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses. The writer is referring to The Heroes of faith, whom the writer says previously:
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.
These heroes of faith held on to their persuasion with unwavering faith. They held on even though they did not receive all that God promised them.....they did not receive because God had something better in mind for us, God wanted to even the playing field, because they could have went on to perfection without us, but thank God, that God made a way for us to go on to perfection.
So seeing these wonderful examples for us to look to, to take encouragement from, to pattern ourselves after, the writer encourages his readers “ let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us (trips us up) and let us RUN....with patience the race that is set before us.
Now understand that the key word in this text is patience, because this word sets up the remainder of the context or subject matter if you will.
Patience- to undergo, to bear, to have fortitude, to abide or stay in. Patience is characterized in the N.T. by an individual who is unswerved from his deliberate purpose and his LOYALTY to faith (in God) and piety (holiness and righteous living) even in face of the greatest trials and sufferings. In other-words, to run this race with patience means “regardless of what comes or what happens......I’m gonna stay in the race, I’m not going to give up, I’m not going to backslide, I’m not going to abandon my faith.......I’m going to stay in the race.”
It takes discipline, determination, faith, and patience to run this race.
II. God initiates and perfects our faith (nurture).
Now the writer pivots. We tend to hyper-focus on the first verse and forget about the rest of the text sometimes. The writer pivots and now tells his readers the secret to staying in this race. He writes “Looking unto Jesus”. Yes....in the previous chapter, we have “The Heroes of Faith” but now we have “the author and finisher of our faith” the writer wants us to focus on Jesus in order for us to run this race.
Focus on the one who is the author and finisher of our faith. This portion of scripture is powerful in the fact that there is a dual purpose to this statement. Author/Champion/Leader. Predecessor, leads in example. A father leads, a good father leads by example and a child, specifically a son, sometimes a daughter wants to be like their father.
They want to emulate. I remember growing up on Florida Ave (2608) and on Saturday nights parents and sister would engage me in having play church. I would stand on the steps preaching and then line my stuff animals up to get baptized. I did this because I saw my Dad doing this. When I got older though....I went a total different way.....I didn’t want to be associated with it because I got made fun of and called names like “church boy” because we were always in church. So I tried to shake that moniker by living and acting in ways that opposed what my parents stood for....until God saved me of course. People use to tell me (Elder Bobby Andrews and my uncle Danny Andrews) use to tell me “you gonna be a preacher just like your Daddy.....and I said OH NO......I’m not going to be no preacher. But God has a way of turning your “no” to a “yes”. Anyway, a good father is emulated by their child. Jesus is our perfect example. Author and finisher at first glance may appear to indicate that Jesus/God is in control of our story. He is in control of our outcome. But the true intent of this scripture is several fold:
Jesus is the champion- the word champion can be translated to be captain. In team-sports you have a captain who is the vocal leader of the team. When things get intense and crunch time comes, the players look to the team-captain as to what they need to do, they look to the team-captain for motivation. A good father is a champion to their child.
Jesus is the Leader- We look to Jesus in faith to bring us out. But most importantly the writer indicates that we look to Jesus as an example. Michael Jordan was an exceptional leader, his team-mates looked to him and took on his toughness, his confidence, his mindset when things got rough. We need to look to Jesus, what would Jesus do if he were in my situation.
Jesus is the source or initiator- Jesus gave us the first incentive for our belief. Jesus is the one that saves us, for us.....our faith began when we first believed on Him.
Jesus is the perfecter of our faith- Jesus is the one who is going to bring our faith to maturity. By looking at his example, by putting our trust and dependency in Him, He’s going to bring our faith to perfection! We might stumble from time to time, we may waver here and there.....but you must have faith that over time, Jesus is going to bring your faith to a place of maturity. This is why the disciples asked Jesus “Lord increase my faith”.
IV. Jesus’ Passion vs Our Passion.
For the joy that was set before him, he endured. He loved you so much that he gladly endured suffering, gladly endured ridicule, gladly endured pained, gladly died for you.....it wasn’t easy.....but He had you on his mind when he was going through it! Jesus is the initiator of this race. His prize was you, His prize was being reconciled back to his creation, having a relationship with us through his Spirit. His prize was not only being exalted, but being able to live and fellowship with us in a New Heaven and New Earth. For Him it was a race....he needed to endure the pain and suffering and He got through it by keeping his eyes on the prize! It is a race and in order for you to win this race you have to keep your eyes on the prize. A runner has to go through vigorous training to participate and win an endurance race. All of the training, all of the pain and discomfort you endure is to ready you to win and receive a prize. Jesus endured the cross, disregarded the shame, in order to stay in this race there are some things your gonna have to disregard.
The writer says Jesus endured hostility, Jesus endured pain, but it was worth it because now....He’s set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him (verse 3), when you get tired, consider Him, when you feel weak consider Him, when you experience pain......consider Him, when you feel discouraged.....consider Him. Consider Him....so you won’t give up, consider Him......so you won’t backslide, consider Him......so that you won’t grow weary or exhausted in your mind.
(Illustration 2: I have a picture of my grandfather and my grandmother posted above my desk downstairs. Sometimes I’ll grab my guitar and I’ll strum and look at his picture. I do this thinking about the fact that I’m a 3rd generation guitar player....my grandfather played, my dad plays, I play......it hasn’t been easy learning to play that instrument.....but having his picture above my desk motivates me to continue learning the guitar.) When I get discouraged and feel like I’m in a rut as for as my learning guitar I consider my grandfather, I consider my dad.
When we consider Jesus......and all that He suffered......it should motivate us. When we consider the price He paid and what He has done for us and what the LORD has prepared for us......it ought to motivate you!
V. Don’t Forget the Father’s word of encouragment.
The writer pivots, and reminds his readers of what God had spoken through the prophet: “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”
Don’t forget you have a Heavenly Father that loves you so much. Don’t forget you have a Heavenly Father that wants what is best for you and sometimes in order for you to be your best self, it may take some discipline. My Dad use to tell me, “I’m beating you because I love you”.....and in my mind I’m thinking “HOW!?!” But now I understand......because that discipline made me a better person.
VI. God Chasetens His Children.
Illustration:
One of the greatest things (my father taught me many great things), but one of the greatest lessons I learned from my father was how to ride a bike. It was a hard lesson for me because, Dad didn’t put training wheels on my bike. I endured some scrapes and one time I ran into a bush.....and if I recollect correctly, it was a sticker-bush. Bishop disciplined in a way that wasn’t punishment but provided motivation for me to continue trying. I didn’t want to get back on the bike after my 1st wreck and after that first wreck, my heart would race and I would get scared every time I set on that bike. He would walk beside me and gently guide me and keep me upright while I pedaled. He did this for awhile until one day I could go on my own, he did it until one day I wouldn’t need assistance, and I could ride the bike on my own power.
In the same way, God disciplines us because He wants us to make it! God disciplines us because He wants what is best for us. God disciplines us because He doesn’t want us to come to ruin. The LORD nurtures us and just like my father had his hand on me, gently guiding me, keeping me upright.....God has His hands on us! If you put your trust in Him, God will lead you, God while guide you, God will keep you, God will keep you upright. And listen, if you should happen to fall....you have a loving father that will pick you up.....dust you off....and tell you “son try again.....daughter try again”!
When we go through trials and adversity in life.....it is God’s way of disciplining us! The Bibles says the Lord chastens whom He loves! A bad father, a father that doesn’t care about their child won’t discipline them. For the record, there are more ways than just beating your child in order to discipline them. A father that has an illegitimate child, spurious child, an accident, who has no intention of raising the child or being in the child’s life they are not going to be their to love and nurture and they won’t discipline their child and this is how they become delinquents because they have fathers and mothers too.....that let their child do any and everything. They have no structure, they have no rules, they stay out as long as they want, they hang around who they want to hang around, they sleep with who they want to sleep with, they say whatever they want to say, and because of a lack of discipline and structure it brings their children to ruin. So now you have a son, now you have a daughter who is 12 years old looked up in juvenile detention on their way to the big house when they turn 18 years old. That’s a bad parent. But thank God we have a heavenly father that will discipline us, thank God we have God who is looking out for our best interest and that loves us. He’ll send a trial to get our attention, He’ll allow problems to raise up in order for us to repent and get it right. He’ll allow difficulties to arise to make our faith stronger! The writer says “He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness!”
VII. So Take A New Grip (verse 12-13).
Verse 11:
“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grevious.”
There was nothing joyous about going out to pick your own switch from the bush or the tree. There was nothing joyous about having to go a retrieve the strap or belt you were going to get beat with (Mother Susie Adkins). There was nothing joyous about your Dad getting news of you acting out while he was at work and then telling you “Boy I’m going to get you when I get home” (Bishop Joe Adkins). There was nothing joyous about putting Camphor Phenique on your legs because you got whelps on them from the beatings you got. Nothing joyous about being put on punishment for what seemed to be an eternity.
There is nothing joyous about when we go though trials and tribulations, nothing joyous when God has to correct us and discipline us for sin or when our faith isn’t where it should be. But listen.....every trial, every struggle, every tribulation is tailor-made to make us better! When God discipline us, we are going to come out of it better than before! Now some of you came in today and your going through an ordeal.....and I want to encourage you and prophesy to you that your going to come out of this better. I want you to encourage someone sitting near you and tell them “You’re coming out of it better!” When God finishes, there will be a peaceful harvest of right living! It’s going to result in your salvation.....you just got to hang on a little while longer!
Soooo now.......wherefore.....lift up the hands which hang down! So take a new grip with your tired hands. DEADLIFT......I was able to get up 500 pounds on my deadlift once. I couldn’t get it at first, I bent over and grabbed the bar and pulled up and the weight slipped out. I had to drop it, get my composure and then try again! I didn’t walk a way from it! I tried again......SO TAKE A NEW GRIP WITH YOUR TIRED HANDS AND STRENGTHEN YOUR WEAK KNEES! WHEN YOU LIFT UP YOUR HANDS....YOU ARE SAYING GOD I DON’T HAVE STRENGTH......BUT YOU HAVE STRENGTH......I CAN’T DO IT.....BUT YOU CAN! The writer uses a metaphor of tired hands and weak knees to assimilate emotional and spiritual fatigue. The idea is hope in Jesus.....it is looking to Jesus until he comes and helps, it is looking to Jesus until he comes and delivers, it is looking to Jesus until He makes a way. So when you feel emotionally drained......lift your hands and look to Jesus, when you fill spiritually depleted lift your hands and look to Jesus......take a new grip. Continue to walk in the path.....don’t walk off the track.....don’t walk off the course....stay on course until the LORD comes and delivers!
Last Illustration:
I remember as a kid when I would get tired, I would sit in a yellow recliner and would watch TV until I couldn’t hold my eyes open. I would fall asleep and Mom would say “Sid, get up and go to bed” and I wouldn’t have the strength to do it. After a couple of times of unsuccessfully getting me to get up and go to bed, my father would either come into the TV room or get off of the couch, would place me on his shoulder, carry me upstairs, place me in the bed, and then tuck me in, and say good night. It was an amazing feeling to be in the arms of my dad who picked me up and carried me when I had no strength of my own.
And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place.
I leave you with this......when you get tired and you feel like you can’t make it, you feel like you don’t have strength, or feel like you don’t know which way to go, remember that you have a loving Heavenly Father that will bear you up, bring you to the place that you need to be.
