God's Discipline in the Christian Life

Introduction:

In our society, people look at God as an unloving God because of all the bad, tough, and difficult things that take place in people’s lives. As Christian’s we fall prey to this thinking as well. Many of us have had the thought that because of the difficult circumstance or trial or persecution possibly going on that it is judgment or punishment for sin, that person must have sin in their life. This thinking is much like that of Job’s friends. We then may struggle with discouragement and ongoing feelings of failure because it seems like every time, I think that life will get easier, it only continues to be a struggle. It may even cause us to needlessly doubt our salvation. Jesus Christ is the author and perfecter of our faith. He underwent extreme difficulties to the point of death (12:4). Christ was without sin! Difficulty and struggles in life do not necessitate always that God’s discipline is in your life. God does not discipline to make you miserable. God, we know, loves you and me unconditionally and tonight, we are going to look at a complete view of God and His discipline. We are going to see how to properly view God’s chastening in our lives.

Context:

This passage as we see comes directly on the coattails of the admonition to endure the race of life. We as Christians are in a race and are called to look to Jesus for endurance. Verses 1-3 define to us our responsibility in the race. In verses 4-11 we see God’s part in this process of running the race with endurance. The recipients of Hebrews are admonished on the truth of God’s chastening in their life.

Big Idea: God’s chastening in the Christian life develops endurance and spiritual growth.

Transition: This evening we are going to look at three truths concerning the Christian and the discipline of God.

I. The Christian receives exhortation regarding God’s discipline, (4-5)

The preacher’s other reproach was this: they had failed to recall and reassure themselves with God’s Word—“And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons” (v. 5a). Of course, this is an even more common sin of the modern church—which, the pollsters tell us, cannot name the books of the Bible or locate the Ten Commandments or the Beatitudes, much less tell us what they are. This also brings us to the indisputable axiom, we cannot be profoundly influenced (or encouraged) by that which we do not know. The comfort and strength of God’s Word will avail us not at all if we do not know it. Many today do not know enough of God’s Word to survive a skinned knee! Knowing God’s Word is essential for spiritual survival, as the preacher earlier insisted in his letter: “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away” ( Hebrews 2:1) . (R. Kent Hughes, Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul, vol. 2, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1993), 168–169.)

Hebrews 2:1 NASB95

1 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.

Three Principles:

“Not Yet Resisted”: To see the reality of their situation properly, in the right way.

You are troubled but Christ went to the cross for the hostility but we have not been pushed to limit. You have not arrived at the maximum. Don’t bail out yet. It may refer to a group who have not received martyrdom. Jews apart from Jerusalem. It also might be a personal statemtent. We do not like arguments like this when it is not going well.

“Striving against sin:” Some have taken it as personal sin…this can be a little strange. He is actually using sin as a way of illustrating those sinners who are opposing Christ, based on context vs3. Striving against everything that stands against Christ and opposes Christ. Primarily, the writer of Hebrews is detailing the opposition that comes from sinful men with personal sin being the secondary opposition as it is necessary for a person to resist to live a steadfast Christian life.

“Forgotten to see clearly:” Reminder- “you have forgotten something” The key to enduring is to think correctly on things and understand what is going on. He quotes verses almost a thousand years earlier (Prov 3:11-12). HE said these to you as His children. What a great evidence of God’s Word, it never changes. God directed Solomon to write something both benefit for him and us. This is to help us understand to think about how to respond properly to trials and difficulties. Do we handle our Bibles lightly like “the chicken soup for the soul” books? We need to heed God’s word.

It gives a reassurance in our circumstances. It is called the discipline of the Lord in verse 5. Some things we need to wrestle with, all these situations are the discipline of the Lord. We at times see them as two things that are separate. God is in complete control. If he permits it than it comes under His purposes. He is not saying God is responsible for the sin and evil actions. Their sin in no way can overturn His purpose for His people. If this is not true, how can we really believe Romans 8:28? It is not like God is wrestling with evil. Like he has to change based on the sin and evil in the world. It is encompassed in God’s hands. He can superintend the persecution and trials to his purpose.

II. The Christian holds a responsibility concerning God’s discipline, (5)

The recipients of this letter had forgotten what was told them in Proverbs 3:11-12.

A. Chastening defined:

the idea of chastening refers to the idea of teaching. Means to train children. We generally think punishment. It means more than that. It refers to the word discipline, not the punishment kind. Teaching, instructing, telling them what to do/what not to do, putting them in a schedule, restraining them controlling admonishing and correcting verbally, and at times spanking.

Two references helping to understand “chastening:”

Acts 7:22 Moses was “learned” (chastened) trained and brought up;

Titus 2:12 “teaching” (chastening); God’s grace trains us to live godly and righteous in a corrupt world.

Titus 2:12 NASB95

12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,

B. Do not regard lightly

Proverbs 3:11-12

Proverbs 3:11–12 NASB95

11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His reproof, 12 For whom the Lord loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

Give it proper place in thinking. Do not treat it lightly like it has no value.

We are not to display ignorance of God’s ministering or working in our lives as His children.

Hebrews Vol 1&2—An Anchor for the Soul (Gentle Reproach for Faltering Endurance (Vv. 4–6))

The fact is, many who experience the unpleasantness of discipline choose to remain indifferent as to its significance. They vaguely intuit that they are experiencing discipline, but refuse to meditate upon what it might mean. They make light of it—they blow it off! It is better not to think too much about one’s hardships, they say to themselves, or they might have to do something about them. Better to just ignore them. By refusing to consider their deep waters, their lives remain perpetually shallow.

C. Do not faint under the pressure of God’s discipline.

The other pitfall is dismay—“and do not lose heart when he rebukes you” (v. 5c). Far from being indifferent to discipline, there are some who are overwhelmed by it all. They are paralyzed—just as the runners described in verse 3 came to “grow weary and lose heart” and collapsed on the track. Such giving up is inexcusable because none of God’s children will ever be tested beyond their strength (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:13). (R. Kent Hughes, Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul, vol. 2, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1993), 169.)

We need to be recognizing that God is in ultimate control of everything, and he uses adverse situations as a part of “all things” that work for his good, Rom 8:28.

We then are to be encouraged not to fall into “despair, compromise, or apostasize in the face of persecution and difficulties.”

Proverbs 3:11-12

A right response:

The right attitude is humble submission and coming to a point of reverence. A sense of a proper fear. It is a high respect. Developing a attitude of worship to God for all of life. Accept God’s discipline as it is the path to a ever growing and deepening relationship with Him.

The exhortations not to make light of the Lord’s discipline (v. 5a) or to lose heart when corrected by him (v. 5b) are parallel in their purpose. By reflecting on the divine intention the listeners will recognize that their suffering as God’s beloved children is not because they have been abandoned by him. (Peter T. O’Brien, The Letter to the Hebrews, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010), 464.)

III. The Christian receives motivation from God’s Discipline, (5-11)

A. God’s discipline shows God’s Love (5-8)

Again remember the word discipline, the act of disciplining is the act of training, giving instruction, guidance, reproof, correction, and punishment. Most often multiple of these work together in any specific instance of discipline.

All of us have had or do have a father. If your father was a Christian then he had to discipline you. Even fathers that are not saved understood the need though sometimes struggle to do it properly. Without discipline a child grows up to be a spoiled brat and as one person stated “a selfish tyrant.” God is the perfect father and does not desire to see his children live as a selfish tyrant. The use of “my son” or “children” or “son”. Don’t have discipline than not a son or child of God. We don’t like to think like that in our culture. IN our culture the evidence is wealth and prosperity, good health, good family, and we think of the American dream. Many times life in life it is not like this. If it is not picture perfect it is not evidence of a loss of sonship but a confirmation. If there is no discipline than there is no father. If God is not your father than you are not truly saved. An overarching theme of Hebrews is that of christian perseverance.

The Letter to the Hebrews D. Endure Discipline as Children, 12:3–17

The listeners’ relationship to God as sons and daughters is important not only for the argument in vv. 7–11 but also for the whole epistle. Throughout the author has emphasized the Sonship of Jesus,98 and also spoken of the parallel relationship of the listeners to God: they are his children (2:10–18).

God loves us. The discipline is evidence of God’s love. Demonstration of God’s love. Prov 13:24. You love your child you discipline your child. You do this diligently. We need to make sure that we do not misunderstand the dealing of God’s discipline.

Proverbs 13:24 NASB95

24 He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

God’s disciplining hand helps to mold to be more godly and pressed into the mold of Christlikeness. Chastening is truly displays God’s love for you as his child. In Hebrews 12:5-8 the writer uses children type language six times. God deals with us as sons and in doing so sets an example for why we as parents are to discipline our children. God uses circumstances or direct rebukes from His Word to chasten us. Sometimes it is a physical suffering that God brings into our lives to grab our attention to see us mature spiritually.

Illustration: Coach Price’s youngest son testimony.

God’s chastening of your life is controlled by his love. He wants to see you, me, and every Christian mature and grow in godliness. He desires to entrust us with more responsibility in being used by him to accomplish his plan for his glory!

What does scourge mean?

Illustration: Proverbs is very clear that the rod does…it gives wisdom and helps us. A lady came up to an evangelist and said that “my God would never spank me.” The evangelist asked the lady if she believed that the Bible was the Word of God and she said yes. He pulled her aside and had her sit down. Opened Bible to Hebrews 12:6. He happened to have with him a Hebrew/greek key study bible. They went back and looked at the word scourge and next to it in English was the word whippeth, beateth. The evangelist than turned and said to the lady. Ma’am you are right, God does not spank you—he beats you! He whips you. It may not be politically correct today but it is biblically correct.

Why does he do it then? God does spank and discipline. He loves us. It is the love factor. If we are not than we are a illegitimate child. God would never treat his children this way. We at the time may not feel loved.

In scripture we can see that God disciplines in three different ways. It is through his discipline we seek to endure and grow in godliness. (Categorizing came from Bridges)

Corrective discipline - takes place after acting sinfully; i.e. 1 Corinthians 11:32

1 Corinthians 11:32 NASB95

32 But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

Preventative discipline - God allows hardships in our lives to keep us from committing sin; i.e. 2 Cor 12:7-8

2 Corinthians 12:7–8 NASB95

7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.

Educational discipline - takes place to educate us on God and how God desires for us to live; i.e. Job 42:4-6

Job 42:4–6 NASB95

4 ‘Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.’ 5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; 6 Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes.”

Job experienced an awesome depiction of God directly from God that changed and grew Job more than if his situation would have never happened.

A boy when his daddy said “I am going to spank you because I love you, said Daddy I wish I was old enough to return my love. To a boy, Does your mom spank you? “yes” Does your dad spank you? “yes” Which one hurts more? “I do sir” said the boy.

The truth that God’s discipline shows us that we are truly God’s children should serve as a strong motivation to stand with resolve and continue to persevere!

B. God’s aim for discipline is spiritual good (9-10).

Eternal from “and live”. The writer is referring that this statement is talking about spiritual life.

we are actually receiving a contribution from God.

Compare of Parents to God’s

The Letter to the Hebrews (D. Endure Discipline as Children, 12:3–17)

A father, then, disciplines his child because he loves him or her and wants them to experience a life that has God’s approval (Prov. 13:24; 19:18; 22:15; 23:13–14; 29:17).

Proverbs 13:24 NASB95

24 He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

Proverbs 19:18 NASB95

18 Discipline your son while there is hope, And do not desire his death.

Proverbs 22:15 NASB95

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

Proverbs 23:13–14 NASB95

13 Do not hold back discipline from the child, Although you strike him with the rod, he will not die. 14 You shall strike him with the rod And rescue his soul from Sheol.

Proverbs 29:17 NASB95

17 Correct your son, and he will give you comfort; He will also delight your soul.

Christ’s is for pure, righteous profit and is exactly what we need. We do need to respond right in the face of discipline. The response we are to have is that of respect (9).

God is the Lord of heaven and earth. Respecting God’s chastening is to submit and obey God! It shows a life that is marked by righteousness and faith.

For our benefit that we may be a partaker of his Holiness…a change to become more like Christ. Change in our lives and growth is a great blessing.

The Letter to the Hebrews D. Endure Discipline as Children, 12:3–17

human discipline is fallible and, even if well meant, may not have always resulted in what was best for the child.

By contrast God perfectly disciplines us for our benefit and good. He desires that we share his holiness. The word the writer uses for holiness speaks of God’s character. It is only then through God’s discipline that holy living can be attained. This is ultimately fulfilled when we are glorified when reach heaven. It is not just that but the process of moving us along to be holy as Peter mentions that we are to be holy as God is holy. Discipline is how he chooses to do this. Being holy is more important than being healthy, financially/economically set, family circle not being disrupted. Accomplished through discipline.

The Stoics lived with the goal that discipline was to produce a wise person who was free and self-sufficient. In our society this mentality is used to discipline. You here it broadcast through our entertainment venues when projecting a family unit. A parent will tell the child that one day the discipline they are receiving now will only strengthen them to be successful later in life.

Here, scripture is explaining that discipline does not make us more self-sufficient but more God-dependent! It is God’s training that brings about perseverance and holiness.

C. God’s blueprint for discipline involves spiritual training, (11).

The Letter to the Hebrews D. Endure Discipline as Children, 12:3–17

Here the contrast is not between human and divine correction (vv. 7–10), but the present, painful experience of discipline and its results.

Weight lifting tears down muscle to build stronger muscle. We are conditioned and exercised spiritually to bring us to righteousness. Habit forming and responsibilities. There may be corrective action when responsibility is not achieved, i.e. child making bed.

Job is a good example. God was going to work in Job to mold him to be like him. The hard part for us is that God has every right to do it. He is God we are not. God will train us like that at times. There will be times like in Corinth where people are disciplined by sickness and death because of sin. Formative or corrective it in the end produces the fruit of righteousness. It is a peaceful harvest of righteousness. It yields peaceful fruit.

for our own character. Developing endurance that gives us a character that we otherwise could not or would not have.

Romans 5:3 “we glory in tribulations” tribulations=pressure…Any pressure in your life right now? The pressure produces a faithfulness and constant dependence on God.

Producing experience…faith grows. Producing hope…character change in more faith and likeness in God.

Spiritual workout program. We are changing through the process. God wants us to think that this is something from God and he loves me and is working in my life. This will bring a greater confidence.

The Letter to the Hebrews D. Endure Discipline as Children, 12:3–17

For Christians who are disciplined by God, the outcome is substantial and pleasant.135 Another familiar metaphor, drawn from the athletic sphere (5:14), indicates that the beneficiaries of this harvest of peace and righteousness are ‘those who have been trained’ by the heavenly Father’s discipline.

D. Exists only momentarily (11)

You may be going through trial but it happens now in this life and only now. So in this time do not treat it lightly or faint. No matter how long it seems in this life it is only a moment in life.

**Lisa Beemer wife of Flight 93 signs letters with Genesis 50:20. The most difficult time was the service in Penn. Testimony of memorial service.

Genesis 50:20 NASB95

20 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

If you do not believe in God, and do not know God all you can do is wish and hope and whistle in the dark.

This passage has no hope for the unsaved. You are hostile to God and sinner. He alone provides it.

Conclusion:

- Saved- God has taken care of the eternal consequences. All who are in Christ are safe. All the testing and discipline is designed for your good. Do not regard it lightly, do not despise it but accept it and endure so you can be holy and accept the fruit of righteousness. He loves you and wants you to have these things. Be faithful.

Big Idea: We must recognize that God’s discipline in the Christian life develops endurance and spiritual growth.

- How are you responding to God’s chastening in your life? Is it with reverence or do you despise it and treat it lightly?

- Are you allowing God’s chastening to grow you? Are you building endurance or are you caving under the pressure and giving up? It may only be one area of life or as a whole.

My Control=My Corruption;

God loves you respond with obedience and thank God for his love and discipline in your life. Let God have the control and not get angry at God for the training and discipline in your life. Later in Hebrews 12:12-17, the writer lays out in more detail the proper response to God’s discipline. Go home this afternoon and read through with your husband, wife, children what God says about responding to His discipline. We all to often go home on a Sunday afternoon and the farthest thing from our minds is what God has just challenged us with from His Word.

So I challenge you to begin today to change those habits. If you go out to eat with people other than your family still, take time to share what God taught you and talk through the biblical truth.

Parents, this week as you find yourself exercising God’s authority in disciplining your children, share with them these truth on why they are being disciplined.

Finally, for all of us, strive to persevere to the end knowing that God’s discipline though hard, is for your spiritual good. Let that motivate you to respect and submit!

For God’s discipline in the Christian life develops endurance and spiritual growth.