Endure Discipline

INTRO

The Hebrew Christians were encouraged to endure difficult circumstances

Current situation (Heb 12:4-5)

Unlike the OT worthies and Christ, they have not resisted to the point of losing their lives (Heb 12:4)

Forgotten the exhortation—making light of the Lord’s instruction (Heb 12:5; quote Pro 3:11-12)

Endure chastening/discipline (7)

παιδεία: the act of providing guidance for responsible living, upbringing, instruction, attained by discipline, correction

Inflicting punishment for the purpose of spiritual growth

Many kinds of suffering—theirs was persecution—ours may be war, grief, sickness, depression

Many sources of suffering—personal sins, sins of others, poor choices, environment in which we live

When we suffer—no matter the kind or cause—we enter the Lord’s classroom (Ps 94:12-14; Ps 119:67, 71). What is he teaching me? What does he want me to learn? We must think of our suffering as discipline from God. Do not take God’s lessons lightly

We can endure discipline because discipline shows that...

God loves us

God is our Father

God blesses us

DISCUSSION

Discipline shows that God loves us. (Heb 12:6)

Discipline is a mark of love. God loves us; therefore, He disciplines and corrects us.

Pro 13:24 Seeks out chastisement/discipline early. B/c God loves us, He seeks opportunities not to hurt us but to see us grow. Everything about growing hurts—muscles, teeth, shins. Growing pains not growing comforts

Side bar: Discipline your children early. . Pro 23:13-14; 29:15; spare not (Pro 19:18).

Dobbs says the time to spank is 18 months. That’s too late.

Can Obey simple commands when they are 12 months

Children need to know what the rules and punishments are. [Obey parents. Respect parents. Be kind. Tell the truth—3 spankings]

When those rules are broken, punishment needs to be swift. Have a place and an instrument—not your hand.

Discipline shows that God’s our Father (Heb 12:7-9)

Every son is to be disciplined by his earthly father.

“Go to my room” are some of the awfullest words yet most loving words a child can hear

At times, we have to go into the Lord’s room.

If God is correcting us, then He is treating us as sons.

B/c an illegitimate child did not receive the same rights and privileges as a son, he does not get disciplined the same

God has no illegitimate children

Vs 9-Children who are disciplined grow in respect for their father—we have seen the opposite of that—Johnny, come. Come. I’m going to count to 3. As God disciplines us, we grow in submission to our Father

Discipline shows that God blesses us (Heb 12:10-11)

Suffering hurts but benefits (vs 10)

Blessing of partaking of his holiness. Holiness—total separate, total ‘otherness.’ Discipline allows us to share his holiness. Allows us to see what no man has ever seen (1 Tim 6:16; Rev 22:4)

Blessing is the fruit of righteousness = no peace without righteousness; pruning encourages growth

God reverses things (Jam 5:10-11; Job 42:10-12)

Exhortation

We have suffering in this world (Jn 16:33). We either are going into it or coming out of it. Life

Let us think correctly about it: God allows us to suffer as a way of correcting and refining us.

In correction, God demonstrating His love, His fatherhood, and His blessings for you.

Has He adopted you into his family?