"And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.’ It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:5-11
Helping Broken People Treasure Jesus
1. God disciplines his children for their good. (Because of the cross we are disciplined not punished.)
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:1-2
2. Responses to the disciplining/chastening of the Lord.
Regard lightly-----------------> I am weary when reproved & cannot bear up under the load.
"It is not my problem... "I can't do it... I can't handle this..."
"It is his/her/their fault..."
BIBLICAL RESPONSE: BIBLICAL RESPONSE:
1 Peter 5:6-7, 1 Corinthians 10:13
James 4:9-10, God equips us to do very hard tasks.
Matthew 7:3-5
3. If no correction from the Father (”I am doing fine in my unrepentant, sinful state.”), then there is no saving relationship with Jesus. (v.7)
“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” 1 John 2:19
“No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.” 1 John 3:9
4. The Father can be trusted.
- Live (v.9b); have joy and purpose. OR “That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.” 1 Corinthians 11:30
- That we might share in his holiness. “Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God, according as we find his mind described in Scripture. It is the habit of agreeing in God’s judgement, hating what he hates, loving what he loves, and measuring everything in this world by the standards in his Word. He who most entirely agrees with God is the most holy man.” J.C. Ryle
- The discipline of the Lord leads to the peaceful fruit of righteousness
QUESTIONS:
1. What is involved in the pruning process of John 15:2?
2. Which of the two responses to the Lord’s chastening is most prevalent in our culture?
3. How does God empower us to do very difficult things?
4. Do you understand the concept of “if there is no correction from the Father, then there is no saving relationship with Christ, and no hope of heaven”?
5. Why are the prayers/worship of a professing Christian man, who is married, hindered? 1 Peter 3: 7
6. What are the three reasons that the writer of Hebrews gives regarding the trustworthiness of the Father?