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Discipline of the Lord Mg 5
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      • Hebrews 12:4–6ESV

  • The Discipline of the Lord – Trained by Grace
    Message 5
    Hebrews 12:4-6

    THE PURPOSE OF DISCIPLINE

    Battles we Face
    Spiritual Warfare
    This is our struggle against evil in the world.
    We get it. We understand it.
    There is another battle we face.
    War on Sin
    The battle within ourselves can be harder.
    Another problem is that sometimes we confuse the two.
    “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” Hebrews 12:4, ESV
    Hebrews 12:4 ESV
    In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
    In verses 1-3 we are admonished to run a race.
    We are told to lay aside every hindrance and sin that trips us up.
    That is an everyday battle that each of us faces.
    But the emphasis now changes from running a race to the dynamics of family.

    Children of God

    This phrase is a common theme throughout the New Testament.
    “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12, NLT
    John 1:12 NLT
    But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
    “And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.” Galatians 4:6–7, NLT
    Galatians 4:6–7 NLT
    And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.
    “Christian living involves running, working, fighting, and enduring.”
    “It also involves relationships, especially our relationship to God and to other believers.”
    The emphasis of this passage is on the heavenly Father’s use of discipline in the lives of His children.

    Purpose of Discipline

    Hardship and Affliction
    God can use hardship and affliction as a means of discipline.
    He uses it to train his children. (Trained by Grace)
    This training is meant to mature us spiritually.

    Three Purposes

    Punishment - consequences
    Prevention
    Training

    Punishment

    Was I wrong?
    I have said many times that the Father does not punish us for our sins.
    Jesus bore the punishment for our sins on the cross. See Romans 6:23
    Am I wrong? Someone thought so.
    I received a text from someone that said this:
    “Tell me again that God doesn’t punish us.”
    They went on to explain that they thought God was punishing them for all the misfortune they had suffered.
    I have thought a lot about those words.
    I have even prayed over those words.
    David and Bathsheba (when we sin)
    2 Samuel 11–12
    David commits adultery with Bathsheba.
    He attempts to cover his sin.
    He arranges Uriah's death.
    Nathan confronts him: “You are the man!” (2 Samuel 12:7)
    David confesses: “I have sinned against the LORD.” (v. 13)
    Nathan immediately tells him that the Lord has taken away his sin.
    “Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “Yes, but the LORD has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin.” 2 Samuel 12:13, NLT
    2 Samuel 12:13 NLT
    Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin.
    The following verses are some of the saddest verses in all of Scripture.
    David was forgiven, but it did not erase the consequences of his sin.  

    A Loving Parent

    Verse 5 says: “And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children?”
    When your child does wrong, they don’t stop being your child.
    And when God disciplines us, we don’t stop being his children.
    God doesn’t condemn us and cast us out of his family into the fiery depths of hell.
    He CORRECTS us because we are HIS CHILDREN.
    Read the verse again. Have you forgotten?
    That’s not condemnation, but correction.
    It’s not rejection, but relationship.

    Was I wrong?

    In part. It needs clarification.
    There are consequences to our sins.
    But there is NO condemning judgment.

    There is NO Condemnation.

    “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1, NLT
    Romans 8:1 NLT
    So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
    When we respond to God’s discipline, we will reap the reward.
    David cried:
    “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10, NLT
    Psalm 51:10 NLT
    Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
    “Restore to me the joy of your salvation.” Psalm 51:12, NLT
    Psalm 51:12 NLT
    Restore to me the joy of your salvation.

    Chose Obedience

    Obedience is always the right path.
    Scripture is right when it says, “Our struggle against sin”.
    It is a struggle.
    The consequences are always painful.
    But we can learn from the discipline.

    Trained by Discipline

    Holiness - v:10

    Discipline exposes things in us that need to change—attitudes, desires, habits, priorities, areas of compromise.

    The Fruit of Righteousness - v:11

    When we respond correctly to God's discipline, something begins growing in our lives that wasn't there before. Psalm 51:10

    PEACE - v:11

    Sin is chaos

    We can become…

    Bitter—or Better.
    Hard—or Humble.
    Resentful—or Repentant.

    Don’t waste it.

    “Tell me again that God doesn’t punish us.”
    Let Him correct you.
    Let Him teach you.
    Let Him change you.
    Let Him train you.

      • Hebrews 12:4NIV2011

      • John 1:12NIV2011

      • Galatians 4:6–7NIV2011

      • 2 Samuel 12:13NIV2011

      • Romans 8:1NIV2011

      • Psalm 51:10NIV2011

      • Psalm 51:12NIV2011

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