Endure the Discipline
Notes
Transcript
Welcome/Thank Phillip & Parker/Prayer
What do you do when the world is constantly barraging you with threats or ridiculing you because of what you believe?
What about when such hostility comes from those who are considered religious? Those who supposedly know the Word of God, who who grew up in the church? How do you handle that? How do you withstand both the intensity of such things as well as the persistence of such things?
When you have those in the church who call you a bigot… say you’re full of hate… someone who loves to oppress others and keep others down… what do you do when the world, being aided by churches, starts to “cancel” you for your beliefs...
First, it’s your job… later it may be your home… or maybe you go to prison for simply reading the Bible in a public place… or you “misgender” someone… for you refuse to lie and enable someone in their own self harm… and for doing so, you might lose your job, go to prison, or lose custody of your kids...
What happens when your family members begin to cut ties… not wanting to associate with someone who is so narrow-minded… so stubborn… so archaic...
Wouldn’t it be easier to capitulate? Wouldn’t it be easier to go along for the ride and let God sort it all out in the end?
After all, if other “churches” are doing it, and are doing it in the name of “love”… how could we go wrong? If it keeps us from harm, from persecution, from the plundering of our property, from losing our families… why not? After all, living this way, on the narrow road, gets tiring, exhausting, and even lonely at times...
If God is for us, then how can this push back be good for us? How can such hostility be evidence of God’s favor upon us?
Open to Hebrews 12:3-13… the author of Hebrews this morning will help us understand how and why we ought to endure such hostility…
For his audience in the first century was facing similar pressures… similar questions
Why stick to the Christian way by abandoning the old covenant? Why not continue to keep the old covenant while trusting in Christ?
That way the non-believing Jews will be at peace with us… they won’t persecute us anymore… they won’t take our homes, put us in prison… and furthermore, they’ll see that we love them, and that we all can get along… after all isn’t that what this is all about?
Is it really a big deal to do such a small thing?
And as the author has answered numerous times in this letter and will continue to do so, yes, yes it is… for salvation is not found by forsaking Christ, it’s not found by trusting or even pretending to trust in anything else but His own shed blood...
The passage before us is one that the American church needs to heed and understand desperately...
For as you see most churches in our day have forgotten to consider Christ, most have been unwilling to endure the discipline of God, while some, if not many, are simply not of God...
But this passage isn’t merely for them, it’s for us…
We must be sure to heed the instructions before us in our own lives if we desire to be found with Christ, and not against Christ, at the end of days...
In our passage this morning we are instructed with three things that will help us to deal with the hostility that comes at us because of our faith… Three things...
First, we are to consider Christ (3-4)
Second, we are to remember the exhortation of Prov. 3:11-12 (5-11)
And in light of those two things, we are then instructed to live accordingly (12-13)
We’ll deal with each instruction and section as we come to them, so let’s begin by reading verses 3-4 of chapter 12
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Consider who? Him - Christ - context (previous verse, v. 2, “looking to Jesus”es
This isn’t a generalized consideration, like a WWJD bracelet
The author tells us what about Christ we are to consider -
Christ, Himself - the Creator, the Son, the Savior, our Lord, God… He suffered hostility and persecution…
He who endured the cross, for the joy that was set before Him (2)
He who endured hostility from sinners… from those He came to save… the ones whom He loved, He suffered under… so that He may save them...
Consider Him, consider what Christ did… consider what He endured...
And the author then goes on and tells us that we should consider Christ, so that we may not grow weary or fainthearted...
Remember the author’s audience… and the purpose of the letter
To encourage and strengthen his people to remain faithful and steadfast in the face of persecution, so that they may endure to the end… for only those who endure to the end will receive the promise of everlasting life...
The temptation here, the sin here, in v. 4.... is the temptation and sin of falling away, of abandoning the faith...
Of forsaking Christ, blaspheming His name and profaning His shed blood… summed up in Heb 10.29
29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?
The author is exhorting his audience to remain faithful… to resist the temptation to equivocate or to compromise on the Truth, on the person and work of Jesus Christ, and the New Covenant of which He is the mediator and priest...
Whatever hardship, whatever hostility that may befall the people for the sake of Christ, they are to endure it… they ought not to grow weary… they should not become fainthearted...
They need to resist the sin until they shed their blood… and by that the author means until they die if necessary...
Too many churches today have not considered Christ in light of the cultural storm in which we find ourselves...
Many churches today claim they are considering Christ when they affirm homosexual sin, when they affirm transgenderism… Or when they ignore what God clearly teaches on matters of sexual immorality, gluttony, or even laziness...
For to stand your ground on such issues is to draw the ire of this age… to speak the truth plainly, boldly, and even lovingly, will cause those who fill the offerings with coin to go to other churches where they can live without accountability… where they can be who they want to be…regardless of who God wants them to be...
After all... isn’t it the job of the Holy Spirit to convict? Shouldn’t we just let everyone be and let God deal with them? Why should we get in the way?
And if people leave, who will serve in the nursery? Who will pay the bills, how will I, the pastor, pay my bills? What will the people think of us? We might be considered legalistic, judgmental, harsh, unloving… After all, love is love, and we are known as His by our love, there shouldn’t be any division among us…
And if we say things the government doesn’t want us to say, that is if we don’t submit to the authority that God has ordained to be over us.. Rom 13… then that authority may shut us down...
We don’t want that… we don’t need that… and on it goes...
No one wants to endure anymore… and love is used as a scapegoat, as an excuse not to endure anymore...
No one wants to contend for the faith Jude 3
3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
No wants to do it… they’ve been lead astray, and they want to be lead astray because it’s easier...
No one wants to suffer for the faith anymore… and at times it can make you wonder… does anyone still believe?
People all across America, no longer consider Christ as they ought to... are you one of them? Do you consider Christ as you ought to?
Most people think they consider Christ, but they don’t know Christ. For they don’t know their Bibles anymore…
The only Bible they get is through their devotionals or when they need to look for a ‘life’ verse for one reason or another...
Their biblical diet is full of shows like the Chosen and Veggie Tales rather than the truth...
Their main books are written by Rick Warren, Sarah Young, Joel Osteen, and Beth Moore...
They are fed lies and bad teaching and they know no difference for they don’t know the Scriptures… thus they don’t know Christ
They know more about Rick Warren and Beth Moore or whatever author they prefer… than they do of Christ...
And if one does not know Christ… then one cannot consider Christ...
Do you consider Christ as you ought to? Are you able to? Or are you like everyone else? Do you live as a goat or as a sheep?
Let us read on, v. 5-11 and let us understand the motivation behind this instruction to consider Christ by remembering the exhortation of Proverbs 3:11-12.... v. 5-11 Heb 12:5-11
5 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. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 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? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 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? 10 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. 11 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.
The author calls to mind for us the exhortation of Proverbs 3:11-12 (LXX) and he quotes it in v. 5-6...
And he then goes on to remind us of why we shouldn’t forget this proverb…
For it reminds us that discipline is an act of love from God to us… it is for our own good...
And that the hardships, the hostilities that we are enduring for the sake of Christ, are moments of discipline…
A discipline that is for our own good, for by it, v. 10… we may share in His holiness...
In other words, without discipline we are unable to share in His holiness..
This discipline, this suffering for the faith, is the means by which we are made more like Christ… think of Paul in Phil 3.8-11
8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Or even Peter in 1 Peter 4:12-19
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
When discipline comes upon us, we must consider Christ… we must look to Calvary and see how our Lord and Savior suffered and endured...
But if we don’t know who Christ is… rightly… then we can’t look to Calvary with the focus we need to...
And we must not think that we are exempt… we must not flee such discipline… and by that… I don’t mean we don’t actually flee threats… I mean we don’t compromise our faith in order to escape them...
We must, as Christ did, faithfully endure them… after all, you’re still breathing… you have yet to shed your blood as He has shed His blood..
Don’t you want to be known as His son? As His daughter? Don’t you want to be marked out as His? Don’t you want to know that God loves you?
Then don’t forsake His discipline… don’t flee it… embrace it, rejoice… as the apostles did in Acts 5:41
41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.
Yes, the discipline is painful… it’s uncomfortable… v. 11… but the focus is not on the here and now.... the focus is not on earthly relationships… it’s not on earthly losses and gains...
But on eternity… while the discipline you may be enduring is painful and hard… it will yield the fruit of righteousness that that leads to the resurrection of everlasting life...
But only for those who have been trained by such discipline...
Think of the military… why is there such a strong bond among vets? And those currently serving?
Because of shared suffering… some would call it trauma bonding… the military calls it shared hardship...
But the point is, you can wear the uniform, the beret, the badges… but if you haven’t been to basic training… if you haven’t been to such and such schools… as I have or as my other comrades have… then you’re not one of us...
There is something about suffering, especially shared suffering, that marks us and connects us...
God’s people share in Christ by sharing in His suffering… you cannot share in Christ by never sharing in His suffering… for you will never know Him...
So… don’t be weak… play the man… do your job… and this is where the author goes next… let’s finish our passage out by reading v. 12-13 and consider how we are to live accordingly to these first two instructions Heb 12:12-13
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
The author ends this passage, in the same way he began it…
He does so by citing Isaiah 35:3 which reads
3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
And by calling to the Jewish mind, Isaiah 35:3, which finds itself in the midst of a passage in Isaiah about God promising to one day restore His people, the author inevitably calls to mind v. 4… which reads Isaiah 35:4
4 Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”
That’s the key to all of this… consider Christ… consider your God… Behold Him!
He will come… and He will come with a vengeance to judge this world and those who harm His children… He will deal with them…
Behold Him… for by doing so, you receive strength to raise your hands in praise and to stand in victory over evil…
Behold Him… by knowing Him… by knowing His divinely revealed Word.... by trusting in Him
And He will give you His Spirit… and He will guide your steps… He will show what is right and wrong… the path that you ought to walk…
Behold Him by knowing His bride… His children… so that they may know you and help you walk the straight and narrow… and to help you keep you hands from drooping… and your knees from failing...
And in doing so, whatever injury you may have suffered spiritually… in time will be healed… will be restored...
In Isaiah 35… this is the consequence of beholding God… restoration and redemption… Isaiah 35:5-10
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; 7 the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. 8 And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. 9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. 10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Consider Christ and behold Him! He has blazed the path! He has gone before us! He has told us to follow Him (Mk 8.34)…
He has said He will be with us until the end of the age (Mt 28:20)… He will not have us go anywhere that He Himself has not already gone…
Trust in Him, even when it seems like everyone in your life has abandoned you, be strong, strengthen your knees… stay on the straight and narrow… you are not alone…
And you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood...
So, if you have been like the prodigal son of Luke’s gospel… you’ve fled the father’s house, squandered the father’s blessings and now find yourself wanting… find yourself empty and alone… seeing the error of your ways… return, as the prodigal did… return to God...
Turn to Him… Behold Him… there is grace there… waiting for you… to guide you… to heal you… to restore you… there is nothing you must do but simply go to Him… trust in Him… He will take care of the rest...
And then, in all things thereafter… whenever hardship, whenever discipline comes upon you… whenever it comes upon any of us who trust in Christ…
Let us endure it, seeing the love of God in it… and doing so by considering Christ and what He endured from sinners like you and me… just as Christ loved the world so much, so should we…
We should love them so much that we would be willing to die by their hands in order for them to see the truth…