Hebrews 12:4-11 The Need for Correction
Hebrews • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Intro:
Intro:
Good start for our Men’s Breakfast
Good turn out for Altar and Usher Training
Year of Outreach
I love God’s timing
The way the scripture falls in Hebrews gives us three really great messages to start the new year
Last week we looked at running the race with endurance
This week we are going to look at the Discipline of God
Next we will look at Spiritual renewal
Today we are going to look at our need for correction
I’m kinda hooked on these chiropractor videos on Youtube
There is one in particular called the ringer dinger
The Dr puts people on a table lying on their back with their feet propped up.
He then locks in the hips and puts a towel around the person’s neck
He then proceeds to pull, elongating the person’s spine
You hear the cracks of the many vertebrae
Some of these people feel relief from pain for the first time in years
Sometimes we need a spiritual correction
That’s where the discipline of the Lord comes in
Today we are going to look at the need for correction
Read Hebrews 12:4-6
Read Hebrews 12:4-6
Transition
The key word of 12:4–11 is discipline, used both as a noun and a verb.
It is from the Greek paideia, which, in turn, comes from pais (“child”) and denotes the training of a child.
The word is a broad term, signifying whatever parents and teachers do to train, correct, cultivate, and educate children in order to help them develop and mature as they ought.
It is used nine times in these eight verses.
God uses hardship and affliction as a means of discipline, a means of training His children, of helping them mature in their spiritual lives.
We must realize that there is a great difference between God’s discipline and His judgmental punishment.
As Christians we often have to suffer painful consequences for our sins, but we will never experience God’s judgment for them
This punishment Christ took completely on Himself in the crucifixion, and God does not exact double payment for any sin.
Though we deserve God’s wrathful punishment because of our sin, we will never have to face it, because Jesus endured it for us.
Neither God’s love nor His justice would allow Him to require payment for what His Son has already paid in full.
In discipline, God is not a judge but a Father
This morning we are going to look at five things that factor into God’s Discipline
Struggle w/ Sin? vs. 4
Struggle w/ Sin? vs. 4
The need for correction may come because we are struggling with sin
The Hebrews had suffered in Rome
Many of them were considering on bailing on the faith
They were struggling with sin and God’s correction was evident
They could’ve been complaining a little bit
The writer asks them if in their struggle with sin have they resisted to the point of shedding blood
This is a reference to the struggle that Christ went thru on the cross
It’s not a guilt trip
He’s being blunt telling them that their pain and struggling may be a result of the Lord’s discipline
God will bring correction to get us out of sin and on the right path
If his children forsake my law and do not walk according to my rules,
if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments,
then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes,
It will be painful, but it won’t be harmful
but I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness.
I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips.
Discipline is a Sign of Love vs. 5-6
Discipline is a Sign of Love vs. 5-6
When we are going thru correction we need to remember that discipline is a sign of love
God is seen as a father here, not as a judge
Every parent, who loves their children, will discipline them
They realize that it is best for their growth
The parent who withholds discipline spoils the child
Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
God isn’t going to withhold correction
In fact, discipline is a sign that God loves you enough to want the best for you
So how do we handle all of this love?
vs. 5 Don’t Despise it
First off, don’t despise it
Don’t get angry or throw a pity party if God decides to correct you
The Jews in Rome had forgot this
Forgetfulness causes a lot of unnecessary problems and heartaches.
Our greatest need is not for new light from God, but for paying attention to light we already have.
The writer quotes Job
“Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty.
When God’s Word is neglected it is forgotten.
If discipline is happening don’t get discouraged and despise it
That only makes it worse
Victim culture
Recently my wife and I were at a party
One part of the party was a gift exchange
One couple opted out of the exchange
During the party they became upset when they realized that the other couples were still going to exchange the gifts at the party
They disappeared during the exchange
The next day they went to the party hosts and told them how hurt they were that we exchanged gifts
They were trying to be victims of their own decision
Accept the consequences of your decisions
vs. 6 Lord Disciplines those He Loves
Instead of getting butt hurt, ask God why He is loving you so much
When we discipline our children, even for something serious, we do not put them out of the family.
We discipline them to correct their behavior, not to disown them.
Neither does God put us out of His family when He disciplines us, His children.
He wants to draw us deeper into the fellowship of His family.
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
The quickest way out of the correction of the Lord is to Repent
You need to acknowledge you done something wrong
Ask for forgiveness
Then turn away from the transgression and don’t do it anymore
Discipline is a Sign of Belonging vs. 7-8
Discipline is a Sign of Belonging vs. 7-8
When we are going thru correction we need to remember that discipline is a sign of belonging
God is our father
We are His children
Fathers correct their children because they love them
vs. 7 Endure it
vs. 7 Endure it
If you are going thru discipline do one thing… Endure it
You endure it because
It is in your best interests
God is protecting you from something
You are part of the family
Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you.
Softy Parent
If my children want something they go to me, they don’t ask mom
I’m Mr Yes and She is Mrs Heck no! What were you thinking
Yesterday, my son asked me to go to Oxnard with his girlfriends family
I told him no, he has finals next week
Afterwards I felt bad
A few minutes later he texted and asked if Pismo was okay and I said yes
vs. 8 Illegitimate without it
vs. 8 Illegitimate without it
If you went without discipline it would be more harmful
All of God’s children have to go through the discipline
If you aren’t going through discipline you may not be a child of God
There is no reason to fear discipline
God is perfect and holy and probably nothing like your earthly parents
When he decides to discipline us, he will do it in the right way
Submit & Share in Holiness vs. 9-10
Submit & Share in Holiness vs. 9-10
When we are going thru correction we need to submit to the discipline so that we can share in the holiness
Submission has become a bad word
We fool ourselves to think that we are in some way in control of our lives
Rhonda & Jen speeding
When a police office pulls you over you have two choices, submit now or submit later
The same goes for God
You can submit to his correction or you can extend it and make it worse
vs. 9 Respect the Discipline
vs. 9 Respect the Discipline
Discipline brings respect
We may not have enjoyed it in the moment, but later on we understood and respected it
The people who don’t respect discipline are those who have never been disciplined
In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
vs. 10 Lasts for a Brief Time
vs. 10 Lasts for a Brief Time
The discipline is short lived
It only last a brief time
It is for our good
Why? It helps us to share in his holiness
You can always tell those who haven’t been disciplined
They are selfish and entitled
The Fruit of Discipline vs. 11
The Fruit of Discipline vs. 11
We endure the correction of the Lord so that we can bear the fruit of discipline
Discipline Trains Us
Discipline Trains Us
For the moment discipline is painful
It is not pleasant, nor should it be
No training whatsoever is pleasant
If it is then its not working
Training is there to mold and shape you out of what you are into what you need to be
Our bodies and brains resist that kind of change
Riding my Mountain Bike
Discipline Produces Fruit
Discipline Produces Fruit
Discipline also produces fruit
Give it some time and you will see change in your life
For the Believer it produces righteousness
We get a clue what that means in its description
Peaceful fruit
Discipline brings peace
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Testimony of Lex Luger
Closing: Best News
Closing: Best News
Bad News: Our sin has separated us from God
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23 (ESV)
For the wages of sin is death
Worse news: We can do nothing to remove our sin
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Good News: At the cross, Jesus did for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves. He died on the cross and shed his blood to pay for our sins.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Best News: Thru faith, we freely receive forgiveness and eternal life
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What Now: Accepting the free gift of salvation
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Prayer: I am a sinner, and I want to be forgiven. I believe that Jesus Christ, Your Son, died for my sins and is alive right now. I turn away from my sin and now confess Jesus Christ as my Lord and receive him into my life. I ask you, Lord Jesu, to control my life and I thank you for giving me eternal life.