Paul's Epistles – Hebrews – Part 19: God Disciplines His Children

Paul's Epistles – Hebrews – Part 19:

God Disciplines His Children

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org | Online Audio Files

SERMON INTRODUCTION

The “official” writer of this epistle is unknown. However, I obviously believe it is Paul since I have included it in the “Paul’s Epistles” Sermon Series.

I believe there is enough evidence from early scholars to agree this was more than likely Paul’s work.

We have already seen in Hebrews so far;

·        Jesus is greater than angels

·        And that we are to pay the most careful attention to Jesus and His way so we do not stray

·        And how Jesus (New Covenant) is greater than Moses (Old Covenant)

·        Paul’s warning about unbelief

·        A Sabbath Rest for the People of God

·        Jesus the Great High Priest, Jesus the Perfect High Priest

·        Therefore, It is Time to Grow Up

·        The Certainty of God’s Promise

·        Melchizedek the Priest, Jesus like Melchizedek

·        The High Priest of the New Covenant

·        Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle

·        The Blood of Christ, Christ’s sacrifice, Once for All

·        A Call to Preserve Faith

·        Faith in Action

TODAY’S SERMON

“God Disciplines His Children”

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Hebrews 12:1-13

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

⁴ In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. ⁵ And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
⁶ because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! ¹⁰ They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

The overall message of this epistle to the church is;

“The Cure for Lacking Boldness or Courage in your Christian Faith and Backsliding is a Right beginning for the Glory and Work of Christ”

I. SINCE WE ARE SURROUNDED BY A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESS

a. Chapter 11 gives many examples of faith in action and the blessing that followed

                                                                 i. An entire chapter of faith put into action which in turn caused God to bless because of obedience

                                                              ii. Faith without action is dead

                                                           iii. Action without faith is dead

                                                            iv. But faith with action = blessings by God

b. So throw off everything that hinders AND the sin that so easily entangles

                                                                 i. Hindrances & entanglements stops faith from becoming action, therefore, blocking you from being blessed

                                                              ii. The devil doesn’t care how much scripture you have memorized, how much church history you have learned, how many times you win at bible trivia, he doesn’t even care how much of God’s word you understand...

1. If he can keep you from putting your faith into action, your faith is dead!

2. As long as you do not put faith into action, you are not obedient!

3. As long as you are not obedient, he will try to keep you living in a state of disobedience!

                                                           iii. So throw off everything that hinders!

                                                            iv. AND throw off sin that so easily entangles you!

c. Run with perseverance the race marked out for us

                                                                 i. The race marked out for us...we do not chose the race, just how we run it!

                                                              ii. Fix your eyes on Jesus, and run with perseverance

                                                           iii. He is the pioneer and perfector of our faith

1. Jesus as the pioneer of our faith means

a. Jesus is the founder of faith

b. Jesus will forge that faith

c. Jesus initiates that faith

d. Jesus will establish that faith and prepare us

2. He is the one who perfects the faith in us

                                                            iv. And He does so by marking out our race, then leading us to run with perseverance

II.      IN YOUR STRUGGLE AGAINST SIN YOU HAVE NOT RESISTED TO THE POINT OF SHEDDING BLOOD

a. Have you forgotten His word of encouragement that addresses you as a father to a son?

                                                                 i. Though we struggle against sin, none of us has done so to the point of death

                                                              ii. Denying the flesh its desires for sin will NOT KILL YOU

                                                           iii. This is one of the reasons a spiritually lead fast once in a while strengthens us

1. Reminding the flesh that the Spirit is in charge

2. This happens through discipline

3. This is why they were called disciples

b. My son

                                                                 i. Do not make light of the Lord’s discipline

                                                              ii. Do not lose heart when he rebukes you

                                                           iii. Take discipline seriously, learn from it, listen to it, and do not lose hope when you are disciplined, rather, be encouraged that God loves you as a son or daughter, and wants to correct you to perfect your faith!

c. Because the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastens everyone He accepts as His son

                                                                 i. If He loves you, and accepts you as His child, He will correct your path

III.   ENDURE HARDSHIP AS DISCIPLINE

a. God is treating you as His children

                                                                 i. What children are not disciplined by their father?

1. if the father is absent

2. if the father is selfish, not caring about his children

3. if the father is just a bad father

4. if the father has passed away

5. However, God is none of these

b. BUT, if you are NOT disciplined (because we all are disciplined at some point) then you are NOT legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all

                                                                 i. If you are accepted as a son or daughter to God, He WILL discipline you.

1. Why? Because none of us are perfect, and we need correction to perfect our faith.

                                                              ii. But if you are not being disciplined by God, you are not legitimate

1. You are not true sons and daughters at all!

                                                           iii. Some think because they sin and nothing seems to happen to them that they “got away” with it.

1. However, God knows all, and there is no escape from the consequences of our sins.

2. You can either submit to God know, confess and repent of your sins and be saved, or you can wait, face judgment and pay for your sins eternally.

                                                            iv. Just because people around may not know what is taking place with you, does not mean God is also blind and ignorant.

                                                               v. If you are not being disciplined by Him for your sins, if the Holy Spirit isn’t crying out to you to repent, if God is not placing obstacles in your path to prevent you from the sin, clearly marked exits to escape your sin, if you are not being called to your knees because of your sin, then you are not a legitimate child of God.

                                                            vi. God disciplines His children 

c. Our earthly fathers disciplined as they saw best

                                                                 i. but God disciplines us for OUR GOOD in order that we may share in HIS holiness!

CONCLUSION – no discipline seems pleasant at the time but painful

Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

We need to examine ourselves, seek the Lord’s discipline, allow God to correct our paths, and run the race with endurance, following the path that has been laid before us, not looking at the length of the path, but keeping our eyes on Jesus, who will guide us, strengthen us, discipline us, in produce righteousness and peace in our lives because we have been trained by the Lord in all things.

Next week we will look at the end of Hebrews 12:12-29 and God’s warning and Encouragement.

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