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Heavenly father… (2 points)
- 1st – Discipline… vs. 5-11
- 1st – We have FORGOTTEN… vs. 5
- You have FORGOTTEN the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons…
- When we chose to SIN – there is ALWAYS going to be a consequence – Galatians 6:7
- And when the PUNISHMENT comes – we FORGET why God does it!
- FORGOTTEN – only here NT – [perfect/passive] – we ALWAYS FORGET…
- NOTE – the PUNISHMENT causes us to FORGET [passive] …
- The ENCOURAGEMENT [παράκλησις] that SPEAKS [present] to us as CHILDREN…
- The Author then quotes from the Old Testament – Proverbs 3:11-12
- We FORGET what the Bible says – because we do not like what we HEAR…
- Sin keeps us from wanting to hear the Lord – not that He stops calling out to us…
- We just do not like what He is saying – so we stop listening to Him!
- The Bible will keep us from sin – but sin will keep us from the Bible!
- Psalm 119:11 – “Your word I have hidden in my heart… that I might not sin against You!”
- You have FORGOTTEN the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons…
- 2nd – Do not DESPISE… vs. 5
- My son – do not DESPISE the chastening of the LORD…
- DESPISE – on here NT [active/imperative] – to think little of something / unimportant…
- CHASTENING – could also be translated as TRAINING!
- It is easy to MISS the purpose behind being CHASTENED / PUNISHED by God…
- It is meant to TEACH us to live a HOLY life – avoid the dangers of sin!
- You only have to WARN a child ONCE not to touch the pretty fire…
- Because once they experience the CONSEQUENCES – burned – they LEARN!
- God does not PUNISH us for our sins because He is angry with us…
- He does so in an effort to TEACH us – SIN is not worth the damage is causes!
- 3rd – Do not be DISCOURAGED… vs. 5
- Nor be DISCOURAGED when you are rebuked by Him…
- DISCOURAGED [passive/imperative] – to become faint or overwhelmed…
- When God REBUKES – to correct or find FAULT in our actions!
- If we do not understand the CHASTENING of the Lord…
- It is easy to become [passive] OVERWHELMED by the PUNISHMENT we receive from God!
- Rather than taking our PUNISHMENT as an opportunity to LEARN how to live a HOLY life…
- We get the impression God is just ANGRY with us – wants to hurt us…
- We assume that God is up there with His holy 2×4 ready to smack us down when we SIN…
- But it is just the OPPOSITE – God is trying to TRAIN us so we can FINISH the RACE!
- Philippians 1:6 – “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
- 4th – The Lord LOVES us… vs. 6
- For whom the LORD loves He chastens…
- LOVES [ἀγαπάω] – to have unconditional – perfect love for someone…
- Do NOT miss this – one way the LOVE of God is displayed – is through CHASTENING!
- I had a good friend when I was growing up – whose parents did NOT punish him…
- He could do almost ANYTHING he wanted – without ANY consequences!
- One night he stole a car – he had never driven before – so crashed it and almost died…
- Someone found him – called for help – and then was never seen again [angel] …
- He showed up at my house a year later – after he healed and spent time under house arrest…
- He wanted to know about Jesus – his CONSEQUENCES brought him to the Lord!
- LOVE does not let us get away with SIN – because sin will separate us from God…
- The most LOVING thing God can do when we SIN – is allow CONSEQUENCES to humble us!
- 5th – We are SONS of God… vs. 6-8
- And scourges every son whom He receives…
- SCOURGES – 7x in NT – to beat someone with a whip…
- The same word used when Jesus was beaten by Pilate – John 19:1
- The picture is powerful – the PUNISHMENT of God can be SEVERE…
- Because there is NOTHING God will not do to make sure we get into Heaven!
- Too often people make light the sin in their lives – likes is no big deal…
- If sin was NOT a big deal – then Jesus would NOT have had to DIE to pay for it…
- Sin is DEADLY – it is the one thing that can SEPARATE us from God…
- Therefore there is NOTHING God will not do – to try and keep us from SIN!
- God ONLY punishes His CHILDREN…
- If [since] you endure chastening – God deals with you as with sons…
- For what son is there whom a father does not chasten…
- But if you are without chastening – of which all have become partakers…
- Then you are illegitimate and not sons!
- If I saw a child running out into traffic – I might warn them…
- Yet it would NOT be my responsibility to PUNISH them – not MY child…
- But if I saw Hallel running out into traffic – I would PUNISH her – she is MY daughter!
- When we see people living in SIN – and nothing seems to happen to them…
- It can make us frustrated – how come they get away with it – and yet we get PUNISHED…
- If God lets someone get away with SIN – it means they are NOT His child…
- Because God punishes EVERY child that He receives!
- And scourges every son whom He receives…
- 6th – Example of the Father… vs. 9-10
- Furthermore – we have had human FATHERS who CORRECTED us…
- Too often FATHERS forget they are to be the spiritual leaders of their homes…
- It is the EXAMPLE of the FATHER that the family follows…
- If the FATHER is NOT interested in following Jesus – his family will follow!
- DADS have the responsibility – obligation – to teach their kids about Jesus…
- To lead their family – their wives – to Jesus by their EXAMPLE – Ephesians 6:4
- Part of LEADING – is CORRECTING…
- Children need to LEARN the CONSEQUENCES of their actions – LEARN obedience…
- That is why parents need to be willing to teach and train their children in the Lord!
- Proverbs 13:24 – “He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.”
- Proverbs 22:15 – “Sin is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him.”
- Proverbs 23:13 – “Do NOT fail to correct your kids. They will NOT die if you spank them.”
- And we paid them respect [indicative] …
- One of the hardest things to do as a FATHER is to PUNISH our kids…
- When we have to say NO – when we give them the CONSEQUENCES for their actions…
- There are times I wonder will Hallel resent me when she grows up!
- But our children will NOT resent us for PUNISHING them – they will RESPECT us…
- Although they will not ENJOY their CONSEQUENCES in the moment…
- In time they will realize we did it out of LOVE – with a desire to TEACH them!
- Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live… vs. 10
- For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them…
- But He for our profit – that we may be partakers of His holiness!
- SUBJECTION – [ὑποτάσσω] – to submit – obey the commands of another…
- The idea being – if we were willing to be CORRECTED by flawed earthly FATHERS…
- Who for a few days – 20 years or so – chastening us seemed BEST [their opinion] ….
- How much more should we be willing to SUBMIT to a perfect heavenly FATHER…
- Who CHASTENS us for our PROFIT – so we might join Him in HOLINESS!
- In other words – we should ACCEPT / SUBMIT to the PUNISHMENT that comes from God…
- EVERYTHING He does is for our benefit – EVERYTHING He does is out of LOVE!
- As I thought about this – it hit me just how important Dads are in the lives of their kids…
- We are the EXAMPLE of to them – of how God punishes / loves / and teaches them…
- Dads – what we do becomes the pattern for them to understand their Heavenly Father!
- Furthermore – we have had human FATHERS who CORRECTED us…
- 7th – Purpose… vs. 11
- Now no chastening seems to be JOYFUL for the present – but PAINFUL…
- I remember when I did something bad when I was a child – my Dad would spank me…
- I used to HATE the belt he used – it was a bad / evil piece of leather – gave me nightmares!
- HATING the belt was missing the point – there was a purpose to the punishment…
- The truth was my Dad punished me because he LOVED me – wanted me to LEARN to be good!
- Because no CHASTENING seems to be JOYFUL in the moment…
- If the PUNISHMENT was PLEASANT – it would not be a DETERRENT to SIN…
- The reason why it works as a tool to TRAIN us – is because it is PAINFUL!
- Afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it…
- TRAINED – [γυμνάζω] to EXERCISE – literally a workout!
- Someone does not become FIT by accident – it takes dedication and effort – WORKOUT…
- Do NOT miss this – a child becoming a GODLY man or woman is NOT an accident…
- It is the RESULT of being TRAINED by their parents!
- In the same way – we PRODUCE [yield] good FRUIT [peace / righteousness] …
- When we are TRAINED [passive] by the PUNISHMENT we receive from the Lord!
- The PUNISHMENT has a PURPOSE – it is how we GROW in the Lord!
- Now no chastening seems to be JOYFUL for the present – but PAINFUL…
- 1st – We have FORGOTTEN… vs. 5
Unlike ESAU – we want to run with ENDURANCE – looking towards HEAVEN!
2nd – Forgiveness… vs. 12-17
1st – Strengthen… vs. 12-13
Therefore – STRENGTHEN [imperative] the hands which hang down – and the feeble knees…
And make [imperative] STRAIGHT…
STRENGTHEN / STRAIGHT – from same word [ὀρθός] to no longer crooked…
The picture is powerful – under the WEIGHT of the PUNISHMENT of God…
We have GIVEN up – our hands have dropped / our knees have buckled…
Our feet have gone sideways – and we no longer have the STRENGTH to follow God!
Because when we do NOT understand our PUNISHMENT – we are BROKEN!
Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction – an arrogant spirit before a fall.”
The word [שָׁבַר] – often translated fall – us from the root verb to be BROKEN…
The word arrogant from the root verb [כָּשַׁל] – means to be weak legged / unable to STAND…
The picture is actually encouraging – our PRIDE and arrogance have the cumulative effect…
They BREAK us and teach us that we cannot STAND on our own!
They cause us to be HUMBLE – so that we can receive the Grace of God!
James 4:6 / I Peter 5:5 – “God resists the proud – but give grace to the humble.”
PATHS for your feet…
PATH – only here NT – the wheel marks in the road from a well-worn PATH!
If you have ever seen a dirt road where a LOT of cars have passed before…
They create a DEEP rut in the road – letting you know you are NOT the FIRST!
If we have ever thought – we were the ONLY person to have go through this…
Be encouraged – we are walking down a WELL worn path – MANY have gone before us…
EVERYONE has the same TRIALS – we all need to LEARN the same lessons!
II Corinthians 10:13 – “The trials in our life are no different from what others experience…”
So that what is lame may not be DISLOCATED – but rather be healed…
DISLOCATED – 5x in NT – to be twisted or turned aside from the path…
I Timothy 5:15 – “For some have already turned aside [same word] after Satan.”
If we do not make STRAIGHT the PATHS of our feet – we might turn aside…
In our discouragement we might walk away our HOPE in Jesus…
ONLY when we understand WHY we were PUNISHED by GOD – His LOVE / His SONS…
We then instead of being discouraged – are HEALED [passive] – FORGIVEN!
Our relationship with God that was BROKEN because of our SIN – is RESTORED!
I John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins to him – He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins…”
2nd – Pursue… vs. 14
PURSUE [present] peace will all [people]…
Always PURSUE [imperative] – to run after something with all our strength…
Do NOT miss the context – we have SINNED against God and been punished…
Because ALL sin is ultimately against God – Psalm 51:4
But others are ultimately affected by our SIN – and we should seek to have PEACE with them!
[PURSUE] holiness – without which no one will see the Lord…
It is not just about asking for FORGIVENESS – it is also about FORGIVING…
Because part of being HOLY – is being willing to FORGIVE others…
HOLY [ἁγιασμός] – to be set apart – to be DIFFERENT from the World…
The WORLD does not FORGIVE when someone hurts them – they REMEMBER!
But we are to be DIFFERENT – we FORGIVE – ANYTHING ANYONE does to us!
Because Jesus went to the cross to pay for our sins – ALL of our sins…
He was willing to FORGIVE everything we ever have done – or will ever do!
How then could we not FORGIVE someone for the little sin they have done against us!
If we are unwilling to FORGIVE – then God will not FORGIVE us!
Matthew 6:15 – “If you do not forgive… neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
3rd – Do not be BITTER… vs. 15-17
LOOKING carefully lest anyone fall short of the GRACE of God… vs. 15
LOOKING [present] – same root word as PASTOR [ἐπισκοπέω] – to GUARD…
We must GUARD ourselves – or we might FALL short of the GRACE of God…
FALL – to be left behind in the RACE and fail to reach the GOAL!
What would cause us to FAIL to finish the RACE – the goal of the GRACE of God!
Any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble – and by this many become defiled…
Root of BITTERNESS – springing up from a heart that did not FORGIVE…
TROUBLE – only here NT – from a root word that means to be tormented…
When someone lets BITTERNESS grow in their heart – it TORMENTS them…
But it does not STOP with just them – if spreads and POLLUTES others!
There is a tendency in our culture – to avoid confrontation…
If someone does something wrong – the accepted response it to IGNORE it / them…
As if somehow time will miraculously make everything OK!
Ephesians 4:26 – “Do not let the sun go down on your anger…”
Ignoring a problem – will make it 10x BIGGER – it is not worth the damage…
If we try and IGNORE a problem – we give an opportunity to satan…
Satan would love to cause division within the church – bitterness and hate…
Do not let satan rob the church of the forgiveness and joy Jesus has provided!
II Corinthians 2:11 – “Satan should take advantage of us; we are not ignorant of his devices.”
Lest there be any fornicator or profane person… vs. 16
FORNICATOR – [πόρνος] – in context living for the pleasures of this life…
PROFANE – the word means common – only thinking about the things of this world…
The thought is – the end result of a FAILING to finish the RACE – because of a BITTER heart…
Is we will start living for the WORLD – only thinking about this life!
Like Esau – who for one morsel of food sold his birthright… vs. 17
Esau was the FIRST born of son of Isaac – older brother of his twin Jacob…
He should have inherited the BLESSINGS – become the son of PROMISE…
But instead he SOLD his birthright for a bowl of SOUP – Genesis 25:32-34
Esau had absolutely no interest in the PROMISE of the Messiah…
He was only interested in the things of this life – day to day needs…
He was only concerned about this world – not eternal life!
Therefore a bowl of soup was more valuable to him than the BIRTHRIGHT!
For you know that afterward – when he wanted to inherit the blessing…
He was rejected – for he found no place for repentance…
Though he sought it diligently with tears!
For you KNOW [imperative] – we are commanded to know the story of Esau…
When it came time to INHERIT the BLESSING – he was REJECTED…
REJECTED – 9x in NT – every other time used to describe REJECTING Jesus…
Esau REJECTED Jesus – and would NOT repent [aorist] – so Jesus REJECTED him…
And when he sought the BLESSING with TEARS – it was TOO LATE!
The point is powerful – we ONLY have this life to LEARN to live for Jesus…
The ONE thing that can keep us from Him – is the sin that so easily traps us…
So God PUNISHES those who He love – He CORRECTS His kids – so we LEARN…
Not to get caught up in the things of THIS life – but instead look for the BLESSING…
The prize of the GRACE [gift] of God – that comes at the END of the RACE…
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