Hebrews 12:1-11THE DISCIPLINE OF SUFFERING

“Is my view of life and suffering out of focus?”

November 16, 2014First Baptist ChurchJackson, Mississippi

USA

November Memory Verses

Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

References

• MacArthur, John, “God’s Faithful Discipline”, YouTube Video

• “Encountering The Book of Hebrews” by Donald A. Hagner, Baker Academic, 2004

• “The Message of Hebrews” by John R. W. Stott, Inter-Varsity Press, 1982

REVIEW OF HEBREWS

• Hebrews was written to Christians who were facing persecution.

• Goal to encourage Christians to remain faithful and not return to Judaism

• Explain the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ as revealer and as mediator of God’s grace.

Introduction to Hebrews 12

• The journey of faith that begins when you accept Christ as your Savior.

• Sanctification – the process of being more like Christ.

• Every day is designed to give you opportunity to grow and test your faith.

Introduction to Hebrews 12

• The Christian life is described as a “Race of Faith” in Hebrews 12:1-3.

• As we run this “Race of Faith”, God disciplines (training) us to produce the fruit of righteousness. Hebrews 12:4-11

Hebrews 12:1 NKJV

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

“surrounded by cloud of witnesses”

• Heroes of faith presented in Hebrews 11

• What did they witness?

– Life of faith

– Wisdom of faith

– Power of faith

– Blessing of faith

– Righteousness of faith

“let us lay aside every weight”

• Get rid of things that slow you down when running a race

– In Hebrews it was the baggage of legalism or Jewish laws.

– For us, it can be the weight of wrong ideas of a works salvation.

– The race for a Christian is run with FAITH ALONE (Faith + Nothing).

“lay aside the sin that ensnares us”

• Sin is always at its heart “unbelief”.

• When we sin we believe that we will get gratification in a way God says that we won’t.

• We are saying to God, “I don’t believe you. This is what I want.”

“run with endurance the race”

• Race – Description of the journey of life

– Not a jog, sprint or stroll but a MARATHON

• Derivative word of “Agona or Agony”

– The race will be challenging

• Endurance – “hypomones” – ‘to remain under’ We remain under the challenge.

Hebrews 12:2 NKJV

2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

“Looking unto Jesus…”

• Focal Point: Fix your eyes on Jesus as you run the Faith Race.

• Jesus is the perfect model of faith for us.

• The victory of your race is already guaranteed and rewarded in heaven.

Hebrews 12:3-4 NKJV

3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

Focus of Hebrews 12 Shifts

• While we are running the “race of faith” in this earthly life, we will have troubles, suffering and difficulties.

• John 16:33 “In this world you will have trouble.”

• WHY?

Hebrews 12:5-6 NKJV

5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

"My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,

Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens,

And scourges every son whom He receives."

• Writer quotes Proverbs 3:11-12

“What is chastening?”

• Chastening = Discipline in NIV translation

• “Training” = Teaching or Instructing

• Disciplining us as children are disciplined by parents to learn and cultivate right behavior and thinking

Divine Punishment vs. Divine Discipline

• There is a difference between punishment and discipline.

• Discipline speaks of training for instruction.

• Punishment speaks for retribution (penalty).

Punishment vs. Discipline

Punishment

• Purpose – vengeance

• Eternal

• God is the judge

• Object – God’s enemies

• Goal - Condemnation

Discipline

• Purpose – produce virtue

• Temporary

• God is the Father

• Objects – His Children

• Goal – Righteousness

• Romans 8:1 1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus

3 Reasons for God’s Discipline

1. Correction

2. Prevention

3. Education

1. Correction as reason for discipline

• Willful and continual sin needs discipline of correction.

• Begin here when you have troubles.– Job’s friends assumed this was source of suffering.

Psalm 139:23-24 23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

2. Prevention as reason for discipline

• The Lord “fences you in” and says “be careful” and “stay away from evil”.

• Used to keep you from exalting yourself and becoming prideful with self-glory.

– Ex. Paul’s thorn in the flesh.

• Draws you away from the world and closer to God.

– Limitations in life create dependence on God.

3. Education as reason for discipline

• Teach you experiences in life that lead to deeper fellowship with God– Peter in Luke 22:32 “And when you have turned back,

strengthen your brothers.”

• Must go thru trials to help others: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NKJV3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

3. Education as reason for discipline

• On the surface, we may not be able to initially see the purpose of our discipline.– Job as example in Job 42:1-3

Job 42:1-3 NKJV1 Then Job answered the Lord and said:

2 "I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.

3 You asked, 'Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?‘ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

2 Perils in Discipline

• Warning of dangers when being disciplined

Hebrews 12:5 NIV5 "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you.

1. Do not make light (despise NKJV) of the Lord’s discipline.

2. Do not lose heart when he rebukes you.

Peril: Don’t Regard Lightly

• Don’t underestimate whatever troubles come into your life, view them as discipline from God.

• Don’t take a shallow look at the trials of life, take a deep look.

• What is God wanting me to learn from this?

How do we treat discipline lightly?

• Callousness – not focusing spiritually

• Complaining – bitter attitude

• Victim – Seeing discipline as an unjust act

• Obstinate – Failing to change even when we discover the purpose

Peril: Losing Heart

• Discouraged (Faint) – NKJV

• Do not sink into despondency or hopelessness.

• Do not cope by turning to alcohol, drugs or other things that mask reality.

• Professional Christian Counselors can help.

2 Truths in Discipline

• Discipline proves 2 things:

Hebrews 12:6 NIV

6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

1. God’s Love

2. Your Sonship (Daughtership) – Child of God

Truths in Discipline

1. God’s Love

• All discipline proceeds from his love.

Revelation 3:19 NIV19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

• God understands the pain, but understands the benefit.

Truths in Discipline

2. Proves you are His Child

Ephesians 1:3-5 NIV3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

Truths in Discipline

2. Proves you are His Child

• All God’s children will be disciplined.

• Think of how and why we disciplined our children.– Proverbs 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15

• Our relationship will always be that of a Father-Child on this earth.

• We mature spiritually, but the dynamics of the relationship does not.

How should we view life’s difficulties?

Hebrews 12:7-87 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.

• Purpose of hardship, difficulties, distress, suffering?

“Endure hardship as discipline”

• We are to see it as the discipline (training and instruction) of God in our lives.

• It is the discipline of God, and this is how we are to see it.

• Remember the difference between punishment and discipline.

2 Products in Discipline

Hebrews 12:9-109 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.

1. Life2. Share in his holiness

2 Products in Discipline

1. Life

• Discipline gives us abundant and fullness in life!

– The most obedient Christians are living life to the maximum (true happiness).

– The more rebellious you are, the less you enjoy life.

2 Products in Discipline

2. Share in his holiness

• We can enjoy the riches of Christ here and now.

• Discipline does not contribute to our eternity other than receiving heavenly rewards.

What is the fruit of discipline?

Hebrews 12:11 NIV11 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.

• Righteousness and peace go together.

• When you are righteous, you are at peace!

Closing thoughts

• Discipline can be painful and seem sorrowful.

• See it for what it is: Training and Instruction.

• We can trust that God is refining us through our trials – and that one day He will bring us into His glorious presence. (Randy Alcorn)

Isaiah 43:2 NKJV

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,

Nor shall the flame scorch you.

The Plan of Hope & Salvation

Romans 3:23 NKJV23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23a NKJV23a For the wages of sin is death,

• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.

• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to pay the penalty for our sins.

• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second death explained in Revelation 21:8.

Revelation 21:8 NKJV8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Romans 6:23b NKJV23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8 NKJV8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Revelation 21:7 NKJV7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”

• Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to accept Jesus as our Savior.

Romans 10:9-10 NKJV9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:13 NKJV13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

• If you have questions or would like to know more, Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-979-1900 or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/