Sunday’s Sermons

Text: Hebrews 12:4-11                                                     2/17/08 PM

Thesis: God’s discipline is based on love and for our sanctification.

 

Intro: 1 Thessalonians 4:3 says plainly, “This is the will of God even your sanctification.”

Now this is the matter that is dealt with in such an extraordinary and perfect manner in this twelfth chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews where the theme is, that sometimes God promotes sanctification in His children by chastening them, and especially by enabling them to understand the meaning of chastisement (Lloyd-Jones, Spiritual Depression, 235).

It is God’s will for your life that He use you and in order to do that He is going to sanctify you.

God will not allow you to remain where you are. He will shape you and sometimes this is a painful process.

But it is a process for our good. It is a process we must understand.

Because when we understand what God is doing we bring our lives in-line with Him and this produces great fruit.

 

Read Hebrews 12:1-11

 

I) As sons we are called to fight against sin

a)      This is the sin of hostility

i)        It is essential here that we define sin in its context because if you’re like me you can be tempted to understand the sin here as a Christian’s willful disobedience to God.

ii)      I choose to sin against God so God in turn disciplines me. But that would be wrong in the context and not near as helpful as God intends the passage to be.

iii)    There is in the immediate context the idea of stop willfully sinning against God; lay aside the sin that clings so closely.

iv)    But remember, we are to lay that sin aside is so that we can run the race that is marked out for us.

v)      And the race that is marked out for us is the race of the cross.  That’s why we are to look to Jesus who endured the cross.

vi)    The cross is summarized in verse 3 as the hostility of sinners.

vii)  In verse 4 we are to resist sin and be prepared to resist sin to the point of shedding blood.

viii)            We are to resist sin to the point of martyrdom.

ix)    God’s purpose for our lives is to know Him and make Him know.  We are to go and stand against the sin of unbelief and uphold the truth of the gospel.

x)      God is constantly reshaping us to be better at this.

xi)    And there will be times that the world hates us for doing this. This Hebrew church had already experienced the hostility of having their possessions confiscated and church members were thrown into prison for believing the gospel.

xii)  They had struggled against sin but not yet to the point of being killed for their faith.

xiii)            In the context of Hebrews 12, the struggle against sin is the struggle of the believing church against the unbelieving world.

xiv)            Now as we being to transition into verse 5 it is important that we understand the sovereignty of God.

xv)  If we do not affirm the fact that God is in control then this passage will not make sense and that means we will lose the benefit of God’s living word.

xvi)            Whose idea was the cross? Whose plan was it? Did it start with man or did it start with God?

xvii)          Obviously the cross was God’s plan.

xviii)        Acts 2:23 says Jesus was, “delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God”

xix)            Is man responsible? Yes. Is God sovereign? Yes.

xx)  Now, let’s ask another question. Was the cross only about us or did Jesus learn something specific through what he endured?

xxi)            We know he gained joy but did he learn anything?

xxii)          Hebrews 5:8, a passage so important for us tonight, says, “Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.”

xxiii)        Easy commands in a resistance free environment are helpful but ease does not teach us a great deal about ourselves or about God.

xxiv)        Difficult commands in a hostile environment teach us a great deal about ourselves and about God.

xxv)          The abundant fruit of obedience is gained not through ease but through suffering.

xxvi)        And remember, we’re not talking about suffering we deserve because of our sin. We’re talking about suffering that God in his sovereignty brings upon us in order to sanctify us.

xxvii)      Notice this, it is important

II) The Lord disciplines us because He loves us

The hostility of sinners, even the shed blood of a Christian martyr, is considered to be the discipline of a loving Father (read verses 5&6). How do we live with this mindset?

a)      First and always, rejoice that you are a son of God

i)        If we do not begin with the truth the God loves us as His own children this difficult passage derails.

ii)      In our daily reading why are we seeing Job struggle so much? He has no concept of God lovingly bringing suffering on His children in order to teach them.

iii)    Discipline here in Hebrews 12 is not correction for wrong but training or teaching so that we will be equipped for righteousness.

iv)    Do not think of the principle’s office think of the practice field.  You go to the principle’s office when you’ve done something wrong.

v)      You go through the discipline of the practice field so that you will be trained to do what is right.

vi)    The team that never practices will be sorry. The Christian who is never trained will be near to useless.

vii)  God knows this and God loves us so much he will ensure that we never become useless.

viii)            God does not discipline us because he is a sadistic tyrant who takes pleasure in hurting us.

ix)    God loves us and He takes great pleasure in seeing the fruit of righteousness in us. The call on every Christian is to be like Christ; to reflect His glory.

x)      Since God loves us he will bring things in our lives that will ensure we grow in Christ-likeness.

xi)    Love is the foundation of discipline.

b)      So, don’t blow off discipline understand it

i)        Don’t give up when you feel the chastening hand of God. Don’t think that the hostility you are experiencing is of little or no value.

ii)      There is no such thing as accidents in the Christian worldview. Nothing is inconsequential.

iii)    When we are in a rush and the tire blows out, when we are faced with something we feel is crucial and get sick or something goes wrong in the home don’t overlook it.

iv)    When you give your life for ministry and the spread of the gospel but you keep facing hostility do not give up and do not consider it a closed door.

v)      There is something to learn here. Because God loves you and wants to make you godly He’s brought this difficultly about to teach you about your weakness and His strengths.

vi)    If you don’t know what I mean it’s because you’ve never been a part of a family, tried to spread the gospel, or had children.

vii)  We must not run from discipline because discipline teaches us and

c)      Non-Christians don’t experience discipline

i)        Read verses 7&8

ii)      It’s not because you’ve done something sinful that you must endure. This isn’t “you made the bed so you sleep in it” discipline.

iii)    So that you and I will be like Christ we must suffer.

iv)    Although Jesus was the only perfect Son of God he learned obedience through what he suffered.

v)      Do you fancy yourself smarter than Christ? Do you perceive in yourself a knowledge greater than Christ’s?

vi)    Then stand firm for the joy set before you; this difficulty will produce steadfastness.

vii)  And when steadfastness has done it’s work you will be perfect and complete lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4)

viii)            And as Calvin said there is no soldier who receives his discharge in this life. It is upon death that we receive the crown of life.

ix)    If you are alive and a Christian you are a candidate for God’s school of loving discipline.

x)      Either that or you are not a Christian.

xi)    If God is not knocking the sharp edges of the sin that still remains off of you then you should be concerned.

xii)  Oh how my soul longs for perpetual green pastures and never ending still waters but I must remind my soul that what I’m longing for is heaven.

xiii)            Because while I am still in this world I will have trouble.

xiv)            Jesus said in John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

xv)  Through discipline we become more like Christ and grow in the peace that is in Him. While we remain in this world there will be no shortage of difficulty.

xvi)            And even that is meant to drive us to the sustaining grace of Christ who has overcome this world.

xvii)          Do not consider this discipline as God’s hatred toward you. Bear up under it knowing that you are in this difficulty because the Father loves you.

xviii)        Job said, “The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand” (Job 12:6).

xix)            Why is this the case? How is it that Joran van der Sloot can feel no remorse and sleep like a baby the night Natalee Holloway died?

xx)  How can a man bludgeon his therapist to death with a meat cleaver?

xxi)            How can people commit such heinous acts against themselves, other people, and animals without remorse?

xxii)          In the words of Hebrews 12:8, those who are outside of the discipline of God are there because they are not sons of God.

xxiii)        If God loved them as sons they would feel the weight of discipline.

xxiv)        It should cause everyone who claims the name of Christ to tremble when we can sin without remorse.

d)     Here’s our next principle, we must respect the Lord and not hate Him for His discipline

i)        Look at verse 9, “Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who discipline us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them.”

ii)      I believe there are seasons that most if not all of us go through where we hate to do chores.

iii)    For me it was taking out the trash twice a week every week. I grew to despise this task but it was required of me.

iv)    What about the morning and evening requirement of feeding animals? The never ending mowing, washing dishes, and cleaning the house.

v)      Our earthly fathers trained us to do these things because there is great benefit in them.

vi)    My father did not make me take out the trash because he hated me. He made me take out the trash because he loved me and it was for my good.

vii)  I learned to care for others, put the family first, and to be responsible without being asked.

viii)            If dads understand this how much more does God understand the benefit of discipline?

ix)    And the truth is that our earthly fathers got some things wrong and as earthly fathers we get some things wrong.

x)      That’s the beauty of the infinitely wise and sovereign spiritual Father. He doesn’t get things wrong.

xi)    There are no mistakes with God. His discipline is always loving and never brutal.

xii)  Though we may feel it to be unloving and brutal our feelings do not change the truth.

III) The Lord’s discipline produces great benefit

Look again to verse 10, “But he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 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.”

a)      Foundationally, the Lord’s discipline is for our good.

i)        It must be repeated because we are prone to explain it away or not believe it.

ii)      God brings pain in our lives because he loves us and desires what is good for us.

iii)    Because we know he is infinitely powerful and infinitely loving we can trust Him through the valley of the shadow of death.

iv)    Church we must uphold the truth. It’s not all health, wealth, and prosperity for Christians and suffering because you’re sinful.

v)      That message would have destroyed this struggling Hebrew church and that message destroys souls today.

vi)    In my short life I have seen the sovereignty of God over miscarriages of the unborn and the painful early deaths of the godly.

vii)  No doubt you have seen more and worse than me. But with eyes of faith do you see the good with me?

viii)            Church I’m not calling you to show up on Sundays. I’m calling you to stand beside me and set your eyes on Christ Jesus.

ix)    At times you will lift my hands when they droop and I will do the same for you. I will strengthen your weak knees and you will do the same for me.

x)      Together we will seek the good knowing that

b)      The Lord’s discipline causes us to share His holiness

i)        Wait Paul, I thought I was made holy through the work of Christ on the cross.

ii)      You are that’s right you are justified and you will realize the holiness of Christ in your life as you follow the path he walked. You will be sanctified.

iii)    As you pick up your cross and follow Him to a hill called Calvary and there on that cross you die to yourself you will tangibly learn what holiness looks like.

iv)    I preach hard sermons because I love you and I want you to share in the holiness of Christ.

v)      I have high expectations for myself as a pastor because God’s expectations of holiness are high.

vi)    I have high expectations for our deacons because God’s expectations of holiness are high.

vii)  I have high expectations of every member because God’s expectations of holiness are high.

viii)            God will be hard on you because he loves you. I will be hard on you because I love you.

ix)    My desire for your life is that you experience the holiness of God. It is ours to be had.

c)      And remember, painful discipline produces the peaceful fruit of righteousness

i)        For a time it hurts. The joy we experience when we face trials is not some sick joy that loves to suffer.

ii)      The joy in trials is the joy that comes be realizing what this trial will produce.

iii)    Discipline is not pleasant it’s painful, but later it produces the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

iv)    Forgive the sports analogies but hey, it’s the context of Hebrews 12.

v)      Have you ever run sprints or lifted weights with someone who pushed you and wouldn’t let you stop short?

vi)    This is why we need coaches who have the authority to punish us on this earth.

vii)  If it weren’t for them we won’t run as hard as we could or do that extra rep.

viii)            It stinks in the middle of it but when you’re done and the workout is over the benefit is yours.

ix)    You’re a little stronger and a little faster; there is fruit from the pain. The same is true with God’s discipline.

x)      We endure difficultly with joy knowing that on the other side is the fruit of righteousness.

xi)    You face it and preach to yourself, “I will endure by faith and when this is over I’ll be more like Christ.”

xii)  There is a peacefulness in the storm when you know the power of Christ in your life.

xiii)            When he’s in the boat you trust him.

xiv)            We’ll be done with this

d)     We must be trained by discipline

i)        There is no peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who run from the discipline of God.

ii)      Verse 9 told us that it is those who are subject to the Father of spirits that live.

iii)    The peaceful fruit of righteousness is not for everyone.

iv)    Righteousness if for those who are trained by the Father’s loving discipline.

v)      To reject His discipline is to reject Him as Father.

vi)    It’s the prodigal son telling his father, “I want the benefit of your life but I don’t want you. I wish you were dead.”

vii)  To say, “I want the benefit of Christ but I don’t want to be godly like Christ,” is to look to the Father and say, “I want to be in heaven but I wish you were dead.”

viii)            God’s will for you is your sanctification. God’s will is that everyone who claims the name of Christ lives and looks like Christ.

ix)    Will you submit to his loving discipline?

x)      Will you consider the strength and grace of God in the life of Christ as he grew and endured for joy?

xi)    Will you set your eyes on Christ, the author and perfector of your faith?

xii)  Will you run the race?

xiii)            Will you come with me? Let’s go out in joy and be led forth in peace (Isaiah 55:12).