Responding Right to
God’s Chastening
Series on the Tough Love of God For His people
Hebrews 12
Responding Right to
God’s Chastening
Series on the Tough Love of God For His people
Hebrews 12 |
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Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
May 22, 2016 AM BBC
Ballincollig
I.
Introduction
(Hebrews 12:6-11)
A.
Chastening
doesn’t make sense to people today
B.
The very
thought of a God of love constantly at work
chastening His children is not acceptable to most of us.
1.
As children
we all had the idea in our minds that our parents showed love to us when
they gave us those things we wanted and enjoyed.
2.
But when our
parents placed restrictions upon us, and didn’t give us what we wanted,
we jumped hastily to the conclusion that they didn't love us.
3.
We could
easily understand a love that coddled and comforted us, but we could not
reconcile love with chastening and correction.
C.
But
chastening us, and correcting us, is what God does – and what He is most
actively doing in every believer
II.
Review The
Past Two Weeks
A.
What does
the word chastening mean? (Job
5:17)
1.
Chastening
and correction are interchangeable
2.
It is NOT
punishment – but rather Correction
3.
Overall, it
is the Teaching, and training of someone, having clear expectations of
them, and then carrying out corrective measures when they are not doing
something right
4.
Chastening…
get us to do things right, by telling us what we are doing wrong, then
instructing us on how to do it right, and troubling us when we won’t do
things right!
B.
The FACT of
God Chastening
1.
It is not
unusual, whatever you are going through
2.
It is not
unusual, whatever other people are going through
3.
Every
believer experiences the chastening of God in their lives
4.
There is no
boasting in God’s kingdom – we ALL get in trouble with God and all get
chastened
C.
The NEED for
God’s Chastening in Our Lives
1.
Farmers call
in Pruning. Without pruning, dead leaves, branches, fruit will kill the
whole plant
2.
Sports
Trainers call it Training. Without the training, the athlete will
crumble under the real pressures of the competition
3.
Jewellers
call it Cutting. Without the precise chipping away of excess, there will
be no beauty in the gem
4.
Animal
Trainers call it Training. Without training, the dog will always do
their business in the house, and will usually tear up the furniture.
5.
God simply
calls it Chastening. Without it, believers will never be different than
the culture we live in
6.
And it is
all good!
7.
And Parents
need to do more of it with their children!
D.
How God
Chastens Us
1.
Rebukes us –
shows us where we are doing wrong, and makes us uncomfortable doing the
wrong. Gives us someone who confronts us and tells us we are wrong, and
need to get right!
2.
Brings
pressures, troubles, pain into our lives when we don’t listen.
3.
We tend to
think a loving God wouldn’t do such, or even allow such
4.
It is NOT in
God’s mind or heart to hurt us
5.
BUT, it is
in our NATURE that we go against Him
a.
Like riding
a bike up a steep hill – against gravity
b.
So, as we do
things that just come naturally, God is against us, trying to turn us
around!
E.
The Purpose
and Pain of Chastening
1.
To PUNISH
us? No. Not His children.
2.
But simply
to correct us and get us doing right and make us like Jesus
3.
If God
DIDN’T intensely love us, He would leave us alone!
F.
How To Know
It is Chastening
1.
Sometimes,
if not most of the time, God has to chasten us because of our own sinful
attitudes and actions. We reap what we sow. But it is not always because
of sin
2.
Sometimes is
demonic, spiritual attack by our enemy, the devil
3.
Sometimes,
it is a product of Adam’s sin – just a hard life
4.
Sometimes it
is hard to tell
5.
Just
remember, it all came from the hand of God, and should humble us to
cling strongly to Him
G.
How to
Escape God’s Chastening
1.
You can’t
2.
You can only
be in a position to get it less, or at least get it in an easier form
3.
Chasten
yourself quickly
a.
Psalm 69:10
b.
Dan 10:12
c.
1Cor
11:31,32
4.
Agree with
God quickly
5.
Learn
patience as He works – remember Job? (Job 23:8-10)!
6.
More about
this next week!
H.
So the
question is, How do I respond to God’s work on me? Or, How do I respond
BETTER than I usually do? Ten of the most important ways to respond to
chastening…
III.
Message -
Right Responses to Chastening (Hebrews 12)
A.
1 - Consider
Jesus (Hebrews 12:3,4)
1.
The BEST
Example of Endurance
2.
Jesus
endured the cross
a.
The
injustice of it
b.
The pain of
it
c.
The
abandonment by men and God
3.
Jesus
endured the contradiction of sinners against Himself
4.
Accepted it
ALL as from the hand of God (John 18:11; Act 2:22,23; 4:26-28)
5.
Despised the
shame – did not accept the shame of what He was experiencing!
a.
Instead of
despising the hand of God at work (which is what WE usually do)…
b.
Jesus
rejected and refused to be affected by the shame of what was happening
to Him
6.
Raised up to
the right hand of the throne of God
7.
YOU never
have had to wrestle until blood dropped from your pores!
8.
If you won’t
start with focusing on the life of Jesus, you WILL quit!
B.
2 - Don't
Despise Chastening (Hebrews 12:5)
1.
Most People
Reject God’s Chastening – they despise it! Hate it!
a.
Usually
because it is painful, hard, unpleasant, discouraging!
b.
It is the
cause of the majority of anger and fierce wrath today
c.
They NEVER
accept correction – especially from God
1)
Pro 1:23
Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto
you, I will make known my words unto you.
2)
Pro 1:25
But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would [RECEIVE]
none of my reproof:
3)
Pro 1:30
They would [RECEIVE] none of my counsel: they despised all my
reproof.
d.
Hate
straight preaching
e.
Get offended
at everything
f.
Never take
responsibility for their own wrongdoing
g.
Hate anyone
who tells them they are doing something wrong
h.
They spend
most of their lives fighting God
1)
Digging your
heels in deeper only dig a deeper hole
2)
Anger at God
doesn’t help
3)
Ignoring God
won’t help – expecting Him to just go away
4)
Going deeper
into sin won’t help – can’t runaway
5)
NOT so smart
6)
Satan tried
and tries
7)
King Saul
responded wrong
8)
The
Pharisees responded wrong
9)
Saul of
Tarsus found out how stupid it was
10)
Not just
fighting God as unsaved, but as hard-hearted towards His fiery trials!
2.
So, Don't
make light of, to treat with contempt, resent it.
3.
We should
never consider the chastening of the Lord as a thing of no account or no
value.
a.
Job 5:17
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise
not thou the chastening of the Almighty.
b.
Prov 3:11
My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary
of his correction.
c.
Prov 3:12
For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son
in whom he delighteth.
C.
3 - Expect
Chastening (Hebrews 12:5,6) “every son…”
1.
Everyone in
God’s family experiences chastening, suffering, troubles
2.
1 John 3:13
3.
John
15:18-20
4.
1Peter 4:12
5.
2Tim 3:12
6.
We who
attempt to live godly lives are offensive to this world
D.
4 - Don’t
Quit (Hebrews 12:5)
1.
Quitting on
God – running from guilt, from preaching, from other Christians
2.
The Bible
word is “faint” – as in collapse, quit the race
a.
When the
Bible goes against you, don’t close it
b.
When the
preaching is all about you – don’t get offended and shut your ears
c.
When you are
troubled on every side (2Cor 4:8,9; 2Cor 12:7-10)
d.
Stand (Eph
6:13)
e.
Continue,
stay, complete, finish, persevere, and remain on course all the way to
then end!
f.
Never quit.
3.
God asks if
you are willing to do all you can to just stay standing? (Eph 6:12)
4.
Where are
the MEN who are supposed to be standing today? Most are sitting on their
couches, atching TV while the world debates transgender bathrooms,
euthanasia, same sex marriage, perverts adopting children, and
socialism!
5.
By the way,
Quitting is the most addictive habit there is!
a.
Once you
start quitting, and are not forced to stay at something until it is
finished, you will usually quit at everything
b.
That’s why
diets don’t work
c.
That’s why
marriages last only 1 or 2 years
d.
That’s why
people keep changing jobs
e.
That’s why
friendships are so flimsy and shallow
f.
And THAT’S
why churches don’t grow…
g.
Because
marriages, companies, and churches are filled with QUITTERS!
E.
5 - Accept
Chastening (Hebrews 12:6)
1.
Receive
chastening from the hand of God (Job 2:10)
a.
Accept
chastening as tough love by God, on such a mess like you and I truly are
b.
The
troubles, the walls, the obstacles, the pain, the embarrassments, the
hardships, the disasters, the losses
c.
As a matter
of fact, accept everything as given by God (Philp 1:19)
2.
Too many
Christian people think WAY too highly of themselves
a.
Like they
are above chastening. Like they are not needing any correction at all
b.
Stop
stiffening up, and humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of
God
c.
I can’t tell
you how many times as an pastor, teacher, a husband, as a Dad I’ve been
corrected.
1)
Sometimes
from your wife
2)
Sometimes
from your children
3)
Sometimes by
other Christians, and pastors
4)
It is a
mortifying experience hearing about all the things you ae doing wrong.
5)
It was never
pleasant when I was corrected by my managers at the Telephone company.
6)
It is never
pleasant when your pastor tells you, you aren’t doing right.
7)
It is never
enjoyable to have a Garda pull you over and give you a ticket!
3.
Such an
illogical truth, but, The secret to speeding up our spiritual growth is
to ACCEPT CORRECTION regardless of how awkward, painful, or humiliating
it might be.
4.
I read this
last night… You’re only as mature as the number of times you’ve been
corrected. (Prov 9:8) “Reprove
not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love
thee.”
5.
I’ve learned
that the pain of knowing my flaws always outweighs the pain of not
knowing them.
F.
6 - Endure
it (Hebrews 12:7)
1.
Put up with
it. Every day if you have to. It is your training – to go against your
old nature
2.
Don't faint
under it - don't grow weary, to lose heart.
3.
Endurance is
a very important part of life
a.
In sports –
you won’t be able to stay in a match without it
b.
In marriage
– you won’t stay married without it
c.
In business
– you won’t manage the hard times without it
d.
In the
military – Navy pilots by nature faint when “pulling G-forces” and have
to learn how to endure it, or else THEY die and a 50 million euro
airplane smashes into a billion pieces!
e.
Hebrews
10:36
4.
Endurance is
ESPECIALLY a very important part of the Christian life – look at what we
are supposed to endure…
a.
Endure
Loneliness (1Tim 3:15)
b.
Endure
Despising (1Tim 4:12) put up with it – keep going! Like a slow runner in
a mocking crowd
c.
Endure Lack
and Necessities (1Tim 6:5-8) – we are called to do without things
d.
Endure the
Good Fight (1Tim 6:12) – stay in it, no matter how hard it gets
e.
Endure
Hardness (2Tim 2:3) of the enemy – put up with whatever Satan throws at
you!
f.
Endure
Persecutions (2Tim 3:12)
g.
Endure Sound
Doctrine (2Tim 4:3) – boring, unpopular, so little emphasis on yourself,
but on God and truth, and eternity
h.
Endure
Physical Troubles/Ailments (1Tim 5:23; 2Tim 4:5)
i.
Endure the
work of the Ministry (Ex 18:23) – not always a thrill a minute
j.
Endure
Correction (Psalm 30:5 Heb 12:5-7) – a constant thing – so rarely ever
appreciated, or praised – usually just more to work on
k.
Endure
Temptations (James 1:12) – testings, and more testings, and failings,
and trying again
l.
Endure Grief
(1Peter 2:19) and sorrows and discouragements
m.
Ours is NOT
a life of blessing, and ease, and no troubles! But a life of endurance!
5.
This is all
God’s Handiwork, fashioning us, bettering us (Psalm 138:8). Maybe you
believe you don’t need any work on you, but GOD says we all get
chastening, scourging even because we ALL need it!
6.
Unfortunately, most endure only a short time, and are gone (Mark 4:17)
G.
7 - Examine
Yourself During Chastening (Hebrews 12:7,8)
1.
Take a good
look at what YOU are like? What you are like especially under pressure.
a.
Your
attitudes
b.
Your actions
c.
Your goals
d.
Your faith -
“where is your faith?”
2.
It is HOT
water that reveals what is INSIDE
3.
What is just
below YOUR surface?
a.
Fierce
anger? Sharp tongue? Harsh words?
b.
Depression?
c.
Envy?
d.
Bitterness?
H.
8 - Learn
from it – GROW – Change (Hebrews 12:10)
1.
THE purpose
of chastening is NOT punishment, but change!
a.
Jesus warned
Peter that Satan would try to tear him apart (Luke 22:31,32)
b.
But Jesus
did not say He would protect him from Satan’s attacks – only that He
would PRAY for Peter
c.
And in the
end, Peter would be stronger, and better able to strengthen his brethren
– other believers
2.
How long
have you been born again? And how is your growth?
a.
Still like a
baby wanting pastor to spoon feed you every Sunday?
b.
Still only
willing to come on a Sunday morning, and only when you feel like it?
c.
Still
griping and complaining about everything – like a BABY?
d.
Never yet gone out soul-winning,
nor won a soul yet? Still too scared?
e.
Still
constantly falling, and giving into temptations, or are you standing,
and walking straight and even running to do the will of God for your
life?
3.
And you
wonder why troubles come into your life?
I.
9 - Help
Each Other – be a family (Hebrews 12:12,13)
1.
Lift up each
other’s drooping hands
2.
Carry each
other
3.
Stop closing
our eyes to the pains going on around us
4.
Help one
another THROUGH the times of affliction and suffering and chastening
5.
Make things
easy
6.
This is what
Job’s friends did NOT do for him (Job 16:2)!
J.
10 - Beware
of Bitterness (Hebrews 12:14,15)
1.
If you are
bitter, it shows you have been fighting God’s chastening hand in your
life for too long
2.
Be at peace
with how many people? ALL men. Even the ones that hurt you. That’s a
commandment!
3.
And be holy
– godly, like Christ through the chastening
4.
Otherwise,
you are not a Christian. True Christians want to be like Jesus! True
Christians endure to the end!
5.
So, Thank
God for everything!
a.
For God’s
Son enduring the cross
b.
For God
loving you enough to NOT leave you alone
c.
For God’s
purpose in making you a better man or woman that you are naturally
d.
Start to
thank God for all the heart-aches, the trials, the afflictions, the
pains – knowing that He loves you more than you can ever comprehend, and
is doing a good work in you!
IV.
Conclusion
A.
I hope you
have learned
1.
What the
word chastening means
2.
That every
Christian NEEDS God’s Chastening in their Lives
3.
How God
Chastens Us
4.
The Purpose
and Pain of Chastening
5.
How To Know
It is Chastening
B.
But more
importantly, I hope you have learned
1.
To Consider
Jesus
2.
To No Longer
Despise Chastening
3.
To Expect
Chastening
4.
To Never
Quit – no matter how hard it gets
5.
To Start to
Accept Chastening
6.
To Endure it
7.
To Examine
Yourself During Chastening
8.
To Learn
from it – GROW – Change
9.
To Help Each
Other Go Through It
10.
Finally, To
Beware of Bitterness
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