## Chastisement

## Hebrews 12

This week I spent some time with a prospective parent concerning the enrollment of their little girl. As we went through the procedure, we came to the section on discipline. They had a number of questions concerning when it was done, how it was done, who would do it, etc. But there was never a question about whether it was necessary.

Every parent understands the need for discipline, they may handle it differently, but all accept the reality of the need. This morning I want us to consider God's chastisement of His children.

I. Why are we chastised of the Lord? Because we need it and because God loves us

II. What is chastisement? It is the corrective discipline by God of all whom He loves.

A. Do not be weary of God's correction.

(Prov 3:11-12) "My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: {12} For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth."

B. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.

(Rev 3:19) "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."

C. God corrects us for our profit.

(Heb 12:10) "For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness."

D. Chastening includes every form of discipline imposed by a loving Father as He prepares His children to reign with Christ during the millennium.

III. Four Possible Attitudes Toward Chastening Found In Hebrews 12

A. My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord.

(Heb 12:5b) "…My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord…"

1. This means to think lightly

2. Or to have little regard for it

3. The warning is not to miss the purpose of the chastening.

B. Nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him.

(Heb 12:5c) "… nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:"

1. 'Faint' here means to give up or to collapse.

2. This is the same word the Lord used concerning the multitude prior to feeding them.

(Mat 15:32) "Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way."

3. It is also used by Paul when he challenged us not to quit doing right.

(Gal 6:9) "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

C. If ye endure.

(Heb 12:7) "If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?"

1. Don't despise the chastening, don't give up or faint under God's hand of discipline.

2. Rather endure it or take it as a son!

3. I am reminded of a child who runs from his momma or daddy…it only makes it worse!

D. The peaceable fruit of righteousness to them which are exercised thereby.

(Heb 12:11) "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."

1. Chastening will bring rest and inheritance.

(Psa 94:12-14) "Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law; {13} That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. {14} For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance."

2. Lives are changed by chastening.

a. The wrong behavior is replaced by right behavior.

b. That is what corrective discipline is all about.

3. Chastening comes only for a limited time.

(2 Cor 4:17) "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;"

4. Chastening comes only when we need it.

(1 Pet 1:6-7) "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: {7} That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:"

a. God does not arbitrarily deal out chastening.

b. Every once in a while, I used to get thumped on the head.

c. I would ask, 'What did I do?'

d. The response, 'Nothing, but that was for something you didn't get caught for doing.'

e. That will never happen with God, He will only bring the chastening when we need it!

5. Chastening is always for our betterment.

(Heb 12:10) "For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness."

IV. God has three forms of chastening:

A. Words: Preaching; Exhortation

B. Woodshed: Trials; Losses; Heaviness

C. Wooden box: Casket - death