Zambia Hunt

Hebrews 12:3-11

Introduction

Who doesn’t hate getting out of bed in the morning? Who doesn’t struggle to finish a task that they don’t particularly care for? What child enjoys cleaning his room, studying his schoolwork, or doing his chores around the house? What husband doesn’t find it challenging to organize his time between the home, his wife, and the demands of work?

There is no shortcut to success in any of these things; they require discipline!

You cannot train someone to be successful in any venture unless they learn discipline. Education requires discipline. In sports, discipline is required to win the race. In the military, discipline is required to stay alive and win the war. In employment, discipline is required to be successful. In the home, discipline is required to raise productive, God-honoring children. In the church, discipline is required to fulfill God’s plan and bring Him glory. Discipline is part of the education process in every sphere of life.

When I mention the word discipline, many thoughts may flash through your mind, and most of them are probably negative. A century or more ago, the old English understanding of the word discipline was “good order and prevention” (Instructive). Today our modern understanding of the word is “a way to deal with troublemakers” (Corrective).

Discipline has two functions. The positive function promotes and maintains conditions of learning. The negative function roots out all hindrances to the condition of learning.

I want us to consider three biblical reminders about the role of discipline in our lives and apply them to three important areas.

Three Biblical Reminders About Christian Discipline

1. Don’t Forget the Example (Hebrews 12:3-4)

Jesus Christ faced the hostility of sinners – so don’t get weary and faint of heart when you are facing difficulties. These measures are being used by God to teach you and train you (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus endured the cross. He endured the shame. He endured by keeping His focus on His mission – redeeming His people- and the future place – right hand of the Father, positioned to effectively bring about the completion of that redemption.

2. Don’t Forget the Exhortation (Hebrews 12:5-6)

God’s discipline always comes through the filter of His undying, passionate love for you. God’s discipline is only given to those who are His sons and daughters. This offers beautiful reassurance that we belong to God (see this truth in verses 7-9).

3. Don’t Forget the Explanation (Hebrews 12:7-11)

When you face discipline, it is proof you are His son or daughter (verses 7-9). When you face discipline, it is for your good, not your harm (verse 10b). When you face discipline, it produces the fruit of righteousness (verses 10c-11).

The fruit of righteousness flavors life with peace (verse 11). Without peace, learning is impossible; education depends upon order. Where there is no peace, there is no learning. Where there is no discipline, there is no order. Where there is no order, there is no peace.

Three Important Applications of Christian Discipline

In Personal Life

This is the loving discipline that “you have to endure” in your life personally (verse 7). The work of the Spirit of God in the life of a Christian is producing discipline. As Galatians 5:22-23 tells us: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

We must discipline our own bodies – practice self-discipline. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:27: “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

In the Home

In our homes, we are seeking to bring our children to maturity – maturity is the ability to discipline oneself in the ways of God. In biblical child training, the control of the parent is gradually replaced by the control of the Holy Spirit through the Word as the child matures into a youth (Deuteronomy 6:6).

Parents (especially fathers) who love their children instill discipline into their lives. They do not do so because they enjoy making the child’s life miserable, but because they realize that order must be established in the life of the child if they are to fulfill their God-appointed purpose.

Fathers are specifically called to train their children. Ephesians 6:4 instructs: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

The mature person obeys not out of fear of the parent, fear of punishment, or hope of reward, but out of gratitude to God who sent Jesus to die for them. The mature young person wants to please God more than they want to please themselves or their parents by learning to control their spirit. Proverbs 16:32 reminds us: “Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” They also learn to control their tongue. As Proverbs 17:27 says: “Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.” Furthermore, they learn to control their anger. Proverbs 19:11 teaches: “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”

The discipline of a child is a process of increased pressure until he or she surrenders to God by surrendering to God’s authority in the home. A child who refuses to be under control will eventually forfeit their right to live in the home. We all pray that would never happen.

In the Church

The church is primarily involved with two things: inviting non-believers to come to Christ (evangelism), and training believers to understand and obey all things that Christ commands. This results in God’s purposes being fulfilled and God’s plans coming to pass.

We are learning from Christ so we can live for Christ. Matthew 11:28-29 invites us: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” We are to learn from Him, put His yoke on – submit to the teacher. We are to make disciples – recruit and train students from all nations, teaching them to obey all things (Matthew 28:18-20).

The biblical process for Christian training and discipline (Matthew 18:15-20) involves disciplining yourself first. If issues persist with others, go privately to them one-on-one. If that doesn’t resolve the matter, go with one or two more witnesses. If needed, bring the issue to the church: Elders and the Body. In extreme cases where repentance doesn’t occur, the person may need to be treated as outside the church.

Why is this important? The reputation of our glorious God is at stake! By refusing to submit to the truth and loving correction, God is dishonored in the eyes of the lost, those who do not know our God. The welfare of the body is also at stake. If the professing believer refuses to submit to the truth and loving correction of friends, elders, and the body, then they must be put out lest their evil permeate the whole congregation (1 Corinthians 5:1-6).

It’s worth noting that rarely do things reach this final stage; most matters are resolved in the informal stage.

Conclusion

So Christian, if you are facing a painful situation or a troubling providence – remember God uses these things to bring discipline to our lives, to educate us about Himself and His will. Submit to the loving work of God! Whom the Lord loves, He disciplines!

If you are struggling with sin and your life is out of control – welcome that Christian friend who comes to you to discuss the issue. Welcome them as God’s gracious gift of love, hear the voice of your loving Father through your friend, and make things right with God and others.

Church – if someone in your midst refuses to submit to the loving training and corrective measures of the body, with prayer, love, and tears you must put that person out of the congregation for a time, so that they will come back with a humble heart to receive the correction, instruction, and help that God offers to them.