Divine Discipline

1
Divine Discipline

• Hebrews 121-13
• Sunday August 31, 2008

2
Discipline

• What it is not
• Not actually punishment or suffering
• These may cause the desired result a
  disciplined person
• What it is
• Literally child training in the Greek
• Translated as instruction, correction, chasten,
  discipline
• Biblical (Acts 722 education 2 Tim.316
  training 2 Tim.225 correction Tit.212
  instruction Heb.126 discipline linked with
  suffering as per Heb.1136)

3
Discipline

• The physical and the mental
• Hebrews 1136 - mocking and scourging (mental
  physical).
• Hebrews 121 - the weight and sin (physical
  mental)
• Hebrews122 - Christ endured the cross
  (physical) and despised the shame (mental)
• Hebrews 123 - we are not to grow weary (the
  external physical) and lose heart (the internal
  mental)

4
Divine Discipline

• Two types of Divine discipline
• Voluntary Discipline (verses 1-4)
• Involuntary Discipline (verses 5-11)
• Conclusion (verse 12-13)

5
let us run with endurance the race that is set
before us...
Voluntary Discipline

• Running the race of a life of faith successfully
• It involves a choice
• The Christian runner in the race of the life of
  faith
• - Not merely human training of the body and mind
• - It goes far beyond our own resources
• - Empowered and directed by God through His
  Spirit
• - It is thus something supernatural
• - Our choice to let God work in us and through us

6
Voluntary Discipline

• Expectation
• Because we are surrounded by a great cloud of
  witnesses (1a)
• Who are these witnesses? Those listed in chapter
  11 Saints who have been through this process
  before us
• They are like spectators watching us race
• Like runners in a relay race who have completed
  their leg of the race
• And they are watching our progress and cheering
  us on to victory

7
Voluntary Discipline

• Exhortation
• Two things to lay aside (verse 1b)- The
  encumbrances of living that slow us down- The
  entanglements of sin that encircle our minds
• The encumbrances (or weights)- The 100m sprinter
  with light shirt, shorts, and shoes- Nothing to
  hinder the Christian running the race- Things
  like materialism, pride, prestige, associations,
  etc.
• The entanglements of sin- We need entire mental
  concentration on the goal- What does
  un-confessed sin do to us? It fills our minds
  with guilt and distracts us from the race We
  are unable to properly focus on the goal

8
Voluntary Discipline

• Exertion
• Run with endurance (verse 1c)
• Endurance To stand ones ground, hold out,
  endure in trouble, affliction, persecution

9
Voluntary Discipline

• Ending
• The Lord Jesus Christ- He is our focus- He is
  the author and perfecter of the race of
  faith The originator and finisher of the race-
  He is at the finishing line cheering us on and
  waiting for us to cross victorious

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of
faith... (122)
10
Voluntary Discipline

• Example
• Jesus endured the cross- His purpose was focused
  on Jerusalem and the cross (Matthew 1621
  2018-19 Luke 951)- He bore the agony of the
  cross
• Jesus despised the shame- He thought little of
  the shame- He did not take it into account-
  What was that shame?- He was made a curse for us
  (Gal.313)

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11
Voluntary Discipline

• Our race of faith (verses 3,4)
• No matter what your lot in life, Be it physical
  suffering or some mental persecution
• Christ has gone before He has endured much more
  (verse 2b) He finished well (sat down verse
  2d) And we are to focus on Him at the end of the
  race. (verse 2a)
• Consider Him (verse 3) Why? So that you dont
  grow weary and lose heart This happens at the
  end of the race, not before

12
Involuntary Discipline

• The disciplines of life not of our choice (verses
  5-11)
• In the race of life we are often faced with
  various kinds of suffering- It could be
  sickness, accident, etc.
• Ultimately God is sovereign over all things
  including your life and mine
• He has only your best interests in mind- He thus
  works all things for good for His own- to
  conform you to the likeness of Christ
• It is often hard to know if a given situation is
  the result of the permissive will or directed
  will of God- However He calls us to trust Him in
  the midst of the situation

13
Involuntary Discipline

• Questions, questions!
• Why God?
• Why did this happen to me?
• Is this Gods punishment for some failing?
• Why am I the only one going through this?
• What are you teaching me in this circumstance?
• Lord, what is it that you want me to learn? And
  many more.

14
Involuntary Discipline

• A Basic Principle The Enigma (verses 5-8)-
  Discipline proves that a Father loves his son-
  Discipline proves that the child is really the
  Fathers son
• In our society today parents are often taught the
  opposite- That love is permissive, that love
  never corrects- But this is a lie the reverse
  is true Non discipline proves a parent does not
  really love the child And it proves that the
  child is not really theirs They have given him
  over to others society, government etc
• The Bible is true to life- Discipline proves the
  love of a childs father (earthly or heavenly)-
  Discipline shows the fathers acceptance of the
  child as his son 

15
Involuntary Discipline

• A Perfect Standard Excellence (verses 9-10)-
  Although human fathers and human discipline is
  fallible, Gods discipline is not
• Our human fathers discipline - was for a short
  time, and - as seemed best to them
• But Gods discipline - is for life, and - it
  is good  

16
Involuntary Discipline

• A Satisfying Result Effect (verse 11) -
  Although at the time, all discipline seems
  unpleasant, in the end it brings great
  satisfaction
•  After it is over we can see the benefits - It
  brings positive benefits - Peace, joy (by
  inference), right living

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Conclusion

• Prepare yourself for action(verse 12-13)
• We are exhorted to choose wisely - To strengthen
  our weak members (vs.12) - To go straight ahead
  (vs.13)
• How? By self discipline in the race of life

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Application

• The handout sheet
• Write down one encumbrance that hinders your
  spiritual performance and bring this before the
  Lord regularly.
• Like a good Olympian consider seeking advice from
  a qualified coach about this problem.