Discipline – Don’t be a Hater

Hebrews 12:4–24

 Intro:  What is your attitude towards pain and suffering?

 I. Pain and Suffering

A.Consequences of Sin

1. Immediate (Genesis 3:16-19)

a. “In pain you will give birth to children”

b. “In pain you will eat of the ground”

2. Eternal

a. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23)

b. “In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Luke 13:28)

B. Specific Suffering ≠ Specific Sin

1. Sometimes it does

2. Sometimes it does not

a. Galileans killed by Pilate & tower in Siloam (Luke 13:1-5)

b. “That the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:1-3)

C. Punishment vs. Discipline

II. “Endure hardship as discipline.” – Hebrews 12:7

A. Don’t be a Hater

1. “Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty” (Job 5:17)

2.“Do not despise the Lord’s discipline or resent His rebuke” (Proverbs 3:11)

B. Motivated by Fatherly Love

1.“The Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father corrects a son in whom he delights.” – Proverbs 3:12

2. “’Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline, so be earnest and repent’” (Revelation 3:19)

3. Wants us to “share in His holiness” to produce “a harvest of righteousness and peace” (Hebrews 12:10-11)

C. Trained by Hardship

1. “Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. ‘Make level paths for your feet,’ so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” – Hebrews 12:12

2. So that others will “see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14-15)

3. Instant vs. delayed gratification (Hebrews 12:16-17)

a. Sexual immorality

b. Esau’s inheritance

4. Mount Sinai vs. Mount Zion (Hebrews 12:18-24)

a. Terror vs. Joy

b. Judgment vs. Being Made Perfect

c. Blood of Abel vs. Blood of Jesus

5.“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,

  let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’” – Hebrews 12:28-29

 How does the image of a father who disciplines his children out of love help shape your perspective and attitude towards pain and suffering?

 How have past hardships shaped you, and what might you still need to learn?