Don't Neglect Your Spiritual Training

Don't Stop Now!

A study of the NT book of Hebrews

by Pastor Frank Rice

Hebrews 12:4-11

 

Onecoach works his kids until they’re ready to drop over. They are sweating not smiling! He’s not too concerned about all the groans! Another coach is more concerned about his kids enjoying life and liking him so he doesn’t push them too hard. It’s fun and comfortable for them! Guess which team is gratified and thankful to their coach at the season’s end!

Spiritual training is difficult, discouraging, and downright draining! In order to benefit from it, a proper perspective is absolutely essential. You need to understand a few things about training and trials.

 

v     We need to evaluate our experiences realistically (v. 4).

1.      Although readers had experienced severe hardships, they had not shed any blood (10:32-33). They had not yet sacrificed their lives for their faith!

2.      Most people exaggerate life’s trials and hardships, running to the ER for a tummy-ache or putting Band-Aids on bumps!

3.      We need a proper perspective, take our eyes off ourselves, and our negligible pain, and persecution. “Many today do not know enough of God’s Word to survive a skinned knee.”

 

v     We need to evaluate our experiences biblically (vv. 5-6)!

1.      Readers knew well, but had forgotten, biblical teaching on sonship (Proverbs)! We often stop short of applying biblical truth to our lives, especially when we’re in pain!

2.      “The writer of Proverbs includes both suffering that is punishment for sin and non-punitive suffering within the scope of divine ‘discipline.’” But “He is using this passage in regard to nonpunitive suffering. Persecution because of devotion to Christ is neither the result of nor punishment for one’s sin.” (Cockerill)

3.      Do not despise hardships when they come! We dislike and resent discipline, become angry, bitter, and resentful. We treat it lightly with indifference (Ps. 32:8-9).

4.      Do not allow hardships to overwhelm and discourage you! When rebuked, scolded or corrected we tend to become dejected, ready to give up, lose heart, and go crawl in a hole.

5.      Recognize the Lord’s discipline as proof of His love! This truth contradicts popular logic! When we’re going thru tough times, it is easy to suppose God doesn’t love us! Wrong!!!

6.      “The ancient world found it incomprehensible that a father could possibly love his child and not punish him.” (Hughes)

7.      Recognize that His discipline is not preferential, partial, or prejudiced. The term “every” allows for no exceptions!

 

v     Recognize that training is absolutely essential for maturity and success and should be expected, even welcomed (v. 7).

1.      Because of societal distortion we will use the term “training” instead of discipline (Eph 6:4 & 2 Tim 3:16). (BTW what kind of coach would send his athlete onto the playing field unprepared only to see him get hammered!?)

2.      When you’re going thru painful times God is dealing with you as a good father deals with his son! The rhetorical question indicates that anything less would be very bizarre!

3.      “It was unthinkable to the writer and his readers that a father would not discipline his sons!” (Morris)

v     Recognize that training is normaland proves the authenticity of a relationship(v. 8). This is stated negatively for a reason.

1.      Those who continually and knowingly “misbehave” and don’t experience the Father’s discipline should question the reality of their relationship with Him!

2.      Those who know the loving discipline of their father rest in security. The Father personally trains all of His children! “Divine discipline establishes their identity as legitimate ‘sons and daughters.’” (Cockerill)

 

v     Recognize that training is naturaland necessary for a useful and productive life (vv. 9-10).

1.      Human fathers, their own, corrected them; for that they were respected. (Animals discipline their offspring for survival!)

2.      How much more should we readily submit to the correction of our Father who gave us spiritual life!

3.      Human training is sometimes misinformed, misguided, and counter-productive! It is imperfect even though we do the best we can and often with the right reasons.

4.      The Father’s training is always fully informed, rightly motivated, and purposeful. His objective is our unique likeness to the Father. Holiness has a price tag.

 

v     Recognize that training is always painful in the present but profitable for the future (v. 11).

1.      A right response to His loving training / discipline will yield a quiet peaceableness and contentment. (Every Christian has a personal Trainer!)

2.      “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” (C S Lewis)

3.      “Suffering is a blessing that the Christian should consider a cause of joy because it has a positive outcome in one’s character and relationship with God.” (Guthrie)

4.      “Discipline is the divinely ordained path to a deepening relationship with God and a growing love with Him. It is the only path. Thus to refuse discipline is to turn our back on growth and love.” (Hughes)

 

When God disciplines you, He does it in love, with your best interest in mind.

You just need to respond appropriately to receive the full benefit.

The only way you’ll make a difference in your world is to be different!