Saturday, May 26, 2018

2018.05.26 Hopewell @Home ▫ Hebrews 12:5-11

Questions for Littles: What speaks to us as sons (v5)? Whose chastening and rebuke do we receive? How shouldn’t we respond? Whom does God chasten (v6)? Whom does God receive? When is God dealing with us as sons (v7)? What does v7 assume that all fathers will do with their children? If we have no chastening in our lives, then what aren’t we (v8)? How does v9 assume that children will treat their fathers? Of what does v9 call God the Father, and how does this relate to v3? Why does God discipline us (v10)? How does chastening seem for the present (v11)? What does it produce? 
In this week’s sermon text, we learned some comforting things about the uncomfortable situations in our lives.

First, our lives are never out of control. Well, sure, they are always out of our control. Any idea that we are ever in control is a lie that we tell ourselves. And, often, it’s the uncomfortable times that the Lord uses to expose the lie.

But the Lord is always in control. So, v5-6 call those uncomfortable times the “chastening,” “rebuke,” and even “scourging” of the Lord. But now we’ve gone from “lest you become discouraged” in v3 to a command “do not be discouraged” in v5.

Do not be discouraged! Why?

Reason 1: the Lord loves you. He loves you enough to do whatever is necessary to produce the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

Reason 2: the Lord receives you. Actually the word in v6 is more than that. He welcomes you. He takes you in. but sin cannot enter heaven. Heaven has a war against sin. That’s why righteousness is a peaceful fruit. That’s why being delivered from the ongoing presence of sin is worth whatever it takes.

Reason 3: the Lord treats you as a son. Being discouraged by His providence actually dishonors our heavenly Father and despises our fatherly God.

Does it not seem best to us? What is that next to the fact that it is what seems best to Him (v10)?

You may be in an uncomfortable situation now. If not, and if you live a bit longer, you will be in an uncomfortable situation soon enough. How do I know? Because the Scripture says that if you are without discipline, you’re not a true son.

And it’s guaranteed to be painful, v11. But do you know what else is guaranteed? The peaceful fruit of righteousness. The whole point of this isn’t the pain. It’s your true Father loving you and taking you to be with Himself forever
What uncomfortable situation are you in or have been in? What is your Father doing in it?
Suggested Songs: ARP73C “Yet Constantly I Am with You” or HB303 “Be Thou My Vision”

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