ABCs Father Heart of GOD "D" Disciplines

This week we are moving on to “D”, but in a way we are still on a “C” attribute of God. God chastens and disciplines those he loves. He does it with LOVE and JUSTICE.
Not a really fun or exciting topic, or is it? If you are a parent or ever took care of a small child, or actually even if you “parent” a dog or cat, one thing is for sure. We/They need training and discipline.
Say you had a pet dog, a large one or even one of those small “yippy” sorts and you never spent time training it. Can you imagine?
Have you ever considered that God’s discipline IS a form of His LOVE?
Let’s investigate!
Heb 12:6-11  NKJV
6
For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
 And scourges every son whom He receives.”[a]
7 If[b] you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
NLT 6
For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
    and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”[a]
7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?[b]
10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

This is a long passage, so I am going to post it verse by verse and we will see what each verse is speaking to each of our hearts. OK? Please share after each verse what pops into your heart/mind.
V6 NLT For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
    and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
NKJV For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
 And scourges every son whom He receives.”

1. God disciplines those he loves
2. He also punishes according to this translation.
3. But He does this to His CHILDREN, so when we are disciplines, it’s kind of reassuring that we ARE his children and he loves us.
Comments? Questions? Ever REALLY thought about this passage?

V 7 NKJV If[b] you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
NLT 7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?

1. We endure it
2. Again reminded we are his own children
3. Have you ever met an undisciplined child? I have. They are miserable and make every one around them miserable. I used to think when I taught school, its too bad your mom/dad did not love you enough to teach you how to behave. Because it does take a LOT of energy and it really does hurt our hearts when we as earthly parents discipline our kids...

v 8 NKJV But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
NLT If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all

Pretty simple isn’t it?

V 9 NKJV Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
NLT Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

1. We need to submit to God’s discipline.
2. We respect God in part because He DOES CARE enough TO discipline us.
V 10 NKJV 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
NLT For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.
1. Our earthly parents did the best they knew how, we if we are parents, will do the best we know how. But we are human and we will mess up. Our parents were also humans, wounded people and will apply discipline at times in a wrong manner. OR what they/we think of as discipline. It could even be or border on abuse. BUT GOD’s discipline is not tainted, it is always good for us, never abusive or too harsh because GOD himself is perfect and knows our hearts.
2. The reason God does it, is so we can share in His holiness

v 11 NKJV
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
NLT No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

That is true for sure isn’t it? Discipline or chastening does NOT at the time seem a reason for JOY, and yet….it proves God loves us, that we ARE true children of His, and not illegitimate. It is part of the necessary means to a GOOD ending. Meaning a good, full rich life in the “here and now”.

The next verse is:
Dt 32:4 NKJV He is the Rock, His work is perfect;
For all His ways are justice,
A God of truth and without injustice;
Righteous and upright is He.


Now, remember we are thinking in context of GOD disciplining us. (smile)

Anyone like to paraphrase what this speaks into your heart/mind?
1. He is perfect.
2. Everything (including His discipline) is just and fair
3. He is faithful
4. He does no wrong
5. He is just
6. He is upright

Does this make it easier to trust Him during times when we have erred and strayed and need some discipline.

Dt 8:5 5 You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you.



Psalm 94:12 NKJV
Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord,
And teach out of Your law,
But AMP says: 12 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whom You discipline and instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law,

1 We are blessed because and when GOD disciplines and instructs us. That is interesting isn’t it. I wonder if anyone has ever actually FELT blessed during a time of instruction or discipline?


Proverbs 5:22-23 NKJV His own iniquities entrap the wicked man,
And he is caught in the cords of his sin. He shall die for lack of instruction,
And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
AMP 22 His own iniquities shall ensnare the wicked man, and he shall be held with the cords of his sin.
23 He will die for lack of discipline and instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he will go astray and be lost.

• It is interesting how different translations translate differently. Instruction is linked with discipline and chasten is also.
• It is also VERY interesting that his verse actually explains in part why we are “blessed” when we are disciplined. Do you see it? It is because, in part, it keeps us from the penality of our sin. When we are corrected and disciplines and instructed AND we choose to submit to it, or even welcome it, then we are LESS and less easily led astray.

1 Cor 11:32 NKJV 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
That is a little difficult to understand, but
AMP explains it. 32 But when we [fall short and] are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined and chastened, so that we may not [finally] be condemned [to eternal punishment along] with the world.

Heb 12:10-11 NKJV 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Well that is for sure, isn’t it? While it is going on the discipline and chastening is sure NOT joyful. On the contrary it is painful.. BUT it yields PEACEable fruit. And it is good for training us.

I would like to read it also in AMP. 10 For [our earthly fathers] disciplined us for only a short period of time and chastised us as seemed proper and good to them; but He disciplines us for our certain good, that we may become sharers in His own holiness.
11 For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness—in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God].

Rev 3:19 NKJV 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
AMP
19 Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude].
1. We who are DEARLY and TENDERLY loved are told our faults in order to convict us and teach us so that we will repent.
2. If we never knew/found out we were doing wrong, would we be able to repent? Change our mind and attitude?
3. As a member of the Codependency group, I learned later in life that when I did not speak up in love to say this is wrong, or not good for me to another that I was not really loving like God loves. It is hard to explain, but it truly is the LOVING thing to cease covering up sin for another and stand in love and say, “no”.