Christ's Celebrate Recovery Church

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

C.I.: The Nature of God's Discipline ( Discipline = To Bring to a Sound Mind)

Last week we saw how Satan tries to intervene in our lives - to cause us to sin.
Today we will see how God intervenes in our lives – to keep us from continuing to sin.
God's discipline is often seen – in the consequences for our actions (internal = guilt, external = various penalties)!

I. Answering the Questions re: God's Discipline, (Hebrews 12:1-13)

A. Introduction, (vs. 1-3)

1. We begin the chapter with an over-view of what believers should do in regards to sin.
a. ( v. 1 ), “Since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every….”
1) The Xn life is a marathon. – Therefore we should get rid of what slows us down.
2) Encumbrance = things which don't bring us closer to Jesus (activities, people, etc.).
3) Sin = In the context of Hebrews – it is the sin of returning to our former way of life.

b. Then we hear about why we should do these things…
1) ( v. 2 ), “…fixing our eyes on Jesus … for the joy set before Him endured the cross…”
2) ( v. 3 ), “For consider Him who endured such hostility against Himself, so that you…”
3) What Jesus endured for us because of our sin – should cause us to be willing to
endure God's discipline – so that we too may partake of the joy set before us!

B. The “HOW” of God's Discipline, (v. 4) – “You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving….”

1. “HOW” hard have we tried to overcome sin in our lives?
a. When we focus our eyes on Jesus – HOW did He deal with our sins?
1) Scourged, crown of thorns, crucified, etc.!
2) God doesn't ask us to die as He died – He does call us to live as He lived, ( I Jn. 2:6 ).

b. Sin is terrible – because of how horrible are its consequences…
1) ( Lk. 16:23-24 ), “In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away
and Lazarus in his bosom. – And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, & send
Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water & cool my tongue, for I am in agony…”
2) ( Rev. 14:11 ), “…smoke of their torment goes up forever & ever, & they have no rest
3) If these had it to do over again – how hard do you think they would try to quit their sin??!
4) Should we really wait till later to give up our sins?!

C. The “WHO” of Discipline, (vs. 5-6) “…you have forgotten the exhortation that was addressed to you as sons ”

1. We became God's children ( sons) the moment of our salvation, ( cf. Gal. 3:26-27 ).
a. This “family resemblance” should be seen by how we live our lives, ( I Jn. 3:10 ), “By this the children…”

b. As God's children – we should avoid two extremes re: God's discipline of us…
1) “Think lightly” = Believe it is no big deal, “God's grace will cover me,” – ( Rom. 6:1-2)!
2) “Feint when reproved” = “I can't do what God desires,” ( I Jn. 5:3 ), “This is the love of God..

D. The “WHY” of God's Discipline, (vs. 7-8) “It s for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as sons; for what son is
there whom his father does not discipline? – But if you are without discipline, of which
` all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.”

1. “Why” we are disciplined – is because God truly cares for us.
a. A father may want to spank the neighbor's kid – but he won't do it (if he's smart) if not his own.
1) How often have we heard, “If God really loved me, WHY is all this happening to me??!”
2) Now we know the answer. – If God wanted people to go to hell – He would do nothing!

b. Thus, God's discipline is His way of getting our attention – so that we might return.
1) ILLUST.: The parable of the prodigal son
2) ( Lk. 15:14-17 ), “When he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in the land…!”
3) The reason “WHY” God disciplines us – is because He loves us & He wants us to be w/Him!

E. The “WHEN” of God's Discipline , (vs. 9-10) “we had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them; shall we
not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits and live?” ( v. 9 )

1. The discipline process of God begins very early as we are disciplined by our parents.
a. A parent's responsibility to discipline is from God, ( Eph. 6:4 ), “Fathers, bring your children up….”
1) The lessons we learn from our parents – need to be then extended to our relationship w/God.
2) ( Eph. 6:1-3 ), “Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. – Honor your….”
3) As children are disciplined – they learn to honor authority; parents, teachers, law, then God!!!

b. Parental discipline may not be perfect – but God disciplines us so that WE MAY BE! - “For they
discipline us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good that we….”
1) Sin keeps us from “WHEN” of discipline = our entire lives.
2) God loves us & our children – so the “WHEN” of His discipline begins very early!!!

F. The “WHAT” of God's Discipline, (v. 11) “All discipline for the moment does not seem joyful but sorrowful; yet to those
who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”
1. “WHAT” does God's discipline do for us?!
a. Too often believers “give up” – when they should “give in” to God!
2) “I can't go on!” – “I can't take it anymore!” – This is when we should look to God in faith
3) ( Matt. 26:39 ), “My Father, if possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but….”

b. God's discipline “trains” us – to willingly choose to submit to Him!!
1) Before he became a Christian – Paul was NOT walking in submission to God.
2) ( Acts 9:3-8 ), “…suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him, and he fell to the ground
and heard a voice saying, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' And he said, ‘Who…?'
And Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open he could see nothing; and
leading him by the hand they brought him to Damascus. And he was 3 days w/o sight.”
3) Ultimately, however, the outcome of God's discipline is, “RIGHTEOUSNESS!!!!”

G. CONCLUSION: Believers have a responsibility to others and ourselves, (vs. 12-13)

1. OTHERS: “Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,” ( v. 12 ).
a. Christians are called to help bind up the brokenness of others
1) We do this for believers ( Gal. 6:1-2 ) – and for non-believers ( Matt. 7:7; Mk. 16:15-16 ).
2) The “Celebrate Recovery Ministry” – provides a means of accomplishing this.

b. Yet we need to continually accept God's discipline of ourselves, “…and make straight paths for your feet ,
so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint,” ( v. 13 ).
1) God loves you and He isn't done with you yet!
2) If there is some area in your life where you are struggling…!