(Prov. 3:12) “Whom the Lord loves, He corrects” (Prov. 3:12) How does God discipline His children?

2 Discipline is an act of love Earthly parents, Prov. 13:24 Earthly parents, Prov. 13:24 Heavenly Father, Prov. 3:11-12 Heavenly Father, Prov. 3:11-12 God disciplines His children today, Heb. 12:5-7 God disciplines His children today, Heb. 12:5-7 Why is not in doubt, Heb. 12:6, Why is not in doubt, Heb. 12:6, Our responsibility is clear, Heb. 12:9, 11 (Deut. 8:1-6) Our responsibility is clear, Heb. 12:9, 11 (Deut. 8:1-6)

3 When is God disciplining us? Cannot always directly identify Cannot always directly identify God uses life circumstances to educate, train, correct & fashion us into His likeness God uses life circumstances to educate, train, correct & fashion us into His likeness The nation of Israel, Jer. 18:1-11 The nation of Israel, Jer. 18:1-11 The Lord rebukes & chastens us for our salvation, Rev. 3:19 The Lord rebukes & chastens us for our salvation, Rev. 3:19

4 God disciplines us with His word 2 Tim. 4:2 (Psa. 94:12-15) Scripture reproves us of our sin, 2 Tim. 3: 16 (Heb. 4:12) Scripture reproves us of our sin, 2 Tim. 3: 16 (Heb. 4:12) To convict, convince, to bring to the light, to expose, 4:2 To convict, convince, to bring to the light, to expose, 4:2 Train ourselves with God’s word, 1 Cor. 11:31; 1 Tim. 4:6-8 Train ourselves with God’s word, 1 Cor. 11:31; 1 Tim. 4:6-8 Scripture corrects us & teaches us righteous living, 2 Tim. 3:16-17 (Tit. 2:11-12) Scripture corrects us & teaches us righteous living, 2 Tim. 3:16-17 (Tit. 2:11-12)

5 God disciplines us with the local church, 1 Cor. 5 To identify and save the unrepentant sinner, 1 Cor. 5:1-5 To identify and save the unrepentant sinner, 1 Cor. 5:1-5 Local church identifies the sin problem Local church identifies the sin problem Each Christian removes social interaction, 5:9-13 (Matt. 18:16-17) Each Christian removes social interaction, 5:9-13 (Matt. 18:16-17) To cause shame for sin & to warn the Christian to repent, 2 Ths. 3:14-15 To cause shame for sin & to warn the Christian to repent, 2 Ths. 3:14-15

6 God disciplines us in times of suffering, Heb. 5:7-8 Suffer due to our own sins, 2 Sam. 7:14 (Psa. 89:30-33) Suffer due to our own sins, 2 Sam. 7:14 (Psa. 89:30-33) David’s sin led to much suffering, 2 Sam. 12:9-14 David’s sin led to much suffering, 2 Sam. 12:9-14 Solomon’s sin led to much adversity, (2 Sam. 7:14); 1 Kgs. 11:9-14 Solomon’s sin led to much adversity, (2 Sam. 7:14); 1 Kgs. 11:9-14 Israel’s sin led to many deprivations, Amos 4:6-12 Israel’s sin led to many deprivations, Amos 4:6-12

7 God disciplines us in times of suffering, Heb. 5:7-8 Suffer due to the sins of others Suffer due to the sins of others Jesus is the ultimate example of this kind of suffering, 1 Pet. 2:21-23 Jesus is the ultimate example of this kind of suffering, 1 Pet. 2:21-23 His habit of obedience was set & seen through His sufferings (Heb. 5:8) His habit of obedience was set & seen through His sufferings (Heb. 5:8) Look to Jesus: Be disciplined & strengthened, Heb. 12:2-3 Look to Jesus: Be disciplined & strengthened, Heb. 12:2-3

8 God disciplines us in times of suffering, Heb. 5:7-8 Suffer due to the calamities of life (Job) Suffer due to the calamities of life (Job) Loss of possessions, death of family & loss of health Loss of possessions, death of family & loss of health How do we react? How do we react? Curse God? – Job 2:9 Curse God? – Job 2:9 Trust God? – Job 1:20-22; 2:10 Trust God? – Job 1:20-22; 2:10 Physical illness, limitations, etc., 2 Cor. 12:7-10; 4:16-18 Physical illness, limitations, etc., 2 Cor. 12:7-10; 4:16-18

9 God disciplines us through various kinds of trials Hostility of sinners, Heb. 12:3-7 (1 Pet. 4:16) Hostility of sinners, Heb. 12:3-7 (1 Pet. 4:16) Not a punishment from God to suffer for righteousness, Matt. 5:10-12 (Heb. 5:7-8; 2 Tim. 3:12) Not a punishment from God to suffer for righteousness, Matt. 5:10-12 (Heb. 5:7-8; 2 Tim. 3:12) An opportunity to be trained An opportunity to be trained To learn endurance & grow in our faith, duty & service to Christ, Heb. 12:1-7 To learn endurance & grow in our faith, duty & service to Christ, Heb. 12:1-7

10 God disciplines us through various kinds of trials Trials test our faith, Jas. 1:2-4 Trials test our faith, Jas. 1:2-4 Endure…strengthened & rewarded, Jas. 1:12 (Prov. 24:10, 16) Endure…strengthened & rewarded, Jas. 1:12 (Prov. 24:10, 16) Such occasions train us, 1 Pet. 1:6-9 Such occasions train us, 1 Pet. 1:6-9 Rejoice in the spiritual benefits, Rom. 5:3-5 Rejoice in the spiritual benefits, Rom. 5:3-5

11 “Whom the Lord loves, He corrects” (Prov. 3:12) We can either… We can either… Accept God’s discipline & improve Accept God’s discipline & improve Reject God’s discipline & fall into sin and eternal death Reject God’s discipline & fall into sin and eternal death Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. (Job 5:17) Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. (Job 5:17)

12 “Whom the Lord loves, He corrects” (Prov. 3:12) Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction. (Prov. 19:18) Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction. (Prov. 19:18) God doesn’t set His heart on our destruction God doesn’t set His heart on our destruction