Chastisement, Why do we need it?....

Chastisement

Why do we need it?

Hebrews 12 1 ~29

   I’ll go out on a limb here in saying that whilst we were growing up we all at some time were told off? Then told what is expected of us. The following will show, why it is ‘good for us’. Also why it is needed. They said that we had use their faith to overcome, to use their faith to have victory through our life.

V1  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

V1 is telling us we can do it no matter where you are in life, no matter what you are lay aside every weight, such as over eating . . . watching to much TV,  and the sin This would be the sin of unbelief, this must be layed aside.

   Run with endurance the race Everyone has their own race mapped in front of them. We don’t chase the race that is set before us. What we must do is to find out/discover what it will be/with patience & endurance.

V2  “ .  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith . .”

We’re told never to ‘look at’ Jesus, instead we’re told to ‘look unto’ Jesus. Why is this?  . . .  Let me try and explain.

   You waken to find out the flat your in is on fire and the only exit is blocked off by the fire. You’ve called the fire brigade is on their way, once they get there you are told NOT to look at the fireman, but to look unto the fireman.

   Why, I hear you say, surely they are the same thing? NO If ‘look unto’ the fireman, you’re looking with expectation, that the fireman has an expectation to rescue you. So when looking ‘unto’ Jesus with an air expectation that Jesus has a champion to be able to live this life the way He lived His life.

“. .and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus. .”

   When we run into hard times, and there seems no solution to the problem set before you. We need to loo ‘unto Jesus’ with expectation for Him to help us out of where we are. . .

“. .endured the cross. .”

I don’t think today anyone would gladly offer themselves for such a barbaric beating that Jesus had taken for us. That said Jesus knew what His life was about from a very young age. Now the time had come for Him to go to the cross, also knowing in 3 days He would rise from the dead.

“. .who for the joy that was set before him. .”

   So yes as it says here that Jesus must have gone to the cross with joy in Hi heart, pre-knowing, who would win this battle before it had begun. You know whilst having ‘happiness in your life, you can still be without joy. But you can have joy in your life, that it’s infectiousness will bring on happiness..

. Joy comes from what you know

. Happiness comes from your comfort

. . but, the sour note is, that you can have joy yet be thoroughly uncomfortable.

V3  “. . such contradiction of sinners . .”

   We always feel that we have it worst that you neighbour or friends. Just the other day I was told this, “If you feel you it watch a TV program called ‘The Jeremy Kyle show’, then you’re your troubles will just fade away, compared to theirs.

   It’s a hot day and need that fan to help cool you down, you would not take your child by the hand thrust the hand into the fan? Teaching the child how dangerous it could be, messing up the child’s hand. There is a special place for people like this!

   God was introduced to us as ‘Abba Father’, what Jesus meant here was that God is ‘the first and the last Father’ one who is intimate with us. As God’s heart is filled with so much love & tender mercy, and NOT just judgement. Because of Jesus death on the cross was so that we can benefit from His selfless act,  also that we benefit from the fullness of God.

God is good all the time

V5    Shows clearly that God does not rebuke us with diseases and the like, for He will use for most, use words and signs. Your profit and growth will come to be based on whether you will be able to receive those words that God will use to rebuke and encourage you . .

Psalm 141  5   “. .Let the righteous strike me;
It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me;
It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it. .”

   There can be powerful results that come from correction. But even more so when it comes from a man steeped in the word of God and also being ‘righteous’, let it be a kindness to me, thus may I rejoice because of such correction. The implication is that if a ‘righteous man’ sees and says that this is a disservice to you.

Q “What would the correction be in Heaven?

More so than here on Earth?

In Heaven surely these acts would not occur, so no

Need for correction?

   When we see a building on fire, the Firemen would run head long into the fire. Whereas you and I run in the other direction till we are a safe distance away. As Christians we can/must-not despise correction. So we should, like the Firemen, run head long to being corrected, even just like a righteous person would.

RPT x2

I will not despise the correction of the Lord

  

Proverbs 3  9   “. . Honour the Lord with your possessions,
And with the first fruits of all your increase;
¹⁰ So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine. .”

Proverbs 3  11   “. . My son, do not despise the chastening

of the Lord, Nor detest His correction. .”

   The Lord only brings His correction/chastening, “if you head my word your barns would be filled to bursting, and you vats over flowing, fit to burst.

(NKJ)

Hebrews 10  “. .  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemed to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yielded the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. .”

  This verse in Hebrews shows the difference between our Earthly parents & Heavenly parents. As when God chastens He only does this for ‘our-own’ profit, and no one else. That we may be partakers of His Holiness, as well so that we may declare this, “God you are my Wisdom”. The result that we mat blame on Gods correction, is actually the judgement for the road we continue on down, whilst all the time God is trying to tell you not to go gown.

V9  John 10 v10  “. . I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. .”  Gods correction is just so!

   The seal of empowerment was called the ‘Beamer Seal’. This is the seal in Heaven that Christians will come before to receive our rewards according to our works, here on Earth. Not to be confused with the ‘Seal of Judgement’.

   (This is my surmise) I feel this may have come about those Christians whose works were neither many nor good. This was done by one Jew called Augustine. It is here in Heaven for us to give account of our works whilst on Earth. We will be rewarded as well as have losses.

   The seal nobody wants be on willingly is in hell, called ‘ The Great white Throne of Judgement’. That is where it will be determined to what level in hell or lake of fire you will go for eternity. Yes there many levels of punishment in hell, where you will receive your suffering. The name ‘Dante’ is famous for depicting and showing, in his paining, the many levels of hell and the suffering there.  I know, and understand, there will be many scoffers among you, saying, who will be saying how does he know how many levels there truly are? The truth is NO-ONE really knows alive, among us knows for sure, but I feel he nails it.

   OK, so, let’s start raping by showing one of the ways God knew how to correct Peter. What was it that brought Peter to his knees? In his prayers he prostrated himself before God and humbly he said to God forgive me Lord, for I’m so stupid’. So what actually brought Peter to his knees? Well, it was when our Lord caused a net breaking harvest to come.

   You ask so how did God correct him? Well, not by being angry or shouting or pointing at him or wagging his finger. NO, instead He showed extreme kindness toward Peter. ‘A net breaking harvest’. It was Peter who told Jesus, you don’t know you’re not a fisherman, we have been out all day, so all my nets are in and stowed away.

   But Jesus told him to cast out his nets, just the same. Reluctantly Peter did this to humour Jesus, in doing so, suddenly the nets were ready to break and called the other fishermen come lend a hand. Such was the harvest, such was Gods extreme kindness. The kindness and blessing bestowed upon him brought Peter to his knees. Because even the partners boats began to sink such was the kindness showed to him.

   Suddenly it became clear to Peter what this meant. Let me leave you with this verse from…

Romans 2 v4  “. . Or do you despise the riches of His

goodness, forbearance, and long suffering, not knowing that the goodness 

of God leads you to repentance?. .”