The Discipline of Adversity

Series: DISCIPLINES OF GRACE

Speaker: James Barnett

Date: 29th July 2019

00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 she had fallen at the last hurdle.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 She had trained for so long,
00:00:09 --> 00:00:12 so many hours of hard work,
00:00:12 --> 00:00:15 so many late nights, long days,
00:00:15 --> 00:00:18 being exhausted in body and in mind,
00:00:18 --> 00:00:21 missing out on friends, on fun,
00:00:22 --> 00:00:26 all because she had a goal in mind.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:29 And now hardship had come,
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 and it was all too much.
00:00:33 --> 00:00:36 Was it time to let go of that goal?
00:00:37 --> 00:00:40 Was she going to let her family down?
00:00:42 --> 00:00:44 As I was describing a situation,
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 what kind of image came to mind?
00:00:47 --> 00:00:48 This is not a rhetorical question.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:50 Anybody want to throw out anything?
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 What kind of situation were you imagining?
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 Sorry, Janet, I didn't hear you.
00:00:56 --> 00:00:57 Dear sister.
00:00:57 --> 00:00:59 A sports person?
00:00:59 --> 00:01:00 Sports person?
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 You can imagine a sports person,
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 they've got a goal in mind,
00:01:04 --> 00:01:05 they're going to run a marathon,
00:01:05 --> 00:01:08 they've been training for this event,
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 42Ks is a long way,
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 and a person training for an event like this,
00:01:13 --> 00:01:17 they make choices not to spend time on certain things,
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 they watch out for distractions,
00:01:20 --> 00:01:25 but then a hardship like an injury could hit.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:27 What other things were you imagining?
00:01:30 --> 00:01:30 Anyone?
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 Maybe someone preparing for an exam,
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 training hard, working hard,
00:01:37 --> 00:01:40 pursuing marks to get into a university.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:44 Are you remembering when you worked hard
00:01:44 --> 00:01:46 to get where you are today?
00:01:46 --> 00:01:48 You know, there's that goal,
00:01:48 --> 00:01:51 and so everything else goes out the window.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 Exercise, friends, social time,
00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 the only choice is to study hard or work hard.
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 But right at the end,
00:02:00 --> 00:02:03 a hardship like stress under pressure can hit.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:08 Hardships and difficult moments like this,
00:02:08 --> 00:02:09 they break people.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 You see injuries to professional sports people,
00:02:12 --> 00:02:15 they make people retire early.
00:02:16 --> 00:02:18 I've seen people change their university degrees
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 because it just became too hard.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:26 I see the amount of half-started projects
00:02:26 --> 00:02:27 around my house.
00:02:28 --> 00:02:31 There's a towel rack I haven't finished replacing.
00:02:31 --> 00:02:34 There's a broken kitchen cupboard I need to fix.
00:02:34 --> 00:02:36 Because at one point or another,
00:02:37 --> 00:02:38 they just get hard.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:43 The author of the letter to the Hebrews
00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 describes the Christian life like this.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:50 It's been our slogan in that video we've been watching,
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 you know, with Liv running.
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 The author to the Hebrews describes this Christian life
00:02:56 --> 00:02:57 as a race.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:02 God has chosen people for him through his grace,
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 and now we run towards him.
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 Being with Christ and becoming like him,
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 that is the goal that we run towards.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:12 And on the way,
00:03:12 --> 00:03:15 we have plenty of choices to make.
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 Choices to follow him,
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 and not to just chase our own desires.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:21 We must watch out for sin,
00:03:22 --> 00:03:25 being aware of the dangers around us.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:27 And as we run this race,
00:03:28 --> 00:03:29 there will be hardships.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 These hardships are different
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 to getting a broken leg from a race.
00:03:34 --> 00:03:37 But as we pursue different goals,
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 hardships might break us
00:03:40 --> 00:03:42 and make us finish early.
00:03:42 --> 00:03:43 Or will the hardship
00:03:43 --> 00:03:46 push us on to the prize?
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 But what's the point of hardships
00:03:49 --> 00:03:50 and difficulty
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 as we follow Jesus?
00:03:53 --> 00:03:57 How do we deal with frustrations and sin?
00:03:58 --> 00:03:59 Do we just say,
00:03:59 --> 00:04:00 come on James,
00:04:00 --> 00:04:01 you'll be fine,
00:04:01 --> 00:04:02 brush yourself off,
00:04:02 --> 00:04:03 Jesus loves you.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:07 And is that all that we do with hardships?
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 How do we view hard times
00:04:12 --> 00:04:13 as Christians?
00:04:13 --> 00:04:16 Today,
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 as we finish our series
00:04:18 --> 00:04:19 on the disciplines of grace,
00:04:19 --> 00:04:21 we're going to see how
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 God encourages us
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 when hardship and difficult times hit.
00:04:26 --> 00:04:27 So please pray with me.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:29 Heavenly Father,
00:04:30 --> 00:04:33 we have all experienced
00:04:33 --> 00:04:36 hard and painful times.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:38 And we know as people
00:04:38 --> 00:04:41 still living
00:04:41 --> 00:04:42 that there will be
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 more hard and difficult times to come.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:46 Father,
00:04:46 --> 00:04:47 help us to understand
00:04:47 --> 00:04:48 how you encourage us
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 and how you are with us
00:04:50 --> 00:04:51 and love us
00:04:51 --> 00:04:52 in those times, Lord.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:53 Amen.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 The author of Hebrews,
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 he writes to a church
00:04:59 --> 00:05:00 who it seems
00:05:00 --> 00:05:01 were faced with
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 much persecution.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 They hadn't been persecuted yet
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 enough to shed blood,
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 but they were likely faced
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 with daily persecution.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:14 And they're faced
00:05:14 --> 00:05:15 with this question,
00:05:16 --> 00:05:17 we're under attack
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 and so who is in charge?
00:05:20 --> 00:05:23 Is God really in charge?
00:05:24 --> 00:05:25 God,
00:05:25 --> 00:05:26 are you sovereign
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 over our enemies?
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 Or are they more powerful
00:05:30 --> 00:05:30 than you?
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32 And so the author
00:05:32 --> 00:05:33 describes Christianity
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 as a race.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 one with challenges
00:05:37 --> 00:05:38 and difficulties,
00:05:38 --> 00:05:39 but with a joy,
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 a joy of being
00:05:41 --> 00:05:42 with Christ.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:43 Have a look with me
00:05:43 --> 00:05:44 at Hebrews 12,
00:05:45 --> 00:05:45 verse 1.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 And let us run
00:05:49 --> 00:05:50 with perseverance
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 the race
00:05:51 --> 00:05:52 marked out for us,
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 fixing our eyes
00:05:55 --> 00:05:55 on Jesus.
00:05:56 --> 00:05:56 And then down
00:05:56 --> 00:05:57 to verse 3,
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 so that you will not
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 grow weary
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 and lose heart.
00:06:03 --> 00:06:04 There is temptation
00:06:04 --> 00:06:05 to grow weary
00:06:05 --> 00:06:06 and lose heart
00:06:06 --> 00:06:07 with whatever goal
00:06:07 --> 00:06:07 you are chasing.
00:06:08 --> 00:06:09 And this is not a
00:06:09 --> 00:06:10 short-term goal,
00:06:11 --> 00:06:11 this is not even
00:06:11 --> 00:06:12 a long-term goal
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15 like a 42k marathon.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 This is a lifelong goal
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 of following Jesus
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 and being with Him.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:24 And the author
00:06:24 --> 00:06:25 of this letter
00:06:25 --> 00:06:26 encourages us
00:06:26 --> 00:06:27 as we run this race.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:28 Verse 5,
00:06:30 --> 00:06:30 and have you
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 completely forgotten
00:06:31 --> 00:06:32 this word
00:06:32 --> 00:06:33 of encouragement
00:06:33 --> 00:06:34 that addresses you
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 as a father
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 addresses his son.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 It says,
00:06:38 --> 00:06:39 My son,
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 do not make light
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 of the Lord's discipline
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 and do not lose heart
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 when He rebukes you
00:06:44 --> 00:06:45 because the Lord
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 disciplines the one
00:06:47 --> 00:06:47 He loves
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 and He chastens
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 everyone He accepts
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 as a son.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 Father to child
00:06:55 --> 00:06:55 discipline
00:06:55 --> 00:06:56 is the way
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 that God
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 encourages us.
00:06:59 --> 00:07:00 And this encouragement
00:07:00 --> 00:07:00 is so we don't
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 lose heart
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 and so we don't
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 grow weary.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:04 Now you might be
00:07:04 --> 00:07:04 thinking,
00:07:05 --> 00:07:06 discipline?
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 Discipline is what's
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 supposed to encourage me.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 Maybe when you're
00:07:11 --> 00:07:11 in the midst
00:07:11 --> 00:07:12 of a hardship,
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 maybe something like
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 some comforting words,
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 everything's going
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 to be okay.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 That's what encourages you.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 Maybe a gift of food.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:22 Maybe,
00:07:22 --> 00:07:23 you know,
00:07:23 --> 00:07:23 I mentioned a pile
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 of donuts
00:07:24 --> 00:07:24 the other week.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 That's really encouraging
00:07:26 --> 00:07:27 to me in difficult times.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 But here
00:07:29 --> 00:07:32 we see that God
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 chooses
00:07:33 --> 00:07:34 discipline
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 to encourage us.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:37 What then
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 is discipline?
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 Here we go.
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 Here's a definition
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 of discipline for us.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 Discipline
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 is training
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 or correction.
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 Discipline
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 is training
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 or education
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 by correction
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 or punishment.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54 Training
00:07:54 --> 00:07:54 or education
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 by correction
00:07:55 --> 00:07:56 or punishment.
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 And this is what
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 God does for us
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 and this is how
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 he encourages us.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 Now the first thing
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 to note
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 with discipline
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 from God
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 is that he
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 does not
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 punish us.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 God does not
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 see our sinful
00:08:11 --> 00:08:12 behavior
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 and get angry
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 and send hardship
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 to us.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 He does not go,
00:08:17 --> 00:08:17 you know,
00:08:17 --> 00:08:17 James,
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 case in your sinning
00:08:18 --> 00:08:18 again,
00:08:19 --> 00:08:19 here's a lightning
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 bolt to punish you.
00:08:23 --> 00:08:23 God
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 does not
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 punish his people.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 Let me say that
00:08:27 --> 00:08:27 again.
00:08:28 --> 00:08:28 God does not
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 punish his people
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 who follow Jesus.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 But he disciplines
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 us through hardship
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 and adversity
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 in our lives.
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 These are painful
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 and difficult
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 but our hardships
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 are not punishments.
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 God has
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 met out
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 all of the
00:08:46 --> 00:08:46 punishment
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 that we deserve
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 on his son,
00:08:49 --> 00:08:49 Jesus.
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 That is the cross.
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 That is the place
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 where our punishment
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 has been dealt
00:08:54 --> 00:08:54 with.
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 But he does
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 discipline us.
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 He corrects
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 and trains
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 our behavior
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 but in a
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 relationship with
00:09:03 --> 00:09:03 him.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 How do you feel
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 with me saying
00:09:07 --> 00:09:07 that God
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 trains and
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 educates
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 and changes
00:09:11 --> 00:09:11 our behavior
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 through discipline
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 and correction?
00:09:14 --> 00:09:14 Do you feel
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 okay?
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 Does this idea
00:09:17 --> 00:09:17 of discipline
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 make you feel
00:09:18 --> 00:09:18 a little bit
00:09:18 --> 00:09:18 awkward?
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 When we think
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 of God
00:09:22 --> 00:09:22 as a father
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 who disciplines
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 us,
00:09:25 --> 00:09:25 it can be hard
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 for us not
00:09:26 --> 00:09:26 to think of
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 our own parents
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 or what we
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 are like
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 as parents
00:09:31 --> 00:09:31 disciplining
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 our children.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 And this can
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 go either way.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:34 It could be,
00:09:35 --> 00:09:35 oh look,
00:09:35 --> 00:09:35 my father,
00:09:36 --> 00:09:36 he never
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 disciplined me
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 at all
00:09:38 --> 00:09:38 and I've
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 turned out
00:09:39 --> 00:09:39 okay,
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 so what's
00:09:41 --> 00:09:41 the point
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 of discipline?
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 I see no
00:09:43 --> 00:09:43 point.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 Or it could
00:09:44 --> 00:09:44 go the other
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 way,
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 my father
00:09:46 --> 00:09:46 was very
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 firm.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 he always
00:09:49 --> 00:09:49 disciplined me
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 very firmly
00:09:50 --> 00:09:50 and I've
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 turned out
00:09:51 --> 00:09:51 okay,
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 so of course
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 I want
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 God to
00:09:54 --> 00:09:54 discipline
00:09:54 --> 00:09:54 me.
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 Or our
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 view of
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 our fathers
00:10:00 --> 00:10:00 can be
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 painful.
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 Maybe we
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 don't have a
00:10:04 --> 00:10:04 relationship
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 with our
00:10:05 --> 00:10:05 father at
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 all or
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 maybe some
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 of us have
00:10:08 --> 00:10:08 painful
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 memories of
00:10:10 --> 00:10:10 being disciplined
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 by a father.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 Some of us
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 might right
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 now be in a
00:10:16 --> 00:10:16 difficult
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 relationship
00:10:17 --> 00:10:17 with our
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 fathers
00:10:18 --> 00:10:18 where
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 discipline
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 has crossed
00:10:20 --> 00:10:20 a boundary.
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 For that
00:10:23 --> 00:10:23 person in
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 that situation
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 it can be
00:10:25 --> 00:10:25 hard to
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 think that
00:10:26 --> 00:10:26 God should
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 discipline.
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 Discipline
00:10:29 --> 00:10:29 can only
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 seem like
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 a bad
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 word when
00:10:32 --> 00:10:32 we view
00:10:32 --> 00:10:32 discipline
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 from our
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 perspective
00:10:34 --> 00:10:34 in the
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 world.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 But here
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 in Hebrews
00:10:38 --> 00:10:38 12
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 discipline
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 is about
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 loving
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 correction.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:43 It is
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 guiding
00:10:44 --> 00:10:44 and putting
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 us back
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 on the
00:10:46 --> 00:10:46 path to
00:10:46 --> 00:10:46 follow
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 the
00:10:47 --> 00:10:47 Lord.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:49 Before we
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 look at
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 what God's
00:10:51 --> 00:10:51 discipline
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 actually looks
00:10:52 --> 00:10:52 like,
00:10:53 --> 00:10:53 the author
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 wants to
00:10:54 --> 00:10:54 make sure
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 that we
00:10:55 --> 00:10:55 get the
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 most out
00:10:56 --> 00:10:56 of our
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 correction.
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 And so
00:10:59 --> 00:10:59 he says,
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 my son,
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 do not
00:11:01 --> 00:11:01 make light
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 of the
00:11:02 --> 00:11:02 Lord's
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 discipline
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 and do
00:11:04 --> 00:11:04 not lose
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 heart when
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 he rebukes
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 you because
00:11:07 --> 00:11:07 the Lord
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 disciplines
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 the one
00:11:09 --> 00:11:09 he loves
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 and he
00:11:11 --> 00:11:11 chastens
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 everyone he
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 accepts as
00:11:13 --> 00:11:13 his son.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 he disciplines
00:11:15 --> 00:11:15 because he
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 loves.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:17 And the
00:11:17 --> 00:11:17 first thing
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 he wants
00:11:18 --> 00:11:18 us to
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 be aware
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 of is
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 not making
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 light of
00:11:22 --> 00:11:22 discipline.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 Making
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 light of
00:11:25 --> 00:11:25 God's
00:11:25 --> 00:11:25 discipline.
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 This might
00:11:26 --> 00:11:26 seem difficult
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 to do.
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 If God
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 is disciplining
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 us, how
00:11:30 --> 00:11:30 would we
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 make light
00:11:31 --> 00:11:31 of it?
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 I think
00:11:34 --> 00:11:34 of a
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 child who
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 disciplines
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 the, a
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 child who
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 disobeys the
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 parent and
00:11:40 --> 00:11:40 is disciplined.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 They can get
00:11:42 --> 00:11:42 upset at the
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 parent, how
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 dare you
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 discipline me?
00:11:46 --> 00:11:46 I was in
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 the right, you
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 were in the
00:11:48 --> 00:11:48 wrong.
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 Maybe you
00:11:50 --> 00:11:50 were like that
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 as a child,
00:11:51 --> 00:11:51 maybe you've
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 seen a child
00:11:52 --> 00:11:52 like that.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 I see some
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 people smiling,
00:11:54 --> 00:11:54 I don't want
00:11:54 --> 00:11:54 to know.
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 A child in
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 that position,
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 thinking that
00:11:59 --> 00:11:59 they are
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 right, they
00:12:01 --> 00:12:01 will never
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 learn from
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 discipline.
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 And it's
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 as easy for
00:12:07 --> 00:12:07 a parent to
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 think, I've
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 told my
00:12:10 --> 00:12:10 child the
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 right way to
00:12:11 --> 00:12:11 go, I've
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 disciplined
00:12:12 --> 00:12:12 them.
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 But five
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 minutes later
00:12:14 --> 00:12:14 they're doing
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 the exact
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 same thing
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 again, making
00:12:18 --> 00:12:18 light of
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 discipline and
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 ignoring it.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:23 A child, a
00:12:23 --> 00:12:23 person, us
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 in that
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 situation, we
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 lack humility.
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 We lack
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 self-awareness
00:12:29 --> 00:12:29 that we
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 desperately need
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 God to
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 correct us.
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33 Don't make
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 light of the
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 Lord's
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 discipline.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 Don't remain
00:12:37 --> 00:12:37 indifferent.
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 Maybe you
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 can vaguely
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 see that God
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 is calling you
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 to change your
00:12:42 --> 00:12:42 behavior.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 But you
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 don't actually
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 spend time
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 meditating on
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 what it
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 means.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 It's not
00:12:49 --> 00:12:49 helpful for a
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 child to
00:12:50 --> 00:12:50 ignore their
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 parents'
00:12:51 --> 00:12:51 discipline.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:52 You know, the
00:12:52 --> 00:12:52 parent who
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 says, don't
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 touch that, it's
00:12:55 --> 00:12:55 hot.
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 You know, you
00:12:56 --> 00:12:58 want your child to
00:12:58 --> 00:12:58 learn the lesson
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 from the
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 instruction and
00:13:00 --> 00:13:00 not them
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 touching it.
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 God does the
00:13:03 --> 00:13:03 same thing.
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 Don't go down
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 that path.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 That is not the
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 best way to go.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 you will hurt
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 yourself.
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 This is not
00:13:13 --> 00:13:13 the way I
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 have for you.
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 Don't ignore
00:13:15 --> 00:13:15 me.
00:13:17 --> 00:13:17 And when we
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 don't think
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19 about the
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 discipline that
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 God gives to
00:13:21 --> 00:13:21 us through
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 hardship, we
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 don't learn
00:13:23 --> 00:13:23 from it.
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 And when we
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 refuse to
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 consider our
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 deep and
00:13:28 --> 00:13:28 difficult times,
00:13:29 --> 00:13:29 our lives and
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 relationships with
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 God will just
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 remain shallow.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:35 some of us
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 can be
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 indifferent to
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 God's
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 discipline, but
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 for others, they
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 can be crushed
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 by it.
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 They are
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 overwhelmed and
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 lose heart.
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 And so the
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 author of the
00:13:46 --> 00:13:46 Hebrews wants
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 to make sure
00:13:47 --> 00:13:47 that you don't
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 make light of
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 God's discipline,
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 but don't lose
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 heart by his
00:13:51 --> 00:13:51 discipline.
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 Don't be like
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 the runner who
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 collapses on
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 the track
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 completing that
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 race.
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 Maybe we
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 hate conflict,
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 we're unable
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 to deal with
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 correction.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 Maybe you
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 are afraid that
00:14:08 --> 00:14:08 if God is
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 disciplining you,
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 it means he's
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 angry with you.
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 How do we
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 face discipline
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 from God
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 without losing
00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 heart and
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 without making
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 light of it?
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 The Lord
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 disciplines the
00:14:23 --> 00:14:25 one he loves.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 And he
00:14:27 --> 00:14:27 chastens
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 everyone he
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 accepts as
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 his son.
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 God
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 disciplines the
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 one he
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 loves.
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 This is a
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 strange
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 doctrine.
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 It's a really
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 difficult thing,
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 but it's also a
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 wonderful truth.
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 On the one
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 side, God
00:14:43 --> 00:14:45 disciplines, but
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 it's only because
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 he loves.
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 God
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 disciplines
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 because he
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 loves.
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 God
00:14:52 --> 00:14:54 doesn't
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 discipline out
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 of wrath
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 or anger.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 He's not
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 punishing.
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 It is truly
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 only from love
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 because he
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 has made us
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 his children
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 and brought
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 us into
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 his family.
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 One where
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 he is the
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 father and
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 he cares for
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 us.
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 He cares for
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 our instruction.
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 The author
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 to the Hebrews
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 encourages this
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 church when they
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 are under
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 attack.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 He reminds
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 them of
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 these promises.
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 Don't lose
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 heart.
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 Don't make
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 light of God's
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 discipline.
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 He will guide
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 you in your
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 growth and
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 he does
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 this all
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 because he
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 loves you.
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 So we
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 come to
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 the question,
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 how?
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 How does
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38 God actually
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 discipline us?
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 Hebrews 12
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 verse 7.
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 Endure
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 hardship as
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 discipline.
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 Just those
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 simple four
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 words,
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 endure
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 hardship as
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 discipline.
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 Hardship.
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 Adversity.
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 This is
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 God's
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 discipline.
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 This is
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 his correction
00:15:59 --> 00:16:01 or training
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 for us.
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 Now remember
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 the Hebrew
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 church were
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 being persecuted.
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 They were
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 being attacked.
00:16:08 --> 00:16:10 Is it
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 that God
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 is doing
00:16:11 --> 00:16:13 that through
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 fatherly love
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 to correct
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 this church?
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 It doesn't
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 say that God
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 looks on while
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 his people are
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 being attacked
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 and going
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 through hardship.
00:16:23 --> 00:16:25 hardship, but
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 that the
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 Lord is
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 the one
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 who disciplines.
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 He is
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 the one
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 who chastens.
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 He is
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 the one
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 who corrects
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 and teaches.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 Does that
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 mean that
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 in some
00:16:34 --> 00:16:36 form God
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 is in
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 charge and
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 responsible for
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 all hardship?
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 Is it
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 possible that
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 God not
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 only allows
00:16:46 --> 00:16:48 hardship, but
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 actually sends
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 hardship to
00:16:50 --> 00:16:52 us, to
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 draw us
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 closer to
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 him, to
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 correct and
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 to train
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 us?
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 Is God
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 in control
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 of all
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 hardship?
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 Is he in
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 control of
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 all of the
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 difficult seasons
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 that we face
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 and experience
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 in life?
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 Of sickness
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 and loss?
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 Of losing
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 a job?
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 A relationship
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 of hurt
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 and brokenness?
00:17:16 --> 00:17:18 Does God
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 just allow
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 these things
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 to happen
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 or is he
00:17:21 --> 00:17:23 in some
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 way involved
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 in them
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 all?
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 Imagine
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 two types
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 of surgeons
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 for me.
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 There's
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 the emergency
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 room surgeon
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 and then there
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 is the elective
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 surgery surgeon
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 and I'll have
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 our surgeon
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 correct me
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 later if I'm
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 wrong about
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 this.
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 So we've
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 got our two
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 surgeons, the
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 emergency room
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 and then the
00:17:45 --> 00:17:47 elective planned
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 surgery.
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 The first
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 emergency, the
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 first one, the
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 emergency room
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 surgeon, a
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 person comes
00:17:53 --> 00:17:55 in with a
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 mangled leg.
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 Let's think of
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 the situation,
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 what's happened
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 to them?
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 Sorry, bike
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 accident.
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 Thank you,
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 Nolly.
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 But let's go,
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 just a simple
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 bike accident.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 Okay, that's
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 nice, simple.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 They've fallen
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 off their bike
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 and their leg
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 is damaged.
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 The emergency
00:18:11 --> 00:18:14 surgeon operates
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 to save the
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 leg and fix
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 the situation.
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 Okay, and
00:18:18 --> 00:18:20 then it's a
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 very different
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 from my limited
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 understanding of
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 surgery, which
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 I have no
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 understanding other
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 than that TV
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 show House.
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 Imagine on the
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 other side with
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 the elective
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 surgery surgeon,
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 a patient has
00:18:33 --> 00:18:36 come in with a
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 cancerous growth
00:18:37 --> 00:18:39 on their leg and
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 the surgeon has
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 planned out what
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 he needs to do,
00:18:41 --> 00:18:43 he's taken
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 MRIs, x-rays,
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 multiple scans,
00:18:47 --> 00:18:49 and he can see
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 the growth inside
00:18:49 --> 00:18:51 the leg and
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 they plan out
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 what they're
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 going to do,
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 they draw on
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 the leg what
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 they're going to
00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 do, and he
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 takes a scalpel,
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 presumably,
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 slices the
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 leg, removes
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 the cancerous
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 growth, and
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 then fixes it
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 back up.
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 So we've got
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 these two
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 options.
00:19:08 --> 00:19:10 One responds
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 to the damage
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 and fixes it,
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 one surgeon
00:19:13 --> 00:19:15 plans it,
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 there is pain,
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 but there is
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 a healing as
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 well.
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 Which of
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 these two is
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 our God-like
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 when it comes
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 to hardship
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 and pain?
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 Is God-like
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 the elective,
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 is God-like
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 the emergency
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 room surgeon
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 who sees
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 our pain
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 and just
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 fixes us up,
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 heals us,
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 and goes,
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 there you go,
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 you'll be fine,
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 go on.
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 Or is
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 God sovereign
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 and in
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 control?
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 He has
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 planned out
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 what needs
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 to happen
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 to us,
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 and the
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 pain of
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 hardship
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 will hurt
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 us,
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 much like
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 the scalpel
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 to the
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 leg.
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 But he
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 brings healing
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 through that
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 as well.
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 God is
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 not a
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 passive
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 observer.
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 He doesn't
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 sit idly by
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 while we
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 are being
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 attacked,
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 while we
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 are under
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 hardship.
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 The picture
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 of God
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 here is
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 a father
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 who is
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 intimately
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 involved
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 in raising
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 up his
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 children.
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 He is
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 the one
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 who is
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 disciplining.
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 God is
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 the one
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 who rules
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 over
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 sinners.
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 He is
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 the one
00:20:24 --> 00:20:26 who is
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 in control
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 of those
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 who are
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 persecuting
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 the church.
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 Those people
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 are still
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 guilty,
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 but God
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 uses them
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 to work
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 out his
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 loving
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 purpose
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 of
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 disciplining
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 this
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 church,
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 of
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 growing
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 them
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 up
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 in
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 their
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 faith.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 And he
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 does the
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 same
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 for us.
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 I was
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 really sick
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 a couple
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 of weeks
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 ago.
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 What
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 started
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 as a
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 cold
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 grew
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 into
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 a
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 flu
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 and
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 then
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 very
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 quickly
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 full-blown
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 man
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 flu.
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 Ladies,
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 you'll
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 know how
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 bad
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 this
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 is.
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 Turned
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 into
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 a chest
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 infection
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 and four
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 of us
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 at home
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 were hit
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 really
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 hard.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 Alyssa
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 unfortunately
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 was hit
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 really
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 bad,
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 but she
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 was the
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 least
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 sick
00:21:07 --> 00:21:09 somehow.
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 She
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 wasn't
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 well.
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 I
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 couldn't
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 do
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 much
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 at the
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 time
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 but pray
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 to God,
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 help me
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 get better.
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 God
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 help me
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 get better.
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 Now,
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 God
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 was in
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 control
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 of that
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 situation.
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 I can't
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 see the
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 exact
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 connection
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 between
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 being
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 sick
00:21:24 --> 00:21:27 and my
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 sin,
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 but looking
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 back,
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 it's made
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 me wonder,
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 it's made
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 me wonder,
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 was God
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 trying to
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 teach me
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 something
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 then?
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 Was he
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 disciplining
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 me because
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 I don't
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 depend on
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 him and
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 I depend
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 on
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 antibiotics,
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 just the
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 fact that
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 I will
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 get better?
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 I still
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 think I'm
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 physically
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 capable.
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 Do I
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 have an
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 idol of
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 health and
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 self-control
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 that God
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 was just
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 trying to
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 break down
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 so that I
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 depended on
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 him?
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 I wonder
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 if God
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 uses
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 hardships
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 because we
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 just don't
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 listen.
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 Does God
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 use hardships
00:22:09 --> 00:22:11 because it
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 is too
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 easy to
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 ignore him
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 when all
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 is going
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 well?
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 And he
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 needs to
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 remind us
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 of how
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 much we
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 need to
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 depend upon
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 him.
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 We do
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 like to
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 draw the
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 connection,
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 God is
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 sending this
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 because of
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 my sin,
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 this hardship
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 is all of
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 my fault,
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 I'm being
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 punished for
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 this.
00:22:30 --> 00:22:32 can we
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 tell always
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 if a
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 particular
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 hardship
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 has come
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 from a
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 specific
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 sin in
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 our life?
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 Well,
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 we might
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 be able
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 to,
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 the Holy
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 Spirit
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 might bring
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 it to
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 our
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 attention,
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 but I
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 think
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 chasing
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 reasons for
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 hardship
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 can be
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 a danger.
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 It can
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 make our
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 lives much
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 like a
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 Western
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 version of
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 karma,
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 where we
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 think this
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 hardship has
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 happened because
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 of my sin,
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 I'm at fault
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 and God
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 has sent
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 this to
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 me,
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 this pain
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 is because
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 of that
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 action I
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 did,
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 but I
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 think this
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 is dangerous
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 because
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 Jesus has
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 taken our
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 punishment for
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 our sins,
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 and we
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 don't have
00:23:10 --> 00:23:12 to bear
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 some of
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 the pain
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 for our
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 sin,
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 Jesus has
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 taken that,
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 but every
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 expression of
00:23:19 --> 00:23:21 discipline is
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 intended to
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 bring us to
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 be more like
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 Jesus.
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 Now,
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 during a
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 moment of
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 hardship,
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 we often
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 will not
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 see the
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 point.
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 We won't
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 see what
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 God is
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 doing.
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 But during
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 hardship,
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 it should be
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 enough for
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 us to
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 know that
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 God is
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 in control,
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 and this
00:23:41 --> 00:23:43 hardship is
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 somehow for
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 our good.
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 The author
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 to the
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 Hebrews gives
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 us an
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 encouragement,
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 God is in
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 control of
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 all things,
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 even
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 hardships,
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 hardships,
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 and he
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 uses them
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 for our
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 good to
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 guide and
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 grow us.
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 The
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 encouragement and
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 comfort here
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 must come from
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 the fact that
00:24:04 --> 00:24:06 God is in
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 control.
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 So God
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 encourages us
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 to continue
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 the race,
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 and he uses
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 hard times to
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 discipline us.
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 But why?
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 Why?
00:24:18 --> 00:24:20 Why does he
00:24:20 --> 00:24:22 use hard and
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 painful things?
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 Verse 7
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 again,
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 God is
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 treating you
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 as his
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 children.
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 For what
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 children are
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 not disciplined
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 by their
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 father?
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 If you are
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 not disciplined,
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 and everyone
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 undergoes
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 discipline,
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 then you are
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 not legitimate.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 The author
00:24:41 --> 00:24:43 uses a very
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 real-world
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 example to
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 explain why
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 God disciplines.
00:24:46 --> 00:24:48 In the
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 first century,
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 children were
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 disciplined by
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 their fathers.
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 It was their
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 responsibility.
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 They had the
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 primary focus
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 of disciplining.
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 And the
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 argument goes
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 that children
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 are disciplined
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 by their
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 fathers unless
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 there is
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 something wrong.
00:25:02 --> 00:25:04 An illegitimate
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 child would
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 not be
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 disciplined.
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 Discipline is
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 actually a
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 proof for us
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 that we have a
00:25:12 --> 00:25:14 close relationship
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 with God.
00:25:14 --> 00:25:16 We are
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 not
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 illegitimate
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 children he
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 feels burdened
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 to carry like
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 he's just
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 got to feed
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 us, but he
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 doesn't want to
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 look at us.
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 It's actually
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 the opposite.
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 God disciplines
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 us because we
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 are so close.
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 Now our
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 fathers
00:25:30 --> 00:25:32 discipline as
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 best as they
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 thought possible,
00:25:34 --> 00:25:36 but God as a
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 father disciplines
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 not like us.
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 A parent might
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 have a good or
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 a bad relationship
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 with discipline.
00:25:44 --> 00:25:46 Even the best
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 parents discipline
00:25:47 --> 00:25:49 as best as
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 they think.
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 But we are
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 all fallible.
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 Every parent
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 is fallible.
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 They're
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 inconsistent and
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 often guided
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 by emotions.
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 Anyone who
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 has tried to
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 discipline a
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 child in a
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 godly manner
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 knows that there
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 are simply times
00:26:05 --> 00:26:07 when you don't
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 do the right
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 thing or you
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 just don't know
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 what the right
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 thing to do
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 is.
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 How do I
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 discipline this
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 child?
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 How much
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 do I
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 discipline
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 them?
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 How much
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 is too
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 much?
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 What is
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 harsh?
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 What is
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 enough?
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 I've seen
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 my children
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 shrug off
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 discipline.
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 Just water
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 off a
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 duck's
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 back.
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 But I've
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 also seen
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 them emotionally
00:26:29 --> 00:26:31 crushed by
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 my discipline.
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 Finding the
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 right balance
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 between those
00:26:35 --> 00:26:37 two is a
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 challenge.
00:26:37 --> 00:27:05 God is
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 not an
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 inconsistent
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 parent.
00:27:08 --> 00:27:10 He doesn't
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 discipline
00:27:10 --> 00:27:12 harshly based
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 on his
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 emotions.
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 God always
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 cares for us
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 in the same
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 way.
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 He doesn't
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 have debate
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 with himself.
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 What is the
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 best thing to
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 do in this
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 moment?
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 He knows
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 what we
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 need and
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 he only
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 gives us
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 what we
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 need.
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 Verse 10,
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 God disciplines
00:27:28 --> 00:27:30 us for our
00:27:30 --> 00:27:32 good in order
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 that we may
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 share in
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 his holiness.
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 No discipline
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 seems pleasant
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 at the time
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 but painful.
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 Later on,
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 however,
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 it produces
00:27:42 --> 00:27:44 a harvest of
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 righteousness
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 and peace.
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 God has a
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 purpose behind
00:27:48 --> 00:27:50 every piece
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 of hardship.
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 It's not
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 pleasant,
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 it's just like
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 that scalpel,
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 but it is
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 done for our
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 good,
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 for our
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 holiness,
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 for our
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 peace,
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 and for our
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 righteousness.
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 righteousness.
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 And those
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 are definitely
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 the places
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 that we need
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 to be growing
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 in as
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 Christians.
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 It is not
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 pleasant,
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 but it is
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 designed only
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 for our
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 good.
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 When we
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 are in the
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 midst of
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 hardship and
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 pain,
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 we can't
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 understand why
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 it's happening.
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 All we can
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 do is to
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 cry out to
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 God to
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 end the
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 pain,
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 bring this
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 suffering to
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 an end.
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 It might
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 not be
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 years later
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 until we
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 realize what
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 God has
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 done.
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 He may
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 have sent
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 hardship and
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 difficult times
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 to you when
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 you were a
00:28:36 --> 00:28:38 teenager to
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 prepare you to
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 be who you
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 are today.
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 He may have
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 corrected you and
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 disciplined you in
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 your 20s so
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 that in your
00:28:45 --> 00:28:47 40s you were
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 able to survive
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 what was going
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 on.
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 He might be
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 disciplining you
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 today in
00:28:51 --> 00:28:53 hardship because
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 of what is
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 coming in the
00:28:55 --> 00:28:55 future.
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 We might
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 never know
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 the reason
00:28:59 --> 00:29:01 for a
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 season of
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 hardship and
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 pain but
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 God knows.
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 He's planned
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 it and he is
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 sovereign over
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 it.
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 Even though we
00:29:10 --> 00:29:10 can't see what
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 God is doing
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 in the midst of
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 hardship we
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 must remember
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 that he is
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 sovereign and
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 in control.
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 If you're in a
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 season of
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 hardship or
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 pain or
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 adversity today
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 hold on to
00:29:23 --> 00:29:23 that truth that
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 God is in
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 control and he
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 loves you.
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 Remember these
00:29:27 --> 00:29:29 two truths when
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 hard times come
00:29:30 --> 00:29:32 because the
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 longer that we
00:29:32 --> 00:29:34 live the more
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 likely that
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 difficult times
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 are coming.
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 I heard about
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 a woman who
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 was about to
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 become a
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 grandmother.
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 Her new
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 grandchild was
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 in a different
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 state in the
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 US and to
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 see this
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 grandchild she
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 would have to
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 fly.
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 But this
00:29:51 --> 00:29:54 woman hated
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 flying.
00:29:54 --> 00:29:57 was absolutely
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 terrified of
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 it.
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 But the
00:30:00 --> 00:30:02 only way to
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 overcome her
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 fear to
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 endure the
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 hardship of
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 flying was
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 with the
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 destination in
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 mind.
00:30:10 --> 00:30:12 We have a
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 journey marked
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 out for us
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 with the joy
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 of being with
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 the Lord at
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 the end of
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 this race.
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 But this
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 journey called
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 life is not
00:30:21 --> 00:30:23 always easy.
00:30:23 --> 00:30:25 there are
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 good times.
00:30:27 --> 00:30:29 There are
00:30:29 --> 00:30:31 hard times.
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 And God
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 uses these to
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 train and to
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 correct and
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 adjust our
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 hearts and he
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 does this
00:30:38 --> 00:30:40 lovingly because
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 he is our
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 father who
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 loves and
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 cares for us.
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 Let me pray.
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 Heavenly
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 father you
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 are a good
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 and generous
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 God.
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 We thank
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 you that you
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 are in
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 control of
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 all things,
00:30:56 --> 00:30:56 that you
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 are in
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 control of
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 good times
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 and difficult
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 days,
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 Lord.
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 Father,
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 when we
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 are in
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 those difficult
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 days,
00:31:05 --> 00:31:05 those hard
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 times,
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 remind us
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 that you
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 are in
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 control and
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 that you
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 love us.
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 Use these
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 to discipline
00:31:13 --> 00:31:13 us,
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 to bring us
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 back to
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 you,
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 so that we
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 can reach
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 the end
00:31:19 --> 00:31:21 of this
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 race marked
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 out for
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 us.
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 For what a
00:31:24 --> 00:31:24 joy it is
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 to be your
00:31:25 --> 00:31:25 children,
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 Lord.
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 Amen.
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 Amen.