Whom does the Lord chasten?

Hebrews 12:6  "For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth,  and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth." 

The Lord does this because He does not want us to be illegitimate. 

He does this so that the world can know that we are His children.  

William the Conqueror signed his name as William the Bastard because he was  born  illegitimate.  

I think that there are many church members who could sign their names in the same way.  Some of them are Pastors,  Sunday school teachers,  Deacons and even  Elders.  They are actually  illegitimate  children of God because they have not been born-again.  

They do not  know  the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.  

They do not  love  the Lord Jesus or  His Word  for that matter,   because they do not  seek  to  study  it.  

THE WORD OF GOD TEACHES US THAT GOD'S CHILDREN  DO  SUFFER.

 Psalm 34:19  "Many are the afflictions of the righteous;  but the Lord delivereth DELIVERETH him out of them all."   

Job 5:7  "Yet man is born unto trouble,  as the sparks fly upwards."  

THE LORD JESUS TOLD US THAT IN THIS WORLD WE WILL HAVE TROUBLE.

John 16:33  "These things have I spoken unto you,  that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation:  but be of good cheer;  I have overcome the world."    

THE APOSTLE PAUL TOLD US THAT ALL THOSE WHO LIVE A GODLY LIFE  WILL  SUFFER    PERSECUTION.

2 Timothy 3:12  "Yea,  and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 

Why do God's people suffer?      

HERE ARE A FEW REASONS:

 1) The first reason why God's children suffer is because of our own stupidity and  our own sin.  

1 Peter 2:20  "For what glory is it,  if,  when ye be buffeted for your own faults,  ye shall take it patiently?  but if,  when ye do well and suffer for it,  ye take it patiently,  this is acceptable with God." 

The word  faults,   refers to  sin  -  where you have missed the mark. 

Peter tells us that there is no value in suffering for our own foolishness.  

Many children of God  play the fool,  and it becomes a habit,  and before long it leads to sin.

2)  The second reason why God's children suffer is  for taking a stand for TRUTH  and  RIGHTEOUSNESS.   

Many true children of God have taken a stand for God and it has cost them a great deal in this life.  

It has cost them their parents,  their children,  their relations,  their friends  or  even perhaps  their  livelihood.   

3)  The third reason why God's children suffer,  is because of the  sin that is in their lives. 

The apostle Paul tells us in God's Word,

1 Corinthians 11:31  "For if we would judge ourselves,  we should not be judged."  

This tells us plainly that if we are God's children and we  refuse  to deal with the sin in our lives,  God,  Himself,  will deal with it. 

4)   The fourth reason why God's children suffer,  is  because of past sins.  

Galatians 6:7  "Be not deceived;  God is not mocked:  for whatsoever a man soweth,  that shall he also reap."  

There are many sins that we commit that affect our bodies and we certainly do suffer for those sins.  

This is especially true of those who have been big drinkers,  eaters,  smokers  or even do too much physical exercise.  

They do not receive a new body,  a new stomach or a new pair of lungs when they receive a new HEART.  

They are  set free  from the habit,  but the  body  becomes a constant reminder of the marvelous grace of God. 

5)  The fifth reason why God's children suffer,  could be for the lofty  purpose  of God.  

This is not often  revealed  to the true child of God.  

We see this in the book of Job.  

Job suffered because He was demonstrating to Satan,  the demon world,  and the angels of heaven,  that  he was a true believer.

JOB LOVED GOD.  

This is a very special type of suffering and not many are called to suffer as Job did.

6)  The sixth reason why God's children suffer is for their faith.  

In  Hebrews chapter eleven we see those who demonstrated their  faith  and  won great victories.  Later,  there were those who were delivered  by the sword,  and some who were  slain  by the sword.  

The French Huguenots for an example, went into battle knowing that they would be slain.

7)  The seventh reason why God's children suffer is for  discipline.  

 Hebrews 12:6  "For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth,  and scourgeth every son whom He receives." 

This means  child training  and  not  punishment.  

A judge  punishes  and that punishment is  to uphold the Law but a Father chastens a child in love.  

The writer to the Hebrews makes it very clear that if we are not chastened then we are  illegitimate  children.  

We should not say,  "Oh why did God let this happen to me?  I must not be a Christian."   

The fact that you are suffering could actually prove  that you are indeed a child of God.  

The truth is that when we are in trouble we ought to cry out to God,  who is  rich in mercy,  and ask Him  about the trouble we are in.  He will get the reason  through  to us.  

The reason may not be that God is  judging  us.  

He does judge His own  and when He is Judge,  He does not punish  because  He is also a loving heavenly Father.

GOD DISCIPLINES HIS OWN IN THIS WORLD. 

When I was a school girl I got into trouble at school and when my Mother heard about it,  she came to the school and gave me a good hiding.  She never gave any of the other children who were in trouble a  hiding,  she only gave me a hiding, because  I was  her child. 

And God  disciplines  us in the same way and many of us need to  grow up  and become mature saints of God.  

We need to put a stop to our deliberate sin.  

God disciplines us so that we can  learn to listen to His Word  and become obedient children.  

He has  given  us the Holy Spirit.  

He is our Helper at  all  times and He is  able  to  deliver  us from all temptation  if  we will simply call on Him.

The writer to the Hebrews goes on to tell us in  

Hebrews 13:9  "Furthermore,  we have had  fathers,  of our flesh who corrected us,  and we gave them reverence.  Shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits,  and live?"  

I do believe that He means we are to live our lives to the full because He has given us abundant life.  

But there is a negative side  to this as well because He also says that God  disciplines us  and  sometimes that discipline is very severe  -  there is a sin that can lead to physical death.  

This has no reference to spiritual death at all. 

God may take His own child,  who refuses to listen to Him,  home.  

He may take His own child out of this world if that child persists in doing that which brings disgrace to His holy name. 

 Hebrews 12:10  "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."  

GOD'S  DESIRE IS FOR US TO LIVE HOLY LIVES.

1 John 5:16  "If any man see his brother sin a sin  WHICH IS NOT UNTO DEATH,  he shall ask,  and He shall give him life  for them that sin not  unto death.  There is a sin unto death;  I do not say that he shall pray for it."  

What happens at this school?

Suffering will produce  1) service,  2) hope,  3) humility  and 4) patience.

The Christian life for the born-again believer  began  with the suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The Lord Jesus died on the cross for us.

He bore the penalty of our sin in His own body on the tree of Calvary.  

There is also suffering in the believers life because God  uses  suffering to sharpen us. 

Suffering makes us the kind of children that God  desires  us to be so that He can use  us.   

1)  Suffering will produce  service  in the believers life.  

1 Peter 5:1-4  "The elders who are among you I exhort,  who am also an elder,  and a witness of the sufferings of Christ,  and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.  

Feed the flock of God which is among you,  taking the oversight of it,  not by constraint  but willingly;  not by filthy lucre  but of a ready mind. 

Neither as being lords over God's heritage,  but being examples to the flock.  

And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear,  ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."  

Peter had  physically seen  the Lord Jesus  die on the cross of Calvary and he had  seen  the glory of the Lord Jesus when he saw Him transfigured on the Mount of Transfiguration yet,  there is a glory still greater than that,  a  glory  yet to be revealed.

Notice that Peter does not call himself an apostle,  he does not assert his position,  he takes the humble way,  and he calls himself an elder.  He speaks to those who are elders and those who would be elders.   

Elders are to provide food for the sheep and they are to protect the sheep,  they are to provide direction for the sheep and they are to discipline and supervise the sheep.  

They are to do this  willingly  and they  must find satisfaction in the work that they are doing.  

There must be a right motive in their hearts.  

They must  love  the Word of God. 

They must  exercise  the right manner  and  

THEY MUST  NEVER  DRIVE  THE SHEEP.

THEY MUST LEAD THE SHEEP BY SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR THEM TO FOLLOW.

An elder must not tell anyone to do anything that he himself is not doing. 

Whatever they require  the sheep to  do,  they themselves must be doing.  

For example if they ask  for money for  any cause in the Lords work  they themselves must give to that cause.  

THEY ARE TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE.

THEIR FAMILIES MUST BE FOLLOWERS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

How can a man rule in  the church  if he cannot rule in his own home?  

2)  Suffering will produce  hope  in the believers life. 

The elder  must be fully aware that he is serving the Chief Shepherd to whom he is answerable,  and that he will  receive  an eternal reward for his service. 

That is  the way  an elder ought to serve. 

There are many crowns  mentioned in the Word of God  including  the crown of eternal life  and   the crown of righteousness.    

In  Psalm 22   -  the Lord Jesus is the Shepherd  who gives His life for His sheep.  

In  Psalm 23  -  the Lord Jesus is the Great Shepherd that watches over His sheep.  

And in  Psalm 24  -  He is the Chief Shepherd who is coming again to receive His sheep unto Himself.  

Some day our Chief Shepherd will appear and He will have  HIS OWN FLOCK WITH HIM,  THOSE WHOM HE HIMSELF HAS MADE READY  -  HIS BRIDE.  

Oh how very glorious this truth is.    HALLELUJAH! 

God hath not promised skies always blue,

Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;

God hath not promised sun without rain,

Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

God hath not promised we shall not know

Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;

He hath not told us we shall not bear

Many a burden, many a care.

God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,

Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;

Never a mountain, rocky and steep,

Never a river, turbid and deep.

But God hath promised strength for the day,

Rest for the laborer, light for the way,

Grace for the trials, help from above,

Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

3)  Suffering will produce  humility  in the believers life. 

We are to humble ourselves in the presence of Almighty God.  

Humility should be the attitude of every child of God.  

And any person,  even though they may  think  that they can, is not  able, to straighten out this world.  

CHRIST JESUS  ALONE  IS THE  ONLY  ONE WHO IS ABLE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THIS WORLD.

HE WILL ESTABLISH JUSTICE AND MAKE THINGS RIGHT IN THIS WORLD WHEN HE COMES TO REIGN.

Galatians 5:5  "For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith."   

Believers are not  going to reach perfection here on this earth as it is right now.  

They shall have to  wait  for the hope of righteousness by faith.

The greatest imperfection that there is, is to  think  that you have reached perfection.  

4)  Suffering will produce  patience  in the believers life.  

1 Peter 5:10-11  "But the God of all grace,  who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus,  after ye have suffered awhile,  make you perfect,  stablish,  strengthen,  settle you.  To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever Amen." 

But the God of all grace, who has  called  us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus  -  that is  "in Christ Jesus" -  We have no glory in ourselves  -  the church is sort of like the moon which simply reflects  the light of the sun. 

Our glory will only be  reflected  glory,  but  we who are  "in Christ Jesus"  are going to  share  in that glory. 

Actually, the word  Jesus  is not in the better manuscripts; rather,  this is that phrase which we often find in the New Testament  -  "in Christ."

"After that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect"  -  that is, bring you to perfection. "Stablish, strengthen" -  the Lord Jesus told Simon Peter to  strengthen the brethren  (see Luke 22:32). 

"Settle you" that means to restore  you.

        POEM:   IN THE  CRUCIBLE.

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