Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Reading v2
- The secret of the Christian life is to keep our eyes on Jesus
- He is King and the one who reigns
- Is our confidence in Jesus Christ?
- It is Jesus Christ who rules and reigns
- John 15 – remaining in Christ
- "Abide in the Vine" – continue in Him
- Not fits/starts, hot/cold
- Steadfast in the faith
- All eyes on Jesus
- "Without Me you can do nothing"
- Have we really though about that?
- We must depend on Jesus and not ourselves
- John 5:19, 30 – Jesus does nothing of Himself (but by His Father)
- ‘I have such a close bond with My Father I do nothing independent of Him’
- He never acted independently of His Father
- If this is true of Jesus Christ – how much more should it be true of us?
- What happens when we go astray?
- God in His mercy comes after us
- God disciplines us in love
- v2 – image of pruning: sharp, clean cuts
- To bear fruit
- This is painful for us at times
- Overview:
- The Place of Correction
- The Pain of Correction
- The Purpose of Discipline
The Place of Correction
- It occurs within the family
- A child needs discipline – examples
- It must take place where a child is loved and cherished
- What about the family of God?
- He will discipline us
- Hebrews 12:7-9
- Discipline only applies to the children of God
- Do you know God’s chastening in your life?
- Within the family from a loving heavenly Father
The Pain of Correction
- Heb 12:11
- Discipline is not easy
- It is used by God to bring fruit and righteousness
- David suffered the chastening hand of God
- On several occasions but especially after the incident with Bathsheba
- Psalm 32:3-4
- He knew his sin was grave – but would not confess it
- It physically affected him
- Ps 39:9-11,13
- God loves to forgive
- Ps 32:5, 1-2
- The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from every sin – if you confess and repent and come to the cross
- God does not take pleasure in discipline
- We should learn from discipline/correction – examples
- David knew the chastening of the Lord
- Example – A chastening look from Jesus to Peter
- How we respond is so important
- Heb 12:5, 3 – do not despise chastening or be discouraged
- Heb 5:8 – Jesus learned obedience
- Heb 2:10 – through His sufferings Jesus became perfect
- Are we rebellious?
- Do we receive it … to follow God?
The Purpose of Discipline
- Example of Jonah
- The purpose:
- Is to entreat our hearts
- To produce fruit in our lives
- That we might be a blessing to others
- v2 – to bear more fruit (like Jesus)
- God does not act in vengence
- Examples
- God does not act like a human Father
- His discipline never flows from anger but always from love
- Heb 12:10-11 – that we might partake of His holiness
Closing Remarks
- Only a child of God receives loving discipline
- An unbeliever will only know God as judge of their sin
- Jesus asks you to come to Him, believe in Him, abide in Him
- Come to Jesus
- Accept the loving discipline of God and produce peaceable fruits of righteousness