The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet 1993 Hebrews kc 23-3

 Learn to recognize when you are being chastised
and then "Kiss the paddle" and say "Thank you Father"
because you know in your heart He did it for your own good.

There was no doubt in Paul's mind that a "crown of righteousness" awaits him when the Lord,
the righteous judge, appears at that day when the 7th Trump sounds.

And not him only, but to all them also that love his appearing!

That would be you, if you love and serve Him.

[8] Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Well, we have all those inspiring testimonials and "ensamples" which give us strength and increase our faith,
but there is yet One to consider who "endured" above them all and that One is Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The word "look" means to look away from to something else,
i.e. to consider attentively or as we would say today, "focus on"!

The old adage that leadership is best exemplified by example certainly is true when it comes to Jesus Christ,
who is the "captain of our salvation"!

He showed us "the way" and we are "finished", "made perfect", i.e. are complete in Him (Col. 2:10).

"Focus on" what He went through for us in enduring the cross and being scorned and humiliated.

He overcame the world (Jn. 16:33) and overcame Satan (Heb. 2:14)
and is now "set down at the right hand of the throne of God".

John 16:33 These things I have 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.
When tribulation (which ye shall have) comes your way,
be it either adversity or perhaps even chastisement from your heavenly Father,
and all you do is moan and whine about it, you do show a lack of faith, which is unbelief.

So don't let your brothers and sisters, especially those who are weak in faith or have not eyes to see,
"see you sweat on your first cruise"!

It gives them no encouragement or incentive to see your unbelief, does it?

You "see", through faith in Him you can "have peace", i.e. peace of mind,
entering into His rest (sabbath) at any time, any day, any hour, any moment!

And how would you like to sit with Him in His throne?

You can!

He said so!

Just follow His example and through faith firmly founded upon the Rock, i.e. in His Word,
you will be a champion of your people, an overcomer of the world and the wicked one, even as He overcame!

And there shall be a crown of righteousness laid up in store for you too!

Rev. 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
And you shall rule and reign with Christ a thousand years.
Rev. 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
So whenever you think things are going a little too tough on you,
just remember Christ our Passover (1 Cor. 5:7) and what He went through!
Hebrews 12:3 For consider him that endured [hupomeno] such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Compare your trials and tribulations to the shedding of His blood
and the suffering of the cross and then stand up and get back in the race!
[4] Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price and gave His life to pay for our sins and defeat death!

Overcoming the world and the temptation to "draw back" (apostatize)
isn't quite like being scourged and beaten and then crucified on the cross, is it?

That should be point enough to help us put our problems into their proper perspective,
but there is yet another point that Paul would have us not be ignorant of...
and that is that we should not overlook the fact
that our heavenly Father sometimes chastises us when we veer off the track!

[5] And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
You see, not everything that "comes your way" is the adversary trying to punch your lights out!

Sometimes we do a fine job all on our own of messing things up.

Nevertheless, when we earn the just recompense of a good spanking,
our Father disciplines us to get our attention and turn us from the error of our ways.

However, the VERY FACT that we are being disciplined is actually proof positive
that God loves us and we are His precious children!

Only a parent who does not care if his child grows up wild and unruly, undisciplined,
would withhold the rod of correction (i.e. chastisement) from his child.

So learn to recognize when you are being chastised
and then "Kiss the paddle" and say "Thank you Father"
because you know in your heart He did it for your own good.

In other words, chastisement is your confirmation that you are His son or daughter.

[6] For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Of course Paul, after the manner of his teaching is, just quoted from the scriptures once again.

This time he quoted from the great Book of Proverbs.

Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
Look up the word "weary" in your Hebrew dictionary or Strong's Concordance.

In street English it means don't get all "bent out of shape",
i.e. distressed and anxious, when you receive chastisement.

Take your "thumpin" like a man and get back in the race!

[12] For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
You "see", true love requires discipline which often falls under the heading "tough love"
because it can be a lot tougher on the one exacting the discipline then it is on the one receiving the correction.

In other words, there is no joyful feeling in disciplining a child
except in knowing in your heart that in the long run he or she
will benefit from the love you give them in the correction.

In fact, if you truly understand this, you will more fully understand the love our Father displays
in creating this flesh age for all of us to pass through and die once (Hebrews 9:27).

So can you "endure" a little chastening from your heavenly Father
without whining and moaning and complaining?

Because if He chastens you, it is because He loves you!

Hebrews 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
A father or mother who does not discipline his or her child, does NOT love that child!

Therefore that child is without a loving parent!

[8] But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
All God's children occasionally receive correction from Him and you know what?

When His children know they have been chastened, that just makes them love and respect Him all the more,
just as it did when our earthly fathers and mothers corrected us!

Of course, one should never chasten a child in anger or rage!

[9] Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Children may blurt out "I hate you" when they receive correction or do not get their own way,
but wise parents know their children will later love and respect them for caring
about them enough to chastise them (that later is sometimes 10 or 15 minutes).

"Wise" children of God also love their heavenly Father when He corrects them
because they know that He cares for them and loves them.

[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.
Our heavenly Father teaches us and chastises us that we might mature and become just like Him,
i.e. be partakers of His holiness! Yes, like Father, like son!

So why would you think that your heavenly Father would not chastise you?

[11] Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Chastening produces the "peaceable fruit of righteousness"!

Did you know that?

In fact, without chastening, without discipline,
there often can be no growth which is expressed by the proverbial saying, "No pain, no gain".

Again, it isn't pleasant for either the chastener or the chastenee
but the reward which comes from being steered back on the path of righteousness is well worth it... to BOTH parties!

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.


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