God's Dicipline

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God's Discipline

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

– Hebrews 12:6-7

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There's a terrible misunderstanding among believers today about God's method of disciplining His children. They'll point to some kind of disaster—a tornado or a car accident—and say, "I guess God sent that catastrophe to teach us something."

No, He didn't! A loving God doesn't send death and destruction on His children to instruct them. He doesn't unleash His bad dog to bite us on the leg, so we'll learn to wear our boots!

How does He chastise His own? With His Word.

Second Timothy 3:16-17 says, "Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness, (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action), so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work" (The Amplified Bible).

If you'll look in 2 Corinthians 7, you'll see an example of this. There the Apostle Paul talks about a situation in the Corinthian church that needed correction. That church had gotten out of line and had to be disciplined.

How did Paul do it? Not by asking God to send an earthquake to shake them up! He did it by writing them a letter. He wrote them a word of reproof that hurt so badly they would have preferred being beaten with a stick. It cut deep into their spirits and brought them to repentance.

Your heavenly Father loves you and because He does, He will chasten you. But He'll do it with spiritual, not fleshly tools. He'll use the spirit-power in His Word to chasten unbelief and purify your spirit in such a way that you'll come out strong, not weak and condemned.

So quit bowing down to disasters and start subjecting yourself instead to the Word of God. Yield to the Word. Let it correct you and trim away the flesh and the lusts that lead you astray. Remember, the sword of the Spirit is two-edged—one side is for Satan and the other side is for you. Let God use it to keep you in line!


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Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 7

© 1991 Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc. aka: Kenneth Copeland Publications All rights reserved
 
Hello Cturtle;

Thank you for your thread of wisdom. Hebrews 12 reminds me of the times Dad and Mom disciplined me as a child. 2 Timothy still reminds me of Dad who will be 81 this Thursday, July 6, still advises me as a grown up adult. Both my parents taught us at an early age in (Exodus 20:12 and Deuteronomy 5:16) by simply saying, "honor your father and mother" and it stuck as a child to this day.

But it wasn't easy for both my parents and myself. As I was growing as a teen in the early 1970s I had my moments of rebellion and disrespect toward adults including my parents. There was a lot of rebuke from them, especially toward me, verbally. They knew I was outgoing so they took away my "privileges" - put me on restriction, no going out, no phone calls, etc..but on Sundays we went to church as a family and I attended youth group and was taught the Word of God.

And you know what? I hated their discipline and tried to act cool walking away but at some point I always felt convicted. I tried to ignore God's conviction and remain cool in front of my friends but He would eventually chastise me. I'd go home and apologize to Dad and Mom, alone, or in front of my brothers and sister. I really believe they knew I would come around and my parents forgave me, still loved me, but I had to finish my restriction, no going out with my friends or phone calls, their rules in the house.

So when I think of any "disasters" are the ones I brought upon myself - attitude and behavior. Nevertheless, whether its our parents, other brothers and sisters in Christ, a mentor or Pastor who love us yet at times must discipline and correct us is God's balance of growing us in holy living (righteousness).
 
God's Discipline


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There's a terrible misunderstanding among believers today about God's method of disciplining His children. They'll point to some kind of disaster—a tornado or a car accident—and say, "I guess God sent that catastrophe to teach us something."

No, He didn't! A loving God doesn't send death and destruction on His children to instruct them. He doesn't unleash His bad dog to bite us on the leg, so we'll learn to wear our boots!

How does He chastise His own? With His Word.

© 1991 Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc. aka: Kenneth Copeland Publications All rights reserved

Amen to the above. It makes me think of after 9-11 when some said: "Where was God?"

I know where God was. He was in the courageous many who first responded, fireman, and medics
and others who tried to help. He was with the medical staff in the hospitals who cared for the wounded and dying. He was with the widows and orphans giving them the comfort only the Holy Spirit, the Great Comforter, can give. And he continued to be with those who survived and those who found out who was responsible for this tragedy as well as those in NYC who picked up the pieces and went on living. And He was with the rest of us who got on our knees and prayed our hearts out.

The prince of darkness influencing and deceiving men leading them to the acceptance of an evil ideology , not God, brought about 9-11.

Our God is merciful and awesome. Our God is compassionate and loving. Our God sent His Only Son to die on a cross out of His great Love.

And, yes, God sure does chasten us by His Word. It is something we all need and so many need right now. And I can testify that is a good thing, something we should not prick against, but accept as we would accept the loving correction of a loving and caring Father. He does it because, like a loving father, He wants our very best and because of His great love for us.
 
Where was God?"

I know where God was. He was in the courageous many who first responded, fireman, and medics
and others who tried to help. He was with the medical staff in the hospitals who cared for the wounded and dying. He was with the widows and orphans giving them the comfort only the Holy Spirit, the Great Comforter, can give. And h

True Story,
Many Christians died that day that should not have.

1. Many testimonials about how the Holy Spirit said don't go to work today.

2. Many testimonials of how some ignored it and went to work any way.

3. Many testimonials about after the first jet hit and they cleared the building and we're waiting for permission to teturn.

The Holy Spirit spoke to a gentleman and told him to tell the people to Not Go Back in. Many scoffed at him.

The all clear was given and the Holy Spirit told the man No tell them no. The guy tried to convince them it was not safe.

Then The Holy Spirit told him run now just run. So the guy repeated what the Holy Spirit ssid.
As he began to run a small group of people followed him But most of them including Christians ignored his warning and went back in. They were killed.

Now every one of those believers should have heard the Holy Spirit and Obeyed but they did not want to. They ignore His warnings and wonder why bad things happen.

Some of those who followed the guy and ran I believe we're Believers who felt they should not go to work but put their job security first but at the last minute decided to take a chance and listen. They are alive today.

So the question is not ever where was God but rather Do You Listen and Obey?
Blessings
FCJ
 
Hello Cturtle;

Thank you for your thread of wisdom. Hebrews 12 reminds me of the times Dad and Mom disciplined me as a child. 2 Timothy still reminds me of Dad who will be 81 this Thursday, July 6, still advises me as a grown up adult. Both my parents taught us at an early age in (Exodus 20:12 and Deuteronomy 5:16) by simply saying, "honor your father and mother" and it stuck as a child to this day.

But it wasn't easy for both my parents and myself. As I was growing as a teen in the early 1970s I had my moments of rebellion and disrespect toward adults including my parents. There was a lot of rebuke from them, especially toward me, verbally. They knew I was outgoing so they took away my "privileges" - put me on restriction, no going out, no phone calls, etc..but on Sundays we went to church as a family and I attended youth group and was taught the Word of God.

And you know what? I hated their discipline and tried to act cool walking away but at some point I always felt convicted. I tried to ignore God's conviction and remain cool in front of my friends but He would eventually chastise me. I'd go home and apologize to Dad and Mom, alone, or in front of my brothers and sister. I really believe they knew I would come around and my parents forgave me, still loved me, but I had to finish my restriction, no going out with my friends or phone calls, their rules in the house.

So when I think of any "disasters" are the ones I brought upon myself - attitude and behavior. Nevertheless, whether its our parents, other brothers and sisters in Christ, a mentor or Pastor who love us yet at times must discipline and correct us is God's balance of growing us in holy living (righteousness).

I had parents similar to your. Growing up all it took was a look from my father showing his disappointment in me to make me cry like a baby. Even as an adult, living outside the will of God, all I wanted to do was make sure my dad didn't find out. Now, after living a season worldly pleasure, it breaks my heart knowing that my Heavenly Father saw everything even though my earthly father did not. Have I been punished by my Heavenly Father - certainly. Not by horrible devastation or tragedy but by simply bringing me to my knees. Even though I know I have been forgiven, I still grieve when I think about the hurt and disappointment I caused my Heavenly Father. I thank God for His forgiveness and His grace.
 
Have I been punished by my Heavenly Father - certainly.

It's interesting that punishment from God can be defined simply as He was not involved with our life. He had to remove Himself and allow the curse and consequences of our sin and actions take place till we decided to reach out to Him and reconnect to Him. All the while, He was still pursuing, and nudging us to repent and return to His covering.

Thank you for sharing your testimony

Blessings
 
He will use His word but has other methods too. A scourging is not accomplished with words alone. Not disasters or plagues but He has ways. Chasening and worse scourging speak of more than a scriptural rebuke. Fear Him friends. He has the power to do anything at all.

"Knowing the terror of the Lord we persuade men" is not an idle statement... 2 Corinthians 5:11
 
I love and fear God. My fear is healthy and is based on respect and awe of God's incredible power. While I believe that God resorts to rebuking us via his word as much as possible, I also believe that He is also capable of incredible wrath, and I don't think it would be wise to overlook this. Historically, he has had all living things on this planet destroyed at least once via a flood, he put an entire army of almost 200,000 soldiers put to death in their sleep over night to ensure a Hebrew victory the next day without any bloodshed, and he rained brimstone on Sodom- these are a few examples God acting on His wrath.

God is a being so powerful that he created the universe. He also possesses the power to destroy what he has created. He is very patient and loving, but He is also capable of wrath and expressing displeasure and anger. As much as possible God uses the Word to rebuke us. I believe that He also arranges situations in our lives so that we learn that we have taken a wrong turn when the Word is not working for us for whatever reason. I do not, however, dismiss the possibility that God will express His rebuke in more physical and dramatic forms when nothing else will make an impression on us. I do not see God as a sweet, benevolent grandfatherly image, but I see him as a being so powerful that if I were to try to look into his eyes I would likely be incinerated and destroyed on the spot. I read what FrankLee wrote above, and I agree whole-heartedly with the view that God has the power to do anything at all. Which things are attributable to God and which are attributable to nature are not clear to us, but I do not allow myself to believe that God withholds physical rebuke when He feels it is required. I admit that the ancients blamed EVERYTHING on God - winds, droughts, earthquakes, you name it - if it was bad, they believed it was because God was displeased with them. Without the appropriate discernment and prophets to interpret these signs, people have a natural tendency to blame God.

I think that it is in our best interests to remind ourselves that while God is slow to anger, he is still capable of wrath. I think it is a mistake to sit back and feel comfortable that we are somehow immune to God's wrath or that God does not act in a destructive manner. I feel that having a healthy fear of a being as all powerful as God is a prudent and reasonable course. it does not in any way interfere with our love of Him or appreciate all the wonderful blessings that he bestows on us each and every day.
 
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