2017-02-05 
Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

Memory Verse:
Heb. 12:11 (NKJV)
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:5 (NLT)
And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. 6 For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” 7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? 10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. 12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

The Right Correction for the Right Direction

Today, is a message on discouragement. There are two major forms of discouragement in our lives: 1) discouragement brought on by our own actions, 2) discouragement brought on by the actions of others. Today we’re going to deal with the first form, and next week will deal with the second. And, the way that we bring on discouragement as a result of our own actions comes from the consequences of our actions.  That is, the price we pay for the things we do.

Heb. 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

1. All sin has consequences

– The sinfulness of sin is equal before God, but the consequences can be different

vs 5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you.”

– Newton’s Third Law – For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction

– There are bad decisions we make that may not be sin, but still bad

2. Those consequences can leave us discouraged if we don’t see their value

vs 6 “For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

– every reaction from our action should be an opportunity to learn

Proverbs 3:11 My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. 12 For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

– rarely does one see a negative reaction to our action as a positive

3. God’s discipline is a clear picture of His love for us

7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.

– This should be one of the most eye opening and frightening verses in all of Scripture

4. This discipline will ALWAYS make us better

vs 10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

– The purpose of discipline is to bring correction, not simply punishment

– God’s plan is to allow our bad to shape our good

– If we don’t allow this process to happen, our bad will only create our “WORSE”

– “discipline” paideia (pie-DAY-o) – punished for the purpose of improved behavior

– BUT, this is your choice

5. Don’t allow these moments to get you down, let them raise you up

vs 12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

– the picture of discouragement (tired hands and weak knees)

– God says “Therefore, stand up, keep moving, and let the past shape you for a better future”

Action Points

1. Make a list of consequences you are facing, or have faced, as a result of bad decisions

2. Evaluate each one from the viewpoint of what you learned from those consequences

3. If you can’t find something you’ve learned, take some time to determine what you should learn

4. If there is unconfessed sin that is part of this, confess it and ask forgiveness

5. If you need to seek forgiveness for something you’ve done to others, do so

6. Is there an action you need to take to move past it

7. Move on