Correction for
the most part is not a very popular subject, which is understandable for as we
will see even scripture tells us that from a fleshly perspective it is painful,
but it is a very important part of our walk with God. The unfortunate part
about what is happening in much of the body of Christ today is that anything
that has to do with correction is seen as condemning or what some will say is
“showing no love”. But the truth be known you are not experiencing the fullness
of God’s love for you if you are not a partaker of His correction.
Take a look at
our foundation text above from the book of Hebrews as we will examine several
scriptures from this text and find out how important this subject is. Many
ministers today have nothing to do with correction, and many believers as well
don’t want to be corrected. Yet as Hebrews 12:6 clearly states the Lord
corrects us because He loves us. So realize that if we are either not receiving
correction the way God’s Word says we are to be corrected, or we do hear it but
don’t respond, we are not a partaker of all the love that God has for our life.
When you ask
parents today the reason as to why they correct their kids you will almost
always get a unanimous answer, “Because I love them.” If a natural parent
corrects their children because they love them and they are trying to spare
them from the bad things that can result without correction then why do we
think that God would not do the same? Most today talk about how much God loves
us but they don’t include in that statement a part of that love will be shown
through His correction. I want to share with you this week why His correction
is so important, and how He actually corrects us.
Heb. 12:5 And you
have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not
despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by
Him;
Heb. 12:6 For
whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”
Heb. 12:7 If you
endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom
a father does not chasten?
Heb. 12:8 But if you
are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are
illegitimate and not sons.
Heb. 12:9
Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them
respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of
spirits and live?
Heb. 12:10 For they
indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our
profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
Heb. 12:11 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.
The word
“chastening” here is defined as correction or discipline. Hebrew scholars have
said that verse six above, which is quoted from the book of Proverbs says, that
the Lord corrects those He loves, and He accepts those received as sons. Romans
8:14 tells us that those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. This
is actually saying that if we follow the Spirit’s leading God is fathering us.
One who is fathered by God receives the Father’s correction.
Verse seven
goes on to say that if we endure chastening (correction) then God is dealing
with us as with sons, again a reference to being fathered by Him. But if one is
without correction, they not responding to nor receiving His correction, then
they are illegitimate and not sons. Again this is a reference to not being
fathered by Him. You can be a child of God, born again, but yet not be fathered
by God. This is similar in the natural where a father brings a child into the
world but then does not father that child. The good part about our heavenly
Father is that He not only wants to father us, He is the best father anyone can
have.
Now notice
in verse ten we find out a second reason our heavenly Father brings correction.
It is for our profit so that we can become partakers of His holiness. Being
fathered by God is always going to be for our benefit. Notice verse eleven
tells us that no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but it yields
the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Correction is a part of how God grows us up spiritually. To endure correction
means you receive it, and then you consistently apply what God has shown you
until change has taken place. So how does God correct us?
John 14:26
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My
name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things
that I said to you.
John 8:9
Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by
one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and
the woman standing in the midst.
The first two
ways we see God corrects us is through the Holy Spirit, and through our
conscience. The Holy Spirit has been sent to teach us all things. What He
speaks guides us into all truth. Truth is the right way to do things, God’s way.
If we are not doing things God’s way, including how we think, then the Holy
Spirit in teaching us these things is going to help in bringing correction into
our lives.
In John
chapter eight, Jesus tells the Pharisee’s whoever had no sin throw the first
stone at this woman caught in adultery. Here we see that they were convicted by
their conscience and went out one by one. Our conscience is the voice of our
spirit man, and our spirit through the voice of our conscience will correct us
as well.
2 Tim. 3:16 All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
2 Tim. 3:17 that the
man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Tim. 4:1 I charge
you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living
and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
2 Tim. 4:2 Preach the
word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all
longsuffering and teaching.
2 Tim. 4:3 For the
time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their
own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves
teachers;
2 Tim. 4:4 and they
will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
Here we
have the other two ways our Father will bring correction. Verse sixteen tells
us that all Scripture is inspired by God and one of the things that scripture
will do is bring correction so that we will be complete, fully equipped for
every good work. Ultimately all correction that comes from God can be backed up
by His Word. This is the source upon which we will find our correction. If the
Holy Spirit corrects us it will be in line with the Word. If our conscience
corrects us it will be in line with the Word. Not only does God use His Word to
correct us He also uses godly leadership as well.
What you
are reading here in Timothy is a letter written by Paul to Timothy who was the
pastor of the church at Ephesus. Paul after talking about the Scriptures being
used as a part of what corrects us goes on to tell Timothy that he was to
preach the Word. He was required to do so whether the Word of God is in season
or out of season. That means whether people want to hear it or not. He was to
convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering. The reference to
longsuffering means don’t stop preaching the whole truth, even if it is not
received.
The word
“rebuke” means to show people in what way their lives are wrong. If a minister
of the gospel preaches the whole truth of God’s Word they are going to be
bringing correction in areas that people’s lives are wrong. He goes on to tell
Timothy that there will come a time, and we are there, that people will no
longer endure sound doctrine, but instead will heap up preachers to tell them
what they want to hear, not what they need to hear. The problem with living
this way is you are missing out on a major part of the love God has for you and
you are likely to head down a road that is eventually going to have bad and
painful consequences.
Acts 20:26 Therefore
I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
Acts 20:27 For I have
not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
Paul states
here that he had preached not just what people wanted to hear, but the whole
counsel of God. Doing so he was innocent therefore of the blood of all men.
Some ministers who are just wanting to be popular and “liked” by everyone don’t
realize that if they water down the Word and they don’t teach the whole counsel
of God they are not helping people, they are hurting them. Not having the whole
counsel of God means you are going to be taken advantage of by the devil. For
anyone to think that they don’t need to have God’s correction in their life on
a regular basis means that they think they already have everything figured out
and don’t need God. This is a dangerous way to live.
Eph. 4:14 that we
should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every
wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of
deceitful plotting,
Eph. 4:15 but,
speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the
head—Christ—
People say
we need to speak the truth in love, and I could not agree more. Scripture says
love never fails. When you look up the word “fail” it means it never ends. If
you speak the truth in love that means like Paul you keep saying it, even if it
isn’t popular. Paul’s preaching was not real popular in his day. He was beaten
with rods, whipped, and stoned to death. I will be the first to tell you that a
minister of the gospel should not have a motive of telling people off, nor
should he personally be focused on demeaning anyone. His heart should be the
same as the Father’s, which is love. If a pastor loves his flock his is not
going to shun from declaring the whole counsel of God.
It’s time
for believers who have accepted Christ’s sacrifice to receive God not only as
their daddy, but also as their father. Realize that because He loves you He
will correct you. Our heavenly Father did not send His Son to die for us so
that we would continue to live the way we have always lived. He sent His Son to
cleanse us of our sin, change the way we see ourselves by renewing our minds,
and also change the way we live. The more spiritual you become the less
important the things of this world are to you. This is where true contentment
and peace is found.
If any
believer is going to attend a church that will only tell them what they want to
hear, not all of what God’s Word says, they will not be fully equipped for
every good work. They will not experience all of the love that the Father has
for them. They are not going to be partakers of God’s holiness. The tragic part
is they are going to stay spiritually immature and will be that much more
vulnerable to deception and seduction which are the works of the enemy. If you were
headed down a path of deception why would you not want to be corrected? If
someone knew you were headed down a path in life that the end result would be
harmful would you think they were being un-loving if they tried to warn you to
turn around? No one who is being fathered by God is without correction.
If you want
to have God father you, if you want to grow up into Christ and not be tossed
about by every wind of doctrine, if you want become complete in God and
experience all the love He has for you, then don’t shy away from nor despise
God’s correction for your life. It begins with finding a pastor who will
declare to you the whole counsel of God with a heart to help you grow in God.
Satan will fight you more in this area of your life than any other. He knows if
you find such a pastor and then apply what you are taught from the Word you
will become stronger spiritually and not fall prey to his deception.
God will
correct you because God loves you! God will correct you because He knows it is
for your profit, and you will become a partaker of His holiness. It will set
you apart from the destructive ways of the world. Don’t let your flesh, other
people, nor the devil keep you from receiving God’s correction for your life.
You don’t need a shepherd who preaches only to be liked by everyone. You need
someone who will love you enough to tell you the whole truth and build you up.
Don’t despise God’s correction.
See You Again
Next Week For More “Weekly Wisdom”
May God’s Best
Be Yours!
Pastor Darryl
Baker