God of the 2x4

Discipline God of the 2x4 By Russ Kujawski 12/13/17 How many time when asked about God ,do you here “ God of Love, God of Grace, God of Patience, God of Mercy, God of Forgiveness. These are all great and wonderful things about God. What about the things that don’t sound so great, God of Wrath, Jealous God, God of Discipline” God of the 2x4” This study will be about the God of discipline. Using Hebrews 12: 5-11 in The ESV & Acts 26:12-15 I think this country The United States of America needs to be disciplined by God, Mostly because of the way society is going allowing behaviors that go against Gods moral and just laws calling right wrong and wrong right. Isa 5:20 “20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,    and shrewd in their own sight! I believe America is a woe nation or at least heading that way no matter who is in office the moral decay continues. Unfortunately you can’t legislate morality. It has to come from God thru Jesus Christ the Savior of the whole world for those who choose to believe. You may be wondering about the title “God of the 2x4” it comes from Hebrews 12: 5-11 in The ESV & Acts 26:12-15 ESV Acts 26:12-15 12 “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me.14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.  This is Paul telling of his conversion to Agrippa Just a couple of things to point out. • The bright light was probably the Glory of God shinning on Paul and the others with him. • Scripture tells us Paul and those with him fell to the ground And a voice speaking saying “‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? • It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’  A goad was a stick used to direct the oxen as they pulled a cart. Looking at this scripture and others of the same event I believe God had plans for Paul. Paul had imprisoned or approved of the killing of many Christians. Paul was being directed one way by God but Paul was not listening and bucked the directional signals God was giving him {kicking against the goads} God growing weary of Paul’s disobedience got out the 2x4 and got his attention. Does God have you attention or does he need the 2x4 of discipline to get it. God’s Discipline Hebrews 12 in the ESV translation. Hebrews 12:5-11 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,    nor be weary when reproved by him.6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,    and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. What is discipline for? It corrects a behavior, a character, attitude, lifestyle. Hebrews 12:5-6 are quotes from the Old Testament {Proverbs 3:11-12 and Job 5:17}. In verses 5-6 of Hebrews there are 3 words discipline, reprove, and chastise. They all can be considered a form of discipline. With the same end goal to share in Gods Holiness being renewed in knowledge in the image our creator. Putting on the new self, new nature (Colo 3:10) Gods discipline helps us to be directed to him who gave it all for us so that we can be holy as he is holy. Leviticus 20:7 Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God. Discipline will help us in our direction to consecrate ourselves, dedicate ourselves to God, to be set apart, to be partakers in his holiness . God used the 2x4 of his glory and knocked Paul to the ground and changed Paul’s direction. From a killer of Christians to one of the greatest messengers of the Gospel. A verse by verse look at Hebrews 12:5-11. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” • Forgotten: this word is an easy one “ don’t you remember “ forgotten what you might ask? well that’s in the next word • Exhortation: the calling, the encouragement. As one of my friends said in his blog the summons. • Addresses : Spoken to. This Greek word (dialegomai) comes from 2 other Greek words (dia) it’s a preposition like “to” or “with” the other word is (legō) the primary meaning is to say or to speak , other definition uses • affirm over, maintain • to teach • to exhort, advise, to command, direct • to point out with words, intend, mean, mean to say • to call by name, to call, name (God knows us when he calls he uses our name Isaiah 43:1 But now thus says the LORD,he who created you, O Jacob,he who formed you, O Israel:“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;I have called you by name, you are mine. • Russaphrase: Isaiah 43:1 But now thus says the LORD,he who created you, O Russ he who formed you, O Russ:“Fear not, for I have redeemed Russ;I have called Russ by name, you are mine. {Put your name in this make it personnel} • to speak out, speak of, mention • Sons : those whom God has called by name to be his children (male or female) When we respond to the calling ,to the summons and say “yes Lord” we receive a spirit (Holy Spirit) of adoption as sons (Children) of God and Cry “Abba Father” Romans8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” God makes us his own by adoption. • Regard Lightly: don’t take it as if it has no meaning. • Discipline: Chastisement or training, with the goal of changing character or behavior. Why Does God discipline you because he Loves you, he doesn’t want to see you live a life of sin you are blessed because you are being disciplined by God Job 5:17 “Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty. • Whom He receives: The word in the Greek for this is paradechomai: It means among other things “to acknowledge as ones own” it comes from two other words the first word is “para” it’s a preposition of ,with ,from ect. The second word is “dechomai “ it has several meanings “to take hold of, to take with the hand, to receive into one’s family to bring up or educate. God disciplines because he has received us into his family, he has taken hold of us ,he has taken us by hand he has adopted us into the family. Just so I’m clear when I say “family” I mean the Body of Christ that it’s the church. • Russaphrase: Hebrews 12:5 Don’t you remember the calling that spoke to you as sons and daughters, take it seriously the discipline of God, and don’t grow tired when being corrected. 6 God disciplines and corrects the ones he loves and takes hold of by hand • 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.  • Have to endure: Greek word “hypomenō” means: to remain i.e. abide, not recede or flee, to persevere: under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one's faith in Christ. We have to endure God’s discipline because we are his children, He loves us. When we stray off the path he has for us he will discipline us to bring us into a right relationship with him, back to the course he has directed for us to go. God’s discipline my be light as far just a little push or maybe being swallowed by a great fish. It could be that some events in your life are a form of discipline. Holdfast to your faith when the discipline of God is in effect. Running from Gods discipline can have eternal effect. • Father does not discipline: This is talking about an earthly father ,I know that some have a bad opinion of an earthly fathers and have a hard time associating to a heavenly father. When your earthly father discipline’s it should be out of love, for correction, and it also shows that there are consequences to your actions, It prepares you for a life in a world that doesn’t care. I’ve had my fair share of spankings and I didn’t turn into some horrible monsters as some that are against spankings would suggest. • Proverbs 13:24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son,but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.[fn] Or who loves him disciplines him early • Proverbs 22:15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,but the rod of discipline drives it far from him. • Proverbs23:13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. • Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom,but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. My commentary: What do these verses tell us about a fathers discipline? Because he loves the child, discipline starts at an early age, it corrects misbehaviors, a spanking will not kill the child, a child left undisciplined will bring shame to the mother better said to the family. And yes there are some fathers who are abusive they go above discipline to abusiveness. Eph 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. There is no instruction of the Lord when the discipline is abusiveness. • left without discipline: As I’m thinking on this phrase “left without discipline’’ in a worldly seance we are disciplined in various ways. If discipline is the means to correct a behavior that is contrary to the rule. Example” The speed limit is 65 mph and your going 75 mph and get a ticket, the fine is $100.00 that you have to pay. You have been disciplined in speeding. One would hope that will cause you to slow down and obey the speed limit.” Some of us need to be disciplined more than once. Another example: “Your disrespectful to your mother, she say’s wait till your father gets home or maybe she deals with the issue right then and there. When dad gets home you get a spanking ,side note: no need to put someone in a corner or in their room with all the toys, that’s not discipline. End of side note. Thru the spanking on the butt only the child should learn there are consequences for being disrespectful to their mother. I don’t think I’ve said this yet discipline should only be dealt out in Love, and not when your angry. Discipline comes in many forms. If a parent or loved one when the parent isn’t around who doesn’t discipline the child or maybe even an adult child, what is really being said? Is you are not worth my time, you were a mistake. Are you being disciplined by God in some form or another? If not then there are 2 possibility’s you’re perfect or you’re not his child. Only you truly know that answer. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. • earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them: It’s not often a parent get’s thanks for disciplining their child, from my own experience it’s not until the child’s adult life do they thank you for correcting a behavior. When our heavenly father disciplines us we can count it as a blessing because he considers us his. Psalms 94:12 “Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law,” • they disciplined us for a short time: A fathers discipline is for a short time not really sure what is meant by that and isn’t our fathers discipline for our good also? It should be! This is how I’ll explain this looking at the second half of this verse “he(GOD) disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.” A earthly father will discipline us as he thinks is best in order to prepare us for life in this world and of course our life in this world is but a moment compared to eternity, a short time. God disciplines his children for our own good so that we will share in Gods Holiness and that is an eternity. Using that thinking a earthly fathers discipline is but a moment in time with temporary affects where as Gods Discipline has an eternal affect. There is a potential for an earthly fathers discipline to have a eternal affect when his discipline leads to Christ. Last verse in this section of scripture For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. • The end results of discipline although unpleasant at the time has an end results of peace and righteousness when you learn from it. When a lesson is not learned then you’re bound to repeat it. I tiled this “God of the 2x4” when your walk is out of step with Gods direction for you and you’re not listening to the Holy Spirit and ignoring the goad’s God’s directional pricks, then watch out the 2x4 is coming he will get your attention. Like with the Israelites when you go your own way and ignore God he may just let you go that way so you can see that there is no peace, no righteousness in your own doing. Maybe that’s Gods discipline letting you do your own thing and you are walking into the 2x4. Maybe you are carrying the 2x4, by going your own way you end up punishing yourself. During your wondering God will take out the 2x4 from your back pack and say that’s far enough. He will get your attention! God Bless