WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.839 she had fallen at the last hurdle. 00:00:06.419 --> 00:00:08.800 She had trained for so long, 00:00:09.580 --> 00:00:12.060 so many hours of hard work, 00:00:12.220 --> 00:00:15.040 so many late nights, long days, 00:00:15.040 --> 00:00:18.500 being exhausted in body and in mind, 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:21.660 missing out on friends, on fun, 00:00:22.039 --> 00:00:26.339 all because she had a goal in mind. 00:00:26.339 --> 00:00:29.960 And now hardship had come, 00:00:30.379 --> 00:00:32.399 and it was all too much. 00:00:33.219 --> 00:00:36.380 Was it time to let go of that goal? 00:00:37.140 --> 00:00:40.719 Was she going to let her family down? 00:00:42.179 --> 00:00:44.200 As I was describing a situation, 00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:46.620 what kind of image came to mind? 00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:48.980 This is not a rhetorical question. 00:00:49.179 --> 00:00:50.579 Anybody want to throw out anything? 00:00:51.700 --> 00:00:53.600 What kind of situation were you imagining? 00:00:53.600 --> 00:00:56.679 Sorry, Janet, I didn't hear you. 00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:57.039 Dear sister. 00:00:57.939 --> 00:00:59.120 A sports person? 00:00:59.640 --> 00:01:00.399 Sports person? 00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:02.480 You can imagine a sports person, 00:01:02.560 --> 00:01:04.079 they've got a goal in mind, 00:01:04.140 --> 00:01:05.060 they're going to run a marathon, 00:01:05.980 --> 00:01:08.180 they've been training for this event, 00:01:08.340 --> 00:01:10.240 42Ks is a long way, 00:01:10.760 --> 00:01:12.900 and a person training for an event like this, 00:01:13.260 --> 00:01:17.640 they make choices not to spend time on certain things, 00:01:18.340 --> 00:01:20.939 they watch out for distractions, 00:01:20.939 --> 00:01:25.480 but then a hardship like an injury could hit. 00:01:26.039 --> 00:01:27.539 What other things were you imagining? 00:01:30.259 --> 00:01:30.780 Anyone? 00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:33.519 Maybe someone preparing for an exam, 00:01:34.780 --> 00:01:36.759 training hard, working hard, 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:40.780 pursuing marks to get into a university. 00:01:42.120 --> 00:01:44.680 Are you remembering when you worked hard 00:01:44.680 --> 00:01:46.280 to get where you are today? 00:01:46.280 --> 00:01:48.700 You know, there's that goal, 00:01:48.960 --> 00:01:51.280 and so everything else goes out the window. 00:01:51.719 --> 00:01:54.120 Exercise, friends, social time, 00:01:54.320 --> 00:01:57.719 the only choice is to study hard or work hard. 00:01:58.379 --> 00:02:00.060 But right at the end, 00:02:00.320 --> 00:02:03.879 a hardship like stress under pressure can hit. 00:02:05.420 --> 00:02:08.000 Hardships and difficult moments like this, 00:02:08.060 --> 00:02:09.000 they break people. 00:02:09.939 --> 00:02:12.420 You see injuries to professional sports people, 00:02:12.419 --> 00:02:15.639 they make people retire early. 00:02:16.599 --> 00:02:18.419 I've seen people change their university degrees 00:02:19.119 --> 00:02:21.519 because it just became too hard. 00:02:23.259 --> 00:02:26.219 I see the amount of half-started projects 00:02:26.219 --> 00:02:27.500 around my house. 00:02:28.399 --> 00:02:31.099 There's a towel rack I haven't finished replacing. 00:02:31.659 --> 00:02:34.339 There's a broken kitchen cupboard I need to fix. 00:02:34.859 --> 00:02:36.560 Because at one point or another, 00:02:37.479 --> 00:02:38.899 they just get hard. 00:02:38.900 --> 00:02:43.840 The author of the letter to the Hebrews 00:02:43.840 --> 00:02:46.800 describes the Christian life like this. 00:02:47.540 --> 00:02:50.520 It's been our slogan in that video we've been watching, 00:02:50.659 --> 00:02:52.379 you know, with Liv running. 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:56.840 The author to the Hebrews describes this Christian life 00:02:56.840 --> 00:02:57.920 as a race. 00:02:59.319 --> 00:03:02.900 God has chosen people for him through his grace, 00:03:03.040 --> 00:03:05.659 and now we run towards him. 00:03:06.480 --> 00:03:08.840 Being with Christ and becoming like him, 00:03:08.900 --> 00:03:10.580 that is the goal that we run towards. 00:03:11.939 --> 00:03:12.740 And on the way, 00:03:12.879 --> 00:03:15.020 we have plenty of choices to make. 00:03:15.780 --> 00:03:17.040 Choices to follow him, 00:03:17.379 --> 00:03:19.659 and not to just chase our own desires. 00:03:20.120 --> 00:03:21.980 We must watch out for sin, 00:03:22.740 --> 00:03:25.300 being aware of the dangers around us. 00:03:26.540 --> 00:03:27.920 And as we run this race, 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:29.219 there will be hardships. 00:03:30.759 --> 00:03:32.340 These hardships are different 00:03:32.340 --> 00:03:34.520 to getting a broken leg from a race. 00:03:34.520 --> 00:03:37.980 But as we pursue different goals, 00:03:38.240 --> 00:03:40.380 hardships might break us 00:03:40.380 --> 00:03:42.620 and make us finish early. 00:03:42.700 --> 00:03:43.900 Or will the hardship 00:03:43.900 --> 00:03:46.420 push us on to the prize? 00:03:47.580 --> 00:03:49.560 But what's the point of hardships 00:03:49.560 --> 00:03:50.480 and difficulty 00:03:50.480 --> 00:03:52.740 as we follow Jesus? 00:03:53.439 --> 00:03:57.620 How do we deal with frustrations and sin? 00:03:58.300 --> 00:03:59.500 Do we just say, 00:03:59.500 --> 00:04:00.500 come on James, 00:04:00.580 --> 00:04:01.219 you'll be fine, 00:04:01.319 --> 00:04:02.159 brush yourself off, 00:04:02.680 --> 00:04:03.479 Jesus loves you. 00:04:04.780 --> 00:04:07.379 And is that all that we do with hardships? 00:04:09.300 --> 00:04:12.360 How do we view hard times 00:04:12.360 --> 00:04:13.639 as Christians? 00:04:13.639 --> 00:04:16.079 Today, 00:04:16.419 --> 00:04:18.079 as we finish our series 00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:19.860 on the disciplines of grace, 00:04:19.919 --> 00:04:21.159 we're going to see how 00:04:21.159 --> 00:04:23.319 God encourages us 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:25.860 when hardship and difficult times hit. 00:04:26.159 --> 00:04:27.719 So please pray with me. 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:29.360 Heavenly Father, 00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:33.360 we have all experienced 00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:36.079 hard and painful times. 00:04:37.079 --> 00:04:38.959 And we know as people 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:41.319 still living 00:04:41.319 --> 00:04:42.279 that there will be 00:04:42.279 --> 00:04:44.240 more hard and difficult times to come. 00:04:45.620 --> 00:04:46.099 Father, 00:04:46.259 --> 00:04:47.579 help us to understand 00:04:47.579 --> 00:04:48.939 how you encourage us 00:04:48.939 --> 00:04:50.399 and how you are with us 00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:51.259 and love us 00:04:51.259 --> 00:04:52.279 in those times, Lord. 00:04:52.879 --> 00:04:53.360 Amen. 00:04:55.459 --> 00:04:57.019 The author of Hebrews, 00:04:57.259 --> 00:04:59.079 he writes to a church 00:04:59.079 --> 00:05:00.240 who it seems 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:01.639 were faced with 00:05:01.639 --> 00:05:03.180 much persecution. 00:05:04.180 --> 00:05:06.259 They hadn't been persecuted yet 00:05:06.259 --> 00:05:08.379 enough to shed blood, 00:05:08.379 --> 00:05:10.579 but they were likely faced 00:05:10.579 --> 00:05:12.480 with daily persecution. 00:05:13.639 --> 00:05:14.519 And they're faced 00:05:14.519 --> 00:05:15.379 with this question, 00:05:16.300 --> 00:05:17.300 we're under attack 00:05:17.300 --> 00:05:19.719 and so who is in charge? 00:05:20.759 --> 00:05:23.339 Is God really in charge? 00:05:24.420 --> 00:05:25.079 God, 00:05:25.180 --> 00:05:26.060 are you sovereign 00:05:26.060 --> 00:05:28.159 over our enemies? 00:05:28.500 --> 00:05:30.199 Or are they more powerful 00:05:30.199 --> 00:05:30.860 than you? 00:05:31.819 --> 00:05:32.740 And so the author 00:05:32.740 --> 00:05:33.959 describes Christianity 00:05:33.959 --> 00:05:35.639 as a race. 00:05:35.639 --> 00:05:37.539 one with challenges 00:05:37.539 --> 00:05:38.300 and difficulties, 00:05:38.500 --> 00:05:39.439 but with a joy, 00:05:39.879 --> 00:05:41.399 a joy of being 00:05:41.399 --> 00:05:42.319 with Christ. 00:05:42.740 --> 00:05:43.680 Have a look with me 00:05:43.680 --> 00:05:44.979 at Hebrews 12, 00:05:45.060 --> 00:05:45.539 verse 1. 00:05:47.599 --> 00:05:49.120 And let us run 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:50.219 with perseverance 00:05:50.219 --> 00:05:51.479 the race 00:05:51.479 --> 00:05:52.779 marked out for us, 00:05:53.579 --> 00:05:55.139 fixing our eyes 00:05:55.139 --> 00:05:55.839 on Jesus. 00:05:56.259 --> 00:05:56.879 And then down 00:05:56.879 --> 00:05:57.560 to verse 3, 00:05:58.019 --> 00:05:59.620 so that you will not 00:05:59.620 --> 00:06:00.419 grow weary 00:06:00.419 --> 00:06:02.060 and lose heart. 00:06:03.060 --> 00:06:04.199 There is temptation 00:06:04.199 --> 00:06:05.139 to grow weary 00:06:05.139 --> 00:06:06.000 and lose heart 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:07.219 with whatever goal 00:06:07.219 --> 00:06:07.899 you are chasing. 00:06:08.539 --> 00:06:09.500 And this is not a 00:06:09.500 --> 00:06:10.860 short-term goal, 00:06:11.039 --> 00:06:11.719 this is not even 00:06:11.719 --> 00:06:12.479 a long-term goal 00:06:12.479 --> 00:06:15.199 like a 42k marathon. 00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:18.279 This is a lifelong goal 00:06:18.279 --> 00:06:20.459 of following Jesus 00:06:20.459 --> 00:06:22.379 and being with Him. 00:06:23.899 --> 00:06:24.680 And the author 00:06:24.680 --> 00:06:25.379 of this letter 00:06:25.379 --> 00:06:26.680 encourages us 00:06:26.680 --> 00:06:27.740 as we run this race. 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:28.740 Verse 5, 00:06:30.039 --> 00:06:30.699 and have you 00:06:30.699 --> 00:06:31.839 completely forgotten 00:06:31.839 --> 00:06:32.680 this word 00:06:32.680 --> 00:06:33.419 of encouragement 00:06:33.420 --> 00:06:34.900 that addresses you 00:06:34.900 --> 00:06:35.740 as a father 00:06:35.740 --> 00:06:37.160 addresses his son. 00:06:37.540 --> 00:06:38.080 It says, 00:06:38.980 --> 00:06:39.400 My son, 00:06:39.500 --> 00:06:40.319 do not make light 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:41.400 of the Lord's discipline 00:06:41.400 --> 00:06:43.160 and do not lose heart 00:06:43.160 --> 00:06:44.280 when He rebukes you 00:06:44.280 --> 00:06:45.920 because the Lord 00:06:45.920 --> 00:06:47.140 disciplines the one 00:06:47.140 --> 00:06:47.840 He loves 00:06:47.840 --> 00:06:49.500 and He chastens 00:06:49.500 --> 00:06:50.860 everyone He accepts 00:06:50.860 --> 00:06:51.960 as a son. 00:06:53.540 --> 00:06:55.160 Father to child 00:06:55.160 --> 00:06:55.780 discipline 00:06:55.780 --> 00:06:56.879 is the way 00:06:56.879 --> 00:06:57.460 that God 00:06:57.460 --> 00:06:58.580 encourages us. 00:06:59.300 --> 00:07:00.100 And this encouragement 00:07:00.100 --> 00:07:00.860 is so we don't 00:07:00.860 --> 00:07:01.379 lose heart 00:07:01.379 --> 00:07:02.639 and so we don't 00:07:02.639 --> 00:07:03.300 grow weary. 00:07:03.899 --> 00:07:04.519 Now you might be 00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:04.860 thinking, 00:07:05.319 --> 00:07:06.000 discipline? 00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:08.399 Discipline is what's 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:09.480 supposed to encourage me. 00:07:10.279 --> 00:07:11.240 Maybe when you're 00:07:11.240 --> 00:07:11.659 in the midst 00:07:11.659 --> 00:07:12.300 of a hardship, 00:07:12.779 --> 00:07:14.019 maybe something like 00:07:14.019 --> 00:07:15.600 some comforting words, 00:07:15.740 --> 00:07:16.399 everything's going 00:07:16.399 --> 00:07:17.180 to be okay. 00:07:17.639 --> 00:07:19.000 That's what encourages you. 00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:21.079 Maybe a gift of food. 00:07:22.100 --> 00:07:22.360 Maybe, 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:23.060 you know, 00:07:23.139 --> 00:07:23.920 I mentioned a pile 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:24.319 of donuts 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:24.819 the other week. 00:07:25.219 --> 00:07:26.319 That's really encouraging 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:27.420 to me in difficult times. 00:07:27.420 --> 00:07:29.840 But here 00:07:29.840 --> 00:07:32.140 we see that God 00:07:32.140 --> 00:07:33.220 chooses 00:07:33.220 --> 00:07:34.140 discipline 00:07:34.140 --> 00:07:35.960 to encourage us. 00:07:37.379 --> 00:07:37.900 What then 00:07:37.900 --> 00:07:38.640 is discipline? 00:07:39.980 --> 00:07:40.580 Here we go. 00:07:40.640 --> 00:07:41.560 Here's a definition 00:07:41.560 --> 00:07:42.800 of discipline for us. 00:07:43.900 --> 00:07:44.400 Discipline 00:07:44.400 --> 00:07:45.220 is training 00:07:45.220 --> 00:07:46.319 or correction. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:47.379 Discipline 00:07:47.379 --> 00:07:48.819 is training 00:07:48.819 --> 00:07:49.860 or education 00:07:49.860 --> 00:07:51.600 by correction 00:07:51.600 --> 00:07:52.600 or punishment. 00:07:53.560 --> 00:07:54.300 Training 00:07:54.300 --> 00:07:54.920 or education 00:07:54.920 --> 00:07:55.860 by correction 00:07:55.860 --> 00:07:56.520 or punishment. 00:07:56.519 --> 00:07:57.539 And this is what 00:07:57.539 --> 00:07:58.519 God does for us 00:07:58.519 --> 00:07:59.180 and this is how 00:07:59.180 --> 00:08:00.379 he encourages us. 00:08:00.919 --> 00:08:01.659 Now the first thing 00:08:01.659 --> 00:08:02.240 to note 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:03.299 with discipline 00:08:03.299 --> 00:08:04.039 from God 00:08:04.039 --> 00:08:05.120 is that he 00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:06.079 does not 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:07.639 punish us. 00:08:09.539 --> 00:08:10.599 God does not 00:08:10.599 --> 00:08:11.759 see our sinful 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:12.240 behavior 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:13.339 and get angry 00:08:13.339 --> 00:08:14.479 and send hardship 00:08:14.479 --> 00:08:15.099 to us. 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:16.680 He does not go, 00:08:17.019 --> 00:08:17.159 you know, 00:08:17.219 --> 00:08:17.479 James, 00:08:17.599 --> 00:08:18.419 case in your sinning 00:08:18.419 --> 00:08:18.699 again, 00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:19.759 here's a lightning 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:21.459 bolt to punish you. 00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:23.839 God 00:08:23.839 --> 00:08:25.019 does not 00:08:25.019 --> 00:08:26.279 punish his people. 00:08:26.519 --> 00:08:27.419 Let me say that 00:08:27.419 --> 00:08:27.620 again. 00:08:28.019 --> 00:08:28.740 God does not 00:08:28.740 --> 00:08:29.859 punish his people 00:08:29.859 --> 00:08:31.279 who follow Jesus. 00:08:33.139 --> 00:08:34.340 But he disciplines 00:08:34.340 --> 00:08:35.559 us through hardship 00:08:35.559 --> 00:08:36.379 and adversity 00:08:36.379 --> 00:08:37.279 in our lives. 00:08:37.620 --> 00:08:38.480 These are painful 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:39.199 and difficult 00:08:39.199 --> 00:08:41.100 but our hardships 00:08:41.100 --> 00:08:42.399 are not punishments. 00:08:43.579 --> 00:08:44.319 God has 00:08:44.319 --> 00:08:45.240 met out 00:08:45.240 --> 00:08:46.480 all of the 00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:46.960 punishment 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:48.319 that we deserve 00:08:48.319 --> 00:08:49.379 on his son, 00:08:49.500 --> 00:08:49.759 Jesus. 00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:51.460 That is the cross. 00:08:51.559 --> 00:08:52.419 That is the place 00:08:52.419 --> 00:08:53.839 where our punishment 00:08:53.839 --> 00:08:54.639 has been dealt 00:08:54.639 --> 00:08:54.959 with. 00:08:56.019 --> 00:08:57.219 But he does 00:08:57.219 --> 00:08:58.159 discipline us. 00:08:58.939 --> 00:08:59.740 He corrects 00:08:59.740 --> 00:09:00.419 and trains 00:09:00.419 --> 00:09:01.479 our behavior 00:09:01.479 --> 00:09:02.360 but in a 00:09:02.360 --> 00:09:03.199 relationship with 00:09:03.199 --> 00:09:03.459 him. 00:09:05.139 --> 00:09:06.139 How do you feel 00:09:06.139 --> 00:09:07.339 with me saying 00:09:07.339 --> 00:09:07.919 that God 00:09:07.919 --> 00:09:09.039 trains and 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:10.319 educates 00:09:10.319 --> 00:09:11.019 and changes 00:09:11.019 --> 00:09:11.719 our behavior 00:09:11.719 --> 00:09:12.519 through discipline 00:09:12.519 --> 00:09:13.740 and correction? 00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:14.879 Do you feel 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:15.339 okay? 00:09:16.139 --> 00:09:17.059 Does this idea 00:09:17.059 --> 00:09:17.620 of discipline 00:09:17.620 --> 00:09:18.199 make you feel 00:09:18.199 --> 00:09:18.599 a little bit 00:09:18.599 --> 00:09:18.980 awkward? 00:09:18.980 --> 00:09:21.539 When we think 00:09:21.539 --> 00:09:22.139 of God 00:09:22.139 --> 00:09:22.899 as a father 00:09:22.899 --> 00:09:23.580 who disciplines 00:09:23.580 --> 00:09:24.120 us, 00:09:25.060 --> 00:09:25.779 it can be hard 00:09:25.779 --> 00:09:26.279 for us not 00:09:26.279 --> 00:09:26.899 to think of 00:09:26.899 --> 00:09:28.000 our own parents 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:29.659 or what we 00:09:29.659 --> 00:09:30.279 are like 00:09:30.279 --> 00:09:31.000 as parents 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:31.680 disciplining 00:09:31.680 --> 00:09:32.200 our children. 00:09:32.980 --> 00:09:33.480 And this can 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:34.080 go either way. 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:34.920 It could be, 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:35.300 oh look, 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:35.940 my father, 00:09:36.100 --> 00:09:36.840 he never 00:09:36.840 --> 00:09:37.580 disciplined me 00:09:37.580 --> 00:09:38.060 at all 00:09:38.060 --> 00:09:38.879 and I've 00:09:38.879 --> 00:09:39.279 turned out 00:09:39.279 --> 00:09:39.659 okay, 00:09:40.300 --> 00:09:41.200 so what's 00:09:41.200 --> 00:09:41.500 the point 00:09:41.500 --> 00:09:42.060 of discipline? 00:09:42.500 --> 00:09:43.019 I see no 00:09:43.019 --> 00:09:43.320 point. 00:09:43.800 --> 00:09:44.360 Or it could 00:09:44.360 --> 00:09:44.840 go the other 00:09:44.840 --> 00:09:45.120 way, 00:09:45.500 --> 00:09:46.139 my father 00:09:46.139 --> 00:09:46.820 was very 00:09:46.820 --> 00:09:47.259 firm. 00:09:47.259 --> 00:09:49.019 he always 00:09:49.019 --> 00:09:49.620 disciplined me 00:09:49.620 --> 00:09:50.220 very firmly 00:09:50.220 --> 00:09:50.759 and I've 00:09:50.759 --> 00:09:51.100 turned out 00:09:51.100 --> 00:09:51.480 okay, 00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:52.720 so of course 00:09:52.720 --> 00:09:53.819 I want 00:09:53.819 --> 00:09:54.299 God to 00:09:54.299 --> 00:09:54.600 discipline 00:09:54.600 --> 00:09:54.899 me. 00:09:57.360 --> 00:09:58.279 Or our 00:09:58.279 --> 00:09:59.200 view of 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:00.039 our fathers 00:10:00.039 --> 00:10:00.960 can be 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:01.379 painful. 00:10:02.740 --> 00:10:03.740 Maybe we 00:10:03.740 --> 00:10:04.360 don't have a 00:10:04.360 --> 00:10:04.740 relationship 00:10:04.740 --> 00:10:05.200 with our 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:05.679 father at 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:06.019 all or 00:10:06.019 --> 00:10:07.679 maybe some 00:10:07.679 --> 00:10:08.059 of us have 00:10:08.059 --> 00:10:08.659 painful 00:10:08.659 --> 00:10:10.120 memories of 00:10:10.120 --> 00:10:10.919 being disciplined 00:10:10.919 --> 00:10:11.759 by a father. 00:10:13.240 --> 00:10:14.039 Some of us 00:10:14.039 --> 00:10:15.179 might right 00:10:15.179 --> 00:10:16.360 now be in a 00:10:16.360 --> 00:10:16.860 difficult 00:10:16.860 --> 00:10:17.440 relationship 00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:17.879 with our 00:10:17.879 --> 00:10:18.259 fathers 00:10:18.259 --> 00:10:18.639 where 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:19.600 discipline 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:20.220 has crossed 00:10:20.220 --> 00:10:20.899 a boundary. 00:10:22.539 --> 00:10:23.340 For that 00:10:23.340 --> 00:10:23.840 person in 00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:24.399 that situation 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:25.000 it can be 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:25.580 hard to 00:10:25.580 --> 00:10:26.159 think that 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:26.659 God should 00:10:26.659 --> 00:10:27.120 discipline. 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:29.060 Discipline 00:10:29.060 --> 00:10:29.879 can only 00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:30.580 seem like 00:10:30.580 --> 00:10:31.120 a bad 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:32.060 word when 00:10:32.060 --> 00:10:32.440 we view 00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:32.940 discipline 00:10:32.940 --> 00:10:33.960 from our 00:10:33.960 --> 00:10:34.399 perspective 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:34.759 in the 00:10:34.759 --> 00:10:35.080 world. 00:10:36.379 --> 00:10:37.399 But here 00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:38.100 in Hebrews 00:10:38.100 --> 00:10:38.620 12 00:10:38.620 --> 00:10:39.899 discipline 00:10:39.899 --> 00:10:40.800 is about 00:10:40.800 --> 00:10:41.560 loving 00:10:41.560 --> 00:10:42.240 correction. 00:10:43.240 --> 00:10:43.539 It is 00:10:43.539 --> 00:10:44.000 guiding 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:44.840 and putting 00:10:44.840 --> 00:10:45.480 us back 00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:46.000 on the 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:46.620 path to 00:10:46.620 --> 00:10:46.879 follow 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:47.100 the 00:10:47.100 --> 00:10:47.460 Lord. 00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:49.940 Before we 00:10:49.940 --> 00:10:50.379 look at 00:10:50.379 --> 00:10:51.019 what God's 00:10:51.019 --> 00:10:51.320 discipline 00:10:51.320 --> 00:10:52.080 actually looks 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:52.500 like, 00:10:53.100 --> 00:10:53.580 the author 00:10:53.580 --> 00:10:54.120 wants to 00:10:54.120 --> 00:10:54.680 make sure 00:10:54.680 --> 00:10:55.000 that we 00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:55.379 get the 00:10:55.379 --> 00:10:56.480 most out 00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:56.800 of our 00:10:56.800 --> 00:10:57.259 correction. 00:10:58.840 --> 00:10:59.120 And so 00:10:59.120 --> 00:10:59.500 he says, 00:10:59.580 --> 00:11:00.159 my son, 00:11:00.980 --> 00:11:01.340 do not 00:11:01.340 --> 00:11:01.940 make light 00:11:01.940 --> 00:11:02.340 of the 00:11:02.340 --> 00:11:02.720 Lord's 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:03.139 discipline 00:11:03.139 --> 00:11:04.080 and do 00:11:04.080 --> 00:11:04.740 not lose 00:11:04.740 --> 00:11:05.320 heart when 00:11:05.320 --> 00:11:06.000 he rebukes 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:07.039 you because 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:07.740 the Lord 00:11:07.740 --> 00:11:08.639 disciplines 00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:09.240 the one 00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:09.840 he loves 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:11.100 and he 00:11:11.100 --> 00:11:11.519 chastens 00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:12.360 everyone he 00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:13.360 accepts as 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:13.920 his son. 00:11:13.919 --> 00:11:15.240 he disciplines 00:11:15.240 --> 00:11:15.919 because he 00:11:15.919 --> 00:11:16.399 loves. 00:11:17.319 --> 00:11:17.519 And the 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:17.919 first thing 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:18.319 he wants 00:11:18.319 --> 00:11:18.959 us to 00:11:18.959 --> 00:11:19.459 be aware 00:11:19.459 --> 00:11:20.219 of is 00:11:20.219 --> 00:11:21.099 not making 00:11:21.099 --> 00:11:22.179 light of 00:11:22.179 --> 00:11:22.639 discipline. 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:24.479 Making 00:11:24.479 --> 00:11:25.039 light of 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:25.339 God's 00:11:25.339 --> 00:11:25.620 discipline. 00:11:25.719 --> 00:11:26.000 This might 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:26.659 seem difficult 00:11:26.659 --> 00:11:27.299 to do. 00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:28.719 If God 00:11:28.719 --> 00:11:29.379 is disciplining 00:11:29.379 --> 00:11:30.279 us, how 00:11:30.279 --> 00:11:30.659 would we 00:11:30.659 --> 00:11:31.279 make light 00:11:31.279 --> 00:11:31.699 of it? 00:11:33.000 --> 00:11:34.399 I think 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:34.639 of a 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:35.299 child who 00:11:35.299 --> 00:11:36.259 disciplines 00:11:36.259 --> 00:11:37.699 the, a 00:11:37.699 --> 00:11:38.159 child who 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:39.319 disobeys the 00:11:39.319 --> 00:11:40.079 parent and 00:11:40.079 --> 00:11:40.679 is disciplined. 00:11:41.659 --> 00:11:42.339 They can get 00:11:42.339 --> 00:11:42.980 upset at the 00:11:42.980 --> 00:11:43.539 parent, how 00:11:43.539 --> 00:11:44.700 dare you 00:11:44.700 --> 00:11:45.740 discipline me? 00:11:46.259 --> 00:11:46.840 I was in 00:11:46.840 --> 00:11:47.720 the right, you 00:11:47.720 --> 00:11:48.240 were in the 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:48.560 wrong. 00:11:49.560 --> 00:11:50.200 Maybe you 00:11:50.200 --> 00:11:50.620 were like that 00:11:50.620 --> 00:11:51.159 as a child, 00:11:51.300 --> 00:11:51.720 maybe you've 00:11:51.720 --> 00:11:52.279 seen a child 00:11:52.279 --> 00:11:52.840 like that. 00:11:53.100 --> 00:11:53.519 I see some 00:11:53.519 --> 00:11:54.139 people smiling, 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:54.620 I don't want 00:11:54.620 --> 00:11:54.940 to know. 00:11:56.060 --> 00:11:57.480 A child in 00:11:57.480 --> 00:11:58.460 that position, 00:11:58.899 --> 00:11:59.379 thinking that 00:11:59.379 --> 00:11:59.779 they are 00:11:59.779 --> 00:12:01.000 right, they 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:01.360 will never 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:02.800 learn from 00:12:02.800 --> 00:12:03.259 discipline. 00:12:05.940 --> 00:12:06.300 And it's 00:12:06.300 --> 00:12:07.100 as easy for 00:12:07.100 --> 00:12:07.680 a parent to 00:12:07.680 --> 00:12:09.460 think, I've 00:12:09.460 --> 00:12:10.039 told my 00:12:10.039 --> 00:12:10.600 child the 00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:11.200 right way to 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:11.860 go, I've 00:12:11.860 --> 00:12:12.259 disciplined 00:12:12.259 --> 00:12:12.560 them. 00:12:12.980 --> 00:12:13.539 But five 00:12:13.539 --> 00:12:14.159 minutes later 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:14.720 they're doing 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:15.259 the exact 00:12:15.259 --> 00:12:16.060 same thing 00:12:16.060 --> 00:12:18.120 again, making 00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:18.639 light of 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:19.300 discipline and 00:12:19.300 --> 00:12:19.980 ignoring it. 00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:23.039 A child, a 00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:23.920 person, us 00:12:23.920 --> 00:12:24.399 in that 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:26.220 situation, we 00:12:26.220 --> 00:12:27.000 lack humility. 00:12:27.920 --> 00:12:28.639 We lack 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:29.399 self-awareness 00:12:29.399 --> 00:12:29.700 that we 00:12:29.700 --> 00:12:30.680 desperately need 00:12:30.680 --> 00:12:31.200 God to 00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:32.060 correct us. 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:33.879 Don't make 00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:34.899 light of the 00:12:34.899 --> 00:12:35.240 Lord's 00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:35.580 discipline. 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:37.240 Don't remain 00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:37.820 indifferent. 00:12:38.259 --> 00:12:38.720 Maybe you 00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:39.539 can vaguely 00:12:39.539 --> 00:12:40.460 see that God 00:12:40.460 --> 00:12:41.560 is calling you 00:12:41.560 --> 00:12:42.220 to change your 00:12:42.220 --> 00:12:42.740 behavior. 00:12:42.980 --> 00:12:43.980 But you 00:12:43.980 --> 00:12:44.480 don't actually 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:45.200 spend time 00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:46.159 meditating on 00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:46.440 what it 00:12:46.440 --> 00:12:46.820 means. 00:12:48.560 --> 00:12:49.240 It's not 00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:49.940 helpful for a 00:12:49.940 --> 00:12:50.519 child to 00:12:50.519 --> 00:12:50.980 ignore their 00:12:50.980 --> 00:12:51.279 parents' 00:12:51.420 --> 00:12:51.740 discipline. 00:12:52.220 --> 00:12:52.460 You know, the 00:12:52.460 --> 00:12:52.980 parent who 00:12:52.980 --> 00:12:54.120 says, don't 00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:55.080 touch that, it's 00:12:55.080 --> 00:12:55.460 hot. 00:12:56.639 --> 00:12:56.960 You know, you 00:12:56.960 --> 00:12:58.100 want your child to 00:12:58.100 --> 00:12:58.840 learn the lesson 00:12:58.840 --> 00:12:59.220 from the 00:12:59.220 --> 00:13:00.399 instruction and 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:00.879 not them 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:01.539 touching it. 00:13:02.500 --> 00:13:03.460 God does the 00:13:03.460 --> 00:13:03.960 same thing. 00:13:04.180 --> 00:13:05.639 Don't go down 00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:06.360 that path. 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:08.180 That is not the 00:13:08.180 --> 00:13:09.180 best way to go. 00:13:09.179 --> 00:13:10.679 you will hurt 00:13:10.679 --> 00:13:11.219 yourself. 00:13:12.419 --> 00:13:13.259 This is not 00:13:13.259 --> 00:13:13.859 the way I 00:13:13.859 --> 00:13:14.339 have for you. 00:13:14.439 --> 00:13:15.059 Don't ignore 00:13:15.059 --> 00:13:15.339 me. 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:17.879 And when we 00:13:17.879 --> 00:13:19.120 don't think 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:19.739 about the 00:13:19.739 --> 00:13:20.399 discipline that 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:21.059 God gives to 00:13:21.059 --> 00:13:21.419 us through 00:13:21.419 --> 00:13:22.639 hardship, we 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:23.139 don't learn 00:13:23.139 --> 00:13:23.539 from it. 00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:25.379 And when we 00:13:25.379 --> 00:13:26.179 refuse to 00:13:26.179 --> 00:13:27.179 consider our 00:13:27.179 --> 00:13:28.059 deep and 00:13:28.059 --> 00:13:28.919 difficult times, 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:29.799 our lives and 00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:30.519 relationships with 00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:32.019 God will just 00:13:32.019 --> 00:13:33.099 remain shallow. 00:13:33.100 --> 00:13:35.100 some of us 00:13:35.100 --> 00:13:36.040 can be 00:13:36.040 --> 00:13:36.860 indifferent to 00:13:36.860 --> 00:13:37.159 God's 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:39.240 discipline, but 00:13:39.240 --> 00:13:40.899 for others, they 00:13:40.899 --> 00:13:41.659 can be crushed 00:13:41.659 --> 00:13:42.220 by it. 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:43.180 They are 00:13:43.180 --> 00:13:44.279 overwhelmed and 00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:45.019 lose heart. 00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:45.580 And so the 00:13:45.580 --> 00:13:46.060 author of the 00:13:46.060 --> 00:13:46.519 Hebrews wants 00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:47.100 to make sure 00:13:47.100 --> 00:13:47.960 that you don't 00:13:47.960 --> 00:13:48.480 make light of 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:49.019 God's discipline, 00:13:49.460 --> 00:13:50.480 but don't lose 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:51.460 heart by his 00:13:51.460 --> 00:13:51.899 discipline. 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:53.320 Don't be like 00:13:53.320 --> 00:13:54.340 the runner who 00:13:54.340 --> 00:13:56.000 collapses on 00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:56.740 the track 00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:58.160 completing that 00:13:58.160 --> 00:13:58.560 race. 00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:01.300 Maybe we 00:14:01.300 --> 00:14:02.759 hate conflict, 00:14:03.100 --> 00:14:04.480 we're unable 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:05.200 to deal with 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:05.700 correction. 00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:07.139 Maybe you 00:14:07.139 --> 00:14:08.040 are afraid that 00:14:08.040 --> 00:14:08.580 if God is 00:14:08.580 --> 00:14:09.500 disciplining you, 00:14:09.659 --> 00:14:10.399 it means he's 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:11.320 angry with you. 00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:14.060 How do we 00:14:14.060 --> 00:14:14.840 face discipline 00:14:14.840 --> 00:14:15.600 from God 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:17.820 without losing 00:14:17.820 --> 00:14:19.259 heart and 00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:20.000 without making 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:20.540 light of it? 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:22.320 The Lord 00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:23.899 disciplines the 00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:25.440 one he loves. 00:14:26.440 --> 00:14:27.100 And he 00:14:27.100 --> 00:14:27.680 chastens 00:14:27.680 --> 00:14:28.759 everyone he 00:14:28.759 --> 00:14:29.540 accepts as 00:14:29.540 --> 00:14:30.060 his son. 00:14:30.779 --> 00:14:31.340 God 00:14:31.340 --> 00:14:32.660 disciplines the 00:14:32.659 --> 00:14:33.039 one he 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:33.419 loves. 00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:35.659 This is a 00:14:35.659 --> 00:14:36.339 strange 00:14:36.339 --> 00:14:37.179 doctrine. 00:14:38.079 --> 00:14:38.959 It's a really 00:14:38.959 --> 00:14:39.959 difficult thing, 00:14:40.079 --> 00:14:40.980 but it's also a 00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:41.779 wonderful truth. 00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:42.319 On the one 00:14:42.319 --> 00:14:43.719 side, God 00:14:43.719 --> 00:14:45.019 disciplines, but 00:14:45.019 --> 00:14:46.319 it's only because 00:14:46.319 --> 00:14:47.360 he loves. 00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:49.579 God 00:14:49.579 --> 00:14:50.079 disciplines 00:14:50.079 --> 00:14:51.519 because he 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:52.039 loves. 00:14:52.039 --> 00:14:52.600 God 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:54.019 doesn't 00:14:54.019 --> 00:14:54.860 discipline out 00:14:54.860 --> 00:14:55.459 of wrath 00:14:55.459 --> 00:14:56.639 or anger. 00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:57.379 He's not 00:14:57.379 --> 00:14:58.159 punishing. 00:14:58.620 --> 00:14:59.500 It is truly 00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:00.779 only from love 00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:02.279 because he 00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:03.059 has made us 00:15:03.059 --> 00:15:03.600 his children 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:04.100 and brought 00:15:04.100 --> 00:15:04.539 us into 00:15:04.539 --> 00:15:05.220 his family. 00:15:05.879 --> 00:15:06.519 One where 00:15:06.519 --> 00:15:07.220 he is the 00:15:07.220 --> 00:15:08.220 father and 00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:09.179 he cares for 00:15:09.179 --> 00:15:09.580 us. 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:10.740 He cares for 00:15:10.740 --> 00:15:11.820 our instruction. 00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:14.360 The author 00:15:14.360 --> 00:15:15.059 to the Hebrews 00:15:15.059 --> 00:15:16.120 encourages this 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:16.740 church when they 00:15:16.740 --> 00:15:17.059 are under 00:15:17.059 --> 00:15:17.500 attack. 00:15:18.500 --> 00:15:19.440 He reminds 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:19.940 them of 00:15:19.940 --> 00:15:21.000 these promises. 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:22.240 Don't lose 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:22.620 heart. 00:15:23.019 --> 00:15:23.519 Don't make 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:24.200 light of God's 00:15:24.200 --> 00:15:24.559 discipline. 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:26.000 He will guide 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:26.679 you in your 00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:27.959 growth and 00:15:27.959 --> 00:15:28.379 he does 00:15:28.379 --> 00:15:29.199 this all 00:15:29.199 --> 00:15:30.079 because he 00:15:30.079 --> 00:15:30.679 loves you. 00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:32.219 So we 00:15:32.219 --> 00:15:32.579 come to 00:15:32.579 --> 00:15:33.819 the question, 00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:35.319 how? 00:15:35.879 --> 00:15:36.879 How does 00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:38.579 God actually 00:15:38.579 --> 00:15:39.399 discipline us? 00:15:40.719 --> 00:15:41.620 Hebrews 12 00:15:41.620 --> 00:15:42.279 verse 7. 00:15:43.559 --> 00:15:44.039 Endure 00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:45.719 hardship as 00:15:45.719 --> 00:15:46.219 discipline. 00:15:47.259 --> 00:15:47.839 Just those 00:15:47.839 --> 00:15:48.379 simple four 00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:48.799 words, 00:15:49.219 --> 00:15:49.539 endure 00:15:49.539 --> 00:15:50.639 hardship as 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:51.079 discipline. 00:15:52.019 --> 00:15:52.799 Hardship. 00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:54.919 Adversity. 00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:56.699 This is 00:15:56.699 --> 00:15:57.199 God's 00:15:57.199 --> 00:15:57.599 discipline. 00:15:57.740 --> 00:15:58.059 This is 00:15:58.059 --> 00:15:59.959 his correction 00:15:59.959 --> 00:16:01.199 or training 00:16:01.199 --> 00:16:02.099 for us. 00:16:03.259 --> 00:16:03.699 Now remember 00:16:03.699 --> 00:16:04.120 the Hebrew 00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:04.740 church were 00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:05.620 being persecuted. 00:16:05.819 --> 00:16:05.979 They were 00:16:05.979 --> 00:16:06.699 being attacked. 00:16:08.719 --> 00:16:10.379 Is it 00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:10.839 that God 00:16:10.839 --> 00:16:11.299 is doing 00:16:11.299 --> 00:16:13.219 that through 00:16:13.219 --> 00:16:14.379 fatherly love 00:16:14.379 --> 00:16:15.120 to correct 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:15.939 this church? 00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:18.459 It doesn't 00:16:18.459 --> 00:16:19.120 say that God 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:20.159 looks on while 00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:21.099 his people are 00:16:21.099 --> 00:16:21.919 being attacked 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:22.659 and going 00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:23.339 through hardship. 00:16:23.340 --> 00:16:25.080 hardship, but 00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:25.500 that the 00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:26.139 Lord is 00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:26.720 the one 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:27.500 who disciplines. 00:16:28.340 --> 00:16:29.060 He is 00:16:29.060 --> 00:16:29.480 the one 00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:30.060 who chastens. 00:16:30.220 --> 00:16:30.680 He is 00:16:30.680 --> 00:16:31.120 the one 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:31.840 who corrects 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:32.460 and teaches. 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:33.379 Does that 00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:34.399 mean that 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:34.899 in some 00:16:34.899 --> 00:16:36.660 form God 00:16:36.660 --> 00:16:37.259 is in 00:16:37.259 --> 00:16:38.740 charge and 00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:39.759 responsible for 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:40.660 all hardship? 00:16:41.660 --> 00:16:42.320 Is it 00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:43.879 possible that 00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:44.440 God not 00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:46.320 only allows 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:48.019 hardship, but 00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:49.340 actually sends 00:16:49.340 --> 00:16:50.519 hardship to 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:52.539 us, to 00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:53.100 draw us 00:16:53.100 --> 00:16:53.699 closer to 00:16:53.699 --> 00:16:54.199 him, to 00:16:54.199 --> 00:16:55.860 correct and 00:16:55.860 --> 00:16:56.439 to train 00:16:56.439 --> 00:16:56.840 us? 00:16:58.340 --> 00:16:59.439 Is God 00:16:59.439 --> 00:17:00.720 in control 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:01.500 of all 00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:02.039 hardship? 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:03.460 Is he in 00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:04.259 control of 00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:05.539 all of the 00:17:05.539 --> 00:17:06.339 difficult seasons 00:17:06.339 --> 00:17:07.139 that we face 00:17:07.139 --> 00:17:07.920 and experience 00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:08.359 in life? 00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:09.400 Of sickness 00:17:09.400 --> 00:17:10.660 and loss? 00:17:11.579 --> 00:17:12.319 Of losing 00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:13.139 a job? 00:17:13.460 --> 00:17:14.299 A relationship 00:17:14.299 --> 00:17:15.400 of hurt 00:17:15.400 --> 00:17:16.700 and brokenness? 00:17:16.700 --> 00:17:18.819 Does God 00:17:18.819 --> 00:17:19.640 just allow 00:17:19.640 --> 00:17:20.279 these things 00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:20.779 to happen 00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:21.920 or is he 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:23.200 in some 00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:24.440 way involved 00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:24.840 in them 00:17:24.840 --> 00:17:25.220 all? 00:17:26.860 --> 00:17:27.559 Imagine 00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:28.620 two types 00:17:28.620 --> 00:17:29.299 of surgeons 00:17:29.299 --> 00:17:30.039 for me. 00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:32.559 There's 00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:33.620 the emergency 00:17:33.620 --> 00:17:34.380 room surgeon 00:17:34.380 --> 00:17:36.059 and then there 00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:37.120 is the elective 00:17:37.120 --> 00:17:38.440 surgery surgeon 00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:39.120 and I'll have 00:17:39.120 --> 00:17:40.059 our surgeon 00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:40.840 correct me 00:17:40.840 --> 00:17:41.400 later if I'm 00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:41.759 wrong about 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:42.019 this. 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:43.299 So we've 00:17:43.299 --> 00:17:43.740 got our two 00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:44.299 surgeons, the 00:17:44.299 --> 00:17:45.140 emergency room 00:17:45.140 --> 00:17:45.920 and then the 00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:47.380 elective planned 00:17:47.380 --> 00:17:47.820 surgery. 00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:48.320 The first 00:17:48.320 --> 00:17:49.380 emergency, the 00:17:49.380 --> 00:17:50.240 first one, the 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:51.000 emergency room 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:52.800 surgeon, a 00:17:52.800 --> 00:17:53.580 person comes 00:17:53.580 --> 00:17:55.320 in with a 00:17:55.320 --> 00:17:56.100 mangled leg. 00:17:56.820 --> 00:17:57.700 Let's think of 00:17:57.700 --> 00:17:58.140 the situation, 00:17:58.259 --> 00:17:58.600 what's happened 00:17:58.600 --> 00:17:58.900 to them? 00:18:01.420 --> 00:18:02.200 Sorry, bike 00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:02.520 accident. 00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:02.980 Thank you, 00:18:03.020 --> 00:18:03.140 Nolly. 00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:04.420 But let's go, 00:18:04.560 --> 00:18:05.160 just a simple 00:18:05.160 --> 00:18:05.720 bike accident. 00:18:05.860 --> 00:18:06.320 Okay, that's 00:18:06.320 --> 00:18:06.840 nice, simple. 00:18:07.520 --> 00:18:08.160 They've fallen 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:08.900 off their bike 00:18:08.900 --> 00:18:09.800 and their leg 00:18:09.800 --> 00:18:10.780 is damaged. 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:11.840 The emergency 00:18:11.840 --> 00:18:14.000 surgeon operates 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:14.880 to save the 00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:15.720 leg and fix 00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:16.500 the situation. 00:18:18.039 --> 00:18:18.740 Okay, and 00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:20.960 then it's a 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:21.779 very different 00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:22.759 from my limited 00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:23.640 understanding of 00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:24.599 surgery, which 00:18:24.599 --> 00:18:25.099 I have no 00:18:25.099 --> 00:18:25.779 understanding other 00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:26.319 than that TV 00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:26.839 show House. 00:18:28.359 --> 00:18:29.420 Imagine on the 00:18:29.420 --> 00:18:30.359 other side with 00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:31.259 the elective 00:18:31.259 --> 00:18:32.339 surgery surgeon, 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:33.460 a patient has 00:18:33.460 --> 00:18:36.180 come in with a 00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:37.140 cancerous growth 00:18:37.140 --> 00:18:39.200 on their leg and 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:40.119 the surgeon has 00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:40.859 planned out what 00:18:40.859 --> 00:18:41.799 he needs to do, 00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:43.099 he's taken 00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:45.859 MRIs, x-rays, 00:18:46.460 --> 00:18:47.419 multiple scans, 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:49.099 and he can see 00:18:49.099 --> 00:18:49.859 the growth inside 00:18:49.859 --> 00:18:51.519 the leg and 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:52.220 they plan out 00:18:52.220 --> 00:18:52.539 what they're 00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:53.240 going to do, 00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:54.319 they draw on 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:55.460 the leg what 00:18:55.460 --> 00:18:55.960 they're going to 00:18:55.960 --> 00:18:57.440 do, and he 00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:58.299 takes a scalpel, 00:18:59.159 --> 00:18:59.579 presumably, 00:19:00.399 --> 00:19:01.500 slices the 00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:02.599 leg, removes 00:19:02.599 --> 00:19:03.240 the cancerous 00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:03.980 growth, and 00:19:03.980 --> 00:19:04.539 then fixes it 00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:04.960 back up. 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:07.339 So we've got 00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:07.680 these two 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:08.119 options. 00:19:08.859 --> 00:19:10.480 One responds 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:11.220 to the damage 00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:12.360 and fixes it, 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:13.860 one surgeon 00:19:13.860 --> 00:19:15.740 plans it, 00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:17.779 there is pain, 00:19:18.099 --> 00:19:19.160 but there is 00:19:19.160 --> 00:19:20.160 a healing as 00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:20.380 well. 00:19:22.059 --> 00:19:23.160 Which of 00:19:23.160 --> 00:19:24.000 these two is 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:24.860 our God-like 00:19:24.860 --> 00:19:25.759 when it comes 00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:26.339 to hardship 00:19:26.339 --> 00:19:26.940 and pain? 00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:29.279 Is God-like 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:30.079 the elective, 00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:30.880 is God-like 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:31.460 the emergency 00:19:31.460 --> 00:19:32.200 room surgeon 00:19:32.200 --> 00:19:33.539 who sees 00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:34.279 our pain 00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:34.920 and just 00:19:34.920 --> 00:19:35.960 fixes us up, 00:19:36.220 --> 00:19:36.860 heals us, 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:37.339 and goes, 00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:38.000 there you go, 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:39.880 you'll be fine, 00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:40.700 go on. 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:42.600 Or is 00:19:42.600 --> 00:19:43.640 God sovereign 00:19:43.640 --> 00:19:44.460 and in 00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:45.100 control? 00:19:45.740 --> 00:19:46.240 He has 00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:47.140 planned out 00:19:47.140 --> 00:19:47.820 what needs 00:19:47.820 --> 00:19:48.380 to happen 00:19:48.380 --> 00:19:48.940 to us, 00:19:49.380 --> 00:19:50.200 and the 00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:50.680 pain of 00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:51.040 hardship 00:19:51.040 --> 00:19:51.560 will hurt 00:19:51.560 --> 00:19:51.760 us, 00:19:52.020 --> 00:19:53.280 much like 00:19:53.280 --> 00:19:54.400 the scalpel 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:55.300 to the 00:19:55.300 --> 00:19:55.580 leg. 00:19:56.940 --> 00:19:57.680 But he 00:19:57.680 --> 00:19:58.500 brings healing 00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:59.000 through that 00:19:59.000 --> 00:19:59.400 as well. 00:20:01.020 --> 00:20:01.620 God is 00:20:01.620 --> 00:20:02.700 not a 00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:03.240 passive 00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:03.880 observer. 00:20:04.560 --> 00:20:05.280 He doesn't 00:20:05.280 --> 00:20:06.600 sit idly by 00:20:06.600 --> 00:20:07.280 while we 00:20:07.280 --> 00:20:07.940 are being 00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:08.520 attacked, 00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:09.900 while we 00:20:09.900 --> 00:20:10.500 are under 00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:11.079 hardship. 00:20:11.660 --> 00:20:12.240 The picture 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:13.180 of God 00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:13.639 here is 00:20:13.639 --> 00:20:14.559 a father 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:14.960 who is 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:15.559 intimately 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:16.299 involved 00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:17.079 in raising 00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:17.680 up his 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:18.059 children. 00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:19.680 He is 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:20.160 the one 00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:20.519 who is 00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:21.079 disciplining. 00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:22.019 God is 00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:22.460 the one 00:20:22.460 --> 00:20:22.960 who rules 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:23.259 over 00:20:23.259 --> 00:20:23.559 sinners. 00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:24.220 He is 00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:24.859 the one 00:20:24.859 --> 00:20:26.160 who is 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:26.720 in control 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:27.200 of those 00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:27.420 who are 00:20:27.420 --> 00:20:27.960 persecuting 00:20:27.960 --> 00:20:28.460 the church. 00:20:29.099 --> 00:20:29.779 Those people 00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:30.180 are still 00:20:30.180 --> 00:20:30.599 guilty, 00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:32.420 but God 00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:33.180 uses them 00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:33.839 to work 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:34.440 out his 00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:34.940 loving 00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:35.819 purpose 00:20:35.819 --> 00:20:36.799 of 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:37.319 disciplining 00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:37.559 this 00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:37.899 church, 00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:38.200 of 00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:38.559 growing 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:38.859 them 00:20:38.859 --> 00:20:39.179 up 00:20:39.179 --> 00:20:39.639 in 00:20:39.639 --> 00:20:39.839 their 00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:40.240 faith. 00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:41.859 And he 00:20:41.859 --> 00:20:42.319 does the 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:42.539 same 00:20:42.539 --> 00:20:43.079 for us. 00:20:44.439 --> 00:20:45.059 I was 00:20:45.059 --> 00:20:45.599 really sick 00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:45.919 a couple 00:20:45.919 --> 00:20:46.200 of weeks 00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:46.460 ago. 00:20:47.399 --> 00:20:47.639 What 00:20:47.639 --> 00:20:48.079 started 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:48.519 as a 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:48.980 cold 00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:49.679 grew 00:20:49.679 --> 00:20:49.960 into 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:50.200 a 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:50.480 flu 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:50.939 and 00:20:50.939 --> 00:20:51.099 then 00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:51.339 very 00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:51.720 quickly 00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:52.439 full-blown 00:20:52.439 --> 00:20:52.740 man 00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:53.000 flu. 00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:54.259 Ladies, 00:20:54.359 --> 00:20:54.500 you'll 00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:54.919 know how 00:20:54.919 --> 00:20:55.539 bad 00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:55.759 this 00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:56.059 is. 00:20:56.899 --> 00:20:57.200 Turned 00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:57.339 into 00:20:57.339 --> 00:20:57.919 a chest 00:20:57.919 --> 00:20:58.439 infection 00:20:58.439 --> 00:20:59.960 and four 00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:00.339 of us 00:21:00.339 --> 00:21:00.839 at home 00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:01.279 were hit 00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:01.639 really 00:21:01.639 --> 00:21:02.059 hard. 00:21:02.679 --> 00:21:03.059 Alyssa 00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:03.740 unfortunately 00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:04.399 was hit 00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:05.019 really 00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:05.480 bad, 00:21:05.600 --> 00:21:06.100 but she 00:21:06.100 --> 00:21:06.440 was the 00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:06.900 least 00:21:06.900 --> 00:21:07.420 sick 00:21:07.420 --> 00:21:09.060 somehow. 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:09.600 She 00:21:09.600 --> 00:21:10.560 wasn't 00:21:10.560 --> 00:21:10.800 well. 00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:11.380 I 00:21:11.380 --> 00:21:11.700 couldn't 00:21:11.700 --> 00:21:11.980 do 00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:12.360 much 00:21:12.360 --> 00:21:12.660 at the 00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:13.000 time 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:13.480 but pray 00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:14.080 to God, 00:21:14.420 --> 00:21:14.860 help me 00:21:14.860 --> 00:21:15.420 get better. 00:21:15.580 --> 00:21:15.759 God 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:16.060 help me 00:21:16.060 --> 00:21:16.540 get better. 00:21:18.120 --> 00:21:18.440 Now, 00:21:18.600 --> 00:21:19.320 God 00:21:19.320 --> 00:21:19.800 was in 00:21:19.800 --> 00:21:20.100 control 00:21:20.100 --> 00:21:20.400 of that 00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:21.040 situation. 00:21:22.100 --> 00:21:22.560 I can't 00:21:22.560 --> 00:21:22.880 see the 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:23.180 exact 00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:23.640 connection 00:21:23.640 --> 00:21:23.980 between 00:21:23.980 --> 00:21:24.360 being 00:21:24.360 --> 00:21:24.840 sick 00:21:24.840 --> 00:21:27.180 and my 00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:27.560 sin, 00:21:27.900 --> 00:21:28.420 but looking 00:21:28.420 --> 00:21:28.880 back, 00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:29.380 it's made 00:21:29.380 --> 00:21:30.140 me wonder, 00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:30.840 it's made 00:21:30.840 --> 00:21:31.440 me wonder, 00:21:32.560 --> 00:21:33.320 was God 00:21:33.320 --> 00:21:34.240 trying to 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:34.799 teach me 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:35.160 something 00:21:35.160 --> 00:21:35.500 then? 00:21:36.579 --> 00:21:37.200 Was he 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:37.839 disciplining 00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:38.400 me because 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:39.120 I don't 00:21:39.120 --> 00:21:39.720 depend on 00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:40.799 him and 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:41.440 I depend 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:41.980 on 00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:42.920 antibiotics, 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:45.039 just the 00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:45.420 fact that 00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:45.759 I will 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:46.240 get better? 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:48.900 I still 00:21:48.900 --> 00:21:49.420 think I'm 00:21:49.420 --> 00:21:49.740 physically 00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:50.299 capable. 00:21:51.079 --> 00:21:51.440 Do I 00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:52.220 have an 00:21:52.220 --> 00:21:53.019 idol of 00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:54.259 health and 00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:55.240 self-control 00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:56.839 that God 00:21:56.839 --> 00:21:57.380 was just 00:21:57.380 --> 00:21:58.079 trying to 00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:58.960 break down 00:21:58.960 --> 00:21:59.859 so that I 00:21:59.859 --> 00:22:00.539 depended on 00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:00.779 him? 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:03.039 I wonder 00:22:03.039 --> 00:22:03.559 if God 00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:03.879 uses 00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:04.460 hardships 00:22:04.460 --> 00:22:05.700 because we 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:06.599 just don't 00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:07.119 listen. 00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:08.839 Does God 00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:09.759 use hardships 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:11.139 because it 00:22:11.139 --> 00:22:11.720 is too 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:12.519 easy to 00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:13.299 ignore him 00:22:13.299 --> 00:22:14.539 when all 00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:15.079 is going 00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:15.480 well? 00:22:16.440 --> 00:22:16.940 And he 00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:17.399 needs to 00:22:17.399 --> 00:22:18.179 remind us 00:22:18.179 --> 00:22:18.839 of how 00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:19.279 much we 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:19.579 need to 00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:20.139 depend upon 00:22:20.139 --> 00:22:20.419 him. 00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:22.440 We do 00:22:22.440 --> 00:22:22.799 like to 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:23.139 draw the 00:22:23.139 --> 00:22:23.639 connection, 00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:24.779 God is 00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:25.339 sending this 00:22:25.339 --> 00:22:25.819 because of 00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:26.419 my sin, 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:27.399 this hardship 00:22:27.399 --> 00:22:28.259 is all of 00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:28.740 my fault, 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:29.119 I'm being 00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:29.679 punished for 00:22:29.679 --> 00:22:30.000 this. 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:32.140 can we 00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:33.220 tell always 00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:33.619 if a 00:22:33.619 --> 00:22:34.000 particular 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:34.480 hardship 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:35.720 has come 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:36.059 from a 00:22:36.059 --> 00:22:36.420 specific 00:22:36.420 --> 00:22:36.900 sin in 00:22:36.900 --> 00:22:37.400 our life? 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:38.319 Well, 00:22:38.359 --> 00:22:38.700 we might 00:22:38.700 --> 00:22:39.000 be able 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:39.220 to, 00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:39.660 the Holy 00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:40.099 Spirit 00:22:40.099 --> 00:22:41.539 might bring 00:22:41.539 --> 00:22:42.079 it to 00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:42.299 our 00:22:42.299 --> 00:22:42.799 attention, 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:43.980 but I 00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:44.259 think 00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:45.000 chasing 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:45.980 reasons for 00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:46.480 hardship 00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:47.319 can be 00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:47.920 a danger. 00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:49.000 It can 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:49.440 make our 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:50.940 lives much 00:22:50.940 --> 00:22:51.779 like a 00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:52.119 Western 00:22:52.119 --> 00:22:52.779 version of 00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:53.140 karma, 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:53.920 where we 00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:54.400 think this 00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:55.160 hardship has 00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:55.740 happened because 00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:56.440 of my sin, 00:22:56.779 --> 00:22:57.640 I'm at fault 00:22:57.640 --> 00:22:58.120 and God 00:22:58.120 --> 00:22:58.540 has sent 00:22:58.540 --> 00:22:58.920 this to 00:22:58.920 --> 00:22:59.140 me, 00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:00.520 this pain 00:23:00.520 --> 00:23:00.980 is because 00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:01.340 of that 00:23:01.340 --> 00:23:01.800 action I 00:23:01.800 --> 00:23:02.100 did, 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:02.900 but I 00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:03.400 think this 00:23:03.400 --> 00:23:04.100 is dangerous 00:23:04.100 --> 00:23:05.080 because 00:23:05.080 --> 00:23:06.560 Jesus has 00:23:06.560 --> 00:23:07.180 taken our 00:23:07.180 --> 00:23:07.980 punishment for 00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:08.720 our sins, 00:23:09.580 --> 00:23:10.259 and we 00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:10.980 don't have 00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:12.259 to bear 00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:13.020 some of 00:23:13.020 --> 00:23:13.500 the pain 00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:13.920 for our 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:14.220 sin, 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.400 Jesus has 00:23:15.400 --> 00:23:16.040 taken that, 00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:18.740 but every 00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:19.900 expression of 00:23:19.900 --> 00:23:21.580 discipline is 00:23:21.580 --> 00:23:22.280 intended to 00:23:22.280 --> 00:23:23.020 bring us to 00:23:23.020 --> 00:23:23.560 be more like 00:23:23.560 --> 00:23:23.980 Jesus. 00:23:25.040 --> 00:23:25.240 Now, 00:23:25.540 --> 00:23:26.400 during a 00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:26.840 moment of 00:23:26.840 --> 00:23:27.259 hardship, 00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:28.059 we often 00:23:28.059 --> 00:23:28.720 will not 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:29.559 see the 00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:29.940 point. 00:23:30.740 --> 00:23:31.379 We won't 00:23:31.379 --> 00:23:32.019 see what 00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:32.379 God is 00:23:32.379 --> 00:23:32.700 doing. 00:23:34.140 --> 00:23:35.099 But during 00:23:35.099 --> 00:23:35.660 hardship, 00:23:35.900 --> 00:23:36.660 it should be 00:23:36.660 --> 00:23:37.240 enough for 00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:38.119 us to 00:23:38.119 --> 00:23:38.759 know that 00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:39.680 God is 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:40.539 in control, 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:41.779 and this 00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:43.819 hardship is 00:23:43.819 --> 00:23:44.720 somehow for 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:45.180 our good. 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:47.740 The author 00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:48.579 to the 00:23:48.579 --> 00:23:49.240 Hebrews gives 00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:49.700 us an 00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:50.200 encouragement, 00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:51.799 God is in 00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:52.619 control of 00:23:52.619 --> 00:23:53.420 all things, 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:54.980 even 00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:55.559 hardships, 00:23:55.559 --> 00:23:55.679 hardships, 00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:57.279 and he 00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:57.859 uses them 00:23:57.859 --> 00:23:58.279 for our 00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:58.879 good to 00:23:58.879 --> 00:23:59.960 guide and 00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:00.799 grow us. 00:24:01.899 --> 00:24:02.139 The 00:24:02.139 --> 00:24:03.000 encouragement and 00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:03.559 comfort here 00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:04.299 must come from 00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:04.879 the fact that 00:24:04.879 --> 00:24:06.619 God is in 00:24:06.619 --> 00:24:07.079 control. 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:10.039 So God 00:24:10.039 --> 00:24:11.839 encourages us 00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:12.619 to continue 00:24:12.619 --> 00:24:13.379 the race, 00:24:13.579 --> 00:24:14.440 and he uses 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:15.720 hard times to 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.440 discipline us. 00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:18.200 But why? 00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:18.299 Why? 00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:20.740 Why does he 00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:22.259 use hard and 00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:23.279 painful things? 00:24:24.659 --> 00:24:25.299 Verse 7 00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:25.659 again, 00:24:26.859 --> 00:24:27.619 God is 00:24:27.619 --> 00:24:28.259 treating you 00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:28.779 as his 00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:29.220 children. 00:24:30.180 --> 00:24:30.680 For what 00:24:30.680 --> 00:24:31.599 children are 00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:32.500 not disciplined 00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:33.019 by their 00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:33.379 father? 00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:34.879 If you are 00:24:34.879 --> 00:24:35.480 not disciplined, 00:24:35.700 --> 00:24:36.180 and everyone 00:24:36.180 --> 00:24:36.779 undergoes 00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:37.159 discipline, 00:24:37.559 --> 00:24:38.319 then you are 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:39.659 not legitimate. 00:24:40.940 --> 00:24:41.539 The author 00:24:41.539 --> 00:24:43.099 uses a very 00:24:43.099 --> 00:24:44.220 real-world 00:24:44.220 --> 00:24:45.099 example to 00:24:45.099 --> 00:24:45.919 explain why 00:24:45.919 --> 00:24:46.680 God disciplines. 00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:48.200 In the 00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:48.840 first century, 00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:49.980 children were 00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:50.680 disciplined by 00:24:50.680 --> 00:24:51.299 their fathers. 00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:52.039 It was their 00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:52.660 responsibility. 00:24:52.940 --> 00:24:53.759 They had the 00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:54.519 primary focus 00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:55.279 of disciplining. 00:24:56.100 --> 00:24:56.480 And the 00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:57.160 argument goes 00:24:57.160 --> 00:24:58.080 that children 00:24:58.080 --> 00:24:58.840 are disciplined 00:24:58.840 --> 00:24:59.380 by their 00:24:59.380 --> 00:25:00.700 fathers unless 00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:01.160 there is 00:25:01.160 --> 00:25:01.880 something wrong. 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:04.080 An illegitimate 00:25:04.080 --> 00:25:05.759 child would 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:06.160 not be 00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:06.560 disciplined. 00:25:08.320 --> 00:25:09.220 Discipline is 00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:10.240 actually a 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:11.220 proof for us 00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:12.420 that we have a 00:25:12.420 --> 00:25:14.019 close relationship 00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:14.539 with God. 00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:16.259 We are 00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:16.480 not 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:17.099 illegitimate 00:25:17.099 --> 00:25:17.720 children he 00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:18.519 feels burdened 00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:19.319 to carry like 00:25:19.319 --> 00:25:20.039 he's just 00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:20.619 got to feed 00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:21.480 us, but he 00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:21.940 doesn't want to 00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:22.480 look at us. 00:25:23.399 --> 00:25:24.099 It's actually 00:25:24.099 --> 00:25:24.500 the opposite. 00:25:24.700 --> 00:25:25.680 God disciplines 00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:26.480 us because we 00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:27.579 are so close. 00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:30.000 Now our 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:30.659 fathers 00:25:30.659 --> 00:25:32.359 discipline as 00:25:32.359 --> 00:25:33.059 best as they 00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:33.819 thought possible, 00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:36.039 but God as a 00:25:36.039 --> 00:25:37.539 father disciplines 00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.899 not like us. 00:25:40.940 --> 00:25:41.759 A parent might 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:42.480 have a good or 00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:43.440 a bad relationship 00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:44.200 with discipline. 00:25:44.680 --> 00:25:46.000 Even the best 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:47.600 parents discipline 00:25:47.600 --> 00:25:49.559 as best as 00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:50.120 they think. 00:25:51.380 --> 00:25:51.960 But we are 00:25:51.960 --> 00:25:52.680 all fallible. 00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:53.740 Every parent 00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:54.480 is fallible. 00:25:55.320 --> 00:25:55.539 They're 00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:56.779 inconsistent and 00:25:56.779 --> 00:25:57.820 often guided 00:25:57.820 --> 00:25:58.860 by emotions. 00:26:00.340 --> 00:26:01.320 Anyone who 00:26:01.320 --> 00:26:02.100 has tried to 00:26:02.100 --> 00:26:02.700 discipline a 00:26:02.700 --> 00:26:03.740 child in a 00:26:03.740 --> 00:26:04.380 godly manner 00:26:04.380 --> 00:26:05.200 knows that there 00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:05.940 are simply times 00:26:05.940 --> 00:26:07.480 when you don't 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:08.000 do the right 00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:08.600 thing or you 00:26:08.600 --> 00:26:09.279 just don't know 00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:09.860 what the right 00:26:09.860 --> 00:26:10.460 thing to do 00:26:10.460 --> 00:26:10.640 is. 00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:11.080 How do I 00:26:11.080 --> 00:26:11.759 discipline this 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.180 child? 00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:13.380 How much 00:26:13.380 --> 00:26:13.680 do I 00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:14.019 discipline 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:14.279 them? 00:26:14.779 --> 00:26:15.360 How much 00:26:15.360 --> 00:26:15.700 is too 00:26:15.700 --> 00:26:16.100 much? 00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.279 What is 00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:17.820 harsh? 00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:18.440 What is 00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:18.860 enough? 00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:20.779 I've seen 00:26:20.779 --> 00:26:21.500 my children 00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:22.480 shrug off 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:22.900 discipline. 00:26:23.840 --> 00:26:24.460 Just water 00:26:24.460 --> 00:26:24.779 off a 00:26:24.779 --> 00:26:25.060 duck's 00:26:25.060 --> 00:26:25.340 back. 00:26:26.340 --> 00:26:27.140 But I've 00:26:27.140 --> 00:26:28.420 also seen 00:26:28.420 --> 00:26:29.539 them emotionally 00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:31.019 crushed by 00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:31.640 my discipline. 00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:33.600 Finding the 00:26:33.600 --> 00:26:34.519 right balance 00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:35.820 between those 00:26:35.820 --> 00:26:37.340 two is a 00:26:37.340 --> 00:26:37.860 challenge. 00:26:37.859 --> 00:27:05.619 God is 00:27:05.619 --> 00:27:06.359 not an 00:27:06.359 --> 00:27:07.059 inconsistent 00:27:07.059 --> 00:27:07.619 parent. 00:27:08.899 --> 00:27:10.079 He doesn't 00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:10.879 discipline 00:27:10.879 --> 00:27:12.279 harshly based 00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:12.599 on his 00:27:12.599 --> 00:27:13.159 emotions. 00:27:14.199 --> 00:27:15.439 God always 00:27:15.439 --> 00:27:16.139 cares for us 00:27:16.139 --> 00:27:16.699 in the same 00:27:16.699 --> 00:27:17.039 way. 00:27:17.699 --> 00:27:18.419 He doesn't 00:27:18.419 --> 00:27:19.039 have debate 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:19.619 with himself. 00:27:19.779 --> 00:27:20.259 What is the 00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:20.879 best thing to 00:27:20.879 --> 00:27:21.419 do in this 00:27:21.419 --> 00:27:21.719 moment? 00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:23.219 He knows 00:27:23.219 --> 00:27:23.559 what we 00:27:23.559 --> 00:27:24.939 need and 00:27:24.939 --> 00:27:25.399 he only 00:27:25.399 --> 00:27:25.979 gives us 00:27:25.979 --> 00:27:26.419 what we 00:27:26.419 --> 00:27:26.659 need. 00:27:26.659 --> 00:27:27.259 Verse 10, 00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:28.759 God disciplines 00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:30.319 us for our 00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:32.559 good in order 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:33.319 that we may 00:27:33.319 --> 00:27:34.099 share in 00:27:34.099 --> 00:27:34.960 his holiness. 00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:37.259 No discipline 00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:38.079 seems pleasant 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:39.220 at the time 00:27:39.220 --> 00:27:40.200 but painful. 00:27:41.159 --> 00:27:41.799 Later on, 00:27:41.859 --> 00:27:42.159 however, 00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:42.859 it produces 00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:44.159 a harvest of 00:27:44.159 --> 00:27:44.740 righteousness 00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:45.720 and peace. 00:27:46.679 --> 00:27:47.919 God has a 00:27:47.919 --> 00:27:48.839 purpose behind 00:27:48.839 --> 00:27:50.159 every piece 00:27:50.159 --> 00:27:50.879 of hardship. 00:27:51.899 --> 00:27:52.319 It's not 00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:52.659 pleasant, 00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:53.299 it's just like 00:27:53.299 --> 00:27:53.980 that scalpel, 00:27:54.359 --> 00:27:54.960 but it is 00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:55.759 done for our 00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:56.319 good, 00:27:56.839 --> 00:27:57.839 for our 00:27:57.839 --> 00:27:58.319 holiness, 00:27:58.500 --> 00:27:58.799 for our 00:27:58.799 --> 00:27:59.200 peace, 00:27:59.200 --> 00:28:00.119 and for our 00:28:00.119 --> 00:28:00.639 righteousness. 00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:00.880 righteousness. 00:28:02.580 --> 00:28:02.980 And those 00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:03.759 are definitely 00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:04.360 the places 00:28:04.360 --> 00:28:04.920 that we need 00:28:04.920 --> 00:28:05.560 to be growing 00:28:05.560 --> 00:28:06.520 in as 00:28:06.520 --> 00:28:06.920 Christians. 00:28:08.940 --> 00:28:09.880 It is not 00:28:09.880 --> 00:28:10.300 pleasant, 00:28:10.860 --> 00:28:11.500 but it is 00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:12.900 designed only 00:28:12.900 --> 00:28:13.400 for our 00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:13.680 good. 00:28:15.080 --> 00:28:15.900 When we 00:28:15.900 --> 00:28:16.420 are in the 00:28:16.420 --> 00:28:17.180 midst of 00:28:17.180 --> 00:28:18.080 hardship and 00:28:18.080 --> 00:28:18.580 pain, 00:28:18.860 --> 00:28:19.720 we can't 00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.680 understand why 00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:21.120 it's happening. 00:28:21.320 --> 00:28:22.060 All we can 00:28:22.060 --> 00:28:23.360 do is to 00:28:23.360 --> 00:28:23.940 cry out to 00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:24.420 God to 00:28:24.420 --> 00:28:24.820 end the 00:28:24.820 --> 00:28:25.120 pain, 00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:26.759 bring this 00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:27.280 suffering to 00:28:27.280 --> 00:28:27.580 an end. 00:28:27.800 --> 00:28:28.280 It might 00:28:28.280 --> 00:28:28.640 not be 00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:29.980 years later 00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:30.440 until we 00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:31.059 realize what 00:28:31.059 --> 00:28:31.900 God has 00:28:31.900 --> 00:28:32.200 done. 00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:33.759 He may 00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:34.079 have sent 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:34.819 hardship and 00:28:34.819 --> 00:28:35.559 difficult times 00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:36.360 to you when 00:28:36.360 --> 00:28:36.860 you were a 00:28:36.860 --> 00:28:38.099 teenager to 00:28:38.099 --> 00:28:39.299 prepare you to 00:28:39.299 --> 00:28:39.860 be who you 00:28:39.860 --> 00:28:40.519 are today. 00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:42.079 He may have 00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:43.000 corrected you and 00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:43.720 disciplined you in 00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:44.900 your 20s so 00:28:44.900 --> 00:28:45.420 that in your 00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:47.319 40s you were 00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:48.160 able to survive 00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:48.700 what was going 00:28:48.700 --> 00:28:48.960 on. 00:28:49.099 --> 00:28:49.880 He might be 00:28:49.880 --> 00:28:50.680 disciplining you 00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:51.640 today in 00:28:51.640 --> 00:28:53.759 hardship because 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.660 of what is 00:28:54.660 --> 00:28:55.339 coming in the 00:28:55.339 --> 00:28:55.660 future. 00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:57.880 We might 00:28:57.880 --> 00:28:58.740 never know 00:28:58.740 --> 00:28:59.980 the reason 00:28:59.980 --> 00:29:01.079 for a 00:29:01.079 --> 00:29:01.640 season of 00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:02.279 hardship and 00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:03.480 pain but 00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:04.279 God knows. 00:29:05.380 --> 00:29:05.940 He's planned 00:29:05.940 --> 00:29:06.640 it and he is 00:29:06.640 --> 00:29:07.720 sovereign over 00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:08.019 it. 00:29:09.180 --> 00:29:10.079 Even though we 00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:10.900 can't see what 00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:11.960 God is doing 00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:12.940 in the midst of 00:29:12.940 --> 00:29:13.819 hardship we 00:29:13.819 --> 00:29:14.660 must remember 00:29:14.660 --> 00:29:15.319 that he is 00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:16.500 sovereign and 00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:17.079 in control. 00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:18.920 If you're in a 00:29:18.920 --> 00:29:19.339 season of 00:29:19.339 --> 00:29:20.480 hardship or 00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:21.039 pain or 00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:22.019 adversity today 00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:23.180 hold on to 00:29:23.180 --> 00:29:23.839 that truth that 00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:24.319 God is in 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:24.940 control and he 00:29:24.940 --> 00:29:25.480 loves you. 00:29:26.640 --> 00:29:27.299 Remember these 00:29:27.299 --> 00:29:29.399 two truths when 00:29:29.399 --> 00:29:30.419 hard times come 00:29:30.419 --> 00:29:32.220 because the 00:29:32.220 --> 00:29:32.879 longer that we 00:29:32.879 --> 00:29:34.240 live the more 00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:35.700 likely that 00:29:35.700 --> 00:29:36.480 difficult times 00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:36.859 are coming. 00:29:38.200 --> 00:29:39.139 I heard about 00:29:39.139 --> 00:29:39.839 a woman who 00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:40.480 was about to 00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:41.119 become a 00:29:41.119 --> 00:29:41.539 grandmother. 00:29:42.500 --> 00:29:43.279 Her new 00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:44.700 grandchild was 00:29:44.700 --> 00:29:45.700 in a different 00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:46.700 state in the 00:29:46.700 --> 00:29:47.940 US and to 00:29:47.940 --> 00:29:48.559 see this 00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:49.379 grandchild she 00:29:49.379 --> 00:29:50.099 would have to 00:29:50.099 --> 00:29:50.579 fly. 00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:51.680 But this 00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:54.139 woman hated 00:29:54.139 --> 00:29:54.919 flying. 00:29:54.920 --> 00:29:57.779 was absolutely 00:29:57.779 --> 00:29:58.980 terrified of 00:29:58.980 --> 00:29:59.140 it. 00:30:00.300 --> 00:30:00.779 But the 00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:02.400 only way to 00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:03.340 overcome her 00:30:03.340 --> 00:30:04.560 fear to 00:30:04.560 --> 00:30:05.259 endure the 00:30:05.259 --> 00:30:06.120 hardship of 00:30:06.120 --> 00:30:07.240 flying was 00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:07.779 with the 00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:08.960 destination in 00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:09.320 mind. 00:30:10.519 --> 00:30:12.620 We have a 00:30:12.620 --> 00:30:13.460 journey marked 00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:14.279 out for us 00:30:14.279 --> 00:30:15.360 with the joy 00:30:15.360 --> 00:30:16.060 of being with 00:30:16.060 --> 00:30:17.259 the Lord at 00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:17.840 the end of 00:30:17.840 --> 00:30:18.400 this race. 00:30:19.620 --> 00:30:20.320 But this 00:30:20.320 --> 00:30:21.060 journey called 00:30:21.060 --> 00:30:21.980 life is not 00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:23.400 always easy. 00:30:23.400 --> 00:30:25.540 there are 00:30:25.540 --> 00:30:26.519 good times. 00:30:27.820 --> 00:30:29.100 There are 00:30:29.100 --> 00:30:31.120 hard times. 00:30:32.320 --> 00:30:32.759 And God 00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:33.780 uses these to 00:30:33.780 --> 00:30:34.980 train and to 00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:35.759 correct and 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:36.540 adjust our 00:30:36.540 --> 00:30:37.560 hearts and he 00:30:37.560 --> 00:30:38.220 does this 00:30:38.220 --> 00:30:40.019 lovingly because 00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:40.860 he is our 00:30:40.860 --> 00:30:41.580 father who 00:30:41.580 --> 00:30:42.580 loves and 00:30:42.580 --> 00:30:43.360 cares for us. 00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:44.500 Let me pray. 00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:49.200 Heavenly 00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:50.140 father you 00:30:50.140 --> 00:30:51.340 are a good 00:30:51.340 --> 00:30:51.980 and generous 00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:52.440 God. 00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:54.120 We thank 00:30:54.120 --> 00:30:54.680 you that you 00:30:54.680 --> 00:30:55.120 are in 00:30:55.120 --> 00:30:55.920 control of 00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:56.500 all things, 00:30:56.579 --> 00:30:56.799 that you 00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:57.120 are in 00:30:57.120 --> 00:30:57.799 control of 00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:58.579 good times 00:30:58.579 --> 00:30:59.700 and difficult 00:30:59.700 --> 00:31:00.480 days, 00:31:00.599 --> 00:31:00.839 Lord. 00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:02.740 Father, 00:31:02.860 --> 00:31:03.480 when we 00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:03.940 are in 00:31:03.940 --> 00:31:04.559 those difficult 00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:05.039 days, 00:31:05.140 --> 00:31:05.640 those hard 00:31:05.640 --> 00:31:06.160 times, 00:31:07.019 --> 00:31:07.779 remind us 00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:08.240 that you 00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:08.620 are in 00:31:08.620 --> 00:31:09.860 control and 00:31:09.860 --> 00:31:10.180 that you 00:31:10.180 --> 00:31:10.759 love us. 00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:12.799 Use these 00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:13.480 to discipline 00:31:13.480 --> 00:31:13.980 us, 00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:15.839 to bring us 00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:16.400 back to 00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:16.720 you, 00:31:17.400 --> 00:31:18.279 so that we 00:31:18.279 --> 00:31:18.880 can reach 00:31:18.880 --> 00:31:19.680 the end 00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:21.019 of this 00:31:21.019 --> 00:31:21.759 race marked 00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:22.160 out for 00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:22.480 us. 00:31:23.220 --> 00:31:24.000 For what a 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:24.640 joy it is 00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:25.360 to be your 00:31:25.360 --> 00:31:25.680 children, 00:31:25.920 --> 00:31:26.080 Lord. 00:31:26.340 --> 00:31:26.660 Amen. 00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:26.799 Amen.