WEBVTT 00:00:00.140 --> 00:00:05.080 This evening we're continuing looking at the book of Hebrews and we're in chapter 12. 00:00:05.219 --> 00:00:09.960 Graham took us through the first couple of verses last week and we're going to be looking at the next section now. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:14.960 So we're going to read from Hebrews chapter 12 from verse 3 to verse 11. 00:00:15.460 --> 00:00:19.740 So if you have a Bible you might like to turn to it, it will be on the screen in the church here. 00:00:20.559 --> 00:00:24.400 So Hebrews chapter 12 and starting reading at verse 3. 00:00:24.400 --> 00:00:26.280 And the writer says, 00:00:26.280 --> 00:00:35.200 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 00:00:36.120 --> 00:00:42.160 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:47.340 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons. 00:00:48.060 --> 00:00:55.460 My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline and do not lose heart when he rebukes you. 00:00:55.460 --> 00:01:02.759 Because the Lord disciplines those he loves and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. 00:01:04.379 --> 00:01:06.299 Endure hardship as discipline. 00:01:07.299 --> 00:01:11.280 God is treating you as sons, but what son is not disciplined by his father? 00:01:12.159 --> 00:01:19.560 If you are not disciplined and everyone undergoes discipline, then you are illegitimate children and not true ones. 00:01:19.560 --> 00:01:27.960 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for us. 00:01:28.859 --> 00:01:34.820 How much more should we submit to the father of our spirits and live? 00:01:35.740 --> 00:01:39.659 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best. 00:01:40.320 --> 00:01:44.980 But God disciplines us for our good that we may share in his holiness. 00:01:44.980 --> 00:01:49.900 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. 00:01:51.079 --> 00:01:58.760 Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. 00:01:59.620 --> 00:02:03.780 God will bless his word as we consider it together this evening. 00:02:05.859 --> 00:02:07.859 Suffering is good for you. 00:02:08.500 --> 00:02:12.340 You should expect it and you should welcome it. 00:02:12.340 --> 00:02:20.420 I don't think anyone who is trying to market Christian faith would feel that that was a very effective strapline. 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:24.159 It's much easier to say, smile, Jesus loves you. 00:02:24.719 --> 00:02:28.920 Or to say, trust in Jesus and everything will be all right. 00:02:28.980 --> 00:02:30.920 And both of these have truth in them. 00:02:31.680 --> 00:02:41.120 And yet, the fact that suffering is a good thing for us is something which is very much present throughout the New Testament. 00:02:41.120 --> 00:02:45.439 So in James, right at the beginning of his book, James says, 00:02:46.140 --> 00:02:53.300 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you face trials of many kinds. 00:02:54.340 --> 00:02:56.120 Paul says in Romans chapter 5, 00:02:56.219 --> 00:03:02.180 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings. 00:03:02.180 --> 00:03:09.719 And in this passage here, the writer tells us that our sufferings are good for us 00:03:09.719 --> 00:03:16.800 and that they are thing which our Heavenly Father in his love allows to come upon us. 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:20.700 Suffering is good for us. 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:23.719 And we might as well say, well, why is that? 00:03:24.219 --> 00:03:26.080 In many ways, it's counterintuitive. 00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:31.160 In our society, we aim for a life that is easy, that is straightforward, 00:03:31.719 --> 00:03:34.439 and we don't welcome suffering. 00:03:35.540 --> 00:03:40.700 I think the answer is that suffering that has a purpose is good. 00:03:41.460 --> 00:03:44.720 If there is a purpose and an end goal in it, 00:03:45.100 --> 00:03:47.620 then suffering is worthwhile. 00:03:47.620 --> 00:03:52.240 In this passage and in many others, Paul has in mind, 00:03:52.319 --> 00:03:57.020 some of the time, an athlete, someone who is running in a race. 00:03:58.080 --> 00:04:00.819 And throughout the New Testament, 00:04:01.539 --> 00:04:05.040 when this thought of an athlete is in mind, 00:04:05.580 --> 00:04:12.120 very much what is usually in the writer's forefront of their thinking, 00:04:12.120 --> 00:04:15.719 is that it requires a great effort. 00:04:15.939 --> 00:04:17.220 We need to be disciplined. 00:04:17.399 --> 00:04:21.819 We need to work hard if we're going to win the prize. 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:26.959 And so there is a purpose in the suffering 00:04:26.959 --> 00:04:30.519 that people go through in that kind of situation. 00:04:31.399 --> 00:04:36.480 And the writer here says there is a purpose too in our suffering. 00:04:37.180 --> 00:04:39.500 There was a purpose in the Lord's suffering. 00:04:39.500 --> 00:04:42.959 That was in verses 1 and 2 that Graham brought to us last week. 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:48.740 He endured the cross for the joy that was set before him. 00:04:49.379 --> 00:04:53.360 His purpose was, first of all, to please and be obedient to his Father, 00:04:54.100 --> 00:04:58.759 and secondly, to bring us into a living relationship with God 00:04:58.759 --> 00:05:03.420 where our sins can be forgiven and we can have eternal life. 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:08.660 And because of the purpose that the Lord Jesus saw in his suffering, 00:05:08.660 --> 00:05:11.439 he endured it patiently. 00:05:12.700 --> 00:05:13.980 And so the writer says, 00:05:14.420 --> 00:05:17.600 in our suffering there is a purpose. 00:05:18.140 --> 00:05:19.700 And therefore it is worthwhile, 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:24.600 and it is something which we should, in some sense, welcome. 00:05:25.580 --> 00:05:30.260 And that purpose is that we should become more like Jesus. 00:05:30.259 --> 00:05:38.099 The writer here describes it in terms of a harvest of righteousness and peace. 00:05:38.860 --> 00:05:42.579 And that very much is becoming more like Jesus, isn't it? 00:05:42.579 --> 00:05:47.860 Having his righteousness and the peace that he alone can bring. 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:51.139 I quote it from James and from Romans. 00:05:52.199 --> 00:05:54.560 So in James, if I finish the quotation, 00:05:54.699 --> 00:05:55.180 James says, 00:05:55.180 --> 00:05:57.420 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, 00:05:57.900 --> 00:06:00.180 whenever you face trials of many kinds, 00:06:00.840 --> 00:06:05.360 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 00:06:06.280 --> 00:06:08.420 Let perseverance finish its work, 00:06:08.840 --> 00:06:12.139 so that you may become mature and complete, 00:06:12.680 --> 00:06:15.060 not lacking anything. 00:06:15.220 --> 00:06:18.800 Again, it is really so you may become like Jesus. 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:21.680 Or the passage in Romans chapter 5, 00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:22.459 Paul writes, 00:06:22.540 --> 00:06:25.560 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings. 00:06:25.660 --> 00:06:26.000 Why? 00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:29.639 Because we know that suffering produces perseverance, 00:06:30.660 --> 00:06:31.900 perseverance character, 00:06:32.680 --> 00:06:34.019 and character hope, 00:06:34.439 --> 00:06:36.540 and hope does not put us to shame, 00:06:36.960 --> 00:06:40.340 because God's love has been poured out into our hearts 00:06:40.340 --> 00:06:42.019 through the Holy Spirit, 00:06:42.519 --> 00:06:45.160 who has been given to us. 00:06:45.960 --> 00:06:48.220 So the purpose of our suffering 00:06:48.220 --> 00:06:50.780 is that we may develop endurance, 00:06:50.779 --> 00:06:52.239 that we may develop character, 00:06:52.719 --> 00:06:54.679 that we may develop maturity, 00:06:55.319 --> 00:06:58.179 that our hope may be holy in Christ, 00:06:58.619 --> 00:07:00.899 and that we may know the daily presence 00:07:00.899 --> 00:07:03.879 of his Spirit in us. 00:07:04.839 --> 00:07:05.799 We could see, I think, 00:07:06.099 --> 00:07:08.919 that Christ's suffering was for our justification. 00:07:09.119 --> 00:07:09.939 Much more than that, of course, 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:12.399 but Christ's suffering was for our justification. 00:07:13.559 --> 00:07:16.000 Our suffering that God allows to come on us 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:18.239 is for our sanctification, 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:20.720 that we may become more holy, 00:07:21.139 --> 00:07:24.620 that we may become more like Jesus. 00:07:24.819 --> 00:07:27.819 If you don't get anything else away from what I say this evening, 00:07:27.879 --> 00:07:30.900 just take that God has a purpose in our suffering, 00:07:31.379 --> 00:07:32.319 that through it, 00:07:32.600 --> 00:07:36.040 we should become more like Jesus. 00:07:37.079 --> 00:07:39.379 We're going to go through the verses very quickly 00:07:39.379 --> 00:07:40.199 in a few minutes, 00:07:40.519 --> 00:07:41.600 but before we do that, 00:07:41.699 --> 00:07:43.600 I want to address two difficulties 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:46.220 that I see in this passage. 00:07:46.740 --> 00:07:48.700 There's one difficulty that's cultural, 00:07:49.300 --> 00:07:52.140 and there's one difficulty that's doctrinal. 00:07:53.020 --> 00:07:54.460 So the cultural difficulty. 00:07:55.340 --> 00:07:58.360 The writer here is clearly envisaging 00:07:58.360 --> 00:08:00.180 fathers disciplining their sons. 00:08:00.280 --> 00:08:01.300 Again, there's a cultural thing. 00:08:01.379 --> 00:08:02.620 It could be fathers or mothers now. 00:08:02.680 --> 00:08:03.840 It could be sons or daughters. 00:08:04.420 --> 00:08:05.820 But there is a cultural thing there. 00:08:05.860 --> 00:08:07.140 But the big cultural thing is 00:08:07.139 --> 00:08:08.919 the author is envisaging 00:08:08.919 --> 00:08:11.919 that they will discipline them 00:08:11.919 --> 00:08:13.779 through physical punishment, 00:08:13.939 --> 00:08:16.439 through what we used to call corporal punishment. 00:08:16.939 --> 00:08:19.919 The verses currently at the end of verse 6, 00:08:20.240 --> 00:08:21.139 where it says in this verse, 00:08:21.240 --> 00:08:23.319 he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. 00:08:23.839 --> 00:08:25.919 Actually, the literal translation would be 00:08:25.919 --> 00:08:29.639 he flogs everyone he accepts as a son. 00:08:30.019 --> 00:08:31.539 And the cultural issue with that 00:08:31.539 --> 00:08:33.819 is that in our society today, 00:08:34.340 --> 00:08:35.720 many people would feel that 00:08:35.720 --> 00:08:37.660 physical punishment of children 00:08:37.660 --> 00:08:39.040 is unacceptable. 00:08:39.300 --> 00:08:40.580 Indeed, it's about to become illegal 00:08:40.580 --> 00:08:43.680 in Scotland in the next couple of months. 00:08:44.519 --> 00:08:45.680 Let me just say two things. 00:08:45.740 --> 00:08:47.740 I'm sure there will be views on both sides in this 00:08:47.740 --> 00:08:49.519 among those who are listening. 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:52.639 So let me just say two things about it. 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:54.340 The first thing I would say 00:08:54.340 --> 00:08:56.300 is I think we need to accept 00:08:56.300 --> 00:08:59.840 that up until at least one generation ago, 00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:01.320 if not closer than that, 00:09:01.740 --> 00:09:03.160 physical punishment of children 00:09:03.160 --> 00:09:05.060 was accepted as being normal 00:09:05.059 --> 00:09:06.319 and right. 00:09:07.199 --> 00:09:09.639 And whatever we think of the ethics 00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:11.559 and the effectiveness of it, 00:09:11.919 --> 00:09:13.379 I think we need to accept 00:09:13.379 --> 00:09:15.279 that when it was properly applied, 00:09:15.819 --> 00:09:17.519 it was done in a loving way 00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:19.639 by those who cared for their children 00:09:19.639 --> 00:09:22.339 and who believed it was the best way 00:09:22.339 --> 00:09:23.500 to train them. 00:09:23.879 --> 00:09:24.939 So we shouldn't look back 00:09:24.939 --> 00:09:26.339 in a passage like this and say, 00:09:26.479 --> 00:09:28.039 this is something which is terrible. 00:09:28.239 --> 00:09:30.000 It's a practice we wouldn't do today. 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:32.599 Therefore, we should ignore it. 00:09:32.600 --> 00:09:34.940 Second thing I want to say, though, 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:37.580 is that in our society, 00:09:38.120 --> 00:09:40.779 the fact that we don't strike our children 00:09:40.779 --> 00:09:42.399 when they're disobedient 00:09:42.399 --> 00:09:43.879 and discipline them in that way 00:09:43.879 --> 00:09:45.740 doesn't mean that children 00:09:45.740 --> 00:09:48.200 aren't and shouldn't be disciplined. 00:09:48.980 --> 00:09:50.940 A good parent will still 00:09:50.940 --> 00:09:52.879 discipline their children. 00:09:53.540 --> 00:09:55.440 Now, they might do it by withdrawing privileges. 00:09:55.639 --> 00:09:56.720 They might have a naughty step, 00:09:56.759 --> 00:09:59.540 all sorts of ways in which it can happen. 00:09:59.539 --> 00:10:01.459 But disciplining of children 00:10:01.459 --> 00:10:03.839 should still very much be part 00:10:03.839 --> 00:10:06.139 of our culture today. 00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:08.299 Where there is no disciplining, 00:10:08.599 --> 00:10:10.039 children will grow up as spoiled 00:10:10.039 --> 00:10:12.019 and not understanding 00:10:12.019 --> 00:10:15.079 the need to be a good citizen, 00:10:15.219 --> 00:10:16.299 to be unselfish, 00:10:16.620 --> 00:10:18.799 and ultimately they will not mature 00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:21.279 into responsible adults. 00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:22.779 So in a sense, 00:10:23.159 --> 00:10:24.179 the physical punishment 00:10:24.179 --> 00:10:26.199 is a bit of a side issue in this 00:10:26.199 --> 00:10:28.099 if we're bothered about it. 00:10:28.100 --> 00:10:30.279 The fact is that disciplining 00:10:30.279 --> 00:10:31.860 is still necessary 00:10:31.860 --> 00:10:33.580 and it's still unpleasant. 00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:35.940 If you withdraw a privilege from a child, 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:38.300 they're going to be very unhappy about it 00:10:38.300 --> 00:10:40.460 and it might hurt you as a parent 00:10:40.460 --> 00:10:41.440 to have to do that, 00:10:41.720 --> 00:10:43.460 but it is a necessary thing 00:10:43.460 --> 00:10:45.600 to teach and train them. 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:47.399 And so the context here 00:10:47.399 --> 00:10:50.600 is that parents discipline their children 00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:53.980 and God disciplines us. 00:10:53.980 --> 00:10:56.220 We don't have the theological, 00:10:56.680 --> 00:10:58.340 doctrinal difficulty. 00:10:59.420 --> 00:11:01.940 And this is that we know 00:11:01.940 --> 00:11:03.820 that Jesus took the punishment 00:11:03.820 --> 00:11:06.080 for our sins on the cross. 00:11:06.620 --> 00:11:08.259 That he took everything 00:11:08.259 --> 00:11:09.740 that was owed by us 00:11:09.740 --> 00:11:11.060 or all the sin 00:11:11.060 --> 00:11:12.960 or all the dirt in our lives, 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:14.300 he took on himself 00:11:14.300 --> 00:11:17.500 so that we could be forgiven for it. 00:11:18.259 --> 00:11:19.019 And we might say, 00:11:19.080 --> 00:11:20.480 well then if that's the case, 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:22.320 why does it talk here 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:24.500 about God punishing us? 00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:26.500 Does that mean that our sins 00:11:26.500 --> 00:11:27.620 are being punished twice, 00:11:27.720 --> 00:11:29.399 once for Christ on the cross 00:11:29.399 --> 00:11:31.300 and once in our lives? 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:32.740 Well, no, it doesn't. 00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:34.840 And I think we're much better 00:11:34.840 --> 00:11:36.340 at looking at this passage 00:11:36.340 --> 00:11:37.519 and thinking of it 00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:39.980 in terms of corrective discipline 00:11:39.980 --> 00:11:42.080 or of rebuke from God, 00:11:42.340 --> 00:11:44.519 of God trying to help us 00:11:44.519 --> 00:11:46.500 to see the wrong in our lives 00:11:46.500 --> 00:11:49.019 and to put it right. 00:11:49.679 --> 00:11:51.200 We could never take 00:11:51.200 --> 00:11:52.059 the full punishment 00:11:52.059 --> 00:11:53.519 for our sins in this life 00:11:53.519 --> 00:11:54.940 and we don't need to. 00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:56.039 Christ has taken 00:11:56.039 --> 00:11:58.600 all that was due by us. 00:11:59.419 --> 00:12:01.000 But God still needs, 00:12:01.139 --> 00:12:01.740 as a father, 00:12:01.860 --> 00:12:03.220 as a loving heavenly father, 00:12:03.820 --> 00:12:05.480 he needs to correct us, 00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:07.139 he needs to rebuke us, 00:12:07.460 --> 00:12:08.440 he needs to put us 00:12:08.440 --> 00:12:09.480 on the right path 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:12.519 and he does that in love. 00:12:13.399 --> 00:12:15.080 And that is one of the key things 00:12:15.080 --> 00:12:17.220 we'll see as we go along 00:12:17.220 --> 00:12:18.580 this evening. 00:12:19.780 --> 00:12:21.120 So let's look at the passage now 00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:22.340 and I've got four headings 00:12:22.340 --> 00:12:24.139 which hopefully will be helpful. 00:12:25.100 --> 00:12:26.360 So verses three and four, 00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:27.280 I've headed, 00:12:27.620 --> 00:12:29.660 remember God's son. 00:12:30.200 --> 00:12:32.420 Remember God's son. 00:12:33.020 --> 00:12:33.840 So verse three, 00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:35.320 the writer says, 00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:37.680 consider him who endured 00:12:37.680 --> 00:12:39.720 such opposition from sinful men 00:12:39.720 --> 00:12:41.700 so that you will not grow weary 00:12:41.700 --> 00:12:43.820 and lose heart. 00:12:45.080 --> 00:12:46.680 And the bridge here 00:12:46.680 --> 00:12:47.900 is that the writer 00:12:47.900 --> 00:12:50.120 is taking Christ's sufferings. 00:12:50.620 --> 00:12:51.860 He's then going to talk about 00:12:51.860 --> 00:12:53.379 our sufferings. 00:12:54.040 --> 00:12:56.639 And he says really two things about it. 00:12:57.220 --> 00:12:59.420 The first is that when we suffer, 00:12:59.879 --> 00:13:02.160 Christ should be our inspiration. 00:13:02.940 --> 00:13:04.879 The one who encourages us 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:07.420 to go on and to persevere 00:13:07.420 --> 00:13:09.340 as he did. 00:13:10.340 --> 00:13:12.120 Consider him 00:13:12.120 --> 00:13:14.139 who endured such opposition 00:13:14.139 --> 00:13:16.659 from sinful men. 00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:18.840 And if we face suffering in our lives 00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:20.840 and we all do to a greater or lesser extent 00:13:20.840 --> 00:13:23.560 and some obviously much more than others, 00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:26.179 what we should do is we should consider 00:13:26.179 --> 00:13:28.279 the sufferings of Christ 00:13:28.279 --> 00:13:31.039 and recognise the way in which 00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:32.679 he came through them. 00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:34.620 The way in which he submitted himself 00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:37.360 perfectly to God's will. 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:39.860 And that should be the inspiration 00:13:39.860 --> 00:13:40.779 for us too 00:13:40.779 --> 00:13:42.100 to go through 00:13:42.100 --> 00:13:44.100 and to endure. 00:13:45.259 --> 00:13:46.820 And that is not just our inspiration, 00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:49.740 but Christ is our example. 00:13:50.440 --> 00:13:52.060 And that's what the writer is talking about 00:13:52.060 --> 00:13:53.440 in verse four, I think. 00:13:53.500 --> 00:13:54.860 In your struggle against sin, 00:13:55.300 --> 00:13:56.779 you have not yet resisted 00:13:56.779 --> 00:13:59.100 to the point of shedding your blood. 00:13:59.860 --> 00:14:01.060 What is the point of that? 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:03.779 It is that Christ did suffer. 00:14:03.779 --> 00:14:07.120 He did shed his blood for us. 00:14:07.559 --> 00:14:08.799 Now maybe some of those 00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:10.480 that the writer here is addressing 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:12.339 will at a later stage 00:14:12.339 --> 00:14:15.139 face the ultimate sacrifice. 00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:16.740 They may well be martyred 00:14:16.740 --> 00:14:18.019 for their faith. 00:14:18.740 --> 00:14:19.419 But he says, 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:22.100 Christ has suffered much more 00:14:22.100 --> 00:14:23.240 than you ever will. 00:14:23.419 --> 00:14:25.379 Follow his example. 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:27.679 As in everything in life, 00:14:27.879 --> 00:14:30.199 if we can strive to be like Christ, 00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:32.600 then we will be doing God's will 00:14:32.600 --> 00:14:34.860 and we will grow to be mature 00:14:34.860 --> 00:14:36.840 Christian people. 00:14:37.460 --> 00:14:39.240 Christ is our inspiration 00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:42.259 and Christ is our example 00:14:42.259 --> 00:14:44.600 when we face suffering. 00:14:45.379 --> 00:14:49.320 We need to remember God's son. 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:51.759 Verses five and six, 00:14:51.980 --> 00:14:52.620 I've headed, 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:54.860 remember God's word. 00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:57.399 Now these verses are principally 00:14:57.399 --> 00:14:58.800 a quotation from the book 00:14:58.800 --> 00:15:00.399 of Proverbs. 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:02.379 And the writer here is taking 00:15:02.379 --> 00:15:03.740 an Old Testament passage 00:15:03.740 --> 00:15:05.579 and as New Testament writers do, 00:15:05.980 --> 00:15:07.720 he's expanding on it 00:15:07.720 --> 00:15:09.120 and he's applying it 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:10.379 to the situation. 00:15:11.480 --> 00:15:11.980 And he says, 00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:14.279 have you forgotten 00:15:14.279 --> 00:15:16.179 that word of encouragement 00:15:16.179 --> 00:15:17.939 that addresses you 00:15:17.939 --> 00:15:19.539 as sons? 00:15:20.819 --> 00:15:21.600 Quite interesting 00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:22.279 that the word 00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:22.899 that's translated 00:15:22.899 --> 00:15:24.039 encouragement here 00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:25.279 is the same word 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:25.759 that's used 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:26.779 as the Holy Spirit 00:15:26.779 --> 00:15:27.980 in John's Gospel, 00:15:28.139 --> 00:15:28.899 translated comfort 00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:30.220 or a counselor generally 00:15:30.220 --> 00:15:32.259 in our versions 00:15:32.259 --> 00:15:33.000 of the Bible. 00:15:33.399 --> 00:15:34.399 It is the same word 00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:35.519 the writer is using here, 00:15:35.579 --> 00:15:36.519 the same root word 00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:37.639 when he says 00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:38.879 that it is a word 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:40.159 of encouragement 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:41.539 that is given 00:15:41.539 --> 00:15:42.559 in Proverbs. 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:43.259 You might not think 00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:44.059 it sounds very much 00:15:44.059 --> 00:15:45.579 like a word of encouragement, 00:15:45.779 --> 00:15:46.500 but certainly a word 00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:47.500 of good advice. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:50.399 It is good counsel. 00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:53.159 And so the writer says, 00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:54.480 first of all, 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:56.659 do not make light 00:15:56.659 --> 00:15:58.920 of the Lord's discipline. 00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:00.740 There are two dangers 00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:01.600 that the author 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:03.259 is addressing here. 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:05.180 And the first is 00:16:05.180 --> 00:16:07.159 that we don't recognize 00:16:07.159 --> 00:16:08.879 or don't take seriously 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:10.060 the suffering 00:16:10.060 --> 00:16:11.420 that we face 00:16:11.420 --> 00:16:12.879 in our lives. 00:16:13.920 --> 00:16:14.980 The thought here 00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:15.420 when he talks 00:16:15.420 --> 00:16:16.340 about making light 00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:17.560 is very much 00:16:17.560 --> 00:16:18.500 the same thought 00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:19.740 as early in the chapter 00:16:19.740 --> 00:16:20.320 when he talks 00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:21.300 about the Lord Jesus 00:16:21.300 --> 00:16:23.120 despising the shame, 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:24.120 not thinking nothing 00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:25.419 of the shame 00:16:25.419 --> 00:16:26.679 that came upon him. 00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:28.159 And that was because 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:30.480 he was suffering for us. 00:16:30.980 --> 00:16:31.700 What the writer says 00:16:31.700 --> 00:16:32.299 in this case 00:16:32.299 --> 00:16:33.460 is not a good thing 00:16:33.460 --> 00:16:34.279 to make light 00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:36.399 of what's happening here. 00:16:37.100 --> 00:16:38.259 If we suffer, 00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:40.360 let's think about 00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:42.360 why are we suffering? 00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:43.940 Now scripture makes it 00:16:43.940 --> 00:16:44.779 very clear 00:16:44.779 --> 00:16:45.779 there's not a one-to-one 00:16:45.779 --> 00:16:47.120 connection between sin 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:48.080 and suffering. 00:16:48.659 --> 00:16:49.940 It's not always the case 00:16:49.940 --> 00:16:51.240 that we do something wrong 00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:52.500 and then we suffer 00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:53.720 for it. 00:16:54.919 --> 00:16:56.200 And yet it is true 00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:57.440 that the scripture 00:16:57.440 --> 00:16:58.539 here is teaching 00:16:58.539 --> 00:17:00.519 that when we suffer 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:02.960 we should examine ourselves 00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:04.079 and should say 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:04.980 well what is it 00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:06.539 that God is teaching me 00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:07.740 through my suffering? 00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:10.039 When something goes wrong 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:10.819 in my life 00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:12.019 is this God 00:17:12.019 --> 00:17:13.099 speaking to me 00:17:13.099 --> 00:17:15.140 and bringing to my attention 00:17:15.140 --> 00:17:15.980 something 00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:17.160 that needs 00:17:17.160 --> 00:17:18.140 corrected? 00:17:18.140 --> 00:17:20.840 And it's very dangerous 00:17:20.840 --> 00:17:22.280 just to look at suffering 00:17:22.280 --> 00:17:24.080 and to thole it 00:17:24.080 --> 00:17:24.880 to suffer it 00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:26.120 and not to think 00:17:26.120 --> 00:17:27.060 well what is it 00:17:27.060 --> 00:17:28.060 that God is saying 00:17:28.060 --> 00:17:28.580 to me 00:17:28.580 --> 00:17:29.660 through it? 00:17:30.460 --> 00:17:31.140 There's a slight 00:17:31.140 --> 00:17:32.540 irony I think here 00:17:32.540 --> 00:17:33.860 that the situation 00:17:33.860 --> 00:17:35.100 that Paul is thinking about 00:17:35.100 --> 00:17:36.080 is people who are 00:17:36.080 --> 00:17:37.400 particularly suffering 00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:38.780 through persecution. 00:17:39.460 --> 00:17:40.280 So it's actually 00:17:40.280 --> 00:17:41.100 those who are making 00:17:41.100 --> 00:17:42.140 a stand for Jesus 00:17:42.140 --> 00:17:43.960 who are suffering. 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:45.480 And that is why 00:17:45.480 --> 00:17:46.480 he goes on to talk about 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:48.839 suffering as sons. 00:17:49.099 --> 00:17:49.940 So it's not because 00:17:49.940 --> 00:17:50.519 they're particularly 00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:51.400 bad people 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:52.339 that God 00:17:52.339 --> 00:17:53.779 is disciplining them. 00:17:54.180 --> 00:17:55.160 Rather it's because 00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:55.779 they are people 00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:56.960 who are close to him 00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:58.559 who are living for him 00:17:58.559 --> 00:17:59.980 but who still 00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:00.779 need to grow 00:18:00.779 --> 00:18:01.620 in their faith 00:18:01.620 --> 00:18:02.799 who still need 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:03.440 to repent 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:04.240 of sins 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:05.640 in their lives. 00:18:06.539 --> 00:18:07.480 And so when we suffer 00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:08.779 in whatever way 00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:09.339 we do 00:18:09.339 --> 00:18:10.660 in our lives 00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:12.099 let's make sure 00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:12.660 that we ask 00:18:12.660 --> 00:18:13.380 that question 00:18:13.380 --> 00:18:14.539 is there something 00:18:14.539 --> 00:18:15.579 that God is saying 00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:16.539 to me through this 00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:17.899 is there something 00:18:17.899 --> 00:18:19.480 I need to address 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:21.259 that God is drawing 00:18:21.259 --> 00:18:23.419 to my attention. 00:18:24.939 --> 00:18:26.439 But then alongside that 00:18:26.439 --> 00:18:27.419 the writer says 00:18:27.419 --> 00:18:28.199 do not make light 00:18:28.199 --> 00:18:29.039 of the Lord's suffering 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:31.939 and do not lose heart 00:18:31.939 --> 00:18:34.220 when he rebukes you. 00:18:35.079 --> 00:18:35.859 So on the one side 00:18:35.859 --> 00:18:36.639 there's the danger 00:18:36.639 --> 00:18:37.740 that we suffer 00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:38.740 and we don't really 00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:39.720 think about it 00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:40.759 and it doesn't make 00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:41.579 any difference 00:18:41.579 --> 00:18:42.500 to us. 00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:44.220 On the other side 00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:44.900 there's the danger 00:18:44.900 --> 00:18:45.700 that we suffer 00:18:45.700 --> 00:18:46.600 and we think 00:18:46.600 --> 00:18:47.440 oh God must have 00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:48.339 rejected me 00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:49.019 that I'm going 00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:49.759 through this terrible 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:51.519 time in my life 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:52.799 I'm losing heart 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:53.420 I don't know 00:18:53.420 --> 00:18:54.420 if I can keep going 00:18:54.420 --> 00:18:56.920 in my Christian faith. 00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:58.460 And the writer says 00:18:58.460 --> 00:18:59.259 we mustn't have 00:18:59.259 --> 00:19:01.220 that attitude either. 00:19:02.120 --> 00:19:03.339 If we suffer 00:19:03.339 --> 00:19:04.860 God will give us 00:19:04.860 --> 00:19:05.480 the grace 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.940 to endure our suffering 00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:08.980 if we trust in him 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:10.960 and depend on him 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:12.039 for it. 00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:13.940 he will not let us 00:19:13.940 --> 00:19:14.740 be tested 00:19:14.740 --> 00:19:16.539 beyond what we can 00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:17.099 bear 00:19:17.099 --> 00:19:17.920 as 1 Corinthians 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:19.279 chapter 10. 00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:20.779 So God 00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:21.700 when he allows us 00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:22.240 to suffer 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:23.559 he does it 00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:24.079 in a way 00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:25.059 that there is a way 00:19:25.059 --> 00:19:25.839 for us to come 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:26.440 through it 00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:27.659 and to come through it 00:19:27.659 --> 00:19:28.539 not with our faith 00:19:28.539 --> 00:19:29.059 weakened 00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:31.019 not with a 00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:31.980 feeling of resentment 00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:33.379 towards God 00:19:33.379 --> 00:19:34.480 but rather 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:35.339 with our faith 00:19:35.339 --> 00:19:36.159 strengthened 00:19:36.159 --> 00:19:37.759 as we recognise 00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:38.920 that God 00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:39.839 is working 00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:41.419 in our lives. 00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:43.099 And so the 00:19:43.099 --> 00:19:44.519 writer here 00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:44.980 introduces 00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:45.659 through the quote 00:19:45.659 --> 00:19:46.459 from Proverbs 00:19:46.459 --> 00:19:47.240 what he's going 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:47.799 to be covering 00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:48.480 particularly 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:50.099 in the next few verses. 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:50.599 God 00:19:50.599 --> 00:19:51.319 the Lord 00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:52.480 disciplines those 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:53.480 he loves 00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:55.179 and he punishes 00:19:55.179 --> 00:19:56.039 everyone 00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:57.119 he accepts 00:19:57.119 --> 00:19:58.720 as a son. 00:19:59.299 --> 00:20:00.299 And that is the theme 00:20:00.299 --> 00:20:01.639 of verses 7 00:20:01.639 --> 00:20:02.599 to 9. 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:04.099 I've called it 00:20:04.099 --> 00:20:04.859 remember 00:20:04.859 --> 00:20:06.559 God's love. 00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:07.679 Remember God's son 00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:08.960 remember God's word 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:11.920 remember God's love. 00:20:12.580 --> 00:20:13.740 And the writer says 00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:16.120 God only disciplines us 00:20:16.120 --> 00:20:16.860 because 00:20:16.860 --> 00:20:18.620 he loves us. 00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:20.519 He doesn't discipline us 00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:21.140 despite 00:20:21.140 --> 00:20:22.660 his love for us. 00:20:22.940 --> 00:20:24.259 He disciplines us 00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:25.400 because of 00:20:25.400 --> 00:20:26.380 his love 00:20:26.380 --> 00:20:27.560 for us. 00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:29.360 And he draws 00:20:29.360 --> 00:20:29.940 the analogy 00:20:29.940 --> 00:20:31.019 that we touched on 00:20:31.019 --> 00:20:31.840 briefly earlier 00:20:31.840 --> 00:20:33.060 of human 00:20:33.060 --> 00:20:33.980 parents. 00:20:34.700 --> 00:20:35.580 Now let's recognise 00:20:35.580 --> 00:20:36.480 at this point 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:38.299 that not all parents 00:20:38.299 --> 00:20:39.480 fit in the model 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:40.680 that is described 00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:41.500 here. 00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:42.960 There are parents 00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:43.579 who are very 00:20:43.579 --> 00:20:44.819 bad parents. 00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:46.099 There are parents 00:20:46.099 --> 00:20:46.860 who are cruel 00:20:46.860 --> 00:20:47.839 who are abusive 00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:49.460 towards their children. 00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:50.660 There are parents 00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:51.720 who neglect 00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:53.099 their children. 00:20:54.059 --> 00:20:54.700 Now some of us 00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:55.759 have been very blessed 00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:56.799 that we have had 00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:57.819 godly parents 00:20:57.819 --> 00:20:58.799 who have brought us 00:20:58.799 --> 00:20:59.380 up well 00:20:59.380 --> 00:21:00.660 have disciplined us 00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:01.000 well 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:02.039 have shown us 00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:03.460 real love. 00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:04.059 But I recognise 00:21:04.059 --> 00:21:04.980 there may be some 00:21:04.980 --> 00:21:06.059 for whom that's 00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:07.660 not the case. 00:21:08.460 --> 00:21:09.299 Whether it is 00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:09.860 or not 00:21:09.860 --> 00:21:10.880 I think we can 00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:11.700 understand 00:21:11.700 --> 00:21:12.460 how 00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:13.500 what God 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:14.819 does for us 00:21:14.819 --> 00:21:16.299 through disciplining us 00:21:16.299 --> 00:21:17.360 relates to what 00:21:17.360 --> 00:21:17.940 a good 00:21:17.940 --> 00:21:19.140 human parent 00:21:19.140 --> 00:21:20.319 would do. 00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:21.339 That it is 00:21:21.339 --> 00:21:22.079 a demonstration 00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:23.819 of his love 00:21:23.819 --> 00:21:25.039 for us. 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:26.519 And the writer 00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:27.200 talks about 00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:28.099 legitimate and 00:21:28.099 --> 00:21:29.039 illegitimate children. 00:21:29.140 --> 00:21:29.680 He talks about 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:30.860 those who 00:21:30.860 --> 00:21:32.039 are truly loved 00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:33.180 by their father 00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:34.279 and those who 00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:35.100 aren't really 00:21:35.100 --> 00:21:36.400 part of 00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:37.440 the family. 00:21:38.100 --> 00:21:38.660 And it is 00:21:38.660 --> 00:21:39.200 those who 00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:39.700 are really 00:21:39.700 --> 00:21:40.720 part of the family 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:41.640 who are God's 00:21:41.640 --> 00:21:42.240 children 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:43.900 who experience 00:21:43.900 --> 00:21:45.440 his disciplining 00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:46.380 because 00:21:46.380 --> 00:21:48.640 he loves us. 00:21:49.380 --> 00:21:49.900 And our 00:21:49.900 --> 00:21:51.299 disciplining by God 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.240 should bring us 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:53.759 into a deeper 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:55.060 experience 00:21:55.060 --> 00:21:56.120 of him. 00:21:57.140 --> 00:21:57.720 Disciplining 00:21:57.720 --> 00:21:58.660 isn't a sign 00:21:58.660 --> 00:21:59.200 that God 00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:00.160 doesn't care. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.600 it's a sign 00:22:01.600 --> 00:22:02.140 that he 00:22:02.140 --> 00:22:02.940 does 00:22:02.940 --> 00:22:03.800 care. 00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:05.360 And when we 00:22:05.360 --> 00:22:06.540 recognize that 00:22:06.540 --> 00:22:07.660 as the writer 00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:08.220 says 00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:09.220 it will lead 00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:09.900 not to 00:22:09.900 --> 00:22:10.800 resentment 00:22:10.800 --> 00:22:12.560 but to 00:22:12.560 --> 00:22:13.779 respect. 00:22:14.540 --> 00:22:15.420 We respected 00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:16.480 our human 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:16.880 fathers 00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:17.279 the good 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:17.980 human fathers 00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:18.540 it says 00:22:18.540 --> 00:22:19.540 because of 00:22:19.540 --> 00:22:20.600 their loving 00:22:20.600 --> 00:22:21.580 discipline. 00:22:22.420 --> 00:22:23.019 How much 00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:23.300 more 00:22:23.300 --> 00:22:24.200 great New Testament 00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:24.580 phrase 00:22:24.580 --> 00:22:25.420 how much 00:22:25.420 --> 00:22:26.080 more 00:22:26.080 --> 00:22:27.200 should we 00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:28.060 submit to the 00:22:28.060 --> 00:22:28.880 father of our 00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:29.460 spirits 00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:31.200 and live. 00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:32.640 How much 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:33.220 more 00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:34.160 should we 00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:34.920 recognize 00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:35.600 what God 00:22:35.600 --> 00:22:36.160 is doing 00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:36.780 in us 00:22:36.780 --> 00:22:37.900 and should 00:22:37.900 --> 00:22:38.740 recognize that 00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:39.380 is for our 00:22:39.380 --> 00:22:39.760 good 00:22:39.760 --> 00:22:40.700 and unlike 00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:41.600 human fathers 00:22:41.600 --> 00:22:42.540 and human 00:22:42.540 --> 00:22:42.980 mothers 00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:43.800 God 00:22:43.800 --> 00:22:44.960 never gets 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:46.520 it wrong. 00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:47.880 He always 00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:48.460 does what 00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:49.100 is for our 00:22:49.100 --> 00:22:49.380 good. 00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:49.800 He never 00:22:49.800 --> 00:22:50.200 does it 00:22:50.200 --> 00:22:51.040 from selfish 00:22:51.040 --> 00:22:51.760 motives as 00:22:51.760 --> 00:22:52.460 any parent 00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:53.040 probably at 00:22:53.040 --> 00:22:53.740 times does. 00:22:54.120 --> 00:22:54.680 He does it 00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:55.880 always for 00:22:55.880 --> 00:22:57.100 our good. 00:22:57.099 --> 00:22:58.719 And then 00:22:58.719 --> 00:22:59.179 finally in 00:22:59.179 --> 00:22:59.759 verses 10 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.279 and 11 00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:00.899 I've 00:23:00.899 --> 00:23:01.459 headed this 00:23:01.459 --> 00:23:02.000 remember 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:02.819 God's 00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:03.740 purpose. 00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:05.359 Remember 00:23:05.359 --> 00:23:05.959 God's 00:23:05.959 --> 00:23:06.219 purpose. 00:23:06.339 --> 00:23:06.639 Remember 00:23:06.639 --> 00:23:07.139 God's 00:23:07.139 --> 00:23:07.359 son. 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:07.719 Remember 00:23:07.719 --> 00:23:08.159 God's 00:23:08.159 --> 00:23:08.539 word. 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:09.240 Remember 00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:09.699 God's 00:23:09.699 --> 00:23:10.059 love. 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:10.959 Remember 00:23:10.959 --> 00:23:11.839 God's 00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:12.519 purpose. 00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:13.980 As we 00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:14.299 said at 00:23:14.299 --> 00:23:14.779 the beginning 00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.919 suffering 00:23:15.919 --> 00:23:16.839 with a 00:23:16.839 --> 00:23:17.399 purpose 00:23:17.399 --> 00:23:18.719 is beneficial 00:23:18.719 --> 00:23:19.939 to us 00:23:19.939 --> 00:23:21.319 and therefore 00:23:21.319 --> 00:23:22.279 can be 00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:22.919 welcome. 00:23:23.179 --> 00:23:23.519 We can 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:24.419 find joy 00:23:24.420 --> 00:23:25.740 even in 00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:26.180 the most 00:23:26.180 --> 00:23:26.880 adverse 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:28.240 circumstances. 00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:29.640 And the 00:23:29.640 --> 00:23:30.100 reason for 00:23:30.100 --> 00:23:31.160 that is 00:23:31.160 --> 00:23:32.120 that ultimately 00:23:32.120 --> 00:23:33.160 through our 00:23:33.160 --> 00:23:34.380 suffering we 00:23:34.380 --> 00:23:35.100 develop 00:23:35.100 --> 00:23:35.960 Christian 00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:36.860 character. 00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:38.420 Now there's 00:23:38.420 --> 00:23:38.800 a short 00:23:38.800 --> 00:23:39.360 term and a 00:23:39.360 --> 00:23:39.860 longer term 00:23:39.860 --> 00:23:40.300 thing I 00:23:40.300 --> 00:23:41.420 think here. 00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:43.080 So verse 00:23:43.080 --> 00:23:44.039 10 it says 00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:45.160 God disciplines 00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:46.140 for us as 00:23:46.140 --> 00:23:46.500 for our 00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:47.400 good that 00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:47.820 we may 00:23:47.820 --> 00:23:48.519 share in 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:49.700 his holiness. 00:23:50.640 --> 00:23:50.980 Now that 00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:51.460 has a long 00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:52.279 term implication 00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:53.220 but perhaps 00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:53.759 it's a short 00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:54.300 term one 00:23:54.299 --> 00:23:55.399 as well. 00:23:56.139 --> 00:23:56.720 As we 00:23:56.720 --> 00:23:57.639 understand that 00:23:57.639 --> 00:23:58.099 God is 00:23:58.099 --> 00:23:59.059 disciplining us 00:23:59.059 --> 00:23:59.359 of the 00:23:59.359 --> 00:23:59.960 suffering in 00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:00.500 our life 00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:00.899 is a kind 00:24:00.899 --> 00:24:01.279 of wake 00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:01.720 up call 00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:02.460 from God 00:24:02.460 --> 00:24:03.619 to do 00:24:03.619 --> 00:24:04.079 away with 00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:04.720 some sin 00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:05.440 in our 00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:05.960 lives. 00:24:06.379 --> 00:24:07.259 So we 00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:07.779 put away 00:24:07.779 --> 00:24:08.480 that sin 00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:09.399 we become 00:24:09.399 --> 00:24:10.200 more holy 00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:10.740 more set 00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.359 apart for 00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:11.859 God 00:24:11.859 --> 00:24:13.119 and we 00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:14.079 try to 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:15.000 live lives 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:15.220 that are 00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:15.779 pleasing to 00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:16.159 the Lord 00:24:16.159 --> 00:24:16.559 Jesus 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:17.539 that are 00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:18.399 not resisting 00:24:18.399 --> 00:24:19.059 his 00:24:19.059 --> 00:24:19.899 will. 00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:21.119 So there's 00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:21.539 a short 00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:22.519 term benefit 00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:23.359 that it 00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:23.879 makes us 00:24:23.880 --> 00:24:24.580 more holy 00:24:24.580 --> 00:24:25.540 it makes 00:24:25.540 --> 00:24:26.080 us more 00:24:26.080 --> 00:24:26.660 devoted 00:24:26.660 --> 00:24:28.060 to God. 00:24:28.840 --> 00:24:29.320 But then 00:24:29.320 --> 00:24:29.640 there's a 00:24:29.640 --> 00:24:30.080 long term 00:24:30.080 --> 00:24:30.720 benefit 00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:31.420 the writer 00:24:31.420 --> 00:24:32.040 says no 00:24:32.040 --> 00:24:32.380 discipline 00:24:32.380 --> 00:24:34.220 seems present 00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:34.760 at the time 00:24:34.760 --> 00:24:35.440 but painful 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:37.080 later on 00:24:37.080 --> 00:24:37.460 however 00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:38.860 it produces 00:24:38.860 --> 00:24:39.820 a harvest 00:24:39.820 --> 00:24:40.800 of 00:24:40.800 --> 00:24:41.720 righteousness 00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:43.080 and 00:24:43.080 --> 00:24:43.920 peace. 00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:45.520 So those 00:24:45.520 --> 00:24:45.900 who have 00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:46.420 suffered 00:24:46.420 --> 00:24:47.660 and have 00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:48.260 recognised 00:24:48.260 --> 00:24:48.860 the Lord's 00:24:48.860 --> 00:24:49.860 hand in 00:24:49.860 --> 00:24:50.600 their suffering 00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:51.619 they 00:24:51.619 --> 00:24:52.179 mature 00:24:52.179 --> 00:24:52.439 as 00:24:52.439 --> 00:24:53.039 Christians 00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:54.059 and there 00:24:54.059 --> 00:24:54.759 is a 00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:55.059 harvest. 00:24:55.159 --> 00:24:55.359 Now the 00:24:55.359 --> 00:24:55.819 whole thought 00:24:55.819 --> 00:24:56.079 of a 00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:56.419 harvest 00:24:56.419 --> 00:24:57.139 is it 00:24:57.139 --> 00:24:57.639 is something 00:24:57.639 --> 00:24:58.319 that happens 00:24:58.319 --> 00:24:59.419 after a 00:24:59.419 --> 00:24:59.899 period. 00:25:00.419 --> 00:25:00.719 You sow 00:25:00.719 --> 00:25:01.599 your seed 00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:01.859 in the 00:25:01.859 --> 00:25:02.259 spring 00:25:02.259 --> 00:25:03.379 and in 00:25:03.379 --> 00:25:03.779 the autumn 00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:04.219 while being 00:25:04.219 --> 00:25:05.019 well you 00:25:05.019 --> 00:25:05.939 have your 00:25:05.939 --> 00:25:06.519 harvest. 00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:07.919 And so it 00:25:07.919 --> 00:25:08.480 is here 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:09.519 that we 00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:10.259 sow or God 00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:10.500 sows 00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:11.179 throughout our 00:25:11.179 --> 00:25:11.719 lives 00:25:11.719 --> 00:25:13.179 in disciplining 00:25:13.179 --> 00:25:13.679 us and 00:25:13.679 --> 00:25:14.419 teaching us 00:25:14.419 --> 00:25:14.959 and training 00:25:14.959 --> 00:25:16.019 us and 00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:16.659 over time 00:25:16.659 --> 00:25:17.299 we mature 00:25:17.299 --> 00:25:18.359 and then 00:25:18.359 --> 00:25:18.799 there is 00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:19.319 a true 00:25:19.319 --> 00:25:20.240 harvest 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:20.940 in us. 00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:21.659 A harvest 00:25:21.659 --> 00:25:22.379 of 00:25:22.379 --> 00:25:23.339 righteousness 00:25:23.339 --> 00:25:24.960 and peace. 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:26.359 Righteousness 00:25:26.359 --> 00:25:27.599 of being 00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:28.740 more conformed 00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:29.299 to God's 00:25:29.299 --> 00:25:29.680 will, 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:30.460 of living 00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:31.079 lives that 00:25:31.079 --> 00:25:31.460 are better 00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:32.099 for him, 00:25:32.159 --> 00:25:32.500 of doing 00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:33.700 away with 00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:34.180 the sin 00:25:34.180 --> 00:25:34.579 that so 00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:35.480 easily besets 00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:35.740 us, 00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:36.099 which we 00:25:36.099 --> 00:25:36.440 talked about 00:25:36.440 --> 00:25:36.879 earlier in 00:25:36.879 --> 00:25:37.419 the chapter. 00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:39.059 Peace 00:25:39.059 --> 00:25:39.779 that we 00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:40.159 have in 00:25:40.159 --> 00:25:40.319 us, 00:25:40.379 --> 00:25:41.039 that inner 00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:41.879 peace that 00:25:41.879 --> 00:25:42.720 comes from 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:43.259 our knowledge 00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:43.599 of the 00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:44.180 Lord Jesus 00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:45.419 and from 00:25:45.419 --> 00:25:46.259 having true 00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:47.099 confidence 00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:48.439 in him. 00:25:50.219 --> 00:25:50.539 And when 00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:51.119 people have 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:51.500 suffered, 00:25:51.879 --> 00:25:52.539 it does 00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:53.039 make a 00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:53.699 difference to 00:25:53.699 --> 00:25:54.459 their lives 00:25:54.459 --> 00:25:55.359 if they 00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:56.179 have recognized 00:25:56.179 --> 00:25:57.059 God's hand 00:25:57.059 --> 00:25:57.879 and been 00:25:57.879 --> 00:25:58.799 willing to 00:25:58.799 --> 00:25:59.519 be obedient 00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:00.679 to him. 00:26:01.719 --> 00:26:02.240 John Stott 00:26:02.240 --> 00:26:02.639 said, 00:26:03.139 --> 00:26:03.439 there is 00:26:03.439 --> 00:26:04.159 always an 00:26:04.159 --> 00:26:05.119 indefinable 00:26:05.119 --> 00:26:06.579 something about 00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:07.299 people who 00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:07.839 have suffered. 00:26:08.679 --> 00:26:09.439 They have a 00:26:09.439 --> 00:26:10.679 fragrance which 00:26:10.679 --> 00:26:11.980 others lack. 00:26:13.079 --> 00:26:13.939 They exhibit 00:26:13.939 --> 00:26:15.459 the meekness 00:26:15.459 --> 00:26:17.079 and gentleness 00:26:17.079 --> 00:26:19.139 of Christ. 00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:20.679 I'm sure 00:26:20.679 --> 00:26:21.339 all of us 00:26:21.339 --> 00:26:22.259 can look at 00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:22.960 Christians we've 00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:24.220 known who've 00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:25.220 suffered greatly 00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:26.359 in their lives, 00:26:26.439 --> 00:26:27.179 perhaps are still 00:26:27.179 --> 00:26:28.720 suffering greatly, 00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:30.460 and we look at 00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:30.779 them and say, 00:26:30.879 --> 00:26:31.519 what a lovely 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:32.919 character they 00:26:32.919 --> 00:26:33.419 have. 00:26:33.859 --> 00:26:35.039 How Christ-like 00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:36.240 they are in 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:37.899 their sufferings. 00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:39.319 And that comes 00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:40.519 about because 00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:41.519 they recognized 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:43.039 God's hand when 00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:43.819 they were suffering, 00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:45.319 suffering, and 00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:46.159 they made every 00:26:46.159 --> 00:26:47.639 effort to live 00:26:47.639 --> 00:26:48.539 like Jesus, to 00:26:48.539 --> 00:26:49.379 become like Jesus, 00:26:49.419 --> 00:26:50.299 and to recognize 00:26:50.299 --> 00:26:51.240 that God is 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:52.059 molding them 00:26:52.059 --> 00:26:53.519 into the image 00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:55.019 of his 00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:55.939 son. 00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:57.980 And as we 00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:59.359 mature, as 00:26:59.359 --> 00:26:59.960 with children, 00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:01.259 as they grow 00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:02.619 older, if they 00:27:02.619 --> 00:27:03.200 have been brought 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:03.960 up well, if they 00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:04.679 have been disciplined 00:27:04.679 --> 00:27:05.819 well when they 00:27:05.819 --> 00:27:07.419 are young, then 00:27:07.419 --> 00:27:08.819 they become mature 00:27:08.819 --> 00:27:11.039 adults, responsible 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:12.819 citizens in our 00:27:12.819 --> 00:27:13.440 society. 00:27:14.119 --> 00:27:14.940 And they don't 00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:15.980 need then the 00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:17.079 same discipline 00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:17.920 because they are 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:19.079 self-disciplined. 00:27:19.180 --> 00:27:19.759 They have learned 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:21.000 discipline and 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:21.859 they don't need a 00:27:21.859 --> 00:27:23.099 parent constantly 00:27:23.099 --> 00:27:24.420 to be reminding 00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:25.779 them of it. 00:27:26.420 --> 00:27:27.279 And so it is 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:28.240 in the Christian 00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:28.759 faith. 00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:30.200 As we accept 00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:31.019 God's discipline, 00:27:31.159 --> 00:27:31.839 perhaps when we're 00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:32.519 young, but could 00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:33.159 be at any stage 00:27:33.159 --> 00:27:33.859 in our lives, 00:27:34.180 --> 00:27:35.220 then we get more 00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:37.119 and more self-disciplined 00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:38.859 and able to live 00:27:38.859 --> 00:27:40.779 for Jesus and 00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:41.539 not to need 00:27:41.539 --> 00:27:43.299 God's correction. 00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:45.500 Yesterday afternoon 00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:46.480 I was watching 00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:47.399 the UK Athletic 00:27:47.399 --> 00:27:48.759 Championships on 00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.480 television, obviously 00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:50.359 very, like every 00:27:50.359 --> 00:27:51.180 sports event, rather 00:27:51.180 --> 00:27:51.799 strange at the 00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:52.519 moment, no 00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:53.359 spectators round 00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:54.619 about, just the 00:27:54.619 --> 00:27:56.119 athletes competing. 00:27:57.039 --> 00:27:57.539 And I was quite 00:27:57.539 --> 00:27:58.720 struck by one of 00:27:58.720 --> 00:27:59.299 the winners when 00:27:59.299 --> 00:28:00.119 they got interviewed 00:28:00.119 --> 00:28:01.700 after the event. 00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:02.460 One of the 00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:02.879 winners said 00:28:02.879 --> 00:28:04.000 something along 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:04.720 these lines. 00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:06.359 I was really 00:28:06.359 --> 00:28:07.259 worried going 00:28:07.259 --> 00:28:08.680 into lockdown 00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:10.639 because I didn't 00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:11.340 know how I 00:28:11.340 --> 00:28:12.180 would get on 00:28:12.180 --> 00:28:13.160 without my 00:28:13.160 --> 00:28:14.020 coach to 00:28:14.020 --> 00:28:14.840 encourage me 00:28:14.840 --> 00:28:15.880 and to urge 00:28:15.880 --> 00:28:16.840 me on. 00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:18.380 I didn't know 00:28:18.380 --> 00:28:19.420 whether I could 00:28:19.420 --> 00:28:20.700 keep going. 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.780 But because I 00:28:22.780 --> 00:28:23.160 had been 00:28:23.160 --> 00:28:24.680 trained and 00:28:24.680 --> 00:28:25.780 built up the 00:28:25.780 --> 00:28:26.500 disciplines that 00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:27.620 I needed in 00:28:27.620 --> 00:28:28.280 my training, 00:28:29.020 --> 00:28:30.120 because I knew 00:28:30.120 --> 00:28:30.820 what the goal 00:28:30.820 --> 00:28:32.300 was and what 00:28:32.300 --> 00:28:33.300 I needed to 00:28:33.300 --> 00:28:34.380 do to get 00:28:34.380 --> 00:28:35.580 there, I 00:28:35.580 --> 00:28:37.000 was able to 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:38.200 achieve it. 00:28:38.780 --> 00:28:39.380 In other words, 00:28:39.380 --> 00:28:40.000 having been 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:40.640 disciplined, 00:28:40.760 --> 00:28:41.160 having been 00:28:41.160 --> 00:28:42.200 taught by 00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:42.760 their coach, 00:28:42.840 --> 00:28:43.240 having been 00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:43.960 urged on 00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:44.860 through pain 00:28:44.860 --> 00:28:46.240 and through 00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:48.200 difficulty as 00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:48.780 they sought 00:28:48.780 --> 00:28:49.800 to get better 00:28:49.800 --> 00:28:50.880 and better. 00:28:51.640 --> 00:28:52.400 When they 00:28:52.400 --> 00:28:53.160 didn't have the 00:28:53.160 --> 00:28:53.760 coach there, 00:28:54.120 --> 00:28:54.760 they were able 00:28:54.760 --> 00:28:55.560 to keep going 00:28:55.560 --> 00:28:56.220 because they 00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:56.800 had developed, 00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:57.260 they had 00:28:57.260 --> 00:28:58.000 matured, 00:28:58.380 --> 00:28:58.880 they were 00:28:58.880 --> 00:28:59.780 themselves 00:28:59.780 --> 00:29:00.700 disciplined. 00:29:01.520 --> 00:29:01.980 And that is 00:29:01.980 --> 00:29:02.420 what we are 00:29:02.420 --> 00:29:03.020 aiming for. 00:29:03.520 --> 00:29:04.080 We are aiming 00:29:04.080 --> 00:29:05.040 that we get 00:29:05.040 --> 00:29:05.700 to a position 00:29:05.700 --> 00:29:06.720 where we are 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:07.460 obedient to 00:29:07.460 --> 00:29:07.900 God, where 00:29:07.900 --> 00:29:08.240 we have 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:09.160 grown in 00:29:09.160 --> 00:29:10.160 him and 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:10.580 we don't 00:29:10.580 --> 00:29:11.180 need to the 00:29:11.180 --> 00:29:12.000 same extent 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:13.380 his disciplining 00:29:13.380 --> 00:29:14.120 of us. 00:29:14.160 --> 00:29:14.519 It will still 00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:14.860 come. 00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:15.940 We all still 00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:17.080 fail, but 00:29:17.080 --> 00:29:17.860 as we become 00:29:17.860 --> 00:29:18.620 more like 00:29:18.620 --> 00:29:20.220 Jesus, it 00:29:20.220 --> 00:29:21.580 becomes less 00:29:21.580 --> 00:29:22.779 and less 00:29:22.779 --> 00:29:23.880 necessary. 00:29:25.340 --> 00:29:26.620 So four points 00:29:26.620 --> 00:29:27.220 there then. 00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:28.559 Four things 00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:29.580 to take away. 00:29:30.340 --> 00:29:31.220 Remember God's 00:29:31.220 --> 00:29:31.440 son. 00:29:31.580 --> 00:29:32.400 Remember Jesus 00:29:32.400 --> 00:29:33.740 who is our 00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:34.680 inspiration 00:29:34.680 --> 00:29:35.840 and our 00:29:35.840 --> 00:29:36.340 example. 00:29:37.620 --> 00:29:38.620 Remember God's 00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:39.060 word. 00:29:39.980 --> 00:29:40.500 Remember the 00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:41.200 writer to the 00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:42.600 Proverbs and 00:29:42.600 --> 00:29:43.500 how he encourages 00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:45.040 us not to be 00:29:45.040 --> 00:29:46.080 downhearted or 00:29:46.080 --> 00:29:47.360 to ignore God's 00:29:47.360 --> 00:29:47.920 discipline but 00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:49.180 rather to learn 00:29:49.180 --> 00:29:50.120 from it. 00:29:50.840 --> 00:29:51.600 Remember God's 00:29:51.600 --> 00:29:52.700 love that when 00:29:52.700 --> 00:29:53.580 he disciplines us 00:29:53.580 --> 00:29:54.380 it's not a sign 00:29:54.380 --> 00:29:55.320 he doesn't care, 00:29:55.740 --> 00:29:56.580 it's a sign of 00:29:56.580 --> 00:29:57.620 how much he 00:29:57.620 --> 00:29:58.340 does care. 00:29:59.240 --> 00:29:59.900 And remember 00:29:59.900 --> 00:30:01.300 God's purpose 00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:02.740 that in all our 00:30:02.740 --> 00:30:03.399 suffering God 00:30:03.399 --> 00:30:04.279 has the purpose 00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:05.220 that we may 00:30:05.220 --> 00:30:06.139 grow to Christian 00:30:06.139 --> 00:30:07.599 maturity, that 00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:08.519 we may become 00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:09.819 more like 00:30:09.819 --> 00:30:10.639 Jesus. 00:30:12.039 --> 00:30:12.899 Let me finish 00:30:12.899 --> 00:30:13.440 by quoting 00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:14.379 from I think 00:30:14.379 --> 00:30:14.859 one of the 00:30:14.859 --> 00:30:15.759 greatest Christians 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:16.919 of the last 00:30:16.919 --> 00:30:18.019 hundred years, 00:30:18.680 --> 00:30:19.539 Dr. Helen 00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.500 Rosevear. 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:21.859 Now many of 00:30:21.859 --> 00:30:22.299 you will probably 00:30:22.299 --> 00:30:23.139 know Helen 00:30:23.139 --> 00:30:24.119 Rosevear's story. 00:30:24.659 --> 00:30:25.279 When she was a 00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:26.039 student she felt 00:30:26.039 --> 00:30:26.680 the call to 00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:27.579 missionary work 00:30:27.579 --> 00:30:28.659 and she went 00:30:28.659 --> 00:30:29.299 to the Congo. 00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:30.519 She worked as 00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:31.019 a doctor, 00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:31.899 she trained 00:30:31.899 --> 00:30:32.559 other medical 00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:33.079 people, 00:30:33.419 --> 00:30:33.899 she set up 00:30:33.899 --> 00:30:34.839 medical facilities 00:30:34.839 --> 00:30:35.259 there, 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:36.059 she did a 00:30:36.059 --> 00:30:37.079 tremendous work 00:30:37.079 --> 00:30:38.240 for the Lord. 00:30:39.419 --> 00:30:40.119 And then there 00:30:40.119 --> 00:30:41.039 was a civil war 00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:42.240 in the Congo 00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:43.859 and Helen Rosevear 00:30:43.859 --> 00:30:44.700 along with other 00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:45.680 colleagues was 00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:46.980 captured by the 00:30:46.980 --> 00:30:47.740 rebel forces 00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:49.539 and she was 00:30:49.539 --> 00:30:50.539 brutally beaten 00:30:50.539 --> 00:30:52.159 up and raped 00:30:52.159 --> 00:30:53.379 and left in a 00:30:53.379 --> 00:30:54.779 dreadful physical 00:30:54.779 --> 00:30:55.839 condition. 00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:57.740 And she was at 00:30:57.740 --> 00:30:58.379 the point where 00:30:58.379 --> 00:30:59.240 she was thinking 00:30:59.240 --> 00:31:00.579 I'm not sure I 00:31:00.579 --> 00:31:01.119 can go on. 00:31:01.299 --> 00:31:03.460 I'm not sure I 00:31:03.460 --> 00:31:04.919 can bear this. 00:31:05.879 --> 00:31:06.359 And while she 00:31:06.359 --> 00:31:07.200 was thinking that 00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:08.519 she became very 00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:09.740 aware of the 00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:11.079 presence of the 00:31:11.079 --> 00:31:11.680 Lord Jesus 00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:12.899 with her. 00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:14.399 And she 00:31:14.399 --> 00:31:15.700 recognized that 00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:16.359 her suffering 00:31:16.359 --> 00:31:17.759 was not something 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:18.639 that should break 00:31:18.639 --> 00:31:20.079 her, not something 00:31:20.079 --> 00:31:20.879 she should shy 00:31:20.879 --> 00:31:21.559 away from and 00:31:21.559 --> 00:31:22.180 think this is 00:31:22.180 --> 00:31:23.940 dreadful, but 00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:24.480 that it was 00:31:24.480 --> 00:31:25.480 something that 00:31:25.480 --> 00:31:26.799 she should almost 00:31:26.799 --> 00:31:27.639 welcome. 00:31:27.640 --> 00:31:29.380 and she describes 00:31:29.380 --> 00:31:30.640 it as a 00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:31.040 privilege. 00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:31.740 Let me read 00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:33.100 what she says. 00:31:33.900 --> 00:31:35.480 One word became 00:31:35.480 --> 00:31:37.380 unbelievably clear 00:31:37.380 --> 00:31:38.980 and that word 00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:40.240 was privileged. 00:31:41.280 --> 00:31:42.180 He didn't take 00:31:42.180 --> 00:31:43.600 away pain or 00:31:43.600 --> 00:31:44.900 cruelty or 00:31:44.900 --> 00:31:45.560 humiliation. 00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:47.620 No, it was all 00:31:47.620 --> 00:31:49.200 there, but now 00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:50.520 it was altogether 00:31:50.520 --> 00:31:51.720 different. 00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:54.079 it was with 00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:55.900 him, for 00:31:55.900 --> 00:31:57.539 him, in 00:31:57.539 --> 00:31:57.839 him. 00:31:58.660 --> 00:31:59.299 He was 00:31:59.299 --> 00:32:00.460 actually offering 00:32:00.460 --> 00:32:01.059 me the 00:32:01.059 --> 00:32:01.759 inestimable 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:03.960 privilege of 00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:04.980 sharing in some 00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:06.460 little way the 00:32:06.460 --> 00:32:07.420 edge of the 00:32:07.420 --> 00:32:08.880 fellowship of 00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:10.299 his suffering. 00:32:10.299 --> 00:32:12.980 God never 00:32:12.980 --> 00:32:14.319 uses a person 00:32:14.319 --> 00:32:16.099 greatly until 00:32:16.099 --> 00:32:17.259 he has wounded 00:32:17.259 --> 00:32:18.599 them deeply. 00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:20.500 The privilege 00:32:20.500 --> 00:32:21.539 he offers you 00:32:21.539 --> 00:32:23.019 is greater than 00:32:23.019 --> 00:32:24.339 the price you 00:32:24.339 --> 00:32:25.139 have to pay. 00:32:26.299 --> 00:32:26.980 The privilege 00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:28.559 is greater 00:32:28.559 --> 00:32:29.859 than the 00:32:29.859 --> 00:32:30.299 price. 00:32:31.019 --> 00:32:31.440 So when we 00:32:31.440 --> 00:32:31.980 face suffering 00:32:31.980 --> 00:32:32.480 in our lives, 00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:32.899 and I say we 00:32:32.899 --> 00:32:33.319 all do, and 00:32:33.319 --> 00:32:34.039 some of you 00:32:34.039 --> 00:32:34.559 I know suffer 00:32:34.559 --> 00:32:35.579 far, far more 00:32:35.579 --> 00:32:37.039 than I ever 00:32:37.039 --> 00:32:38.759 have, let's 00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:39.680 recognize that 00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:40.480 it is part of 00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:41.240 God's plan 00:32:41.240 --> 00:32:41.640 for us. 00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:42.019 In a real 00:32:42.019 --> 00:32:43.220 sense, it is a 00:32:43.220 --> 00:32:44.380 privilege that 00:32:44.380 --> 00:32:45.820 he allows us 00:32:45.820 --> 00:32:46.640 to suffer. 00:32:47.160 --> 00:32:47.759 We are in 00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:48.680 some way 00:32:48.680 --> 00:32:49.980 reflecting the 00:32:49.980 --> 00:32:51.000 suffering that 00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:51.880 the Lord Jesus 00:32:51.880 --> 00:32:52.940 had. 00:32:53.640 --> 00:32:54.180 And as we 00:32:54.180 --> 00:32:55.460 suffer, let us 00:32:55.460 --> 00:32:56.560 recognize God's 00:32:56.560 --> 00:32:57.259 hand in it. 00:32:57.840 --> 00:32:58.320 Let us 00:32:58.320 --> 00:32:59.500 recognize the 00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:00.240 sinfulness in 00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:00.920 our lives and 00:33:00.920 --> 00:33:02.180 put it aside. 00:33:02.860 --> 00:33:03.519 And let us 00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:04.120 grow to 00:33:04.120 --> 00:33:05.900 maturity and 00:33:05.900 --> 00:33:06.600 to be more 00:33:06.600 --> 00:33:07.620 like our 00:33:07.620 --> 00:33:08.000 Lord. 00:33:08.440 --> 00:33:08.860 Let's pray 00:33:08.860 --> 00:33:09.279 together. 00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:11.320 Our 00:33:11.320 --> 00:33:11.680 Father, we 00:33:11.680 --> 00:33:11.960 thank you 00:33:11.960 --> 00:33:12.259 for your 00:33:12.259 --> 00:33:12.580 word. 00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:14.000 We thank 00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:14.340 you for 00:33:14.340 --> 00:33:15.019 this passage 00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:15.460 which at 00:33:15.460 --> 00:33:16.100 first seems 00:33:16.100 --> 00:33:17.039 very difficult 00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:17.759 but yet can 00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:18.500 be very 00:33:18.500 --> 00:33:19.820 precious as 00:33:19.820 --> 00:33:20.420 we understand 00:33:20.420 --> 00:33:20.940 it. 00:33:21.640 --> 00:33:22.259 That as a 00:33:22.259 --> 00:33:22.960 loving Father, 00:33:23.440 --> 00:33:24.140 you discipline 00:33:24.140 --> 00:33:25.340 your children, 00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:27.240 but you do 00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:28.460 it only for 00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:29.400 our good. 00:33:30.200 --> 00:33:31.060 That we may 00:33:31.060 --> 00:33:31.680 have more 00:33:31.680 --> 00:33:32.880 joy and 00:33:32.880 --> 00:33:33.900 peace in 00:33:33.900 --> 00:33:34.279 the Lord 00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:34.640 Jesus. 00:33:35.600 --> 00:33:36.360 That we may 00:33:36.360 --> 00:33:37.539 mature in 00:33:37.539 --> 00:33:38.860 faith and 00:33:38.859 --> 00:33:40.099 become truly 00:33:40.099 --> 00:33:41.819 holy and 00:33:41.819 --> 00:33:42.219 righteous. 00:33:43.219 --> 00:33:44.079 That we may 00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:45.000 become truly 00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:46.240 like Jesus, 00:33:46.399 --> 00:33:46.859 may share 00:33:46.859 --> 00:33:48.059 something of 00:33:48.059 --> 00:33:48.839 his character 00:33:48.839 --> 00:33:50.279 and represent 00:33:50.279 --> 00:33:51.500 that to 00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:51.939 others. 00:33:52.639 --> 00:33:52.939 And we pray 00:33:52.939 --> 00:33:53.439 that when we 00:33:53.439 --> 00:33:54.359 face times of 00:33:54.359 --> 00:33:55.019 suffering in 00:33:55.019 --> 00:33:55.639 our lives, 00:33:56.199 --> 00:33:56.759 that you will 00:33:56.759 --> 00:33:57.519 help us to 00:33:57.519 --> 00:33:58.819 see that under 00:33:58.819 --> 00:34:00.139 your hand we 00:34:00.139 --> 00:34:01.339 can endure the 00:34:01.339 --> 00:34:01.740 suffering. 00:34:02.679 --> 00:34:03.879 More than that, 00:34:04.219 --> 00:34:04.919 we can be 00:34:04.919 --> 00:34:05.619 drawn to the 00:34:05.619 --> 00:34:06.159 Lord Jesus 00:34:06.159 --> 00:34:07.679 through it and 00:34:07.679 --> 00:34:08.139 come to 00:34:08.139 --> 00:34:09.279 understand more 00:34:09.279 --> 00:34:10.339 the love that 00:34:10.339 --> 00:34:10.880 he had for 00:34:10.880 --> 00:34:12.159 us as he 00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:12.500 suffered. 00:34:13.159 --> 00:34:13.900 Help us to 00:34:13.900 --> 00:34:14.839 be those who 00:34:14.839 --> 00:34:15.739 endure suffering 00:34:15.739 --> 00:34:17.039 with courage 00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:18.019 and with 00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:19.380 faith and 00:34:19.380 --> 00:34:19.940 with a real 00:34:19.940 --> 00:34:21.559 confidence in 00:34:21.559 --> 00:34:21.859 you. 00:34:22.659 --> 00:34:23.139 We thank you 00:34:23.139 --> 00:34:23.719 for the time 00:34:23.719 --> 00:34:24.079 we've had 00:34:24.079 --> 00:34:24.659 studying your 00:34:24.659 --> 00:34:25.400 word as now 00:34:25.400 --> 00:34:26.440 we come to 00:34:26.440 --> 00:34:27.039 remember the 00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:27.539 Lord Jesus 00:34:27.539 --> 00:34:28.039 in the way 00:34:28.039 --> 00:34:28.500 that he's 00:34:28.500 --> 00:34:28.920 appointed. 00:34:29.559 --> 00:34:30.299 Help us to 00:34:30.299 --> 00:34:31.000 understand a 00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:31.679 bit more of 00:34:31.679 --> 00:34:32.519 his suffering 00:34:32.519 --> 00:34:33.659 and to be 00:34:33.659 --> 00:34:34.400 drawn closer 00:34:34.400 --> 00:34:35.420 to him. 00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:36.519 We ask in 00:34:36.519 --> 00:34:36.940 the name of 00:34:36.940 --> 00:34:37.280 the Lord 00:34:37.280 --> 00:34:37.619 Jesus. 00:34:38.800 --> 00:34:39.320 Amen.