He Dares to Discipline!
God's discipline is not to bring us down, but to lift us up and make us like Him.
Miles J. Stanford emphasizes the importance of not taking lightly the Lord's discipline, comparing it to a father's discipline for the good of his children. He explains that God's discipline is meant to lift us up and mold us into His holy character, not to bring us down. Stanford highlights that through trials and pressure in service, God purges us to bring forth more fruit, leading us to depend on Him for greater answers than we could imagine. Just like the prodigal son found more than sustenance in his father's house, God's discipline and guidance exceed our expectations, showing His love for us.
Text
"My son, do not think lightly of the Lord's discipline, and do not faint when he corrects you" (Hebrews 12:6, Wey.).
Most of us sought to avoid our natural father's discipline, when he sought to administer it. And most of us seek to avoid our heavenly Father's discipline, until we finally learn that "He does it for our certain good, in order that we may become sharers in His own holy character" (Hebrews 12:10, Wey.).
"There is an idea that often troubles people, namely, that God always wants to bring us down when He chastens us. When He corrects a man it is not that He may bring him down, but that He may lift him up. He says, 'Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time' (1 Peter 5:6). I discipline my child in order that I may exalt him morally."
"Our Father purges us on the principle of 'we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake.' In service you are sure to find some kind of pressure on you.
"It may be on your body, and often is; or it may be persecution; but you will hardly ever have a fruitful field of service before you, unless you are crippled for it. 'He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.'"
"We come to feel our need, and often attempt independently to supply it by our own means; the Lord must confound us in the attempt; but having done so, He leads in dependence to find and acquire an inconceivably greater answer to our wishes than even that which we prescribed for ourselves. The prodigal only sought 'sustenance' from the citizen in the 'far country,' but back in his father's house he found not bread merely, but abounding welcome and a fatted calf."
"For those whom the Lord loves he disciplines: and he scourges every son whom he acknowledges" (Hebrews 12:6, Wey.).
Sermon Outline
- I. God's Discipline is Not to Bring Us Down
- A. He corrects us to lift us up
- B. Humble ourselves under God's mighty hand
- C. He will exalt us in due time
- II. God's Discipline is for Our Good
- A. To become sharers in His holy character
- B. To bring forth more fruit
- III. God's Discipline Leads to Dependence
- A. We attempt to supply our own needs
- B. God must confound us in our attempts
- C. He leads us to dependence and a greater answer
- IV. God's Discipline is a Sign of Love
- A. He disciplines those He loves
- B. He scourges every son He acknowledges
Key Quotes
“He does it for our certain good, in order that we may become sharers in His own holy character.” — Miles J. Stanford
“He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” — Miles J. Stanford
“He disciplines my child in order that I may exalt him morally.” — Miles J. Stanford
Application Points
- We should not try to avoid God's discipline, but instead, humble ourselves under His mighty hand.
- God's discipline is an opportunity for us to grow and become more like Him.
- We should trust in God's love and provision, even when we feel weak or crippled.