Pruning – God’s loving discipline
Introduction
Reading v2
The secret of the Christian life is to keep our eyes on Jesus
He is King and the one who reigns
Is our confidence in Jesus Christ?
It is Jesus Christ who rules and reigns
John 15 – remaining in Christ
"Abide in the Vine" – continue in Him
Not fits/starts, hot/cold
Steadfast in the faith
All eyes on Jesus
"Without Me you can do nothing"
Have we really though about that?
We must depend on Jesus and not ourselves
John 5:19, 30 – Jesus does nothing of Himself (but by His Father)
‘I have such a close bond with My Father I do nothing independent of Him’
He never acted independently of His Father
If this is true of Jesus Christ – how much more should it be true of us?
What happens when we go astray?
God in His mercy comes after us
Example
God disciplines us in love
v2 – image of pruning: sharp, clean cuts
To bear fruit
This is painful for us at times
Overview:
The Place of Correction
The Pain of Correction
The Purpose of Discipline
The Place of Correction
It occurs within the family
A child needs discipline – examples
It must take place where a child is loved and cherished
What about the family of God?
He will discipline us
Hebrews 12:7-9
Discipline only applies to the children of God
Do you know God’s chastening in your life?
Within the family from a loving heavenly Father
The Pain of Correction
Heb 12:11
Discipline is not easy
It is used by God to bring fruit and righteousness
David suffered the chastening hand of God
On several occasions but especially after the incident with Bathsheba
Psalm 32:3-4
He knew his sin was grave – but would not confess it
It physically affected him
Ps 39:9-11,13
God loves to forgive
Ps 32:5, 1-2
The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from every sin – if you confess and repent and come to the cross
God does not take pleasure in discipline
We should learn from discipline/correction – examples
David knew the chastening of the Lord
Example – A chastening look from Jesus to Peter
How we respond is so important
Heb 12:5, 3 – do not despise chastening or be discouraged
Heb 5:8 – Jesus learned obedience
Heb 2:10 – through His sufferings Jesus became perfect
Are we rebellious?
Do we receive it … to follow God?
The Purpose of Discipline
Example of Jonah
The purpose:
Is to entreat our hearts
To produce fruit in our lives
That we might be a blessing to others
v2 – to bear more fruit (like Jesus)
God does not act in vengence
Examples
God does not act like a human Father
His discipline never flows from anger but always from love
Heb 12:10-11 – that we might partake of His holiness
Closing Remarks
Only a child of God receives loving discipline
An unbeliever will only know God as judge of their sin
Jesus asks you to come to Him, believe in Him, abide in Him
Come to Jesus
Accept the loving discipline of God and produce peaceable fruits of righteousness