Series: The Discipline of Grace
Message 13: “The Discipline of Adversity”
In the course of life, we experience many kinds of things. We would say some are
good, pleasant and helpful. Others are not so good or pleasant or helpful – things we
would call trials or adversities. In this message, we are going to focus on how God uses
adversities to discipline (train) us in holiness. We will study Hebrews 12:5-13 by asking
a series of questions. [The Book of Hebrews was originally written to Hebrew (Jewish)
Christians who were going through very hard times because of their faith in Jesus as
their Messiah. The writer reminded them that God uses adversities for the ultimate
good of His people.]
1. What encouragement is found in v.v. 5 -6?
These verses quote Proverbs 3:11-12. They show that loving discipline is not the mark
of a harsh father, but of a father who is deeply concerned for the welfare of his
children. The encouragement this passage gives us is that our Heavenly Father
disciplines us because He loves us. (p. 229)
2. What are two improper reactions to God’s discipline found in v. 5?
1. To despise God’s discipline V 5a: “My son, do not despise (also can mean:
take lightly) the chastening of the Lord (discipline; Greek: the training a child
receives).” Let us not resent or take it lightly when God disciplines us. If we do, we
will fail to see His hand in the hardships we encounter. We will see them as chance
occurrences or we may wonder why He allows us to experience them. While we may
not always understand how adversity is God’s hand working in our lives, we must
trust His heart. He works for His glory and our good, even in the hard and adverse
circumstances of our lives. (p. 229)
2. To be discouraged when God rebukes (reproves)us
V. 5b: “Nor be
discouraged when you are rebuked by Him.” God rebukes us out of love, not
anger. So let’s never become discouraged or lose heart when God disciplines us.
Verse 6 reminds us, “For whom the LORD (Yahweh) loves (cares for deeply) He
chastens (disciplines), and scourges (literally: inflicts pain on) every son who He
receives.”
Even when things are painful, we must accept by faith the testimony of Scripture. We
must believe that our sovereign and loving God knows what He is doing even in the
times we experience great pain! (p. 231)
The word scourge (to inflict pain) in v. 6 can used for one of two purposes: (1) To
execute justice against wrong doing; (2) To correct character. We know that God
does not inflict pain in order to execute justice toward us. He has already executed the
justice (punishment) believers should have received when He sent His Son to die on the
cross on their behalf. The Gospel of Grace tells us that God’s wrath against our sin was
fully satisfied on the cross. Therefore, when God sends pain in our lives, it is always
corrective. It is always administered in love for our good. Satan would tell us
otherwise and make us think that God is disciplining us out of wrath. (p. 232)
3. What do v.v. 7-8 reveal about God’s purpose for bringing hardship and pain
in the life of the believer?
They reveal that there is no such thing as pain without purpose in the life of the
God’s children. Those who are not His children are not disciplined. (Please read.) God
uses everything that happens to us (the good and the bad) as a way to conform us to
Christ (see Rom. 8:28-39). This is true of all the hardships that come to us, even those that
come from our own sinful actions. God does not cause anyone to sin. However, He
sovereignly and lovingly uses even our sinfulness for His glory as He leads us to repent
and then turn in faith to Him to work in our lives. The only way Christ-like character is
developed is in the crucible of real-life experiences. And God orchestrates and
superintends those particular circumstances His children need. It is a part of His
providential care. (p.p. 233-234)
4. What does Hebrews 12:9 teach in regard to God’s disciplining of our lives?
Verse 9 says, “Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and
we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the
Father of spirits (the God of our spiritual life) and live?” The point of this verse is
that if a child respects the discipline his father gives him (when it is a healthy
discipline), we certainly can respect and submit to the discipline of our Heavenly
Father. Our earthly fathers’ discipline is at best imperfect, both in motive and
application, but God’s discipline is perfect, exactly suited to our needs.
If we are going to live the life to which God has called us, we must submit to His
discipline. Submitting to God’s discipline results in two things: (1) We will not become
angry with God or charge Him with injustice when He does discipline us; (2) We will
accept all discipline as coming from His loving hand for our ultimate good.
This does not mean that we should never pray for relief from pain or suffering.
However, we must be submissive to Him regarding the outcome. Jesus is our
supreme example of this as He prayed the night before His crucifixion, “My Father, if
it is possible, may this cup (adversity or hardship of the looming cross) be taken
from me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39) (pp. 235-236)
5. What is the outcome of adversity?
Verses 10-11 say, “For they (earthly fathers) for a few days (the days when we were
young) chastened us (disciplined us) as seemed best to them, but He (God) for
our profit (to benefit us), that we may be partakers of His holiness (God’s holy
character). (11) Now no chastening (discipline) seems joyful for the present, but
painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness
to those who have been trained by it.” The wisdom of human parents in the
disciplining of their children is finite and limited. However, God’s wisdom is infinite and
perfect. He always disciplines us for our good. As our Heavenly Father, he always
knows best!
Note the words in v. 10, which say, “But He (God) for our profit (disciplines us for
our good or benefit), that we may be partakers of His holiness (His holy character).
(See Romans 8:28-39; Please read this in its entirety.) There are no such things as
random or chance events in the lives of God’s people! The good and the bad things we
experience are intended to move us closer to being like Christ in His holiness.
The last part of v. 11 says that God’s discipline “yields the peaceable fruit (harvest)
of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” God’s discipline
(training) results in the peaceable fruit of righteousness for those who receive it.
This means that as a result of God’s discipline of our lives, our lives will be
characterized by righteous behavior – behavior based on the standards that are right in
God’s eyes.
The word peace refers to two kinds of peace. (1) The peace we experience in this
life We have peace and joy, even in the midst of hardships because we trust God to
use all things for His glory and our good. (2) The peace and joy we will have
throughout eternity This is why Romans 8:18 says, “I consider that our present
sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
(See also 2 Cor. 4:16-18).
God’s role in our discipline is to use adversity as a means of our sanctification, i.e.
our pursuit of holiness. Our role is to submit to whatever God may be doing, even
though a particular instance of adversity makes no sense to us. As we do this, we will,
in due time, see the fruit of righteousness and peace in our lives. This is the outcome of
adversity. (pp. 239-240)
6. What enables us to accept the discipline of adversity?
We accept the discipline of adversity as we learn to live by God’s grace. This enables
us to understand that He disciplines us because He loves us, not because He is angry
with our performance or behavior. We also accept that, whatever our situation is, it is
far better than we deserve. We are a part of a fallen world – a world in rebellion
against the God who created it. If we got what we deserved we would receive God’s
wrath and eternal punishment. So when adversity comes our way, we don’t ask, “Why
did this happen to me?” i.e. “What did I do to deserve such bad treatment from God?”
Rather, “What is God teaching me in this adverse situation?” (pp. 241-242)
7. What is the value of the Gospel for Christians during the times of adversity?
The Gospel enables us to understand that the God who saved us through Christ’s life,
death and resurrection (the essence of the Gospel) is the God who also disciplines us.
He disciplines us because He knows that only by disciplining us will we grow in the
holiness that He has conferred upon us through faith in Christ. Every kind of discipline
God uses in our lives is an important part of the Discipline of His Grace. Grace is God’s
favor toward us even though we do not deserve it. It is His favor that effectively works
in and through us for His glory and our ultimate good.
Our challenge: When the storms of adversity blow our way, let’s not look at them in
fear. Let’s look at the cross in victory!