The Chastening Of The Lord

Psalms 118:18 says, " The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death."

In light of what the Bible tells us, you can rest assured that God chastens His own. The meaning of "chasten" is found in the New Testament word "paideuo." It comes from the word "pais"–meaning child. It refers to "child training." It has the idea of our word "discipline" —which means, "to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control;to punish or penalize in order to train and control; correct; chastise." The things that happen in your life are not accidents, they are appointments. God is still in charge in this universe. He is not standing idly by watching the wheel of life turn, His hand is on the wheel.

Those who know nothing of the chastening of the Lord in their own experience are "illegitimate" and not really sons of God.

I. The Reality of Chastisement. It is not a product of the imagination of a group of over zealous Christians or a mirage, it's real.

A. First, the Bible declares it (1 Cor.11:32; 2 Cor.6:9; Heb.12:10). It is real because the Bible says so.

B. Secondly, reason demands it. It would be unbelievable to think that God would just let His children go about living their own lives, without disciplining and training them toward obedience.

C. Thirdly, saints experience it, since it is an important part of son-ship. God chastises all whom He births (Heb.12:6).

II. The Reasons for Chastisement. Why does God chastise in the first place?

A. Reason one is because He loves. Hebrews 12:6 states, "Whom he loveth He chasteneth."

B. Also, He chastens because He longs. He longs for what? He longs to make us more like Christ.

C. Also, He chastens because He liberates. He does not want us living any more in the domination of self and sin. He often has to chastise us to wean us from sin.

D. Finally, He chastens because He is Lord. He wants to direct and lead us–to have our full co-operation with His plan (see in v.9 the phrase "be in subjection). God does not chastise just to vent emotions, like an earthly father often does. It is always for our profit and His glory.

III. The Reward from Chastisement. Whatever form chastisement make take, whether it be physical suffering, rebuke from the Word of God, or whatever else may come our way, it produces in us holiness (Heb.12:10) and righteousness (Heb.12:11). It "yieldeth"(Heb.12:11) what the saints of God need. God does child-train His children.

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