Introduction : We were sometimes rebuked and punished by our parents as we were growing up. At such times, we felt mistreated and unfair, but as we look back now, we appreciate our parents´ love that had been hidden in their rebuke and punishment. Those who are born as the children of God must go through His discipline and punishment as they grow in faith in Him. If we are disciplined, we would feel painful and sad. However, God disciplines us with loving punishment, because we are His children and He wants His children to grow uprightly.


1.Why does the Lord discipline us?
    1) Because of disobedience    (Isa 1:4-5)
        (1) When we train our livestock, we whip them if they disobey us    (Ps 32:9, Jas 3:3)
        (2) Who as parents would neglect disciplining their children when they are willful
             and misbehaving?    (Heb 12:7-8, Pr 13:24)
        (3) The discipline that Jonah received    (Jnh 1:12, 2:2)
    2) Unbelief - When we do not have faith in the Word of God    (Nu 18:19, Jer 35:17)
    3) When we serve ourselves and despise our neighbor    (Ps 101:5, Pr 14:21)
    4) A life without love - an unkind life    (Lev 19:16-18)

2. Punishments as the discipline    (Pr 20:30)
    Blows and wounds cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being
    1) Physical sickness - one who had been an invalid for 38 years at a pool called
        Bethesda    (Jn 5:14)
    2) Failure in business    (Mal 3:8-9, Hag 1:6, 9)
    3) The attack of an enemy - David and Absalom    (2Sa 15:14)
    4) The destruction of a family - runaway children, divorce . . . (2Sa 7:14, Jer 2:19)
    5) Death    (Eze 18:20, Lev 26:16, 18)

3. When we are disciplined
    1) We must willingly accept the discipline    (Heb 12:5-6)
    2) We must repent, right the wrong, and be changed    (Ps 51:9-12, Job 42:6)
    3) We must patiently wait until we bear the fruit of repentance and transformation.
        The discipline is not temporary    (Heb 12:11, Jas 5:11)
    4) We must sincerely give thanks to God who loves us so much that He disciplines
        us with punishment    (Job 5:17-18)

4. Effects of the discipline
    1) An obedient life    (Heb 12:9, Pr 1:33)
    2) Greater devotion and faith    (Heb 12:10, Rev 3:19-20)
    3) A life that serves God and neighbors    (Heb 12:12-13, Isa 56:6,Gal 5:13)
    4) A life that serves with love    (Col 3:12-14)


Conclusion : If we wish to avoid being disciplined, we must turn from evil, discerning God´s will when He speaks to us through His Word, through the inner voice of the Holy Spirit that comes from our conscience, and through the warning of our neighbor. If we refuse to turn from evil, insisting on going our own way, God will discipline us. If God disciplines us, He punishes us so severely that He only stops when we repent of our sin and turn from evil.