3.1.  REVERENCE AND SUBJECTION TO GOD THE “FATHER OF SPIRITS”

As we would normally give reverence to the fathers of our flesh when the correct us, likewise must we subject ourselves unto God, the “Father of spirits”, and live (Hebrew 12:9). If one endures God’s chastening, He will deal with you as with sons; for which son there is who is not chastised by his father? ^“If ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons”. (Hebrew 12:7-8).

When faced with chastening trails, consider that you are been tried out of the abundance of God’s love for you. It may seem odd that one must undergo difficult circumstances as of gold that is tried in the fire. Yet, out of that difficult trial as with gold, one is refined and becomes sanctified; and acquires spiritual riches in knowledge and understanding of the ways of God. (Hebrews 12:7; Revelation 3:18).

3.2.  ENDEAVOUR TOWARDS RIGHTEOUSNESS

Although “no chastening for the present [could seem] to be joyous, nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby”. One should not despise God’s chastening because anyone who endures the correction of the Almighty is a “happy man” (Hebrew 12:11; Job 5:17).

 Brethren in chastening trials therefore, endeavour to be of the mind that the intention of the Lord is not to cast you off nor is it to forsake our inheritance in the promises of grace and mercy that he has sealed in Jesus Christ our Lord. But rather, one should conceive that when God judges an individual or nation through chastening, his desire is that people return unto righteousness and to ensure that the upright in heart shall follow it. (Psalm 94:14-15).

Rest your conviction on the fact that God has the power: to make sore and to bind it up; to cause to be wounded but His hands will also make whole; he shall deliver you through several troubles yet no evil shall touch you in the end. He shall redeem thee from death in famine, and from the power of the sword in war. He shall hide you from the scourge of tongue and you shall laugh at destruction and famine and shall not be afraid of the beasts of the earth or thine enemies (Job 5:18-22).

And by endeavouring in righteousness through God’s chastening, “thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin”.(Job 5:24).

 3.3.  RESISTING COMPLAINING OR MUMURRING

 Brethren when you are chastised by God for wrongdoing, avoid making excuses, complaining or murmuring. Do not look dejected or of sorrowful countenance otherwise than in brokenness that derives from contrition and a repentant spirit. For Why should any mortal man complain, in view of his sins[or the punishment thereof ]? Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good? (Hebrew 12:12-13; lamentation 3:38-39).

 “Rather “lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees” and seek to correct your ways and walk uprightly before God according to his words. To do this deligently, one must “search and try [your] ways, and turn again to the Lord”; and lift your heart and hands unto God in the heavens (Lamentation 3:40-41).

 3.4 PRAYING IN REPENTANCE

 God will surely hear your cry when your repent and bemoan yourself truthfully in respect of the chastisement. When one repents, God will consider you as His “dear son” and “a pleasant  child”. So that even though He may have spoken against your ways, he will still remember you with deep compassion and “will surely have mercy upon you” (Jeremiah 31:19-20)^. Acknowledge the wrong conduct and bear the reproach.  Below are some examples of prayer in repentance in chastening and for correction:

As in the case of Job, say:

“I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more”; (Job 34:31-32);

OR as Ephraim say:

“Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God”. (Jeremiah 31:18);

OR as Jonah say:

  I cry by reason of mine affliction unto you Lord; Hear me out of the belly of hell. “For thou [has] cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods [compass] me about: all thy billows and thy waves [pass] over me…I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple”. Salvation is of the Lord. (Jonah 2: 2-4 & 9)

OR in the words of the Psalmist say

“Before I was afflicted I went astray” and “Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Lord, according unto thy word. Teach me good judgment and knowledge”… I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort… Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. (Psalm 119:65-68 & 75-76).

Brethren to overcome chastening trials by repentance, you should confess the transgression or “speak what thou knowest” and God will recompense it should it be according to thy mind” (Job 34:33). In other words, your confessions must be heartfelt and in sincerity.

3.5.  FAITH IN THE COVENANT OF GRACE IN JESUS CHRIST

If you cry unto God with your mouth, extol him with your tongue, and do not regard iniquity in your heart, the Lord will hear and attend to your prayer and shall not withhold his mercies from you.  (Psalm 66:17-20).

Remember always that there is grace in abundance that Jesus Christ has obtained that atones for our sins, by which we can access God the father no matter what our transgressions may be.

Also in confidence, be encouraged that we are no longer under the dispensation that existed at the time of Esau when he sold his birth right and afterward when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected; and he found no place for repentance even though he pleaded with tears.

Nor are we at “the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest… [that was] so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake.” (Hebrew 12:16-21.)

Instead we have “Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel”, and we have through Christ received a “kingdom which cannot be moved, and have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrew 12:24-28).

Next week message will examine how one can enhance spiritual resilience to deal with the various dimensions of faith trials covered in the series.

 PRAYER

Almighty God, thank you for your word; and for thy tender mercies upon thy children.

Dear Father, cause thy Children to seek thy face as you chasten them in demonstration of your loving kindness, to bring them to know your ways.

Jesus Lord our saviour, keep thy people under the covering of thy precious blood.

Holy Spirit convict them of them of their transgressions and sanctify them in the midst of the storm. Spirit of Power and truth make them perfect unto good works, to the GLORY OF THE FATHER.

I make this prayer in JESUS NAME.

 Have a blessed week of peace.

Lots of Love, P. Schwartz (SOG), 05 August 2018.