DISCIPLINE TO SHARE IN GODS’ HOLINESS

Hebrews 12:5-14

HOW TO KNOW WHEN YOU’RE IN THE KINGDOM:

The beatitudes are not a list of requirements to get into the kingdom of God; they are the signs or characteristics that you are in the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is not a physical place or an earthly government. It’s much bigger and far more profound than that. The word Kingdom comes from the word King and Dominion.

The Kingdom of God is where God reigns as King. It’s his authority, his presence, his love, his prosperity, his power, his principles, his projects and his way of doing things, actively at work, both in the spiritual realm and here on earth and in our lives. In simple terms, it means God’s rulership and reign as sovereign King, both in heaven and here on earth. It’s not about religion; it’s about relationship and following his law, precepts, commands and status. Jesus is clear that the kingdom of heaven refers to God's rule on earth. The kingdom of heaven “has drawn near.” It has come here to this earth.

When Jesus talked about the Kingdom, He made it clear that it’s not something we can physically point to or locate on a map; it’s a reality we can experience now. In Luke 17:21, He said, “The Kingdom of God is within you.” Jesus is clear that the kingdom of heaven refers to God's rule on earth. The kingdom of heaven “has drawn near.” It has come here to this earth.  And What He meant by that is that the Kingdom is spiritual, it begins in our hearts. It’s not a place we go to; it’s a life we live when we surrender to God and allow Him to lead (Roman 13:17).

It’s not about going to heaven someday; it’s about living in God’s presence and purpose today. One of the things that has frustrated and affected the church over the years has been the concept of heaven. Heaven is not our goal, it is not our objective. It is our destination! If you’re saved, when you die, there is no other place for you to go. If you are working to get to heaven, then your objectives are wrong. God doesn’t want us to get to heaven. He wants to get heaven into us! There is more to the Christian life than working to make it to heaven!

THE PURE IN HART: (Matthew 5:8)

Hebrews 12:4 is not talking about when you die and go to heaven. We have to understand that if we die in the Lord, we automatically go to heaven. “Seeing the Lord” is not future, it’s present, now! It should be that the longer you live in the Lord, the better we should get to know Him and be able to see Him in our life (Proverbs 4:18).

You can’t see God with natural eyes. You can only see Him with spiritual vision. Spiritual vision is harder to obtain, but is more precious than natural vision. When you began to see things with spiritual vision, or God Himself in your life, it well do something to your spirit, it well change your whole life (Isaiah 6:1-4).

DISCIPLINE IS NECESSARY FOR HOLINESS: (Hebrews 12:10)

The word "disciple" comes from the same root word that "discipline" comes from. If we are going to be true disciples of Jesus Christ, we must learn to discipline ourselves. This simply means we must learn to bring our body under subjection. We need to exercise control over our desires, thoughts, emotions, and behavior.

In almost every vocation, for example: sports, music, and a military career, discipline is the key word for success. Our primary calling is to be a Christian (Christ-like), and this is only possible when we discipline ourselves.

God disciplines us for our own good, so that we might share His Holy character. If we are holy we will see God. But in order for us to be Holy we must receive God’s discipline. He disciplines us so that we can partake of His Holiness. When we start to partake of His holiness, then we start to see.

SEEING GOD:

It takes genuine holiness to see God when we are going through a trial or facing adversity. You need holiness (a pure heart) in order to see God in these situations. Many people get uneasy when you mention the word holiness. They don’t like the word, they are afraid of it. The reason is, because they have the wrong concept of what holiness really is.

Many have the idea that holiness is external (makeup, dress, hair and what you do and don’t do). The church has taught the wrong concept of what holiness is, for such a long time that many don’t like it, instead of loving it. Genuine holiness is not, external, but internal. The mistake that the church makes is to define holiness by what we don’t do rather then what we do.  

When we define ourselves with something negative (what we don’t do) we lose what God is trying to give us. When we define ourselves in a positive way (what we do) our spirit well be free and you’ll feel free and joyful. Holiness is a conscience that is not seared. Holiness is not to be a negative word but something positive that we should delight in. Holiness is not doing, Holiness is being.

WE NEED TO BE DISCIPLINED:

Most everyone is afraid of discipline! Most in their hart are afraid of God. We’re afraid to tell God to take everything or change everything because we‘re afraid He’ll do it. The writer of the book of Hebrew’s is not writing about perfect people, but people who did something for God (Heb. 12:1-2).  If you refuse the discipline, you fail to partake of the Holiness and your eyes grow deem; you can’t see God.

If I sit my body in a chair, because I like my body because I want to take care of it. So I just sit there on the chair and not move because I want to preserve my body in good health. What’s going to happen to this body if I set here and don’t move or use this body? It well start to die, the Bible says “If you save your life, you’re going to lose it.” If I want to save this life (body), I’m going to have to take care of it, so I discipline myself. No discipline, no holiness, no Holiness, I can’t see God.

How many of you remember you parents saying to you, “This is going to hurt me more than it does you” (Hebrews 12:5-8). Why did they say that? Many of us didn’t understand this until we became parents. God may hurt you, but He will never harm you! Experiencing something unpleasant does not mean we're being punished by God. There are times where God uses struggles and hardships to correct us away from sin (Hebrews 6:7-8). There are times when we're simply being given an opportunity for growth, being "trained" into a deeper faith. This is obvious in the relationship between a parent and child, where a loving parent "disciplines" his child. Looking back, the child sees that guidance and respects the parent.

The writer points out that nobody likes to be disciplined. Hardships are just that: difficult times, and a test of our faith. While in the midst of some struggle, our minds are mostly concerned with how unpleasant the situation is. Afterwards, however, we can more easily see how God used those experiences to grow us. We can see a process of maturity, driven by our discipline. If I save myself from the discipline, I also prevent the Holiness.

IN GOD’S GYM (GOD’S TRAINING): (Hebrews 12:11)

The word exercised comes from the Greek word “gumnos”, which is where we get the word gymnasium. The word gymnasium signifies exercising, performing physical training, or disciplining the body. God's use of discipline, though unpleasant at the time, is much like the training of an athlete. The athlete's exercise "seems painful rather than pleasant" as it's being done. But, afterwards, the athlete sees growth and development as a result of those experiences. Faith, in that way, also grows as we endure God's discipline. In God’s gym I’m exercised, in the exercising I am taking God’s character, in taking God’s character I can see God.

If I avoid discipline, I also hinder holiness. You can only live in holiness when you partake of His holy character. It is easy to live in holiness when you discipline yourself and partake of His holy character; but for those who do not, it proves difficult.