Welcome To God's Gym

Introduction

"And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as sons: My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 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 and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God;  lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled..." (Hebrews 12:5-15 NKJV)

How many of you have ever heard of "Gold's Gym?" I read this week of some interesting facts about "Gold's Gym."

Established in 1965
610+ Gyms Worldwide
41 States
28 Countries
3 Million Members
Our members climb 1,700,000 flights of stairs a day, the equivalent of 11,000 Empire State Buildings
They run 556,800 miles a day, 23 times around the Earth.
They bike 236,670 miles a day, 750 times across the United States
They lift 3.6 billion pounds a day, more than all the gold bars in Fort Knox
Our members lose 43,835 pounds of body fat a day, enough to make a difference in the health of the world.

Now, many people today know about Gold's Gym and find it very beneficial to their physical strength...but not many people know about God's Gym, where God Your Heavenly Father, the Master "Strength Coach," trains His children to become spiritually strong champions of faith.

I. The Pleasure Of God's Gym (12:5-8)

The Pleasure of God's Gym is knowing that you are loved with an everlasting love by your "Strength Coach." He knows exactly what kind of discipline is needed to mold and shape godly character in your life.

Warren Wiersbe says, "The key word in this section is chastening. It is a Greek word that means "child training, instruction, discipline. A Greek boy was expected to work out in the gymnasium until he reached his maturity. It was part of his preparation for adult life."

In light of this truth...that God chastens you out of His love...out of His desire to instruct you and teach you a better way to live...you can begin to take on a new attitude toward hardships ...and trials...

Instead of "despising" those times and being overwhelmed with a sense of "discouragement," you must remember that everything that happens in life is first of all filtered through the Hands of Almighty God...Your loving Heavenly Father...

Look at what verse 5-6 says, "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord LOVES He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives."

How do you react when God gets involved in your life? Do you get all discouraged when God begins to "meddle" in your daily life? What kind of attitude do you have when He begins to discipline you? To correct you?

A childish attitude would be, "God, I don't deserve this...I resent the way you are choosing to deal with me at this time..."

A spiritually mature attitude is, "God, I may not understand...but you know best...I accept your hand of discipline and will let you accomplish your purpose in me."

Spiritual maturity is more than getting "goose bumps" in a great worship service...its' allowing God to do whatever work is needed in my life to make me the person He's called me to be.

When you go through difficult times in your life, it's easy to believe the lie that God does not love you. That's what Satan would love you to believe... Satan says, "If God really loved you...you wouldn't have to go through this." Don't believe Him for a moment...He's the father of lies!

Remember that the greatest expression of love ever given to you was the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross on your behalf...Keep your eyes upon Him...His love never fails...

John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this...that He lay down his life for His friends."

Proverbs 3:11-12, "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

What is the pleasure of God's Gym? It's the unconditional love of your Heavenly Father. It's knowing that He wants what is best for your life...that He truly "delights" in you... It's knowing that whatever kind of shape you are in right now...He's right there with you...strengthening you...encouraging you...assuring you of His love and of His presence. His goal for every Christian is to make us, "strong in the Lord and in the power of His might."

If God never disciplined you...If God never corrected you when you get out of His will...it would simply mean one thing...you don't belong to Him just yet.

Verse 8 says, "If you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons."

Jerome, an early church father said, "The greatest anger of all is when God is not longer angry with us."

When the Lord disciplines you...it's a sign of His pleasure...you should be willing to say, "Thank you, Lord. You have just proved again that You love me and that I am Your child."

II. The Pain Of God's Gym (12:9-11)

If working out was easy and painless, everyone would be doing it...in fact, most people avoid working out all together specifically because of the pain! It's much easier to stay on the couch and watch College Football!

I was told this week by my doctor that I have to get in better shape physically...my cholesterol...blood pressure had gone significantly since our last visit... It would be easy to say, "I'll do that when it gets real serious."

The painful part is going to be giving up Quarter Pounders...French fries...lots of sweets...yet I made a commitment to do whatever is necessary to become healthier...

Pain and progress go hand in hand. It's often been said, "No pain, No gain."

Often times, we do not really begin to grow as we should...until the pain of staying where we are...causes us to grow deeper in our walk with God...abandoning the old...selfish...sinful ways...embracing the new goals...challenges...commands God has placed before us.

Listen to what the writer of Hebrews says in vs. 9-10, "Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subject to the Father of spirits and live?"

Most of us have had earthly fathers who corrected us when we got out of line and we respected them for it. Hopefully, you had parents who disciplined because they loved you...they disciplined you out of love...not out of their anger...

My dad would always say before I leaned over for a spanking..."It's going to hurt me more than it hurts you." I didn't understand that statement, until I, too, became a dad.

I remember a time in my own life when I experienced the discipline of my earthly dad... During a Little League baseball game...I was trying to steal home and the catcher tagged me out...I got up and shoved the catcher because he got me out...

Dad immediately took me out of the game and made me sit the bench. When we got home, I got the spanking of my life! Why? It was because I acted out of line. My behavior wasn't in line with the rules of baseball or acceptable to my dad.

My dad disciplined me out of love. He knew I couldn't grow up acting like a spoiled brat, pitching a fit when things didn't go my way. I didn't like it at the time...but now I'm glad he did it!

Just as my dad's discipline served a purpose, God's discipline for His children serves a purpose. Verse 10 says its, "...for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness."

God wants you and I to be partakers of His divine nature. He wants us to walk with Him in holiness. Listen to His voice. Keep in step with Him.

The children of Israel wasted so much of their lives in wilderness wanderings simply because they didn't believe God...they didn't trust in His promises...in His power...through unbelief...they hardened their heart...and tested God...

Too many Christians today are in the same shape. They are living in the wilderness and they don't enjoy their Christianity.They haven't fully made up their minds to follow Christ.

The theme of Hebrews is, "Press On!" Make a full commitment of your life to the Lord Jesus Christ and live out your faith in Jesus Christ with courage and conviction - believe God and encourage others to do the same!

Hebrews 3:13-14..."...but exhort one another daily, while it is still called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end."

Sin is deceitful - it promises you everything and provides you with nothing. Sin seems so incredibly pleasurable at the time but in the end it produces death.

Proverbs 14:12 warns, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death..." Many people have become so hardened by the deceitfulness of sin...they have become blinded for their need of a Savior.

In light of all Jesus Christ went through on the cross of Calvary...as He shed His precious blood to forgive our every sin. We should have total confidence in Him. We should have such a desire to worship Him and share Him. Instead of becoming hardened by sin we ought to surrender our lives and live lives that bring glory to His Kingdom.

Everything in this world is being shaken up - wars - floods - drought - disease...the one thing that remains unshakeable is the kingdom of God. Hebrews 12:28, "...since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear for Our God is a consuming fire."

We Serve An Awesome God! Igniting your faith means growing up in Jesus Christ is a lifelong process - there are many incredible times - but also some painful times In verse 11, we read, "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

I can't remember any spanking from my dad that I really enjoyed. I never said, "Thanks Dad, that was so much fun. Can you please do that again." Rather, s loving discipline was painful at the moment, But it yielded good results.

It was A.W. Tozer who said, "It is doubtful God can bless a man greatly without hurting him deeply."

Are you under the hand of God's chastening grace right now? It's not pleasant for you right now but as you submit yourself to God, you'll find life in abundance. As you allow Him to do His perfecting work in you, you'll become a better person - You'll experience the delight of becoming a person you could never have become without it.

III. The Profit Of God's Gym (12:12-15)

Many of the Hebrews Christians were enduring hardship - enduring persecution - enduring trials - they were beginning to grow. They were weary - weak - wobbly - discouraged - they were in need of refreshing spiritual vitality.

Is God speaking to you this morning? Are you going to drop out of the race becomes times are tough in your life? Are you willing to surrender your weakness to the Lord and allow His strength to become perfect in your weakness?

It's not enough for some to run strong for Christ - each of you - must determine to be strong in this race - not only for yourselves - but for those who are following behind you.

There is no need to drop out. If you drop out, you are going to lose so much of what God had for you.  If you stay in it will not be easy - there will be hurdles, mountains to climb, adversities to face and sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better. The only way to victory is to surrender your life to the Lord Jesus Christ and by keeping your eyes on Him - and the goal in sight.

So, God challenges us through His word, "Strengthen the hands which hang down and the feeble knees...Make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather healed. Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord."

Be God's man or woman this week...Remember all that Jesus endured on the cross for you. "Weeping may endure for a night...but joy comes in the morning..."

Walking with the Lord Jesus Christ and doing His will is your joy! Your most important mission in life is to walk with God...and lead others to do the same!

This past Thursday night, I had the privilege of representing Colonial Woods Baptist Church at the Annual Gwinnett Pregnancy Resource Dinner...the main speaker of the night was a lady named, "Gianna."

Gianna is an abortion survivor. Because of what she went through as an aborted baby, she now has Cerebryell Paulsy...and cannot walk very well...watching her get up on the stage was painful...

However, I wish everyone in America could have heard Gianna's voice in song and her testimony of God's sustaining grace...In a nutshell her message is...no matter what you are going through...God is going to carry you through...

Even though she has this crippling disease ... she runs in two 26 mile marathons each year...she goes around the world preaching and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ ... she writes books ... shares her witness ... Gianna does it to show everyone ... that God is strong ... God is faithful ... He will carry you through...

Gianna could have taken the easy road in life, she could have taken the road of self pity, misery, selfishness or she could have curled up and said, "Life is too hard, I'm going to be defined by my disability and suffering."

Instead, Gianna says, "I didn't sign up for an easy life, I signed up for a great life. My life is defined by the Lord Jesus Christ and running the race He's laid out for me."

What about you? Is your life going to be defined by being a quitter in the race of faith? Or will you courageously run the race...till you see Jesus?

The hymn writer was right, "It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus. Life's trials will seem so small, when we see Christ. One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrows will erase. So bravely run the race, till we see Christ."

I believe in you - I have confidence that you choose to follow your Master today.