MATURE BELIEVERS

1. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, DO NOT DESPISE THE CHASTENING [discipline] OF THE LORD, nor be discouraged when you are REBUKED by Him;
2. FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE CHASTENS, AND SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."
   Hebrews 12:5,6 (NKJV)

• The level of an individual's relationship and fellowship with God determines how He handles the person.

• If you are a mature believer, you have walked with Him for a number of years; there are things you do that God would not just overlook by mere asking for forgiveness—without giving you a spank.
  WHEREAS some who are not mature may do a similar thing and it may be overlooked By Him. For a mature believer, such a thing would attract chastisement—sanction.
• If a child who has not been taught much misbehaves, and such a child is beaten severely, it may be counted as being cruel to the child.
  BUT a child whom after several teachings and corrections refuses to change, and such is beaten, that would be counted as discipline: "For whom the LORD loves He chastens [disciplines], and scourges every son [daughter] whom He receives" (Hebrews 12:6).

• When David took Uriah's wife and arranged a bloody death for him [Uriah], because he wanted to conceal his sin—what he did wrong.

• God had to discipline David because he supposed to know better.
  GOD did chastise him by causing the child, the product of the adulterous act, to die; in spite the fact that David repented and fasted that the child would not die:
  16 "David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 18 Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died...." 2 Samuel 12:16,18 NKJV).
• Why did God not answer David's prayer to spare the baby's Life?
• God did forgive David but He had to chastise him that he might not do such a thing next time:

1. "So David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "THE LORD ALSO HAS PUT AWAY YOUR SIN [has forgiven you]; YOU SHALL NOT DIE.
2. "However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, THE CHILD ALSO WHO IS BORN TO YOU SHALL SURELY DIE."
   2 Samuel 12:13,14 (NKJV)

• If God did not forgive DAVID He would have killed him; but then, for others to know that God does not condone sin, He did allow the child to die.
• When a believer, a leader for that matter, who is well taught and knows the mind of God, committed a sin, it gives an occasion to the unbelievers, the enemies of God, to despise and blaspheme the name of the LORD.
• When you committed a sin as a Christian who knows the right thing to do, or a leader who supposed to set a standard for others, the devil sees it as an opportunity to reproach God and His Kingdom. It shows that the person has disappointed God.
• God has been proud of him or her before, but now such has let God down by commiting that Sin.
• Sin is a reproach and it brings blaspheme from the enemies of God, the devil and those who are loyal to him.
• Nathan the prophet said to David: "BECAUSE BY THIS DEED YOU HAVE GIVEN GREAT OCCASION TO THE ENEMIES OF THE LORD TO BLASPHEME" (2 Samuel 12:14).

• David is called a man after God's heart, and God also said about him that He would not allow His mercy to depart from him, as He took it from Saul (2 Samuel 7:15);
AND his throne, dynasty, would be established forever: "And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. YOUR THRONE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED FOREVER (2 Samuel 7:16).
READ: 2 Samuel 7:4-17

• With all the love God has for David, yet He had to discipline him when he committed a sin, God did not sweep his sin under the carpet because He loves him.
• God did not want his soul to perish, He had to chastise him: "deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, THAT HIS SPIRIT MAY BE SAVED IN THE DAY OF THE LORD JESUS" (1 Corinthians 5:5).
  THIS is another side of God's mercy!
• If God did not love and had mercy on David, He would not have corrected him or chastised him.
  HE would just allow him to continue in his evil ways and eventually judge him, allow him to perish at the end.
  LOVE is Stern, it corrects and chastises!
• If God chastises or disciplines you, it is because He loves you.
  IN FACT, it is the act of His mercy and favour for you: "For the LORD disciplines those [whom] He loves, AND HE PUNISHES EACH ONE HE ACCEPTS AS HIS CHILD" (Hebrews 12:6 NLT).
• God knew David supposed to know better, that is why He corrected him and chastised him.

• Another similar example of such a discipline is that of Aaron's children, Nadab and Abihu, who died because they brought in a strange fire to the altar (Leviticus 10:1,2).
AND God said Aaron should not mourn for them, if he did, he also would die (Leviticus 10:6,7).
GOD did expect Nadab and Abihu to know better because they have been taught and given instructions about worship and how to comport themselves in the Presence of the LORD.

• Moses also was barred from entering the promised land, the land of Canaan, because he disobeyed God's instruction (Numbers 20:12).

• Moses and Aaron have been instructed on what to do, to speak to the rock and bring forth water for the people to drink, not to strike the rock (Numbers 20:8).
• The people from whom much is given much is required or expected (Luke 12:48).
• If you have been taught the Word of God, and understand the Bible, yet you go about to live contrary to the Word:
  Disobeyed the instructions which God has given you through His Word—Chastisement will follow.
• And if you failed to change even with the Chastisement, THEN His judgement.
• God will chastise you because you have been taught.
  THIS is the reason why you as a Believer should not compare your Life with others.
  YOU do not know the level or depth of that other person's relationship with God, the person whom you are comparing yourself with, and his or her experience in God.
• That person might not know much about what they are doing, he or she may not be on the path to greatness; and God might be watching and condoning them for now—with the reasons best known to Him alone.
• God relates with Believers individually, thus do not use another person's standard to judge yourself.

• A Mature Believer or a leader would usually receive severe Discipline Or chastisement than any average believer who does not know his left hand from right: "My brethren, LET not many of you become teachers, KNOWING THAT WE SHALL RECEIVE A STRICTER JUDGEMENT" (James 3:1).

"FOR THE TIME HAS COME FOR JUDGEMENT TO BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?"
1 Peter 4:17 (NKJV)

• Your level of maturity determines the severity of God's Discipline when you disobeyed Him:

1. "AND A SERVANT WHO KNOWS WHAT THE MASTER WANTS, but isn't prepare and doesn't carry out those instructions, WILL BE SEVERELY PUNISHED.
2. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. WHEN SOMEONE HAS BEEN GIVEN MUCH, MUCH WILL BE REQUIRED IN RETURN; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required."
   Luke 12:47,48 (NLT)

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!