Monthly Archives: November 2011

Gods Correction

Pastor Arthur Wilkerson

     Before we began, I want to say that our Father (God) is NO dummy and His creation is No small thing, I think we’d all agree, especially when we consider the immense wealth of knowledge we as humans have already tapped into, which is but a pins tip of the knowledge of our God, and to realize that even this pins tip stupefies the most brilliant of us, because, though we know a great deal we understand little. I mean from the universe itself, without, to the universe within man, there is much to be learned and understood. So then, if we agree that the wisdom and knowledge of God is unsearchable with the amount of knowledge we have today, why not search His Word and seek His kingdom and righteousness to learn of Him. This will give the knowledge and understanding; the wisdom and insight into the manifold wisdom and knowledge of our God on an individual and corporate level, so that the eyes of Christian understanding about the things of God and His Christ and our Saviour can be opened. We can then live in purity and true holiness having the power of the Holy Spirit working in us and through us. So, let’s not dumb down His Words of Spirit and Life to non-effect. Some will say, it not that deep; all you have to do is believe or oh, you just got to have faith brother. These are true in a sense and are essential, but we can’t leave them there. Let’s take those that will come deeper to deeper depths, because it is that deep when an individual or in some cases families eternal souls are at stake.  Jesus healed, delivered the oppressed and cast out demons, then He turned to the disciples and taught them. Let’s give every soul as much  information about our God as is given to us, so that they can truly be blessed and their blood not be on our hands for not giving them all just as Christ gave His all. It will be an awful thing to fall into the hands of a living God..

     Are you fired up yet? Well, I want to give us something else to judge ourselves on (ICor. 11: 32). “God’s Correction” The scripture for this segment of Words of Spirit and Life is Prov. 3: 11 “…My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of His correction…” The scope of God’s correction for His children that are in Christ Jesus is as varied and inclusive as the salvation we receive when believing with our whole hearts in Jesus as saviour. Though salvation is a free gift and is as simple as receiving Him into our hearts, the scope is far reaching, taking in justification, sanctification, redemption, grace, atonement, etc.; so is correction, the chastening of the Lord far reaching including not only the wrath of God, His punishment for wrong doing, the remedial training of grace, but also His mercy, compassion, longsuffering and above all His love for us. His correction deals directly with the one being corrected, and indirectly with those around the one being corrected. It deals with that persons “attitude” toward the correction itself and the one doing the correcting (God’s man or woman through reproof, rebuke and correction in righteousness), it deals with the character of the one being corrected, their true prevailing nature, whether it is one in the process of being regenerated under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit or one governed by the laws of the flesh.  And less not forget the one doing the correcting, it must be done in love and wisdom.

     Now that being said, let’s look at some key points, but first we must define some words. I believe it’s wise to understand the words used and the context and the parameter of the usage. From what I’ve found, the words correction and chasten or similar in meaning from Hebrew to Greek and to Webster dictionary.  I’ll use the Hebrew; (fig) reproof, warning or instruction ; also restraint; bond , check , correction, discipline, doctrine, and rebuke. These are from the primitive root (yasar) to chastise, literally (with blows); hence to instruct, chasten, correct, punish, reform, reproof and to teach.   These definitions sound a lot like II Tim. 3: 16 which brings to mind Eph. 4: 11-16.

     Now then, I tell us that we must be aware of that which was done in the lives of Israel as an ensample to us and to all that profess Christ as Lord and that are NOT obedient and are unrepentant of sins, transgressions and iniquities. The wrath of God came upon them for their disobedience and their forsaking Him for other gods. This happened time and again from Exodus to Malachi in some sense. These are examples of God’s anger, His judgment and His wrath as in II kings 22: 11- 20, which also shows His mercy towards a repentant heart. Lest we as a nation and as individuals repent with a tender heart and a contrite spirit as did King Josiah, the wrath of God will surely come. “…Behold, the day of he Lord cometh. Cruel both with wrath and fierce anger… “; “…and I will punish the world for their evil. “ (ha. 13: 9-11). This includes the living and the dead for He is judge of all. The wise believers then will separate themselves from false professors, transgressors, workers of iniquities and worshippers of other gods as they burn incense so to speak while they ware the garment of grace.  Even so, “…the wheat will grow up with tare...” (Matt. 13:30)

     Let’s now address the individual believer who’s heart is to be holy as God is holy and desires to walk in the Laws of Christ, but falls and is carried away because of their own lust and strong pressures of the world, and after sin is convicted to repentance, while the tares seem to prosper on every side even as sin is present and are not convicted, but calls themselves blessed of the Lord under grace. Remember, holiness after salvation begins with the path or road traveled, so “…Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat… ” (Matt. 7:13). Go the narrow way. There are those who have come into the Kingdom and found it too hard on their wills and believe it unnecessary to grow (be perfected) and refuse the chastening of the Lord from the beginning, and there are those that humble themselves, receiving the embarrassment of chastisement from the beginning. What do you mean Pastor? Well, from the beginning of the Salvation Process the one’s that will not receive the correction/chastening from the leaders in the small things of ministry show a will to operate in the still unconverted prevailing sin nature, they question even the minute things in ministry with a lack of understanding. (It is perfectly natural to question, but with respect and not an air of “let me see what they say about this ” having a defiant attitude) As they grow, later there may be some remorse, but no change in heart (inwardly), outwardly they repent with the wrong motives in sight (self-gain). With the other the washing of regeneration is present inwardly and from the onset of their Salvation Process the Holy Spirit works subjection and obedience to leadership in them, while they maintain their individuality, but are joined. Now, both are spiritual works in progress, only the discerning, Holy Ghost filled leaders will discern or see the difference and pray accordingly. Both are true believers in Jesus as Saviour and Redeemer and both are now justified by the ” …measure of faith.. ” (Ro. 12: 3) they have in Jesus and of course Grace is upon both, but, to only one is Jesus Lord and the works done are done as unto Him. Which is wheat and which is tare? Which is entering  the strait way and which the wide?  It is true, only God knows the heart, and He will separate, one to honor and one to dishonor.

     As these individuals receive “…the sincere milk of the Word, that ye (they) may grow thereby (I Peter 2:1-2), what is feed them along with what they desire will have much to do with the remedial training of Grace and with the correcting/chastening, reproof, rebuke given. Without again drawing distinctions, God loves both of our examples, but the acquiring of the knowledge of Christ, the Cross, ultimately understanding of His Word and their purpose/use for God and the environment in which they are brought up in, in  Christiandom will have great effect on how they live the profession as a Christian and how they will receive the corrections when they come. Should Grace and blessings, and Salvation, the free gift be all that is taught and not the penalties of sin and not the Laws of Christ in righteousness (percepts, line upon line), then the idea of correction or rebuke to them becomes unwarranted, all things in moderation is OK and this becomes the prevailing attitude and nature of today’s believer, a libertine nature of self-righteousness under grace. “…Shall we truly continue to sin that grace abound? God Forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin live any longer therein (Ro. 5: 21; 6: 1-2). What then of those who see them living in Sin, holding positions in Churches and nothing happens to them? What message are we really sending to the world? That there is no discipline in God’s house, that His house is one of debauchery even more so than or along with world?