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Scriptures Referenced
1. God’s discipline
Hebrews 12:5-11
And have you completely forgotten this word
of encouragement that addresses you
as a father addresses his son?
It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
Endure hardship as discipline;
God is treating you as his children.
For what children are not disciplined by their father?
If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline
—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.
Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us
and we respected them for it. How much more should
we submit to the Father of spirits and live!
They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best;
but God disciplines us for our good, in order that
we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant
at the time, but painful. Later on, however,
it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace
for those who have been trained by it.
Proverbs 3:11-13
My child, do not reject the Lord’s
discipline, and don’t get angry when he corrects you.
The Lord corrects those he loves, just as parents correct
the child they delight in. Happy is the person who finds
wisdom, the one who gets understanding.
2. So you can become more dependent on the Lord.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Each time he said,
“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”
So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses,
so that the power of Christ can work through me.
That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses,
and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and
troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak,
then I am strong.
John 15:5
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches.
Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.
For apart from me you can do nothing.
3. God wants you to spend time with HIM, but you lost your first love.
Revelation 2:2-5 Amplified Bible (AMP)
2 ‘I know your deeds and your toil, and your patient endurance,
and that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and have tested and
critically appraised those who call themselves apostles
(special messengers, personally chosen representatives, of Christ),
and [in fact] are not, and have found them to be liars and impostors;
3 and [I know that] you [who believe] are enduring patiently and
are bearing up for My name’s sake, and that you have not grown weary
[of being faithful to the truth].
4 But I have this [charge] against you,
that you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me].
5 So remember the heights from which you have fallen, and repent
[change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—
seek God’s will] and do the works you did at first
[when you first knew Me]; otherwise, I will visit you and remove your lampstand
(the church, its impact) from its place—unless you repent.
4. JESUS CHRIST Always Protects you from a bigger problem that cannot see coming.
Psalm 121:5-8
The Lord guards you.
The Lord is the shade that protects you from the sun.
The sun cannot hurt you during the day, and the moon
cannot hurt you at night. The Lord will protect you
from all dangers; HE will guard your life.
The Lord will guard you as you come and go,
both now and forever.
Psalm 9:7-10
But the Lord rules forever.
He sits on his throne to judge, and he will judge the world
in fairness; he will decide what is fair for the nations.
The Lord defends those who suffer; he defends them
in times of trouble. Those who know the Lord trust him,
because he will not leave those who come to him.
Psalm 37:5 New King James Version (NKJV)
5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.