Harsh Discipline is for Those that Forsake the Way
Harsh Discipline is for Those that Forsake the Way
10 Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way,And he who hates correction will die.
Here is another short but important discussion. I am always on the look out for scriptures that
are generally ignored as I find many of them are hidden Gems but are hard for many to accept.
Of course the reason will be clear by the time we finish the study.
Prov 15:10 This is such a scripture. In this day of permissiveness in what claims to be of Christ this has become a must understand. In my 40+ years of ministry I have never heard anyone teaching on this.
Please Read this Before we Begin. Here we teach scriptural truths that are not taught most places. These are essential truths that you cannot be a real disciple of Christ without properly understanding.
Because of this fact you must follow the scripture “do not be deceived my beloved brethren” and see that YOU are not deceived. In order to not be deceived you must not believe what I or any other man wants to teach you unless and until it has been confirmed in scripture and by the Holy Spirit of God to you Personally as Truth. That is your responsibility no matter who is teaching you.
The writer will answer for what he writes but only YOU will answer for what YOU believe.
Proverbs, A Book of Wisdom
The book of Proverbs is so full of wisdom but many ignore it. We are going to look at and concentrate on verse 10 in this study.
Prov 15:10 Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, And he who hates correction will die.
Prov 15:5-12 A fool despises his father's instruction,But he who receives correction is prudent.
6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.
7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge,But the heart of the fool does not do so.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,But the prayer of the upright is His delight. 9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,But He loves him who follows righteousness.
10 Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way,And he who hates correction will die.
11 Hell and Destruction are before the Lord;So how much more the hearts of the sons of men.
12 A scoffer does not love one who corrects him,Nor will he go to the wise.
Most people and preachers concentrate on all the good things promised to them in scripture and those that the church system promise them, but I believe scripture teaches us that we must have a FULL and Complete understanding of scripture in order to follow Christ to the end and not fall away as so many do. Scripture tells us that the right hand of God is for blessing and the left is judgment, but when have you heard much about the left hand in the last 20 years?. It's all about blessing in these days (gimmee, gimmee) but there can not be blessing if there is not correction when needed. They say we must be careful to not upset any one, when scripture says our whole purpose is to stir them up (WAKE UP THE dead ). In the instruction to Timothy he is told to be ready and preach the word, in season and out of season ( whether it is welcome or not).
I have never heard anyone teach this scripture about harsh correction but you must understand it to follow Christ. There are times that the greatest act of love toward someone is to harshly rebuke them with scripture and truth when and as needed In most of the church world this is a no no, but in the real Spiritual church of Jesus Christ, at times this is a necessity to redeem a brother.
So lets look at verses 5 through 12 to get the full effect..
Verse 5 Self explanatory. Note however that many professing to follow Christ have a big problem with the word fool. Myself I freely use words that have special scriptural significance, if they are fit for the Lord then they must be fit for me. Act like a fool and be called one. This really upsets the religious spirits, which is what it needs to do.
Notice that is not one verse that allows for forgiveness without repentance in the new covenant, but all require forgiveness when there is repentance.
The Lord says Rev 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.”
These many scriptures and more make it clear that this study is badly needed by the majority of those professing to be followers of Christ. Note this scripture REQUIRES that we Rebuke a brother that is sinning.
Luke 17:3-4 3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."
2 Tim 4:1-5 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Titus 1:10-16 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. 15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
Titus 2:11-15 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
Rev 3:14-22 14 "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked — 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'"
Note:
This study Does Not say to rebuke a brother if you do not like what he says or does, BUT WHEN He violates the word of God that Christ has given us.. Matt 18 clearly tells us the way to handle a situation where a brother has sinned against you and must be followed whether you or your church or family or pastor or anyone else agrees with it or not. But I will say you may have a hard time to get your church to do their part. Very few dare to follow scripture when it comes to church discipline these days because it may affect their un-scriptural tax exempt status. And even if you do it correctly they may ask you to leave and call you a trouble maker when you expose the non repentant brother.. But what you do will clearly show whether you follow God or man, and God will surely notice.
Matt 18:15-20 "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
18 "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.
God bless you as you follow Christ instead of man.
Charles LaFoe
copyright 11/10/2019