12/05/23 DISCIPLINE AND DISCIPLING

12/05/23 DISCIPLINE AND DISCIPLING

Discipline and discipling are two different words, referring to two different responsibilities that God has given the Church.

Discipline is the ministry of correction, reproof and includes instruction in righteousness. Every Christian needs discipline when they have taken a wrong path in their Christian walk.
Discipline is for the purpose of reconciliation. Error in a Christian's life will result in broken relationships, with other believers and with God. Loving, firm, Biblical correction, reproof and instruction in righteousness can rescue a wayward believer. The sooner the discipline is given and received, the less spiritual ground will be be lost.
Some discipline is private, but sometimes the offenses of the wayward believer requires more open and severe discipline.
Discipline is not for the purpose of punishment or control. It is for the purpose of rescuing, reconciling and restoring a believer from the deception and destruction of sin and darkness.

Discipling is the ministry of teaching, training believers the Biblical principles of being a disciple, a learner and follower of Jesus Christ.
Discipling takes place when a new convert is encouraged, taught, guided, counseled by a seasoned, mature Christian, concerning the principles of Christian living.
Discipling, when provided and when accepted, can keep a person from having to face church discipline later in their Christian experience.
Discipling, when provided and when accepted, can lead and equip believers for successful, productive, victorious Christian living.

But through the years, people in western society (and compounded by carnal nature) have become so independent that they are not willing to come under any authority, either to be discipled or disciplined. We have gotten to the point that local churches seldom discipline or disciple people, and when discipline is meted out it is often for the wrong reason or in the wrong attitude.

Discipling and discipline are both Biblical directives, which are not always followed, but are always needed. As we move deeper into the Laodicean (end times) Church Period, there is a great need for discipling and discipline. If we don't do this now, it will never get done. If people do not submit now, they are not likely to ever submit.

I am including a passage, which addresses the importance of God's chastening. This is a very strong passage, a hard saying, but it is God's truth and must be believed and received.
Hebrews 12:4-17
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin:
5 and ye have forgotten the exhortation which reasoneth with you as with sons, My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when thou art reproved of him;
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 It is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.
11 All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the palsied knees;
13 and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed.
14 Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord:
15 looking carefully lest there be any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled;
16 lest there be any fornication, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright.
17 For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind in his father, though he sought it diligently with tears.