“If you are not disciplined … then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.” (Heb 12:8, NIV)
In the original Hebrew the words disciple and discipline have the same inherent meaning, capsulated as “restraint, instruction and correction”. A person becomes a disciple by being subjected to discipline. Thus Paul states: “Therefore I always exercise and discipline myself [mortifying my body, deadening my carnal affections, bodily appetites, and worldly desires, endeavouring in all respects] to have a clear (unshaken, blameless) conscience, void of offence toward God and toward men.” (Acts 24:16, AMP).
We should note that Paul, in 1 Cor 4:15 (KJV), makes a clear distinction between teachers and spiritual fathers – “For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” A spiritual father is made when an individual begets another individual through the gospel of the kingdom of God. This means that it is not ordinary teaching which makes you a disciple, but instead that which garners you your spiritual identity in the Kingdom of God. Thus Paul says that he is labouring in birth until Christ is manifested in his disciples (Gal 4:19). This fathering needs to be done by apostles and prophets (Eph 2:20) as they lay the foundations of the spiritual house God erects within the believer (1 Cor 3:9). This entails that the primary task of a spiritual father is to raise his sons through the necessary apostolic and prophetic teaching. Paul frankly encourages believers – “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” (1 Cor 11:1). These followers are not marrow suckers. According to 1 Tim 4:6 the spiritual son or disciple should be able to nourish in the words of faith and the good doctrine which they have carefully followed. He becomes a follower of the father’s “doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions” (2 Tim 3:10-11).
One of the kingdom’s biggest current problems is the fact that most sons are fatherless, not begotten, and therefore, sadly, bastards. We have had many teachers, but not many fathers (1 Cor 4:15). This brings about a culture with a self-seeking perspective. From 1 Sam 15:23 we know that self-seeking and rebellion is in reality witchcraft and idolatry. Those who enter the kingdom in this manner are bastard sons, because they have not been properly disciplined and discipled (Heb 12:8).
- Sela: Were you begotten and fathered and were your spiritual foundations properly laid, so that God can build upon it? (The reading for today is 1 Kings 16. Verse 34 trace back the history to come to an understanding of the problems involved in the incorrect laying of foundations.)
- Read: 1 Kings 16; Ecc 12; Tit 3
- Memorise: Tit 2:11
