Hardship and Discipline

Hebrews 12:11, (NIV)
"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."

Hebrews 12:11, (MSG)
"At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God."

Many of us don't like to be corrected, chastened, and rebuked. We don't want to be disciplined. We find it hard and harsh. Yes, even the bible didn't lie about that.
Hebrews 12:5b and Proverbs 3:11, "My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,"
Many lose heart when rebuked or disciplined.

Don't forget, if you're going through hardship, discipline and suchlike, its a sign that you are a legitimate son with a glorious destiny within that needs to be purified in order for the beauty to shine gloriously.
Hebrews 12:8, 
"If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all."

No matter how clean you may think you, God have to humble us with one thing or the other in other to purge us of that aorta of impurities that will in hinder our destiny.
See the children of Israel as a case study,
Deuteronomy 8:2-5, (MSG)
"Remember every road that God led you on for those forty years in the wilderness, pushing you to your limits, testing you so that he would know what you were made of,... He put you through hard times. He made you go hungry. Then he fed you with manna, something neither you nor your parents knew anything about, so you would learn that men and women don't live by bread only; we live by every word that comes from God's mouth. You learned deep in your heart that God disciplines you in the same ways a father disciplines his child."

God had to humble them, though it was harsh but it was for the good. They needed to be humbled with hardship in the wilderness for the nature of the EGYPTIANS to be taken away so that the their true nature as children of God can shine. If not we will be having today EGYP-ISRAELITE nation - I don't mean that literally but culturally!

Discipline is for the best.

Many don't want to pass through the story, but want to get the glory. They forget that the story had to grievous for the end to be glorious. The fire had to be the hottest for the raw gold to melts.
Check the gold, silver, and iron ore.
These metals must pass through fire - very hot fire,
They must be melted by the heat,
and it is at that stage that the impurities in them (which make them ore) are removed from them totally.
And it is at that stage you get PURE GOLD and SILVER and IRON.
That is when you see the beauty of those metals, not when they were in their raw state.
So,
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children (Hebrews 12:7a)
Are we sick, why treatment?
Yes, many have a very serious issue or habits or nature that needs to be melted out if not their glory will not be glorious.
It may shock you to know that God should have taken Joseph, Moses and others through other peaceful route but took them through pains, slavery, prison, desert, hardship, service, etc to humble them and bring out the gold in them.
That is why you see many after becoming successful overnight they become a villain. While some would have become something else the moment they are suddenly blessed with a particular desire. Some would have turn the world upside down!
But they have to be purged and humbled!

God is treating you!
Endure and rejoice in hardship and discipline!
Something is been purged from you!

Good Morning!
Apostle Julius Ikhide-Iyke Etaifo
Nation Of Grace Ministries