Revelation Themes and Eschatological Applications

How Are You Being Taught - Part 3 of 3

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2016-12-29

Synopsis: In this final installment, Pastor John Weaver explains that God teaches His people through four progressive methods: example, instruction, correction, and chastisement. If a believer refuses to learn by the first three, God will resort to chastisement, and if that is rejected, the ultimate consequence is physical death. The sermon emphasizes that God's teaching is for our profit and that we should respond with humility and obedience.

[John Weaver] Let's open our Bible's day to Psalm 25. Psalm 25. We're going to be reading verse 12. This is part three of how are you being taught? This will be the final installment on this message. I will take time to review the first two messages. And I trust that if you haven't heard them, that you will listen to them. So how are you being taught? Notice if you would, Psalm 25 in verse 12, the scripture asks, what man is he that feareth the Lord? Question mark. And then him, that man that fears the Lord, shall he, the Lord, teach in the way that he shall choose. So the truth is God does indeed teach his own people, just like we teach our children and endeavor to teach them the right way and bring them up in truth Likewise, God also deals with us.

[John Weaver] Now, each of us has learned that there are easy ways and there are difficult ways to learn. In fact, we've learned from experience that it's really easier to learn the easy way because many of us have attended the school of hard knocks and we've graduated from the university of difficulty. And many times we seek to save our children Uh, from the heartaches and troubles that we received in getting our education. And just like us at times, they listen. And at times they do not listen. However, many of us have reached the stage in life that we know that it's best if we obey and obey instantly and immediately.

[John Weaver] I pointed out in the very first message that God uses examples to teach us. And I also pointed out that learning from examples is really and truly one of the easiest ways to learn. In the Bible, God gives us both positive and negative examples. We look at both positive and negative examples in his word. So God tells us, therefore, we are to emulate, that is, we're to follow the good examples and we're to be warned and admonished from the bad or wicked examples and not to emulate and not to follow them at all. If we would pay attention to both kinds of examples and if we would observe and listen and learn and apply, we would save ourselves a lot of trouble and a lot of heartache.

[John Weaver] It's much like our Lord said in Deuteronomy 15 in verse 5. Listen carefully. He said, only if thou carefully Hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God to observe all these commandments, which I command thee this day only if Thou will hearken how many times have you and I as adults said something like this if only I had listened if only I had obeyed if only I had not said or done such a thing or if only I'd acted differently or if only I'd paid attention. And so that is exactly what God is saying. Only if we listen to Him, we're going to save ourselves an awful lot of heartache. So God does teach us by examples. Last week I showed you how God teaches us through instruction. The very word instruction indicates that there is a teacher and a student. Instruction must come in some form and usually It comes in the form of a teacher. God does use means in instructing his children. I pointed out many times that God does indeed teach us through creation, through the animals, even through plants, and oftentimes by his punishments as well.

[John Weaver] Our Lord began a short discourse in Luke 12 and in verse 27, and he said this, consider the lilies, how they grow. They toy a lot, neither do they spin, and yet Solomon in all of his glory was not clothed like one of these. So notice if you would, he said, consider the lilies of the field. In other words, look there, be taught, and be instructed. But I pointed out in the Old Testament, God oftentimes used the priests, the Levites, and the prophets to instruct his people. Likewise, in the New Testament, he began using the apostles and prophets And then he ended up using the pastor teachers.

[John Weaver] And I read from Ephesians 4 verses 11 through 15. Let me just read that again. Here's what the scripture says. And he, that is Christ, gave some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastor teachers. Why did he give these gifts to the church? And the answer is for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect or mature man unto the measure of the stature of

[John Weaver] the fullness of Christ that we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried away with every wind of doctrine and slight of man and cunning craftiness whereby they lie and wait to deceive but speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things who is the head, even Christ. So he tells us then that pastor teachers are given to the church for the perfecting or the maturing of the saints. So the saints may do the work of the ministry till we all come into the stature of the fullness of Christ.

[John Weaver] In other words, we are to be as Christ was, obedient, submissive, humble, and yet at the same time, erudite, that is we've been taught by our fathers. Now, the primary means of teaching and the primary means of instruction today is certainly by the pastor-teachers. It's as they lay, as I read last week from Isaiah 28, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. It's only as the pastor-teachers takes the Word of God and they expound it, explain it, and apply it. The two easiest ways to be taught, number one is by example, number two is by instruction.

[John Weaver] Now, here's the question I want to ask you today, and I want to pick up here. What if the children of God will not listen or learn by way of example and by way of instruction? Does God have other ways to teach us? And the answer is yes. So thirdly, God teaches us by correction. He teaches us by correction.

[John Weaver] Now, correction is often equated with chastisement in the Bible, but it does not necessarily have to be. One may be corrected without being chastened. In Scripture, let me say it like this, correction and chastening are equated and then they are differentiated. So in many scriptures you will find that correction and chastisement are one and the same. In other passages you're going to find that the correction and chastisement are differentiated. Let me give you two verses which are very familiar to all of us whereby correction and chastisement are equated, that is they're placed together. The first one is Proverbs 22 and verse 15 where the Bible says foolishness is bound up in the heart of the child but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. So when you hear about the rod of correction naturally we're talking about chastisement as well. The second is Proverbs 23 and verse 13 where God says withhold not correction from the child for if thou beatest him with the rod he shall not die. So here is, once again, beating with the rod of correction.

[John Weaver] So their correction and chastisement are together. But 2 Timothy 3, verses 16 and 17. I'll call your attention to this passage a little bit later, but I want you to listen. In 2 Timothy 3, verses 16 and 17, the Word of God says this, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable. What is it profitable for? Listen carefully. It's profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. So God says He's given us the scriptures for correction.

[John Weaver] Now just like I may correct my child without chastening him, Likewise, our Heavenly Father may also correct us without chastisement. Now, correction may come in many forms. Correction may come to us as encouragement. It could come to us as admonishment. It could come to us as with rebuke or reproof or confrontation.

[John Weaver] Now, when I use the word rebuke and reproof, you have to understand that you can rebuke someone and you can reprove someone and it does not necessarily have to be in an angry tone. Often it may be delivered and it might need to be delivered in an angry tone but it is not necessary to deliver a reproof or a rebuke in an angry tone. Oftentimes you will find in the Bible rebukes and reproofs are done in an angry tone and sometimes not in an angry tone.

[John Weaver] For instance, let me show you. Since you're in the book of Psalms, look in Psalm 39 and verse 11 at what David had to say concerning God's rebuke of correction. Psalm 39 and verse 11. Notice what David said. When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth. Surely every man is vanity." So, if God is angry in his rebuke, David said, you make his beauty to consume away like a moth.

[John Weaver] Now, I don't know if any in here have ever caught a moth. You try to hold a moth between your fingers, and guess what? The little moth begins to come apart, it seems. the little fluffy stuff starts breaking off. And they're very fragile and their wings will break very easily. So David said, when you rebuke doth correct a man, our beauty just simply fades away.

[John Weaver] Now if you'll flip back over to Psalm 6 and verse 1, with this in mind you can understand why David prayed this. And I think that this would be our prayer if we really understood this. But David prayed in Psalm 6 and verse 1, O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hottest pleasure. In other words, Lord, I don't want you to get after me when you're angry, you know. If the Lord, just with rebukes, correcting a man, causes his beauty to fade away as a moth, well, David says, I don't want that. Now, many of you will remember Leviticus 19, verse 11. Let me just quote it. Here's where God says, Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart. Thou shalt anywise rebuke thy neighbor and not suffer sin upon him. Now, God says that we may rebuke our neighbor.

[John Weaver] But however, the word rebuke here literally means to plead with and to reason with. So it's not that we're jumping down his throat. It's not that we're cussing him out and telling him off. When we're rebuking Him, we're pleading with Him, we're endeavoring to reason with Him. That is why the Bible says in Proverbs 27 and verse 5, listen carefully, open rebuke is better than secret love. Open rebuke is better than secret love. So all that means is this, it would be better for Clay if I rebuked him openly and corrected an error or sin in his life than if I loved him secretly and just let him go on in his sin and his wickedness. Open rebuke is better than secret love. And then the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 7 in verse 5, it's better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools. So he is saying the rebuke of the wise is far superior than rejoicing in having a good time. Because the rebuke of the wise then instructs us on how to live.

[John Weaver] Now you can look in all the Old Testament passages that you want to and many times you're going to find this word rebuke. You're also going to find it in the New Testament as well. For instance the Bible tells us in 1st Timothy chapter 5 and verse 20 Paul wrote Timothy and he told him them that sin, rebuke before all that others may fear. So if a sin is done publicly, it deserves and merits a public rebuke which we're going to see. So he says, them that sin, rebuke before all that others may fear. In Titus chapter 2 and verse 15, Paul told Titus, these things speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority Let no man despise thee. So He tells him to rebuke with all authority and then the ones who are rebuked should never be despising the rebuker. And I want you to listen to this one. In Revelation 3 and verse 19, Jesus Christ is speaking to His church and He says this, As many as I love I rebuke and chasten.

[John Weaver] Be zealous, therefore, and repent. So if our Lord loves us, He's going to rebuke us. He's going to chasten us.

[John Weaver] Now, when we do not reprove and rebuke and exhort, or when we do, let me change that, when we do rebuke and reprove and exhort and admonish and confront, We must do so from a biblical stance. So let me emphasize this. I'm going to give you a verse in just a moment. Suppose I see Ed doing something that I don't personally like. And I jump down his throat and just get on to him. Do you understand a biblical rebuke or a biblical reproof or a biblical admonishment is not designed to impress upon him my personal opinions and my personal likes and dislikes. Do you understand that? Listen carefully. If I'm to rebuke him or admonish him or confront him, it is to be from a biblical stance.

[John Weaver] It is to be with the Word of God. Listen to what Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 4 and verse 2. He said, be instant in season and out of season, rebuke, exhort, listen with all longsuffering and doctrine. Doctrine. Doctrine. So if I'm rebuking Ed or if I'm rebuking Clay or Dean or whoever, it's with doctrine. In other words, I'm not trying to impress upon them my particular opinion or my like or my dislike. I'm trying to impress upon them the Word of God and the principles therein. I'm trying to show them how to be more biblical, more holy, and more godly.

[John Weaver] Now, there are a number of illustrations in the Bible of where people are corrected with rebuke and reproofs and admonishment and confrontation. And you're going to see That these rebukes and all, sometimes not only corrected a situation, but they corrected the person as well. I want you to turn in your Bibles, if you would please, to the book of Numbers chapter 22. I want to show you what I consider one of the most unusual rebukes and confrontations ever recorded in scripture.

[John Weaver] Many of you will understand this. Now, Since you found Numbers 22, I want you to just turn in your Bibles to 2 Peter 2 and hold it because we're going to 2 Peter 2 after we read this. Okay? 2 Peter 2. Just find that passage and mark it. And then turn back, if you would please, to Numbers 22. I want you to follow me as I read this.

[John Weaver] so that you can see this most unusual rebuke. Notice Numbers 22 verse 1. And the children of Israel set forward and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side of Jordan by Jericho. And Balak the son of Zippor saw that all Israel, what all Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was sore afraid of the people because they were many. And Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. And he sent messengers, therefore, to Balaam the son of Beor to pay Thor, which is by the river of the land of all the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt. Behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me. Come now, therefore, I pray thee, Curse me this people, for they are too mighty for me.

[John Weaver] For adventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom thou blesseth is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed. And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand. And they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again as the Lord shall speak to me, and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee? And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent me, saying, Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which comfort the face of the earth. Come now, curse me them. Peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them, Thou shalt not curse the people, for they are blessed.

[John Weaver] And Balaam rose up in the morning and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land, for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you. And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us. And Balak sent yet again princes more and more honorable than they. And they came to Balaam and said to him, Thus saith Balak, king of Zippor, let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me. For I will promote thee into very great honor, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me. Come therefore, I pray thee, curse me, this people. And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, if Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God to do less or more. Now therefore, I pray you, tarry you also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more. And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up and go with them.

[John Weaver] But yet the word which I shall say unto thee thou shalt do. And Balaam rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. I want you to note, Balaam never waited. He just got up and went. Verse 22. And God's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the way as the adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his sword drawn in his hand. And the ass turned aside out of the way and went into the field. And Balaam smote the ass to turn her into the way. But the angel of the Lord stood in the path of the vineyards, A wall being on this side, the wall being on that side. And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself into the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall and he smote her again.

[John Weaver] And the angel of the Lord went further and stood in an air place where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam. And Balaam's anger was kindled and he smote the ass with a staff. And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee that thou hast smitten me these three times? And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me, I would there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill thee. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? Was I ever wont to do such unto thee? And he said, Nay. Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and a sword drawn in his hand. Then he bowed down his head and fell flat on his face.

[John Weaver] And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? Behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy ways perverse before me. And the ass saw me, and turned from me three times, unless she had turned from me surely now also I had slain thee. and saved her alive. And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned, for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me.

[John Weaver] Now, therefore, if it displeased thee, I will now get thee back. And the angel of the Lord said unto Balaam, Go with the men, but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that shalt thou speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to note, if you would, in this instance, the prophet was named and the ass was prophesied. Here is a very unusual situation. God use the ass to rebuke Balaam. I want you to look in your Bibles to second Peter chapter two at verses 15 and 16 at what the new Testament says concerning this incident. Second Peter chapter two verse 15. God says, which have forsaken the right way and are going astray, talking about men now, following in the way of Balaam, the son of Bosar, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, but was rebuked for his iniquity, the dumbass speaking with a man's voice, for bad the madness of the prophet. So notice if you would, the dumbass speaking with a man's voice, was that which God used to rebuke the madness of the prophet.

[John Weaver] Now the interesting thing is the word madness there is the word for insanity. In other words, it was necessary in one sense of the word for this unusual means of reproof and rebuke to be given to Balaam because of the extreme insanity of what he was doing. He was purposefully and deliberately disobeying and violating the command of God. Because he loved the wages of unrighteousness, he wanted the silver and the gold. And God used the dumb ass to bring him back to his senses. And he said, had that ass not turned from me, you would have been dead and she would have been alive. So that's a very unusual rebuke where God used an animal to speak in a man's voice.

[John Weaver] I want you to turn your Bibles to the book of Galatians chapter 2. You remember the passage earlier where Paul told Timothy, them that sin rebuke before all that others may fear. You have to remember, as I pointed out earlier, when there is an open sin It merits and deserves an open rebuke. So notice if you would, in the book of Galatians chapter 2, Paul publicly rebukes Peter, because Peter had sinned publicly. In Galatians chapter 2, beginning there with verse 11, he says, But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. So he gets right up in Peter's face, And he points out his sin.

[John Weaver] He says, For before that certain came from James, who was the leader of the church at Jerusalem, he did eat with the Gentiles. But when they were come, that is these people from Jerusalem, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him. The word dissembled there means to play the hypocrite. So the other Jews played the hypocrite likewise with him.

[John Weaver] in so much that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation, or their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou being a Jew livedeth after the manner of the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compelest thou the Gentiles to live as the Jews? We are Jews by nature, not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But note if you would, Paul confronted Peter and rebuked him to his face. Now let me ask you, do you think Peter was uncomfortable at being rebuked? I'm sure. Was he embarrassed at being rebuked? I'm sure.

[John Weaver] But was the rebuke scriptural and biblical? And the answer is absolutely yes.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Mark, chapter 8. Mark, chapter 8. And I want us to look at verses 31 through 33. And I want you to see how Jesus Christ rebuked Peter. Notice, if you would, the book of Mark, chapter 8. And let's begin reading there with verse 31.

[John Weaver] Now I'm telling you that a rebuke does not necessarily have to be in an angry tone. It can be. It depends upon the person. It depends upon the sin. Notice if you would in Mark chapter 8 beginning there of verse 31. Mark 8 verse 31. And He, that is Christ, began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected of the elders and of the chief priests and scribes and be killed And after three days rise again. Now watch.

[John Weaver] And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him. But when he had turned about and looked upon his disciples, he rebuked Peter saying, Get thee behind me, Satan, for thou savest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men. Wow. And another passage, you remember Peter said to him, here's what Peter said, far be that from the Lord. That's all he said. When our Lord began to tell how he was going to suffer and die, all Peter said was far that be that from the Lord.

[John Weaver] In other words, don't let that happen to you. And our Lord turned and undoubtedly very pointedly and probably with a little anger. rebuked Peter and said, get thee behind me, Satan. Do you think Peter was embarrassed? Probably. Humiliated? Probably. Was it a biblical rebuke? Yes. Was it deserved? Yes. Did Peter learn from it? Probably. I'm just simply pointing out that when you look in the Bible, there are different ways to be corrected.

[John Weaver] Now, let me just tell you, correction does not necessarily always have to be done with rebukes and reproofs. It can be done by encouragements. It can be done by admonishments. I've already said this, I'm saying it again. The way you rebuke or reprove depends upon the person, it depends upon the Circumstance it depends upon the gravity of the sin that is to be corrected Now I want you to look in your Bibles the Hebrews chapter 12 And you might as well hold that passage because we're going to come back there a little bit later, but look in Hebrews chapter 12 Hebrews chapter 12 look at verse 9 Hebrews 12 and verse 9 Here's what the scripture says.

[John Weaver] Furthermore, we've had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?

[John Weaver] Now, note if you would. He says, furthermore, we've had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence.

[John Weaver] Now, my earthly father corrected me many times. And thankfully he did not always jerk a nod in my rear every time he corrected me.

[John Weaver] Now he did that several times, probably more than I cared to remember, but he did correct me. And his correction was not always with an angry or a loud voice. In fact, the one correction that I remember the most, he spoke very softly and what he said just broke my heart to pieces. In fact, a lot of times when my father corrected me, he began with these words.

[John Weaver] Now, son, I want you to listen to me. It's that simple. He wasn't angry, but he was correcting me. I don't want you to do this anymore. Here's why I don't want you to do this anymore. May I remind you of a scripture that I said earlier, I was going to remind you of.

[John Weaver] Second Timothy 3.16, all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work. You see, if we will listen, if we will receive the truth, if we will obey His Word, we can be corrected just by hearing. Read the book of Proverbs. You know what Solomon says many times?

[John Weaver] My son, give ear to my words. Let thine ears be attentive unto my voice. What's he doing? He's correcting us gently. So just because in some instances there needs to be an angry rebuke, that does not mean that it's going to be so In every instance. In fact, I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Job. Look in the book of Job and let's begin there with chapter 37, Job 37. And I want to show you this.

[John Weaver] In fact, I'll probably use this passage in the not too near future on another message because there's so much truth here. But I want you to look what God says. We're talking about correction. Job 37, beginning with verse 6. This shows you the absolute sovereignty of God over the weather. Job 37, verse 6. For He saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth, likewise to the small rain and to the great rain of His strength.

[John Weaver] He sealeth up the hand of every man, that all men may know His work. Then the beasts go into dens and remain in their places. Now watch verse 9. Out of the south cometh a whirlwind, and cold out of the north. By the breath of God, frost is given, and the breadth of the waters is straightened. Also by watering, he wearieth the thick cloud, he scattereth his bright cloud, and it is turned about by his counsels. that they may do whatsoever He commanded them upon the face of the world in the earth.

[John Weaver] Now he's talking about the weather and the clouds. He causeth it, that is the rain, the clouds, the storms, He causeth it to come whether for correction or for His land or for mercy. Isn't that interesting that God says if we pay attention If we pay attention, we can even be corrected by acts of His providence in weather. But we need to pay attention. So God may teach us by using examples, He may teach us through instruction, or He may teach us through correction. Now here's my question.

[John Weaver] What if we don't listen? Let me rephrase that. What if a real, genuine, and true Christian refuses to be taught by example, by instruction, or by correction? What is left? How does God teach us then? And here it is, the fourth one, by chastisement. by chastisement.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look in several passages. First of all, I want you to go to Jeremiah chapter 7. Jeremiah chapter 7. Isaiah, Jeremiah. Look in verse 28, then we're going back to Isaiah 28. Jeremiah chapter 7 and verse 28.

[John Weaver] This happened to Judah and Jerusalem. So if we learn by example, and if we'll learn by instruction, and if we learn by correction, here it is. Jeremiah 7 verse 28, look what God says. But thou shalt surely say unto them, this is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the Lord their God, nor receiveth correction. Truth is perished and it's cut off from their mouth. So they would not learn by example, they would not learn by instruction, and they would not learn by correction. So what is left? Go to Isaiah 28. Isaiah 28.

[John Weaver] I want you to see that this is so beautiful. Isaiah 28. Let's begin reading there with verse 23. You're going to say, what in the world does this have to do with chastisement. Well just hang on. Look in Isaiah 28 beginning there in verse 23. Give you ear and hear my voice, hearken and hear my speech. There it is again. God's instructing and God's correcting. So verse 24, look at it.

[John Weaver] Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? Doth he open and break the clods of his ground? Yes. Yes, he does. When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cumin, and cast in the principal wheat, and the appointed barley, and the rye in their place? Now, why does the farmer break up his ground, and he knows exactly where to plant whatever he plants? Watch verse 26. For his God doth instruct him to discretion and doth teach him. For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cooman, but the fitches are beaten out with a staff and the cooman with a rod. Bread corn is bruised, because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horseman.

[John Weaver] This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working. Now, why does the farmer plant all of his different crops in different places? And the answer is because you harvest them differently. And if you planted them all in one place, you would end up destroying them because they are harvested in different ways and at different times. He begins in verse 23, give ear, hear my voice, hearken, hear my speech. He gives a wonderful example. And he said, the reason the farmer is successful is I instructed him. He listened, he knows how to plant, he knows how to harvest. Now skip down to chapter 29, verse one.

[John Weaver] Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, that is Jerusalem. Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt, that's Jerusalem. Add ye year to year, let them kill sacrifices, yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow. It shall be unto me as Ariel, and I will camp against thee round about, and I will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee.

[John Weaver] And thou shalt be brought down, and thou shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, And thy voice shall be as one that hath a familiar spirit out of the ground, and thy speech shall be a whisper out of the dust. May I explain this to you? Here's what God said. You would listen. You would learn by example. You would not receive instruction.

[John Weaver] You would not be corrected. And now, I'm going to beat you into the ground. I will beat the living tar out of you. And that's exactly what he had to do to Judah, Jerusalem, and to Israel. If you will not be taught by example, if you will not be taught by correction or instruction, what is left? Chastisement. You know what Micah 6, 9 says? Listen carefully. Here's what Micah 6, 9 says.

[John Weaver] Hear ye the rod and him who hath appointed it. God said, if you won't listen either way, you better listen to the rod. Do you understand that God has a way of getting and keeping our intention? God has a way to teach us. And we may learn either the easy way or we may learn the hard way, but we're going to learn. Remember Psalm 25 verse 12.

[John Weaver] What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

[John Weaver] Now, so let me ask the question. Is it God that chooses the way for instruction? Or is it we? Or is it the man that chooses the method? of instruction. Well, let me just say first and foremost, it is God that chooses the method by which he instructs us. But in one sense of the word, we also choose the method by which we are instructed. Because when we refuse to learn by example, when we refuse instruction, and when we refuse to be correcting, we're choosing chastisement.

[John Weaver] That's the only thing that is left. Do you realize the word of God teaches us How to deal with, how to respond, and how to receive chastisement. I want you to look at two passages. I want you to turn to Proverbs 3 and Hebrews 12. Look in Proverbs chapter 3 and notice if you would verses 11 and 12. Proverbs 3 verses 11 and 12. Then we're going to Hebrews chapter 12. Notice if you would Proverbs 3 Beginning there with verse 11. Proverbs 3, verse 11. God says, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of his correction. For whom the Lord loveth, he correcteth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Wow. My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of His correction. Now look in Hebrews chapter 12, if you would, beginning there with verse 5. Hebrews 12, verse 5.

[John Weaver] Here this passage is enlarged. The same truth from Proverbs 3, but it's an enlargement. Hebrews 12, verse 5. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children. My son, despise not thou the chasing of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him. For whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If you endure chastening, God dealeth you with sons. For what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not? But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards and not sons.

[John Weaver] Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father's Spirits and live? For they, that is the earthly fathers, verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure. But He, our Heavenly Father, for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness.

[John Weaver] Now no chastening for the present seemed to be joyous, but grievous. Nevertheless, afterwards it yielded the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby." So God tells us we're not to despise His chastening. We're not to grow weary of it. We're not to grow tired of it and we're not to faint under it. Let me ask you a question. Think about this. What if a Christian, and I'm talking about a real genuine Christian, not a professor, but a real genuine Christian. What if a real genuine Christian was so disobedient and so rebellious that he would not be taught by example, he would not be taught by instruction, he would not be taught by correction, and he would not even be taught by chastisement. My question would be, is there something else that would happen And the answer is yes. What?

[John Weaver] Well, I want you to turn to 1 Corinthians 11 and 1 John 5. As you're turning there, I want to quote two passages. I'm going to quote Jeremiah 2 in verse 30, where God says to Judah and Jerusalem, in vain Have I smitten your children? They received no correction. Your own sword hath devoured your prophets like a destroying lion. So here's the people who would not be corrected.

[John Weaver] They would not even receive it through chastisement. In Jeremiah 5 and verse 3 says this, O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? Now listen. Thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved. Thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder than a rock. They refuse to return. What is left? What is left if you will not be taught by chastisement?

[John Weaver] And the answer is death. God is not going to be dishonored by your wickedness. In 1 Corinthians 11, look at verses 30 and 32. And here were people who were just abusing the Lord's Supper. And look what he says, 1 Corinthians 11, verse 30 through 32. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. That is, they're dead. God killed them. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we're judged, we're chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Yeah. There is a sin and a death. Look in your Bibles at 1 John 5 verses 16 and 17. 1 John 5 verse 16. Here John says, If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death.

[John Weaver] I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin and there is a sin not unto death. So he says there's a sin under death and there's a sin not under death. So if a man refuses to be taught either by example or by instruction or by correction or chastisement, the only thing left is death. Let me put it to you plainly. God brought us into this world and he can take us out of this world. And God is not going to be dishonored by our own wickedness. Yes, we can go so far, but there is a line that we better not cross because there is a sin unto death. And God will be glorified in our lives one way or the other, either in our lives or in our deaths. And I hope you understand there are many people in the Bible that God pointed to their deaths. And he says, be not like unto your fathers, because he'd killed them in the wilderness.

[John Weaver] So let me make some applications. I have two. The first one is this. Here's my question. How are you being instructed? Four ways God teaches us. Are you willing to listen? Does God need to bring the rod of correction in your life in order to gain your attention and get your obedience? Let me just tell you this Lamentations 3 in verse 33 says this concerning our God For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. I Never took delight in whipping my children. I did it because it was needed necessary But I never, I never delighted in it.

[John Weaver] And it grieved me many times that I had to do it. So the Bible says the same thing is about God. He does not afflict willingly, nor does He grieve the children of men. God does not want to chasten us. He's not some old meanie in the heaven just waiting to beat the living daylights out of us. He doesn't want that. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Isaiah 48. I want you to look at this passage, Isaiah 48. I want you to see this Isaiah 48. And let's begin reading there with verse 17, Isaiah 48. And notice if you would verse 17. I love this. Isaiah 48, verse 17.

[John Weaver] Thus said the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy one of Israel. Now watch. I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit. Stop right there just for a moment. You remember even chastisement was for our profit. You remember that? So God's going to teach us for profit one way or the other. Now watch. He says, Thus saith the Lord thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. I've given you instruction. I've corrected you. Watch. that thou hast hearkened to my commandments. Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as waves of the sea.

[John Weaver] Thy seed also should have been as sand, and an offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof. His name should not have been cut off, nor destroyed from before me. Did you hear what God said? God said, I don't have to chase in you. I don't have to take you out of this world. If you had just listened, I am the God that teacheth thee to profit.

[John Weaver] God's commands are not for our detriment, but for our good. The second application is this. We must remember that if we are chastened, if we are afflicted, if we are whipped, It is because of our sin. Listen carefully. It is not the chastening. It is not the whipping that is grievous. It's the sin that is grievous. I used to think my dad was lying. But before he would whip me, he would say, son, this is going to hurt me a whole lot worse than it hurt you.

[John Weaver] And I thought to myself, I know better than that. Cause it hurt me. But when I got grown and found out, you know, married, had children, I understood exactly what he meant. It's the sin that's grievous. Thomas Watson, a Puritan, said it like this. Listen carefully. He said, There is more malignity in a drop of sin than in a sea of affliction. For the sin is the cause of the affliction, and the cause is greater than the effect. So when God does chasten us because of our sin, that's why he said, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord.

[John Weaver] nor faint when they aren't rebuked of Him. Why? Because it's not the chastening that should be bad. Chastening is the evidence of His love for us, His concern for us. What He wants us to see is it's the sin that is wicked and vile and bad. We're not to hate the rod, nor the one who wields the rod. We're to hate the sin which caused the rod to fall upon us. God's going to teach you, if you are His, He's going to teach you in one of these four ways.

[John Weaver] You will either learn by example, by instruction, by correction, or by chastisement. And if you refuse to learn, if you are His, He will take you out of this world. What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him. Shall he God teach in the way that he shall choose? How are you being taught and are you learning anything? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee.

[John Weaver] We thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. We thank you father for teaching us and help us father to learn the easy way by example. By instruction, by correction. But Lord, we will not despise your chastisement. But we do want to be taught and we do want to honor and glorify thee and thy name. We ask for your blessings. And we thank you for your grace in Christ name, amen.

How Are You Being Taught - Part 3 of 3

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	MQ5ZhvQo2xo
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Revelation Themes and Eschatological Applications
Genre	Sermon
Date	2016-12-29
Dictation Name
Book	Book 184: How Are You Being Taught — Chapter 3
Source Timed Segments	80

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the first two messages, noting that God teaches by examples (positive and negative) and by instruction through pastors, creation, and Scripture.

Let's open our Bibles today to Psalm 25. Psalm 25. We're going to be reading verse 12. This is part three of "How Are You Being Taught?" This will be the final installment on this message. I will take time to review the first two messages, and I trust that if you haven't heard them, that you will listen to them. So, how are you being taught? Notice, if you would, Psalm 25 and verse 12. The Scripture asks,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 25:12

"What man is he that feareth the Lord?"

Question mark. And then him, that man that fears the Lord, shall He, the Lord, teach in the way that He shall choose. So the truth is, God does indeed teach His own people, just like we teach our children and endeavor to teach them the right way and bring them up in truth. Likewise, God also deals with us.

Now, each of us has learned that there are easy ways and there are difficult ways to learn. In fact, we've learned from experience that it's really easier to learn the easy way, because many of us have attended the school of hard knocks and we've graduated from the university of difficulty. And many times we seek to save our children from the heartaches and troubles that we received in getting our education. And just like us, at times they listen, and at times they do not listen. However, many of us have reached the stage in life that we know that it's best if we obey, and obey instantly and immediately. I pointed out in the very first message that God uses examples to teach us. And I also pointed out that learning from examples is really and truly one of the easiest ways to learn. In the Bible, God gives us both positive and negative examples. We look at both positive and negative examples in His Word. So God tells us, therefore, we are to emulate, that is, we're to follow the good examples, and we're to be warned and admonished from the bad or wicked examples and not to emulate and not to follow them at all. If we would pay attention to both kinds of examples, and if we would observe and listen and learn and apply, we would save ourselves a lot of trouble and a lot of heartache.

It's much like our Lord said in Deuteronomy 15 and verse 5. Listen carefully. He said,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 15:5

"Only if thou carefully hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God to observe all these commandments, which I command thee this day."

Only if thou will hearken. How many times have you and I as adults said something like this: "If only I had listened. If only I had obeyed. If only I had not said or done such a thing, or if only I'd acted differently, or if only I'd paid attention." And so that is exactly what God is saying. Only if we listen to Him, we're going to save ourselves an awful lot of heartache. So God does teach us by examples. Last week I showed you how God teaches us through instruction. The very word "instruction" indicates that there is a teacher and a student. Instruction must come in some form, and usually it comes in the form of a teacher. God does use means in instructing His children. I pointed out many times that God does indeed teach us through creation, through the animals, even through plants, and oftentimes by His punishments as well.

Our Lord began a short discourse in Luke 12 and in verse 27, and He said this:

Scripture Reading — Luke 12:27

"Consider the lilies, how they grow. They toil not, neither do they spin, and yet Solomon in all of his glory was not clothed like one of these."

So notice, if you would, He said, "Consider the lilies of the field." In other words, look there, be taught, and be instructed. But I pointed out in the Old Testament, God oftentimes used the priests, the Levites, and the prophets to instruct His people. Likewise, in the New Testament, He began using the apostles and prophets, and then He ended up using the pastor-teachers. And I read from Ephesians 4, verses 11 through 15. Let me just read that again. Here's what the Scripture says: "And He," that is Christ, "gave some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastor-teachers." Why did He give these gifts to the church? And the answer is "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect or mature man, unto the measure of the stature of

the fullness of Christ, that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro and carried away with every wind of doctrine and sleight of man and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, who is the head, even Christ." So He tells us then that pastor-teachers are given to the church for the perfecting or the maturing of the saints, so the saints may do the work of the ministry till we all come into the stature of the fullness of Christ. In other words, we are to be as Christ was: obedient, submissive, humble, and yet at the same time, erudite, that is, we've been taught by our fathers. Now, the primary means of teaching and the primary means of instruction today is certainly by the pastor-teachers. It's as they lay, as I read last week from Isaiah 28, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. It's only as the pastor-teachers take the Word of God and they expound it, explain it, and apply it. The two easiest ways to be taught: number one is by example, number two is by instruction.

God Teaches by Correction

Correction is distinct from chastisement and can come as encouragement, admonishment, rebuke, or reproof, often without anger.

Now, correction is often equated with chastisement in the Bible, but it does not necessarily have to be. One may be corrected without being chastened. In Scripture, let me say it like this: correction and chastening are equated and then they are differentiated. So in many scriptures you will find that correction and chastisement are one and the same. In other passages you're going to find that correction and chastisement are differentiated. Let me give you two verses which are very familiar to all of us whereby correction and chastisement are equated, that is, they're placed together. The first one is Proverbs 22 and verse 15, where the Bible says, "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of the child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him." So when you hear about the rod of correction, naturally we're talking about chastisement as well. The second is Proverbs 23 and verse 13, where God says, "Withhold not correction from the child, for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die." So here is, once again, beating with the rod of correction.

So there correction and chastisement are together. But 2 Timothy 3, verses 16 and 17, I'll call your attention to this passage a little bit later, but I want you to listen. In 2 Timothy 3, verses 16 and 17, the Word of God says this: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable." What is it profitable for? Listen carefully. It's profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. So God says He's given us the Scriptures for correction.

Now, just like I may correct my child without chastening him, likewise, our Heavenly Father may also correct us without chastisement. Now, correction may come in many forms. Correction may come to us as encouragement. It could come to us as admonishment. It could come to us as with rebuke or reproof or confrontation.

Biblical Rebuke and Its Nature

Rebuke should be based on doctrine, not personal opinion. Examples include Balaam's rebuke by a donkey and Paul's public rebuke of Peter.

Now, when I use the word rebuke and reproof, you have to understand that you can rebuke someone and you can reprove someone, and it does not necessarily have to be in an angry tone. Often it may be delivered, and it might need to be delivered in an angry tone, but it is not necessary to deliver a reproof or a rebuke in an angry tone. Oftentimes you will find in the Bible rebukes and reproofs are done in an angry tone, and sometimes not in an angry tone. For instance, let me show you. Since you're in the book of Psalms, look in Psalm 39 and verse 11 at what David had to say concerning God's rebuke of correction. Psalm 39 and verse 11. Notice what David said:

Scripture Reading — Psalm 39:11

"When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth. Surely every man is vanity."

So, if God is angry in His rebuke, David said, you make his beauty to consume away like a moth.

Now, I don't know if any in here have ever caught a moth. You try to hold a moth between your fingers, and guess what? The little moth begins to come apart, it seems. The little fluffy stuff starts breaking off, and they're very fragile and their wings will break very easily. So David said, when you rebuke doth correct a man, our beauty just simply fades away.

Now, if you'll flip back over to Psalm 6 and verse 1, with this in mind you can understand why David prayed this. And I think that this would be our prayer if we really understood this. But David prayed in Psalm 6 and verse 1,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 6:1

"O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure."

In other words, Lord, I don't want you to get after me when you're angry, you know. If the Lord, just with rebukes, correcting a man, causes his beauty to fade away as a moth, well, David says, I don't want that. Now, many of you will remember Leviticus 19, verse 11. Let me just quote it. Here's where God says, "Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart. Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him." Now, God says that we may rebuke our neighbor.

But however, the word "rebuke" here literally means to plead with and to reason with. So it's not that we're jumping down his throat. It's not that we're cussing him out and telling him off. When we're rebuking him, we're pleading with him, we're endeavoring to reason with him. That is why the Bible says in Proverbs 27 and verse 5, listen carefully, "Open rebuke is better than secret love." Open rebuke is better than secret love. So all that means is this: it would be better for Clay if I rebuked him openly and corrected an error or sin in his life than if I loved him secretly and just let him go on in his sin and his wickedness. Open rebuke is better than secret love. And then the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 7 and verse 5, "It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools." So he is saying the rebuke of the wise is far superior than rejoicing in having a good time, because the rebuke of the wise then instructs us on how to live.

Now, you can look in all the Old Testament passages that you want to, and many times you're going to find this word "rebuke." You're also going to find it in the New Testament as well. For instance, the Bible tells us in 1 Timothy chapter 5 and verse 20, Paul wrote Timothy and he told him,

Scripture Reading — 1 Timothy 5:20

"Them that sin, rebuke before all, that others may fear." So if a sin is done publicly, it deserves and merits a public rebuke, which we're going to see. So he says, "Them that sin, rebuke before all, that others

may fear." In Titus chapter 2 and verse 15, Paul told Titus, "These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee." So He tells him to rebuke with all authority, and then the ones who are rebuked should never be despising the rebuker. And I want you to listen to this one. In Revelation 3 and verse 19, Jesus Christ is speaking to His church and He says this: "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.

Be zealous, therefore, and repent." So if our Lord loves us, He's going to rebuke us. He's going to chasten us. Now, when we do not reprove and rebuke and exhort, or when we do—let me change that—when we do rebuke and reprove and exhort and admonish and confront, we must do so from a biblical stance. So let me emphasize this. I'm going to give you a verse in just a moment. Suppose I see Ed doing something that I don't personally like, and I jump down his throat and just get on to him. Do you understand a biblical rebuke or a biblical reproof or a biblical admonishment is not designed to impress upon him my personal opinions and my personal likes and dislikes? Do you understand that? Listen carefully. If I'm to rebuke him or admonish him or confront him, it is to be from a biblical stance.

It is to be with the Word of God. Listen to what Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 4 and verse 2. He said,

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 4:2

"Be instant in season and out of season; rebuke, exhort, listen, with all longsuffering and doctrine."

Doctrine. Doctrine. So if I'm rebuking Ed or if I'm rebuking Clay or Dean or whoever, it's with doctrine. In other words, I'm not trying to impress upon them my particular opinion or my like or my dislike. I'm trying to impress upon them the Word of God and the principles therein. I'm trying to show them how to be more biblical, more holy, and more godly.

Now, there are a number of illustrations in the Bible of where people are corrected with rebuke and reproofs and admonishment and confrontation. And you're going to see that these rebukes and all, sometimes not only corrected a situation, but they corrected the person as well. I want you to turn in your Bibles, if you would please, to the book of Numbers chapter 22. I want to show you what I consider one of the most unusual rebukes and confrontations ever recorded in Scripture. Many of you will understand this. Now, since you found Numbers 22, I want you to just turn in your Bibles to 2 Peter 2 and hold it, because we're going to 2 Peter 2 after we read this. Okay? 2 Peter 2. Just find that passage and mark it. And then turn back, if you would please, to Numbers 22. I want you to follow me as I read this.

so that you can see this most unusual rebuke. Notice Numbers 22, verse 1.

Scripture Reading — Numbers 22:1-35

"And the children of Israel set forward and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side of Jordan by Jericho. And Balak the son of Zippor saw that all Israel, what all Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was sore afraid of the people because they were many. And Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. And he sent messengers, therefore, to Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of all the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt. Behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me. Come now, therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people, for they are too mighty for me.

Peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed. And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand. And they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again as the Lord shall speak to me. And the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee? And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent me, saying, Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth. Come now, curse me them. Peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them, thou shalt not curse the people, for they are blessed.

And Balaam rose up in the morning and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land, for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you. And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us. And Balak sent yet again princes more and more honorable than they. And they came to Balaam and said to him, Thus saith Balak, king of Zippor, let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me. For I will promote thee into very great honor, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me. Come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God to do less or more. Now therefore, I pray you, tarry you also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more. And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up and go with them.

But yet the word which I shall say unto thee thou shalt do. And Balaam rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. I want you to note, Balaam never waited. He just got up and went. Verse 22. And God's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the way as the adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his sword drawn in his hand. And the ass turned aside out of the way and went into the field. And Balaam smote the ass to turn her into the way. But the angel of the Lord stood in the path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, the wall being on that side. And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself into the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall, and he smote her again.

And the angel of the Lord went further and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam. And Balaam's anger was kindled and he smote the ass with a staff. And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee that thou hast smitten me these three times? And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me, I would there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill thee. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? Was I ever wont to do such unto thee? And he said, Nay. Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and a sword drawn in his hand. Then he bowed down his head and fell flat on his face.

And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? Behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy ways are perverse before me. And the ass saw me, and turned from me three times. Unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive. And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned, for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me.

Now, therefore, if it displeased thee, I will now get me back. And the angel of the Lord said unto Balaam, Go with the men, but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that shalt thou speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. Now, I want you to note, if you would, in this instance, the prophet was named and the ass was prophesied. Here is a very unusual situation. God used the ass to rebuke Balaam. I want you to look in your Bibles to 2 Peter chapter 2 at verses 15 and 16 at what the New Testament says concerning this incident. 2 Peter chapter 2, verse 15. God says, "Which have forsaken the right way and are gone astray," talking about men now, "following in the way of Balaam, the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, but was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with a man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet." So notice, if you would, the dumb ass speaking with a man's voice was that which God used to rebuke the madness of the prophet.

Now, the interesting thing is the word "madness

Scripture Reading — 2 Peter 2:15-16

" there is the word for insanity. In other words, it was necessary, in one sense of the word, for this unusual means of reproof and rebuke to be given to Balaam because of the extreme insanity of what he was doing. He was purposefully and deliberately disobeying and violating the command of God, because he loved the wages of unrighteousness; he wanted the silver and the gold. And God used the dumb ass to bring him back to his senses. And he said, had that ass not turned from me, you would have been dead and she would have been alive. So that's a very unusual rebuke where God used an animal to speak in a man's voice. I want you to turn your Bibles to the book of Galatians chapter 2. You remember the passage earlier where Paul told Timothy, "

Them that sin, rebuke before all, that others may fear." You have to remember, as I pointed out earlier, when there is an open sin, it merits and deserves an open rebuke. So notice, if you would, in the book of Galatians chapter 2, Paul publicly rebukes Peter, because Peter had sinned publicly. In Galatians chapter 2, beginning there with verse 11, he says, "But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed." So he gets right up in Peter's face, and he points out his sin.

He says, "For before that certain came from James," who was the leader of the church at Jerusalem, "he did eat with the Gentiles. But when they were come," that is, these people from Jerusalem, "he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him." The word "dissembled" there means to play the hypocrite. So the other Jews played the hypocrite likewise with him. insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation, or their hypocrisy. "But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as the Jews? We are Jews by nature, not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." But note, if you would, Paul confronted Peter and rebuked him to his face. Now let me ask you, do you think Peter was uncomfortable at being rebuked? I'm sure. Was he embarrassed at being rebuked? I'm sure.

Jesus Rebukes Peter

Christ's sharp rebuke of Peter ('Get thee behind me, Satan') illustrates that correction can be pointed and even angry when necessary.

Now, I'm telling you that a rebuke does not necessarily have to be in an angry tone. It can be. It depends upon the person. It depends upon the sin. Notice, if you would, in Mark chapter 8, beginning there at verse 31. Mark 8, verse 31. "And He," that is Christ,

Scripture Reading — Mark 8:31-33

"began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected of the elders and of the chief priests and scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again."

Now watch.

"And He spake that saying openly. And Peter took Him and began to rebuke Him. But when He had turned about and looked upon His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan, for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men." Wow. And another passage, you remember Peter said to Him, here's what Peter said, "Far be that from the Lord." That's all he said. When our Lord began to tell how He was going to suffer and die, all Peter said was, "Far be that from the Lord." In other words, don't let that happen to you. And our Lord turned and undoubtedly very pointedly and probably with a little anger, rebuked Peter and said, "Get thee behind me, Satan." Do you think Peter was embarrassed? Probably. Humiliated? Probably. Was it a biblical rebuke? Yes. Was it deserved? Yes. Did Peter learn from it? Probably. I'm just simply pointing out that when you look in the Bible, there are different ways to be corrected.

Correction Without Anger

Correction can be gentle, as with a father's soft words. Scripture itself corrects us through hearing and reading.

"Furthermore, we've had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?" Now, note if you would. He says, "Furthermore, we've had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence."

Now, my earthly father corrected me many times. And thankfully, he did not always jerk a knot in my rear every time he corrected me. Now, he did that several times, probably more than I cared to remember, but he did correct me. And his correction was not always with an angry or a loud voice. In fact, the one correction that I remember the most, he spoke very softly, and what he said just broke my heart to pieces. In fact, a lot of times when my father corrected me, he began with these words. "Now, son, I want you to listen to me." It's that simple. He wasn't angry, but he was correcting me. "I don't want you to do this anymore. Here's why I don't want you to do this anymore." May I remind you of a Scripture that I said earlier I was going to remind you of.

2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work." You see, if we will listen, if we will receive the truth, if we will obey His Word, we can be corrected just by hearing. Read the book of Proverbs. You know what Solomon says many times? "My son, give ear to my words. Let thine ears be attentive unto my voice." What's he doing? He's correcting us gently. So just because in some instances there needs to be an angry rebuke, that does not mean that it's going to be so in every instance. In fact, I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Job. Look in the book of Job and let's begin there with chapter 37, Job 37. And I want to show you this.

God Teaches by Chastisement

When example, instruction, and correction are rejected, God uses chastisement (painful discipline) to teach His children.

What if we don't listen? Let me rephrase that. What if a real, genuine, and true Christian refuses to be taught by example, by instruction, or by correction? What is left? How does God teach us then? And here it is, the fourth one: by chastisement. By chastisement.

Now, I want you to look in several passages. First of all, I want you to go to Jeremiah chapter 7. Jeremiah chapter 7. Isaiah, Jeremiah. Look in verse 28, then we're going back to Isaiah 28. Jeremiah chapter 7 and verse 28.

This happened to Judah and Jerusalem. So if we learn by example, and if we'll learn by instruction, and if we learn by correction, here it is. Jeremiah 7, verse 28, look what God says: "But thou shalt surely say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the Lord their God, nor receiveth correction. Truth is perished and it's cut off from their mouth." So they would not learn by example, they would not learn by instruction, and they would not learn by correction. So what is left? Go to Isaiah 28. Isaiah 28.

I want you to see that this is so beautiful. Isaiah 28. Let's begin reading there with verse 23. You're going to say, "What in the world does this have to do with chastisement?" Well, just hang on. Look in Isaiah 28, beginning there in verse 23. "Give ye ear and hear my voice, hearken and hear my speech." There it is again. God's instructing and God's correcting. So verse 24, look at it.

"Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? Doth he open and break the clods of his ground?" Yes. Yes, he does. "When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat, and the appointed barley, and the rye in their place?" Now, why does the farmer break up his ground, and he knows exactly where to plant whatever he plants? Watch verse 26. "For his God doth instruct him to discretion and doth teach him. For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin, but the fitches are beaten out with a staff and the cummin with a rod. Bread corn is bruised, because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen.

This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working." Now, why does the farmer plant all of his different crops in different places? And the answer is because you harvest them differently. And if you planted them all in one place, you would end up destroying them because they are harvested in different ways and at different times. He begins in verse 23, "Give ear, hear my voice, hearken, hear my speech." He gives a wonderful example. And he said, the reason the farmer is successful is I instructed him. He listened, he knows how to plant, he knows how to harvest. Now skip down to chapter 29, verse 1.

The Purpose and Response to Chastisement

Chastisement is evidence of God's love and is for our profit, yielding righteousness. We must not despise or faint under it.

That's the only thing that is left. Do you realize the Word of God teaches us how to deal with, how to respond to, and how to receive chastisement? I want you to look at two passages. I want you to turn to Proverbs 3 and Hebrews 12. Look in Proverbs chapter 3 and notice, if you would, verses 11 and 12. Proverbs 3, verses 11 and 12. Then we're going to Hebrews chapter 12. Notice, if you would, Proverbs 3, beginning there with verse 11. Proverbs 3, verse 11. God says, "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of His correction. For whom the Lord loveth, He correcteth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth." Wow. "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of His correction." Now look in Hebrews chapter 12, if you would, beginning there with verse 5. Hebrews 12, verse 5.

Here this passage is enlarged. The same truth from Proverbs 3, but it's an enlargement. Hebrews 12, verse 5. "And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children. My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him. For whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If you endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons. For what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not? But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards and not sons.

Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they," that is the earthly fathers, "verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure. But He," our Heavenly Father, "for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness.

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous. Nevertheless, afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby." So God tells us we're not to despise His chastening. We're not to grow weary of it. We're not to grow tired of it, and we're not to faint under it. Let me ask you a question. Think about this. What if a Christian, and I'm talking about a real genuine Christian, not a professor, but a real genuine Christian—what if a real genuine Christian was so disobedient and so rebellious that he would not be taught by example, he would not be taught by instruction, he would not be taught by correction, and he would not even be taught by chastisement? My question would be, is there something else that would happen? And the answer is yes. What?

The Final Consequence: Death

If a believer refuses all four methods of teaching, God may take them home through physical death to prevent dishonor to His name.

Well, I want you to turn to 1 Corinthians 11 and 1 John 5. As you're turning there, I want to quote two passages. I'm going to quote Jeremiah 2 in verse 30, where God says to Judah and Jerusalem, "In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction. Your own sword hath devoured your prophets like a destroying lion." So here's the people who would not be corrected. They would not even receive it through chastisement. In Jeremiah 5 and verse 3 says this: "O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth?" Now listen. "Thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved. Thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder than a rock. They refuse to return." What is left? What is left if you will not be taught by chastisement?

And the answer is death. God is not going to be dishonored by your wickedness. In 1 Corinthians 11, look at verses 30 and 32. And here were people who were just abusing the Lord's Supper. And look what he says, 1 Corinthians 11, verse 30 through 32. "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep." That is, they're dead. God killed them. "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we're judged, we're chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." Yeah. There is a sin unto death. Look in your Bibles at 1 John 5, verses 16 and 17. 1 John 5, verse 16. Here John says, "If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death.

I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not unto death." So he says there's a sin unto death and there's a sin not unto death. So if a man refuses to be taught either by example or by instruction or by correction or chastisement, the only thing left is death. Let me put it to you plainly. God brought us into this world and He can take us out of this world. And God is not going to be dishonored by our own wickedness. Yes, we can go so far, but there is a line that we better not cross because there is a sin unto death. And God will be glorified in our lives one way or the other, either in our lives or in our deaths. And I hope you understand there are many people in the Bible that God pointed to their deaths, and He says, "Be not like unto your fathers," because He'd killed them in the wilderness.

Applications and Conclusion

Weaver urges self-examination on how we are being taught, reminds that God does not afflict willingly, and emphasizes that sin, not chastisement, is grievous.

So let me make some applications. I have two. The first one is this. Here's my question: How are you being instructed? Four ways God teaches us. Are you willing to listen? Does God need to bring the rod of correction in your life in order to gain your attention and get your obedience? Let me just tell you this: Lamentations 3 and verse 33 says this concerning our God: "For He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men." I never took delight in whipping my children. I did it because it was needed, necessary. But I never, I never delighted in it.

And it grieved me many times that I had to do it. So the Bible says the same thing about God. He does not afflict willingly, nor does He grieve the children of men. God does not want to chasten us. He's not some old meanie in the heaven just waiting to beat the living daylights out of us. He doesn't want that. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Isaiah 48. I want you to look at this passage, Isaiah 48. I want you to see this. Isaiah 48. And let's begin reading there with verse 17. Isaiah 48. And notice, if you would, verse 17. I love this. Isaiah 48, verse 17.

"Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel." Now watch. "I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit." Stop right there just for a moment. You remember even chastisement was for our profit. You remember that? So God's going to teach us for profit one way or the other. Now watch. He says, "Thus saith the Lord thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. I've given you instruction. I've corrected you." Watch. "O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as waves of the sea.

Thy seed also should have been as sand, and an offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof. His name should not have been cut off, nor destroyed from before me." Did you hear what God said? God said, "I don't have to chasten you. I don't have to take you out of this world. If you had just listened, I am the God that teacheth thee to profit. God's commands are not for our detriment, but for our good. The second application is this: We must remember that if we are chastened, if we are afflicted, if we are whipped, it is because of our sin. Listen carefully. It is not the chastening. It is not the whipping that is grievous. It's the sin that is grievous. I used to think my dad was lying. But before he would whip me, he would say, "Son, this is going to hurt me a whole lot worse than it hurts you."

And I thought to myself, I know better than that. 'Cause it hurt me. But when I got grown and found out, you know, married, had children, I understood exactly what he meant. It's the sin that's grievous. Thomas Watson, a Puritan, said it like this. Listen carefully. He said, "There is more malignity in a drop of sin than in a sea of affliction. For the sin is the cause of the affliction, and the cause is greater than the effect." So when God does chasten us because of our sin, that's why He said, "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord,

nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him." Why? Because it's not the chastening that should be bad. Chastening is the evidence of His love for us, His concern for us. What He wants us to see is it's the sin that is wicked and vile and bad. We're not to hate the rod, nor the one who wields the rod. We're to hate the sin which caused the rod to fall upon us. God's going to teach you, if you are His, He's going to teach you in one of these four ways.

You will either learn by example, by instruction, by correction, or by chastisement. And if you refuse to learn, if you are His, He will take you out of this world. "What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him shall He, God, teach in the way that He shall choose." How are you being taught, and are you learning anything? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee. We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. We thank You, Father, for teaching us, and help us, Father, to learn the easy way: by example, by instruction, by correction. But Lord, we will not despise Your chastisement. But we do want to be taught, and we do want to honor and glorify Thee and Thy name. We ask for Your blessings, and we thank You for Your grace in Christ's name. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

God's Progressive Methods of Teaching

Summary: God teaches His children through example, instruction, correction, and chastisement, each more severe if the previous is rejected.

Evidence: Weaver states: 'What if the children of God will not listen or learn by way of example and by way of instruction? Does God have other ways to teach us? And the answer is yes. So thirdly, God teaches us by correction.' and later 'What if a real, genuine, and true Christian refuses to be taught by example, by instruction, or by correction? What is left? How does God teach us then? And here it is, the fourth one: by chastisement.'

The Necessity of Obedience and Listening

Summary: Learning the easy way requires heeding God's voice; refusal leads to harder lessons.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Deuteronomy 15:5 and says, 'Only if we listen to Him, we're going to save ourselves an awful lot of heartache.'

Correction as an Act of Love

Summary: God's correction and chastisement are motivated by love and are for our profit, not His pleasure.

Evidence: Weaver cites Proverbs 3:11-12 and Hebrews 12:5-11, emphasizing 'For whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth.'

The Grievousness of Sin

Summary: Sin is the true evil; chastisement is merely the consequence. Believers should hate sin, not the rod.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Thomas Watson: 'There is more malignity in a drop of sin than in a sea of affliction.'

The Sovereignty of God in Teaching

Summary: God chooses the method of instruction, but our response can determine which method He uses.

Evidence: Weaver explains Psalm 25:12: 'Is it God that chooses the way for instruction? Or is it we? ... it is God that chooses the method by which He instructs us. But in one sense of the word, we also choose the method by which we are instructed.'

Key Arguments

Correction is not always chastisement

Summary: Correction can be gentle and verbal, while chastisement involves painful discipline.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'One may be corrected without being chastened. ... correction and chastening are equated and then they are differentiated.'

Rebuke must be doctrinal, not personal

Summary: Biblical rebuke is based on Scripture, not personal preferences.

Evidence: Weaver cites 2 Timothy 4:2: 'rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine.'

Public sin warrants public rebuke

Summary: Open sin should be addressed openly to serve as a warning to others.

Evidence: Weaver references 1 Timothy 5:20 and Paul's public rebuke of Peter in Galatians 2.

Chastisement is for legitimate children only

Summary: Those without chastisement are not true sons of God.

Evidence: Weaver reads Hebrews 12:8: 'But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards and not sons.'

Rejection of all teaching leads to death

Summary: God may take a persistently rebellious believer home to prevent dishonor.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'If a man refuses to be taught either by example or by instruction or by correction or chastisement, the only thing left is death.'

Scripture References

Psalm 25:12

Context: The foundational text for the series: God teaches those who fear Him in the way He chooses.

Deuteronomy 15:5

Context: Illustrates the blessing of careful obedience and listening to God's voice.

Luke 12:27

Context: Jesus teaches through the example of lilies, showing instruction from creation.

Ephesians 4:11-15

Context: God gave pastor-teachers for the maturing of the saints and unity of faith.

Proverbs 22:15

Context: The rod of correction drives foolishness from a child, equating correction with chastisement.

Proverbs 23:13

Context: Withholding correction from a child; beating with the rod is not fatal.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Context: Scripture is profitable for correction, among other things.

Psalm 39:11

Context: God's rebuke of correction causes man's beauty to fade like a moth.

Psalm 6:1

Context: David prays not to be rebuked in God's anger or hot displeasure.

Leviticus 19:11

Context: Command to rebuke a neighbor and not suffer sin upon him.

Proverbs 27:5

Context: Open rebuke is better than secret love.

Ecclesiastes 7:5

Context: It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than the song of fools.

1 Timothy 5:20

Context: Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly so others may fear.

Titus 2:15

Context: Speak, exhort, and rebuke with all authority; let no one despise you.

Revelation 3:19

Context: Jesus rebukes and chastens those He loves; calls for zeal and repentance.

2 Timothy 4:2

Context: Rebuke and exhort with longsuffering and doctrine.

Numbers 22:1-35

Context: The story of Balaam and the talking donkey, an unusual rebuke.

2 Peter 2:15-16

Context: The New Testament commentary on Balaam's rebuke by a dumb ass.

Galatians 2:11-16

Context: Paul publicly rebukes Peter for hypocrisy.

Mark 8:31-33

Context: Jesus rebukes Peter sharply, saying 'Get thee behind me, Satan.'

Historical References

Thomas Watson (Puritan)

Context: Quoted: 'There is more malignity in a drop of sin than in a sea of affliction.'

Important Quotes

What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose.

Significance: The central verse of the series, establishing that God sovereignly chooses the method of teaching for those who fear Him.

Open rebuke is better than secret love.

Significance: Highlights the value of open correction over hidden affection, emphasizing the importance of addressing sin.

My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of His correction. For whom the Lord loveth, He correcteth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Significance: Key passage on the proper attitude toward God's discipline, rooted in His love.

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous. Nevertheless, afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby.

Significance: Explains the purpose and outcome of chastening: righteousness and peace.

There is more malignity in a drop of sin than in a sea of affliction. For the sin is the cause of the affliction, and the cause is greater than the effect.

Significance: Thomas Watson's quote emphasizing that sin is the true evil, not the affliction it causes.

I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

Significance: God's teaching is always for our benefit, even when it involves difficult methods.

Discussion Questions

In what ways have you experienced God teaching you through examples, both positive and negative?

Context: Weaver emphasizes that learning from examples is one of the easiest ways to be taught.

How can we distinguish between personal opinion and biblical doctrine when offering correction to others?

Context: Weaver stresses that rebuke must be based on doctrine, not personal likes or dislikes.

Why is it sometimes necessary to deliver a rebuke publicly, and what risks does that involve?

Context: Paul's public rebuke of Peter and the command in 1 Timothy 5:20 are discussed.

How should we respond when we recognize that God is chastening us?

Context: Hebrews 12 instructs us not to despise or faint under chastening.

What does the concept of a 'sin unto death' mean for believers today?

Context: Weaver explains that persistent rebellion can lead to physical death as a final teaching method.

How can we cultivate a heart that learns the easy way rather than requiring chastisement?

Context: The sermon urges self-examination on how we are being taught.

Applications

Self-Examination on Learning

Summary: Ask yourself: How are you being instructed? Are you willing to listen, or does God need to bring the rod of correction?

Evidence: Weaver asks: 'How are you being instructed? Four ways God teaches us. Are you willing to listen? Does God need to bring the rod of correction in your life in order to gain your attention and get your obedience?'

Hating Sin, Not Chastisement

Summary: When disciplined, focus on the sin that caused it, not the pain of the discipline. Hate the sin, not the rod.

Evidence: Weaver says: 'We're not to hate the rod, nor the one who wields the rod. We're to hate the sin which caused the rod to fall upon us.'

Embracing God's Teaching for Profit

Summary: Recognize that all God's commands and teachings are for our good, not our detriment.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Isaiah 48:17: 'I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T19:44:30Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T12:33:12Z

Clean Transcript

How Are You Being Taught - Part 3 of 3

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Let's open our Bibles today to Psalm 25. Psalm 25. We're going to be reading verse 12. This is part three of "How Are You Being Taught?" This will be the final installment on this message. I will take time to review the first two messages, and I trust that if you haven't heard them, that you will listen to them. So, how are you being taught? Notice, if you would, Psalm 25 and verse 12. The Scripture asks, "What man is he that feareth the Lord?" Question mark. And then him, that man that fears the Lord, shall He, the Lord, teach in the way that He shall choose. So the truth is, God does indeed teach His own people, just like we teach our children and endeavor to teach them the right way and bring them up in truth. Likewise, God also deals with us.
#1 | 0:14 to 1:13 | cleaned
Now, each of us has learned that there are easy ways and there are difficult ways to learn. In fact, we've learned from experience that it's really easier to learn the easy way, because many of us have attended the school of hard knocks and we've graduated from the university of difficulty. And many times we seek to save our children from the heartaches and troubles that we received in getting our education. And just like us, at times they listen, and at times they do not listen. However, many of us have reached the stage in life that we know that it's best if we obey, and obey instantly and immediately.
#2 | 1:14 to 2:04 | cleaned
I pointed out in the very first message that God uses examples to teach us. And I also pointed out that learning from examples is really and truly one of the easiest ways to learn. In the Bible, God gives us both positive and negative examples. We look at both positive and negative examples in His Word. So God tells us, therefore, we are to emulate, that is, we're to follow the good examples, and we're to be warned and admonished from the bad or wicked examples and not to emulate and not to follow them at all. If we would pay attention to both kinds of examples, and if we would observe and listen and learn and apply, we would save ourselves a lot of trouble and a lot of heartache.
#3 | 2:05 to 2:58 | cleaned
It's much like our Lord said in Deuteronomy 15 and verse 5. Listen carefully. He said, "Only if thou carefully hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God to observe all these commandments, which I command thee this day." Only if thou will hearken. How many times have you and I as adults said something like this: "If only I had listened. If only I had obeyed. If only I had not said or done such a thing, or if only I'd acted differently, or if only I'd paid attention." And so that is exactly what God is saying. Only if we listen to Him, we're going to save ourselves an awful lot of heartache. So God does teach us by examples. Last week I showed you how God teaches us through instruction. The very word "instruction" indicates that there is a teacher and a student. Instruction must come in some form, and usually it comes in the form of a teacher. God does use means in instructing His children. I pointed out many times that God does indeed teach us through creation, through the animals, even through plants, and oftentimes by His punishments as well.
#4 | 2:59 to 4:26 | cleaned
Our Lord began a short discourse in Luke 12 and in verse 27, and He said this: "Consider the lilies, how they grow. They toil not, neither do they spin, and yet Solomon in all of his glory was not clothed like one of these." So notice, if you would, He said, "Consider the lilies of the field." In other words, look there, be taught, and be instructed. But I pointed out in the Old Testament, God oftentimes used the priests, the Levites, and the prophets to instruct His people. Likewise, in the New Testament, He began using the apostles and prophets, and then He ended up using the pastor-teachers.
#5 | 4:26 to 5:09 | cleaned
And I read from Ephesians 4, verses 11 through 15. Let me just read that again. Here's what the Scripture says: "And He," that is Christ, "gave some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastor-teachers." Why did He give these gifts to the church? And the answer is "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect or mature man, unto the measure of the stature of
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the fullness of Christ, that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro and carried away with every wind of doctrine and sleight of man and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, who is the head, even Christ." So He tells us then that pastor-teachers are given to the church for the perfecting or the maturing of the saints, so the saints may do the work of the ministry till we all come into the stature of the fullness of Christ.
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In other words, we are to be as Christ was: obedient, submissive, humble, and yet at the same time, erudite, that is, we've been taught by our fathers. Now, the primary means of teaching and the primary means of instruction today is certainly by the pastor-teachers. It's as they lay, as I read last week from Isaiah 28, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. It's only as the pastor-teachers take the Word of God and they expound it, explain it, and apply it. The two easiest ways to be taught: number one is by example, number two is by instruction.
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Now, here's the question I want to ask you today, and I want to pick up here. What if the children of God will not listen or learn by way of example and by way of instruction? Does God have other ways to teach us? And the answer is yes. So thirdly, God teaches us by correction. He teaches us by correction.
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Now, correction is often equated with chastisement in the Bible, but it does not necessarily have to be. One may be corrected without being chastened. In Scripture, let me say it like this: correction and chastening are equated and then they are differentiated. So in many scriptures you will find that correction and chastisement are one and the same. In other passages you're going to find that correction and chastisement are differentiated. Let me give you two verses which are very familiar to all of us whereby correction and chastisement are equated, that is, they're placed together. The first one is Proverbs 22 and verse 15, where the Bible says, "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of the child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him." So when you hear about the rod of correction, naturally we're talking about chastisement as well. The second is Proverbs 23 and verse 13, where God says, "Withhold not correction from the child, for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die." So here is, once again, beating with the rod of correction.
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So there correction and chastisement are together. But 2 Timothy 3, verses 16 and 17, I'll call your attention to this passage a little bit later, but I want you to listen. In 2 Timothy 3, verses 16 and 17, the Word of God says this: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable." What is it profitable for? Listen carefully. It's profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. So God says He's given us the Scriptures for correction.
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Now, just like I may correct my child without chastening him, likewise, our Heavenly Father may also correct us without chastisement. Now, correction may come in many forms. Correction may come to us as encouragement. It could come to us as admonishment. It could come to us as with rebuke or reproof or confrontation.
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Now, when I use the word rebuke and reproof, you have to understand that you can rebuke someone and you can reprove someone, and it does not necessarily have to be in an angry tone. Often it may be delivered, and it might need to be delivered in an angry tone, but it is not necessary to deliver a reproof or a rebuke in an angry tone. Oftentimes you will find in the Bible rebukes and reproofs are done in an angry tone, and sometimes not in an angry tone.
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For instance, let me show you. Since you're in the book of Psalms, look in Psalm 39 and verse 11 at what David had to say concerning God's rebuke of correction. Psalm 39 and verse 11. Notice what David said: "When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth. Surely every man is vanity." So, if God is angry in His rebuke, David said, you make his beauty to consume away like a moth.
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Now, I don't know if any in here have ever caught a moth. You try to hold a moth between your fingers, and guess what? The little moth begins to come apart, it seems. The little fluffy stuff starts breaking off, and they're very fragile and their wings will break very easily. So David said, when you rebuke doth correct a man, our beauty just simply fades away.
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Now, if you'll flip back over to Psalm 6 and verse 1, with this in mind you can understand why David prayed this. And I think that this would be our prayer if we really understood this. But David prayed in Psalm 6 and verse 1, "O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure." In other words, Lord, I don't want you to get after me when you're angry, you know. If the Lord, just with rebukes, correcting a man, causes his beauty to fade away as a moth, well, David says, I don't want that. Now, many of you will remember Leviticus 19, verse 11. Let me just quote it. Here's where God says, "Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart. Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him." Now, God says that we may rebuke our neighbor.
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But however, the word "rebuke" here literally means to plead with and to reason with. So it's not that we're jumping down his throat. It's not that we're cussing him out and telling him off. When we're rebuking him, we're pleading with him, we're endeavoring to reason with him. That is why the Bible says in Proverbs 27 and verse 5, listen carefully, "Open rebuke is better than secret love." Open rebuke is better than secret love. So all that means is this: it would be better for Clay if I rebuked him openly and corrected an error or sin in his life than if I loved him secretly and just let him go on in his sin and his wickedness. Open rebuke is better than secret love. And then the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 7 and verse 5, "It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools." So he is saying the rebuke of the wise is far superior than rejoicing in having a good time, because the rebuke of the wise then instructs us on how to live.
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Now, you can look in all the Old Testament passages that you want to, and many times you're going to find this word "rebuke." You're also going to find it in the New Testament as well. For instance, the Bible tells us in 1 Timothy chapter 5 and verse 20, Paul wrote Timothy and he told him, "Them that sin, rebuke before all, that others may fear." So if a sin is done publicly, it deserves and merits a public rebuke, which we're going to see. So he says, "Them that sin, rebuke before all, that others may fear." In Titus chapter 2 and verse 15, Paul told Titus, "These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee." So He tells him to rebuke with all authority, and then the ones who are rebuked should never be despising the rebuker. And I want you to listen to this one. In Revelation 3 and verse 19, Jesus Christ is speaking to His church and He says this: "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.
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Be zealous, therefore, and repent." So if our Lord loves us, He's going to rebuke us. He's going to chasten us.
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Now, when we do not reprove and rebuke and exhort, or when we do—let me change that—when we do rebuke and reprove and exhort and admonish and confront, we must do so from a biblical stance. So let me emphasize this. I'm going to give you a verse in just a moment. Suppose I see Ed doing something that I don't personally like, and I jump down his throat and just get on to him. Do you understand a biblical rebuke or a biblical reproof or a biblical admonishment is not designed to impress upon him my personal opinions and my personal likes and dislikes? Do you understand that? Listen carefully. If I'm to rebuke him or admonish him or confront him, it is to be from a biblical stance.
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It is to be with the Word of God. Listen to what Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 4 and verse 2. He said, "Be instant in season and out of season; rebuke, exhort, listen, with all longsuffering and doctrine." Doctrine. Doctrine. So if I'm rebuking Ed or if I'm rebuking Clay or Dean or whoever, it's with doctrine. In other words, I'm not trying to impress upon them my particular opinion or my like or my dislike. I'm trying to impress upon them the Word of God and the principles therein. I'm trying to show them how to be more biblical, more holy, and more godly.
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Now, there are a number of illustrations in the Bible of where people are corrected with rebuke and reproofs and admonishment and confrontation. And you're going to see that these rebukes and all, sometimes not only corrected a situation, but they corrected the person as well. I want you to turn in your Bibles, if you would please, to the book of Numbers chapter 22. I want to show you what I consider one of the most unusual rebukes and confrontations ever recorded in Scripture.
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Many of you will understand this. Now, since you found Numbers 22, I want you to just turn in your Bibles to 2 Peter 2 and hold it, because we're going to 2 Peter 2 after we read this. Okay? 2 Peter 2. Just find that passage and mark it. And then turn back, if you would please, to Numbers 22. I want you to follow me as I read this.
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so that you can see this most unusual rebuke. Notice Numbers 22, verse 1. "And the children of Israel set forward and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side of Jordan by Jericho. And Balak the son of Zippor saw that all Israel, what all Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was sore afraid of the people because they were many. And Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. And he sent messengers, therefore, to Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of all the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt. Behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me. Come now, therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people, for they are too mighty for me.
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Peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed. And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand. And they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again as the Lord shall speak to me. And the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee? And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent me, saying, Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth. Come now, curse me them. Peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them, thou shalt not curse the people, for they are blessed.
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And Balaam rose up in the morning and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land, for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you. And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us. And Balak sent yet again princes more and more honorable than they. And they came to Balaam and said to him, Thus saith Balak, king of Zippor, let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me. For I will promote thee into very great honor, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me. Come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God to do less or more. Now therefore, I pray you, tarry you also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more. And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up and go with them.
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But yet the word which I shall say unto thee thou shalt do. And Balaam rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. I want you to note, Balaam never waited. He just got up and went. Verse 22. And God's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the way as the adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his sword drawn in his hand. And the ass turned aside out of the way and went into the field. And Balaam smote the ass to turn her into the way. But the angel of the Lord stood in the path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, the wall being on that side. And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself into the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall, and he smote her again.
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And the angel of the Lord went further and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam. And Balaam's anger was kindled and he smote the ass with a staff. And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee that thou hast smitten me these three times? And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me, I would there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill thee. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? Was I ever wont to do such unto thee? And he said, Nay. Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and a sword drawn in his hand. Then he bowed down his head and fell flat on his face.
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And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? Behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy ways are perverse before me. And the ass saw me, and turned from me three times. Unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive. And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned, for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me.
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Now, therefore, if it displeased thee, I will now get me back. And the angel of the Lord said unto Balaam, Go with the men, but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that shalt thou speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
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Now, I want you to note, if you would, in this instance, the prophet was named and the ass was prophesied. Here is a very unusual situation. God used the ass to rebuke Balaam. I want you to look in your Bibles to 2 Peter chapter 2 at verses 15 and 16 at what the New Testament says concerning this incident. 2 Peter chapter 2, verse 15. God says, "Which have forsaken the right way and are gone astray," talking about men now, "following in the way of Balaam, the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, but was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with a man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet." So notice, if you would, the dumb ass speaking with a man's voice was that which God used to rebuke the madness of the prophet.
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Now, the interesting thing is the word "madness" there is the word for insanity. In other words, it was necessary, in one sense of the word, for this unusual means of reproof and rebuke to be given to Balaam because of the extreme insanity of what he was doing. He was purposefully and deliberately disobeying and violating the command of God, because he loved the wages of unrighteousness; he wanted the silver and the gold. And God used the dumb ass to bring him back to his senses. And he said, had that ass not turned from me, you would have been dead and she would have been alive. So that's a very unusual rebuke where God used an animal to speak in a man's voice.
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I want you to turn your Bibles to the book of Galatians chapter 2. You remember the passage earlier where Paul told Timothy, "Them that sin, rebuke before all, that others may fear." You have to remember, as I pointed out earlier, when there is an open sin, it merits and deserves an open rebuke. So notice, if you would, in the book of Galatians chapter 2, Paul publicly rebukes Peter, because Peter had sinned publicly. In Galatians chapter 2, beginning there with verse 11, he says, "But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed." So he gets right up in Peter's face, and he points out his sin.
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He says, "For before that certain came from James," who was the leader of the church at Jerusalem, "he did eat with the Gentiles. But when they were come," that is, these people from Jerusalem, "he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him." The word "dissembled" there means to play the hypocrite. So the other Jews played the hypocrite likewise with him.
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insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation, or their hypocrisy. "But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as the Jews? We are Jews by nature, not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." But note, if you would, Paul confronted Peter and rebuked him to his face. Now let me ask you, do you think Peter was uncomfortable at being rebuked? I'm sure. Was he embarrassed at being rebuked? I'm sure.
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But was the rebuke scriptural and biblical? And the answer is absolutely yes.
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Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Mark, chapter 8. Mark, chapter 8. And I want us to look at verses 31 through 33. And I want you to see how Jesus Christ rebuked Peter. Notice, if you would, the book of Mark, chapter 8. And let's begin reading there with verse 31.
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Now, I'm telling you that a rebuke does not necessarily have to be in an angry tone. It can be. It depends upon the person. It depends upon the sin. Notice, if you would, in Mark chapter 8, beginning there at verse 31. Mark 8, verse 31. "And He," that is Christ, "began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected of the elders and of the chief priests and scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again." Now watch.
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"And He spake that saying openly. And Peter took Him and began to rebuke Him. But when He had turned about and looked upon His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan, for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men." Wow. And another passage, you remember Peter said to Him, here's what Peter said, "Far be that from the Lord." That's all he said. When our Lord began to tell how He was going to suffer and die, all Peter said was, "Far be that from the Lord."
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In other words, don't let that happen to you. And our Lord turned and undoubtedly very pointedly and probably with a little anger, rebuked Peter and said, "Get thee behind me, Satan." Do you think Peter was embarrassed? Probably. Humiliated? Probably. Was it a biblical rebuke? Yes. Was it deserved? Yes. Did Peter learn from it? Probably. I'm just simply pointing out that when you look in the Bible, there are different ways to be corrected.
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Now, let me just tell you, correction does not necessarily always have to be done with rebukes and reproofs. It can be done by encouragements. It can be done by admonishments. I've already said this, I'm saying it again. The way you rebuke or reprove depends upon the person, it depends upon the circumstance, it depends upon the gravity of the sin that is to be corrected. Now, I want you to look in your Bibles at Hebrews chapter 12. And you might as well hold that passage because we're going to come back there a little bit later, but look in Hebrews chapter 12. Hebrews chapter 12, look at verse 9. Hebrews 12 and verse 9. Here's what the Scripture says.
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"Furthermore, we've had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?"
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Now, note if you would. He says, "Furthermore, we've had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence."
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Now, my earthly father corrected me many times. And thankfully, he did not always jerk a knot in my rear every time he corrected me.
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Now, he did that several times, probably more than I cared to remember, but he did correct me. And his correction was not always with an angry or a loud voice. In fact, the one correction that I remember the most, he spoke very softly, and what he said just broke my heart to pieces. In fact, a lot of times when my father corrected me, he began with these words.
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"Now, son, I want you to listen to me." It's that simple. He wasn't angry, but he was correcting me. "I don't want you to do this anymore. Here's why I don't want you to do this anymore." May I remind you of a Scripture that I said earlier I was going to remind you of.
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2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work." You see, if we will listen, if we will receive the truth, if we will obey His Word, we can be corrected just by hearing. Read the book of Proverbs. You know what Solomon says many times?
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"My son, give ear to my words. Let thine ears be attentive unto my voice." What's he doing? He's correcting us gently. So just because in some instances there needs to be an angry rebuke, that does not mean that it's going to be so in every instance. In fact, I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Job. Look in the book of Job and let's begin there with chapter 37, Job 37. And I want to show you this.
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In fact, I'll probably use this passage in the not-too-near future on another message because there's so much truth here. But I want you to look what God says. We're talking about correction. Job 37, beginning with verse 6. This shows you the absolute sovereignty of God over the weather. Job 37, verse 6. "For He saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain and to the great rain of His strength.
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He sealeth up the hand of every man, that all men may know His work. Then the beasts go into dens and remain in their places." Now watch verse 9. "Out of the south cometh a whirlwind, and cold out of the north. By the breath of God frost is given, and the breadth of the waters is straitened. Also by watering He wearieth the thick cloud, He scattereth His bright cloud, and it is turned about by His counsels, that they may do whatsoever He commanded them upon the face of the world in the earth.
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Now, he's talking about the weather and the clouds. "He causeth it," that is the rain, the clouds, the storms, "He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for His land, or for mercy." Isn't that interesting that God says if we pay attention, if we pay attention, we can even be corrected by acts of His providence in weather. But we need to pay attention. So God may teach us by using examples, He may teach us through instruction, or He may teach us through correction. Now here's my question.
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What if we don't listen? Let me rephrase that. What if a real, genuine, and true Christian refuses to be taught by example, by instruction, or by correction? What is left? How does God teach us then? And here it is, the fourth one: by chastisement. By chastisement.
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Now, I want you to look in several passages. First of all, I want you to go to Jeremiah chapter 7. Jeremiah chapter 7. Isaiah, Jeremiah. Look in verse 28, then we're going back to Isaiah 28. Jeremiah chapter 7 and verse 28.
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This happened to Judah and Jerusalem. So if we learn by example, and if we'll learn by instruction, and if we learn by correction, here it is. Jeremiah 7, verse 28, look what God says: "But thou shalt surely say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the Lord their God, nor receiveth correction. Truth is perished and it's cut off from their mouth." So they would not learn by example, they would not learn by instruction, and they would not learn by correction. So what is left? Go to Isaiah 28. Isaiah 28.
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I want you to see that this is so beautiful. Isaiah 28. Let's begin reading there with verse 23. You're going to say, "What in the world does this have to do with chastisement?" Well, just hang on. Look in Isaiah 28, beginning there in verse 23. "Give ye ear and hear my voice, hearken and hear my speech." There it is again. God's instructing and God's correcting. So verse 24, look at it.
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"Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? Doth he open and break the clods of his ground?" Yes. Yes, he does. "When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat, and the appointed barley, and the rye in their place?" Now, why does the farmer break up his ground, and he knows exactly where to plant whatever he plants? Watch verse 26. "For his God doth instruct him to discretion and doth teach him. For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin, but the fitches are beaten out with a staff and the cummin with a rod. Bread corn is bruised, because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen.
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This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working." Now, why does the farmer plant all of his different crops in different places? And the answer is because you harvest them differently. And if you planted them all in one place, you would end up destroying them because they are harvested in different ways and at different times. He begins in verse 23, "Give ear, hear my voice, hearken, hear my speech." He gives a wonderful example. And he said, the reason the farmer is successful is I instructed him. He listened, he knows how to plant, he knows how to harvest. Now skip down to chapter 29, verse 1.
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"Woe to Ariel, to Ariel," that is Jerusalem. "Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt," that's Jerusalem. "Add ye year to year, let them kill sacrifices. Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow. It shall be unto me as Ariel. And I will camp against thee round about, and I will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee.
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And thou shalt be brought down, and thou shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be as one that hath a familiar spirit out of the ground, and thy speech shall be a whisper out of the dust." May I explain this to you? Here's what God said: You would not listen. You would not learn by example. You would not receive instruction.
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You would not be corrected. And now, I'm going to beat you into the ground. I will beat the living tar out of you. And that's exactly what He had to do to Judah, Jerusalem, and to Israel. If you will not be taught by example, if you will not be taught by correction or instruction, what is left? Chastisement. You know what Micah 6:9 says? Listen carefully. Here's what Micah 6:9 says.
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"Hear ye the rod and Him who hath appointed it." God said, if you won't listen either way, you better listen to the rod. Do you understand that God has a way of getting and keeping our attention? God has a way to teach us. And we may learn either the easy way or we may learn the hard way, but we're going to learn. Remember Psalm 25, verse 12.
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"What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose."
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Now, so let me ask the question. Is it God that chooses the way for instruction? Or is it we? Or is it the man that chooses the method of instruction? Well, let me just say first and foremost, it is God that chooses the method by which He instructs us. But in one sense of the word, we also choose the method by which we are instructed. Because when we refuse to learn by example, when we refuse instruction, and when we refuse to be corrected, we're choosing chastisement.
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That's the only thing that is left. Do you realize the Word of God teaches us how to deal with, how to respond to, and how to receive chastisement? I want you to look at two passages. I want you to turn to Proverbs 3 and Hebrews 12. Look in Proverbs chapter 3 and notice, if you would, verses 11 and 12. Proverbs 3, verses 11 and 12. Then we're going to Hebrews chapter 12. Notice, if you would, Proverbs 3, beginning there with verse 11. Proverbs 3, verse 11. God says, "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of His correction. For whom the Lord loveth, He correcteth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth." Wow. "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of His correction." Now look in Hebrews chapter 12, if you would, beginning there with verse 5. Hebrews 12, verse 5.
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Here this passage is enlarged. The same truth from Proverbs 3, but it's an enlargement. Hebrews 12, verse 5. "And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children. My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him. For whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If you endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons. For what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not? But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards and not sons.
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Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they," that is the earthly fathers, "verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure. But He," our Heavenly Father, "for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness.
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Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous. Nevertheless, afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby." So God tells us we're not to despise His chastening. We're not to grow weary of it. We're not to grow tired of it, and we're not to faint under it. Let me ask you a question. Think about this. What if a Christian, and I'm talking about a real genuine Christian, not a professor, but a real genuine Christian—what if a real genuine Christian was so disobedient and so rebellious that he would not be taught by example, he would not be taught by instruction, he would not be taught by correction, and he would not even be taught by chastisement? My question would be, is there something else that would happen? And the answer is yes. What?
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Well, I want you to turn to 1 Corinthians 11 and 1 John 5. As you're turning there, I want to quote two passages. I'm going to quote Jeremiah 2 in verse 30, where God says to Judah and Jerusalem, "In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction. Your own sword hath devoured your prophets like a destroying lion." So here's the people who would not be corrected.
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They would not even receive it through chastisement. In Jeremiah 5 and verse 3 says this: "O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth?" Now listen. "Thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved. Thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder than a rock. They refuse to return." What is left? What is left if you will not be taught by chastisement?
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And the answer is death. God is not going to be dishonored by your wickedness. In 1 Corinthians 11, look at verses 30 and 32. And here were people who were just abusing the Lord's Supper. And look what he says, 1 Corinthians 11, verse 30 through 32. "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep." That is, they're dead. God killed them. "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we're judged, we're chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." Yeah. There is a sin unto death. Look in your Bibles at 1 John 5, verses 16 and 17. 1 John 5, verse 16. Here John says, "If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death.
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I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not unto death." So he says there's a sin unto death and there's a sin not unto death. So if a man refuses to be taught either by example or by instruction or by correction or chastisement, the only thing left is death. Let me put it to you plainly. God brought us into this world and He can take us out of this world. And God is not going to be dishonored by our own wickedness. Yes, we can go so far, but there is a line that we better not cross because there is a sin unto death. And God will be glorified in our lives one way or the other, either in our lives or in our deaths. And I hope you understand there are many people in the Bible that God pointed to their deaths, and He says, "Be not like unto your fathers," because He'd killed them in the wilderness.
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So let me make some applications. I have two. The first one is this. Here's my question: How are you being instructed? Four ways God teaches us. Are you willing to listen? Does God need to bring the rod of correction in your life in order to gain your attention and get your obedience? Let me just tell you this: Lamentations 3 and verse 33 says this concerning our God: "For He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men." I never took delight in whipping my children. I did it because it was needed, necessary. But I never, I never delighted in it.
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And it grieved me many times that I had to do it. So the Bible says the same thing about God. He does not afflict willingly, nor does He grieve the children of men. God does not want to chasten us. He's not some old meanie in the heaven just waiting to beat the living daylights out of us. He doesn't want that. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Isaiah 48. I want you to look at this passage, Isaiah 48. I want you to see this. Isaiah 48. And let's begin reading there with verse 17. Isaiah 48. And notice, if you would, verse 17. I love this. Isaiah 48, verse 17.
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"Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel." Now watch. "I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit." Stop right there just for a moment. You remember even chastisement was for our profit. You remember that? So God's going to teach us for profit one way or the other. Now watch. He says, "Thus saith the Lord thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. I've given you instruction. I've corrected you." Watch. "O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as waves of the sea.
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Thy seed also should have been as sand, and an offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof. His name should not have been cut off, nor destroyed from before me." Did you hear what God said? God said, "I don't have to chasten you. I don't have to take you out of this world. If you had just listened, I am the God that teacheth thee to profit.
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God's commands are not for our detriment, but for our good. The second application is this: We must remember that if we are chastened, if we are afflicted, if we are whipped, it is because of our sin. Listen carefully. It is not the chastening. It is not the whipping that is grievous. It's the sin that is grievous. I used to think my dad was lying. But before he would whip me, he would say, "Son, this is going to hurt me a whole lot worse than it hurts you."
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And I thought to myself, I know better than that. 'Cause it hurt me. But when I got grown and found out, you know, married, had children, I understood exactly what he meant. It's the sin that's grievous. Thomas Watson, a Puritan, said it like this. Listen carefully. He said, "There is more malignity in a drop of sin than in a sea of affliction. For the sin is the cause of the affliction, and the cause is greater than the effect." So when God does chasten us because of our sin, that's why He said, "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord,
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nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him." Why? Because it's not the chastening that should be bad. Chastening is the evidence of His love for us, His concern for us. What He wants us to see is it's the sin that is wicked and vile and bad. We're not to hate the rod, nor the one who wields the rod. We're to hate the sin which caused the rod to fall upon us. God's going to teach you, if you are His, He's going to teach you in one of these four ways.
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You will either learn by example, by instruction, by correction, or by chastisement. And if you refuse to learn, if you are His, He will take you out of this world. "What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him shall He, God, teach in the way that He shall choose." How are you being taught, and are you learning anything? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee.
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We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. We thank You, Father, for teaching us, and help us, Father, to learn the easy way: by example, by instruction, by correction. But Lord, we will not despise Your chastisement. But we do want to be taught, and we do want to honor and glorify Thee and Thy name. We ask for Your blessings, and we thank You for Your grace in Christ's name. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T19:44:30Z

How Are You Being Taught - Part 3 of 3

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

In this final installment, Pastor John Weaver explains that God teaches His people through four progressive methods: example, instruction, correction, and chastisement. If a believer refuses to learn by the first three, God will resort to chastisement, and if that is rejected, the ultimate consequence is physical death. The sermon emphasizes that God's teaching is for our profit and that we should respond with humility and obedience.

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the first two messages, noting that God teaches by examples (positive and negative) and by instruction through pastors, creation, and Scripture.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 25:12

"What man is he that feareth the Lord?"

It's much like our Lord said in Deuteronomy 15 and verse 5. Listen carefully. He said,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 15:5

"Only if thou carefully hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God to observe all these commandments, which I command thee this day."

Our Lord began a short discourse in Luke 12 and in verse 27, and He said this:

Scripture Reading — Luke 12:27

"Consider the lilies, how they grow. They toil not, neither do they spin, and yet Solomon in all of his glory was not clothed like one of these."

God Teaches by Correction

Correction is distinct from chastisement and can come as encouragement, admonishment, rebuke, or reproof, often without anger.

Biblical Rebuke and Its Nature

Rebuke should be based on doctrine, not personal opinion. Examples include Balaam's rebuke by a donkey and Paul's public rebuke of Peter.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 39:11

"When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth. Surely every man is vanity."

So, if God is angry in His rebuke, David said, you make his beauty to consume away like a moth.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 6:1

"O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure."

Scripture Reading — 1 Timothy 5:20

"Them that sin, rebuke before all, that others may fear." So if a sin is done publicly, it deserves and merits a public rebuke, which we're going to see. So he says, "Them that sin, rebuke before all, that others

It is to be with the Word of God. Listen to what Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 4 and verse 2. He said,

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 4:2

"Be instant in season and out of season; rebuke, exhort, listen, with all longsuffering and doctrine."

so that you can see this most unusual rebuke. Notice Numbers 22, verse 1.

Scripture Reading — Numbers 22:1-35

"And the children of Israel set forward and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side of Jordan by Jericho. And Balak the son of Zippor saw that all Israel, what all Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was sore afraid of the people because they were many. And Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. And he sent messengers, therefore, to Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of all the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt. Behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me. Come now, therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people, for they are too mighty for me.

Now, the interesting thing is the word "madness

Scripture Reading — 2 Peter 2:15-16

" there is the word for insanity. In other words, it was necessary, in one sense of the word, for this unusual means of reproof and rebuke to be given to Balaam because of the extreme insanity of what he was doing. He was purposefully and deliberately disobeying and violating the command of God, because he loved the wages of unrighteousness; he wanted the silver and the gold. And God used the dumb ass to bring him back to his senses. And he said, had that ass not turned from me, you would have been dead and she would have been alive. So that's a very unusual rebuke where God used an animal to speak in a man's voice. I want you to turn your Bibles to the book of Galatians chapter 2. You remember the passage earlier where Paul told Timothy, "

Jesus Rebukes Peter

Christ's sharp rebuke of Peter ('Get thee behind me, Satan') illustrates that correction can be pointed and even angry when necessary.

Scripture Reading — Mark 8:31-33

"began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected of the elders and of the chief priests and scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again."

Now watch.

Correction Without Anger

Correction can be gentle, as with a father's soft words. Scripture itself corrects us through hearing and reading.

God Teaches by Chastisement

When example, instruction, and correction are rejected, God uses chastisement (painful discipline) to teach His children.

The Purpose and Response to Chastisement

Chastisement is evidence of God's love and is for our profit, yielding righteousness. We must not despise or faint under it.

The Final Consequence: Death

If a believer refuses all four methods of teaching, God may take them home through physical death to prevent dishonor to His name.

Applications and Conclusion

Weaver urges self-examination on how we are being taught, reminds that God does not afflict willingly, and emphasizes that sin, not chastisement, is grievous.

How Are You Being Taught - Part 3 of 3

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	MQ5ZhvQo2xo
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Revelation Themes and Eschatological Applications
Genre	Sermon
Date	2016-12-29
Dictation Name
Book	Book 184: How Are You Being Taught — Chapter 3
Source Timed Segments	80

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review: Weaver reviews the first two messages, noting that God teaches by examples (positive and negative) and by instruction through pastors, creation, and Scripture.
God Teaches by Correction: Correction is distinct from chastisement and can come as encouragement, admonishment, rebuke, or reproof, often without anger.
Biblical Rebuke and Its Nature: Rebuke should be based on doctrine, not personal opinion. Examples include Balaam's rebuke by a donkey and Paul's public rebuke of Peter.
Jesus Rebukes Peter: Christ's sharp rebuke of Peter ('Get thee behind me, Satan') illustrates that correction can be pointed and even angry when necessary.
Correction Without Anger: Correction can be gentle, as with a father's soft words. Scripture itself corrects us through hearing and reading.
God Teaches by Chastisement: When example, instruction, and correction are rejected, God uses chastisement (painful discipline) to teach His children.
The Purpose and Response to Chastisement: Chastisement is evidence of God's love and is for our profit, yielding righteousness. We must not despise or faint under it.
The Final Consequence: Death: If a believer refuses all four methods of teaching, God may take them home through physical death to prevent dishonor to His name.
Applications and Conclusion: Weaver urges self-examination on how we are being taught, reminds that God does not afflict willingly, and emphasizes that sin, not chastisement, is grievous.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Correction is not always chastisement

Correction can be gentle and verbal, while chastisement involves painful discipline.

Weaver says: 'One may be corrected without being chastened. ... correction and chastening are equated and then they are differentiated.'

Rebuke must be doctrinal, not personal

Biblical rebuke is based on Scripture, not personal preferences.

Weaver cites 2 Timothy 4:2: 'rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine.'

Public sin warrants public rebuke

Open sin should be addressed openly to serve as a warning to others.

Weaver references 1 Timothy 5:20 and Paul's public rebuke of Peter in Galatians 2.

Chastisement is for legitimate children only

Those without chastisement are not true sons of God.

Weaver reads Hebrews 12:8: 'But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards and not sons.'

Rejection of all teaching leads to death

God may take a persistently rebellious believer home to prevent dishonor.

Weaver says: 'If a man refuses to be taught either by example or by instruction or by correction or chastisement, the only thing left is death.'

Scripture References

Psalm 25:12: The foundational text for the series: God teaches those who fear Him in the way He chooses.
Deuteronomy 15:5: Illustrates the blessing of careful obedience and listening to God's voice.
Luke 12:27: Jesus teaches through the example of lilies, showing instruction from creation.
Ephesians 4:11-15: God gave pastor-teachers for the maturing of the saints and unity of faith.
Proverbs 22:15: The rod of correction drives foolishness from a child, equating correction with chastisement.
Proverbs 23:13: Withholding correction from a child; beating with the rod is not fatal.
2 Timothy 3:16-17: Scripture is profitable for correction, among other things.
Psalm 39:11: God's rebuke of correction causes man's beauty to fade like a moth.
Psalm 6:1: David prays not to be rebuked in God's anger or hot displeasure.
Leviticus 19:11: Command to rebuke a neighbor and not suffer sin upon him.
Proverbs 27:5: Open rebuke is better than secret love.
Ecclesiastes 7:5: It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than the song of fools.
1 Timothy 5:20: Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly so others may fear.
Titus 2:15: Speak, exhort, and rebuke with all authority; let no one despise you.
Revelation 3:19: Jesus rebukes and chastens those He loves; calls for zeal and repentance.
2 Timothy 4:2: Rebuke and exhort with longsuffering and doctrine.
Numbers 22:1-35: The story of Balaam and the talking donkey, an unusual rebuke.
2 Peter 2:15-16: The New Testament commentary on Balaam's rebuke by a dumb ass.
Galatians 2:11-16: Paul publicly rebukes Peter for hypocrisy.
Mark 8:31-33: Jesus rebukes Peter sharply, saying 'Get thee behind me, Satan.'

Historical References

Thomas Watson (Puritan): Quoted: 'There is more malignity in a drop of sin than in a sea of affliction.'

Important Quotes

What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose.

The central verse of the series, establishing that God sovereignly chooses the method of teaching for those who fear Him.

Open rebuke is better than secret love.

Highlights the value of open correction over hidden affection, emphasizing the importance of addressing sin.

My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of His correction. For whom the Lord loveth, He correcteth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Key passage on the proper attitude toward God's discipline, rooted in His love.

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous. Nevertheless, afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby.

Explains the purpose and outcome of chastening: righteousness and peace.

There is more malignity in a drop of sin than in a sea of affliction. For the sin is the cause of the affliction, and the cause is greater than the effect.

Thomas Watson's quote emphasizing that sin is the true evil, not the affliction it causes.

I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

God's teaching is always for our benefit, even when it involves difficult methods.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

In what ways have you experienced God teaching you through examples, both positive and negative?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes that learning from examples is one of the easiest ways to be taught.

[Question]

How can we distinguish between personal opinion and biblical doctrine when offering correction to others?

[Context]

Weaver stresses that rebuke must be based on doctrine, not personal likes or dislikes.

[Question]

Why is it sometimes necessary to deliver a rebuke publicly, and what risks does that involve?

[Context]

Paul's public rebuke of Peter and the command in 1 Timothy 5:20 are discussed.

[Question]

How should we respond when we recognize that God is chastening us?

[Context]

Hebrews 12 instructs us not to despise or faint under chastening.

[Question]

What does the concept of a 'sin unto death' mean for believers today?

[Context]

Weaver explains that persistent rebellion can lead to physical death as a final teaching method.

[Question]

How can we cultivate a heart that learns the easy way rather than requiring chastisement?

[Context]

The sermon urges self-examination on how we are being taught.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T12:33:12Z