We have a written prescription from the Lord and an anointing from His Spirit to proclaim His good news to the poor.

The rod is for reproof, which should cause us to rethink, and applied in love should help us restore the relationship.

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you be a vessel of honor for Him wherever He leads you.

God will deal with the things that are in place of Christ in our lives. If we choose, we can remove them and be blessed, or He can bring in a rod of correction and help remove them for us.

When anything we have put in place of Christ (anti-Christ) is removed, Christ has absolute room to flourish and be fruitful in our lives.

5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, "My child, don't make light of the Lord's discipline, and don't give up when he corrects you.6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child."

He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker;
He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor
Will also cry himself and not be heard.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."

17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding,
But a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The rod of correction will drive it far from him.

He who spares his rod hates his son,
But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

12 Live a more disciplined life, and listen carefully to words of knowledge. 13 Do not hesitate to discipline a child. If you spank him, he will not die. 14 Spank him yourself, and you will save his soul from hell.

14 Who perversely in his heart plots trouble and evil continually;
Who spreads discord and strife.
15 Therefore [the crushing weight of] his disaster will come suddenly upon him;
Instantly he will be broken, and there will be no healing or remedy [because he has no heart for God].
16 These six things the Lord hates;
Indeed, seven are repulsive to Him:
17 A proud look [the attitude that makes one overestimate oneself and discount others], a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,
 

20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.'"

14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses — all dead.