Praise the Lord for mercy and grace. How many of you realize that as children of God, we are soldiers in spiritual warfare? We are going to add to our arsenal this morning with the help of the book of First Corinthians.
Today’s Prayer
Father, I come before you today on behalf of everyone that is partaking in this meal, to ask for understanding of the information you are imparting on this day. Only you can bring about the things we need in our spirit. I ask this in the matchless name of Jesus, Amen.
Let’s eat.
Using Everything for God’s Purposes
1 Corinthians 5:1-51 I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you—something that even pagans don’t do. I am told that a man in your church is living in sin with his stepmother.2 You are so proud of yourselves, but you should be mourning in sorrow and shame. And you should remove this man from your fellowship. 3 Even though I am not with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit. And as though I were there, I have already passed judgment on this man 4 in the name of the Lord Jesus. You must call a meeting of the church. I will be present with you in spirit, and so will the power of our Lord Jesus. 5 Then you must throw this man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day the Lord returns.
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| The above scripture tells us that Paul encountered a believer who was involved in an incestuous relationship in the Corinthian church. This man was deluded by Satan and was controlled by immorality. The man was unwilling to change his behavior, so Paul recommended to the church that tough actions be taken. He spiritually handed this man over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh for the benefit of his soul. The idea is that the person will wallow in the pit of sin so long until it becomes detestable to him and he cries out for God’s grace. We know this man was a Christian because only a Christian can be subjected to church discipline. Have you ever known someone who was walking in disobedience and no matter how much you prayed he seemed oblivious to his sin? God has given one weapon to counter Satan’s schemes against those who fall prey to him. That is, let Satan have access to them fully so that their lives become so miserable they cry out to God for mercy. Probably few of us have ever had to pray this prayer. However, you should not be fearful of this prayer for any believer who is willingly walking in disobedience. This is love; tough love. There is a time and place for tough love. I have seen this principle work. God restores His children when His Body takes a stand against sin. It is not comfortable for those who take this action. Do you know someone who needs tough love in his or her life right now? Ask God if it is time to pray the prayer that Paul prayed. “So that there spirit might be saved on the day of the Lord.” |
Quote of the Day
If you have to be reasoned into Christianity, some wise fellow can reason you out of it! If you come to Christ by a flash of the Holy Spirit so that by intuition you know that you are God’s child, you know it by the text but you also know it by the inner light, the inner illumination of the Spirit, and no one can ever reason you out of it.
~A. W. Tozer~