Tag: mourn
Building up Christ’s followers
Scripture reading for August 13: 2 Corinthians 12
“Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish–that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.” 2 Corinthians 12:19-21
Pastoral ministry, like prophetic ministry, is for the edification and exhortation of the church. The goal is to see Christ’s body strengthened through a life of holiness, worship, and obedient witness. Pastoral ministry involves prayer and correction of those in willful sin. Paul understood his calling as an apostle and pastor to see the church built up and walking in love. He spoke to them plainly and lovingly, calling them ‘beloved.’ He was mourning over them in prayer even as he wrote this letter.
He was concerned that there were still members of the church family that had at an earlier time confessed their sins and found grace but were still living in known sin. When people continue to practice sexual immorality and sensuality, they fail to understand Christ’s work on their behalf and the reality of their new life in Christ as a new creation through the indwelling Holy Spirit. He wrote the letter so that these might repent in advance of his visit to them. He understood that confrontation personally would be painful, especially if done without warning. God always prepares his people by warning them in advance by prophetic voices and through His Holy Spirit. This was Paul’s approach in loving but firm confrontation of persistent sin.
Have you ever had a friend or someone in church leadership confront you about something you knew you were doing sinfully? When you read God’s Word and it details how God feels about a sin you know your are indulging in, how do you receive it? Is there a sin you will now repent of?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your loving correction through the Holy Spirit in me and through those in spiritual leadership. May Your Spirit and Word always guide me in loving correction of those in the church family. If I am blind to a besetting sin, bring to light my need of repentance by any means. Amen.
Righteous judgment
Scripture reading for July 11th: 1 Corinthians 5
“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit, and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the Name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan, for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-5
Following Paul’s instructions not to judge church members for their ministry and faithfulness, (1 Corinthians 4:5) Paul gives instruction to those leading the Corinthian church concerning a church member involved in gross sexual sin. This person, if allowed to continue in the church, would cause harm to the church and the cause of the Gospel. The person, if not dealt with, would become comfortable living in sin and could lose his salvation through blasphemy of the Spirit. Paul rebuked the Corinthians for being arrogant instead of mourning over this person and seeking repentance and a return to godly truth.
Paul, who had planted this church, told them what he would do if present. He would have ascertained the truth about the charge that this man was living with his father’s wife and confronted him. (Matthew 18:15-20) If true and he would not repent, he would have put the man out of the church. In doing so, this would deliver him over to Satan. In Satan’s realm, destruction of his flesh would result. The prayer of the mourning church for this man was that in the end, he would be saved before the final ‘Day of the Lord’ when Jesus would judge all by truth. This was Paul’s understanding of Jesus’ teaching on dealing with sin or offense.
Do you think there is a tolerance for gross immorality in our culture today? Are these principles of dealing with sexual sin being applied in the church? How does this teaching change your world view concerning dealing with sexual sin in your life and the church?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for speaking clearly concerning the responsibility of church leadership to confront gross sexual sins. Help Your church today to apply these principles and not compromise with our culture. Give us hearts that mourn over sins and desire all to be saved and included Christ’s kingdom. Amen.
Thankful for fulfilled Scripture!
Scripture reading for November 8th: John 17-21
Key Scriptures: John 18:34-37 “Instead (of breaking the leg bones), one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it had given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of His bones will be broken.” and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the One they have pierced.”
John recounts his eye-witness account of Jesus’ sufferings during the crucifixion and the events that followed. The things John saw were fulfillment of holy Scriptures. None of Jesus’ bones were broken, He was pierced with a spear and blood and water released. Both events help all who read this account to believe and trust in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and our Savior, the Messiah!
Thankful for fulfilled Scripture: “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on Me, the One they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” (Zechariah 12:10)