This passage came up while researching a verse today. I felt particularly convicted by it as I'm sure most of you will be as well.
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1 Corinthians 5:9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; 10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.
11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler�not even to eat with such a one.
12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? 13 But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.
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In searching for that "special someone" I've found myself in the position of thinking "This woman (or man, for you women) is really wonderful!" We all know what those "thoughts" end up leading to.
In verse 11 it lays out a sin (a shortcoming, an offense, there are a few different understandings of the meaning of sin). Sometimes it doesn't seem very sinful at the time. And sometimes it seems quite natural. More often than not I've found myself thinking or doing things that were less than righteous. And it doesn't really help much when that "other person" is feeling and thinking the same things.
And...it's not just the physical/corporeal that we have to deal with. It's the spiritual...
A old associate of mine (non-Christian) used to have this saying..."Thoughts are Real". Now on the surface it seems like a bit of psycho-babble, mumbo-jumbo (he was from a psychology background). However, "thoughts ARE real". The more we "dwell" on a thought, the stronger it becomes.
Being single is a curse at times. The "flesh" always there, nagging, driving you to think or do things that you know are wrong.
Most, if not all of you, have had what I'll call "The War of the Voices".
The Spiritual voice that tells you, "This isn't right", and the "other voice" that convinces you not to worry about how wrong it is in the heat of the moment.
Most of you probably aren't aware of the spirit world in the fullness of it's reality. I've only glimpsed a small piece of it myself. What I'm trying to relate here (albeit poorly), is that everywhere there are forces working against all of us. The people you know and associate with, hear the "whispers", though most don't realize what they are. Most "Christians" don't even realize either, they just chalk them up to their own thoughts, which I'll grant you, they are, in some cases.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: �Bad company corrupts good morals.� 34 Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.
I have found that the "whispers/voices" come in two forms...The Holy Spirit...and demons or other spiritual entities. The more I found myself ignoring the Holy Spirit, the stronger and more prevalent the demonic influence grew.
James 4:6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, �God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.� 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
James has a wonderful understanding of things in verse 8. Do we understand what he did?
My take on verse 8 is this...
The more you ignore the demons' convincing lies, the stronger the Holy Spirit dwells within you, strengthening you. No, this is not always fun living a Holy life. In fact it can be downright dull and boring for most!
I've found that the more I followed the Holy Spirit and applied it to my life, the less the demonic "whispers" were heard. The reverse is also true. The more you give in to the demons, the more you "hear" them and the less you hear God.
My understanding of this is similar to a cup of water. For this experiment you'll need some Red #5 food coloring. :)
Let's say you have a full glass of water which is colored red from the food coloring (enemy). If you put that full glass under a faucet and run a little water (God) into it what happens? It overflows, however the red dye is still there when you hold it up to the light. Run more water into it. Yes, there's still red dye! Even some more water...yes, you guessed it! Still a red tinge to the water. Now between filling your cup with clear water you drop in just a few drops of Red #5, what happens?
All that work you did "diluting" or removing the enemy from your heart was just undone.
Most Christians (myself included), have spent years running around in circles. Most think their water is pure but let's be real here, not many people really have their hearts fully on the Lord.
Repentance is something I've studied and thought about a lot. What if a real and true repentance is a "stopping altogether of letting yourself be convinced by the enemy?" Most "Christians" have told me that "we're all sinners, we're all going to fall short", yet is that really the example set down by Christ and the apostles? Is it truly possible for any person to say "Yes, I know it's wrong and I WILL NOT do it?" I think it is!
My understanding to this dilemma is this...
CHRISTIANITY IS A CHOICE!
Matthew 3:8 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; 9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, �We have Abraham for our father�; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 10 The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Do you CHOOSE to SERVE and OBEY, or not?
No, I'm not the model Christian, in fact, I am NOT A CHRISTIAN. I am NOT walking as Christ walked. It's all I can hope for to be shown mercy for the countless times I've strayed. I could use some help. How about you?
Here is another verse that is dear to my heart.
1 John 2:28 Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.
What does it mean to truly ABIDE? Food for thought. Perhaps a deeper study on this is warranted?
What do we do with the glass of water? Here's my thought. Dump it all down the drain at once! The diluting/overflowing model is really a dangerous model to live by. Furthermore, once we get that nasty water dumped, we really need to be seriously involved in each others lives to help keep each other on the path. And this does not mean for 2 hours a week at your local church. The world is against all of you on a daily basis. 7 days a week immersed in the world and 2 hours with God? The math just doesn't work does it?
Please forgive my grammar, spelling errors, arrogance, pride, stupidity, any offense I caused, what have you...I felt moved to write this so I did.
I'll probably regret it later because of something I left out or didn't clarify well enough but this is a "rough draft" of sorts. My writing skills are lacking.
Another thing, don't take my word for anything. I'm not going to be the one paying the price for you if I'm wrong. Prove everything to yourself IN HIM.
I hope this helps and makes some sort of sense.
One more thing, if you don't like what I've posted here, feel free to tell me that, but please, let's not have any more arguing and bickering and name calling. I don't believe the Father or Son would approve.
GOD HAS PROMISED IN JEREMIAH 29:13: YOU WILL FIND ME WHEN YOU SEEK ME WITH **ALL YOUR HEART**.�
John 14:23: Jesus says, �If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching, My Father will love him, and We will make Our home with him.�
Matthew 28:19,20: Jesus commands, �Go and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to *OBEY EVERYTHING I have commanded you!�
I John 2:3-5: �We know that we have come to know Him **IF** we obey His commands. The man who says, �I know Him,� but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the Truth is not him. But if anyone **OBEYS HIS WORD**, God's **LOVE** is truly made complete in Him!!�
So let us read God's Word daily {Acts 17:11} and then *DO WHAT IT SAYS*! {James 1:22,25}
Acts 17:11: �The Bereans were of noble character, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures *EVERY DAY*!�
James 1:22,25: �Do not merely listen to the Word. *DO WHAT IT SAYS*!... and he who continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but *DOING IT*�will be blessed in what he does.
2 Peter 1:3-11: �His Divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith {a 100% Free Gift}; goodness, and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, LOVE. For if you possess these qualities in INCREASING MEASURE, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a **RICH WELCOME** into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!�
Matthew 16:27; Jesus says, �The Son of Man is going to come in **HIS FATHER'S GLORY WITH HIS ANGELS** {See Matt 24:30,31 & 2 Thess 1:6-10}, and *THEN* He will reward each person according to what he has done.� Revelation 22:12: Jesus says, �Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done!� {When Jesus comes in His Father's glory with His angels}
2 Corinthians 5:10: For we must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, {When Jesus comes in His Father's glory with His angels} whether good or bad.�
Ephesians 2:8-10: It is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is NOT from yourselves, it is the GIFT of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. So Salvation is the ***FREE GIFT*** of God's grace and good works can only be performed by the saved.
Salvation is a 100% Free Gift and REWARDS are 100 % earned.
Matthew 5:14,16: Jesus says, �You are the LIGHT of the world...Let your LIGHT shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
I Corinthians 3:6-9: Paul says, �The Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed. Apollos watered it, but God made it grow... The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers!�
Daniel 12:3: �Those who impart wisdom will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever!!�
So let our lights *SHINE* with the many gifts God has given us and we can have a REVIVAL with the hope of countless eternal rewards for faithful and loving service.
I Corinthians 1:7: For �You :angel:do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be *REVEALED*!�:applause:
