We come before the Lord with heavy hearts, lifting up this situation with fervent prayer and deep concern for the spiritual well-being of this marriage, the family, and the church body involved. The Scriptures are clear that sin must be addressed with both truth and love, for the sake of the one caught in it and for the protection of others, especially the innocent, like the child in this home. The Word warns us, "If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea" (Matthew 18:6 WEB). This is not a matter to be taken lightly, for the consequences of unrepentant sin are eternal.
First, we must acknowledge the courage and obedience of the husband and those in the church who have followed the steps outlined in Matthew 18. It is no small thing to confront sin in love, yet it is a biblical mandate: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother. But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you... If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly" (Matthew 18:15-17 WEB). The church acted rightly in bringing this matter before the body when private and small-group efforts were rejected. Now, the responsibility lies with the assembly to stand firm in truth while pleading for repentance.
The wife’s actions, maintaining online profiles that facilitate temptation, engaging in immorality, and hardening her heart to correction, are grievous sins that endanger her soul. The Word is unmistakable: "Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists, will inherit God’s Kingdom" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 WEB). Adultery is not merely a personal failing; it is a violation of the covenant of marriage, which God designed as a sacred reflection of Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:31-32). The husband is right to stand on Scripture, for "the wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whoever she desires, only in the Lord" (Romans 7:2 WEB). To pursue other relationships while married is to live in rebellion against God’s design.
Yet even in this darkness, we cling to the hope of repentance. "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor men who have sex with men, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists will inherit God’s Kingdom. Such were some of you, but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 WEB). The kindness of God does lead to repentance (Romans 2:4), and His discipline is a sign of His love (Revelation 3:19). We pray that the wife’s heart would be broken over her sin, not merely over the consequences, and that she would turn fully to Christ for forgiveness and restoration.
To the church, we say: Do not shrink back from this responsibility. Ezekiel 3:18-19 warns of the bloodguilt that comes from silence: "When I tell the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that wicked person will die for his iniquity; but I will require his blood at your hand. Yet if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he will die for his iniquity; but you will have saved your life" (WEB). The church must not enable sin by looking the other way. Galatians 6:1 instructs us to restore the one caught in sin with gentleness, but also with firmness, lest we too be tempted. This is not about condemnation, but about calling a sister back from the edge of destruction.
To the husband, we say: Stand firm in faith and love. Your role as the spiritual leader of your home is to intercede, to speak truth, and to model Christ’s love, even when it is rejected. Do not grow weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9). Protect your child from the influence of sin, for "whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea" (Mark 9:42 WEB). Pray without ceasing, and trust that God hears the cries of the righteous (1 John 5:14-15).
We lift this entire situation to the Lord in prayer:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with broken hearts, grieving over the sin that has taken root in this marriage and home. We ask that You would break the hardness of heart in this wife, that she would see the gravity of her actions and turn to You in true repentance. Lord, we pray that You would remove every stumbling block, every online profile, every ungodly influence, that leads her away from You. Protect her from the evil one and from her own deceitful heart (Jeremiah 17:9).
We pray for the husband, that You would strengthen him to stand firm in truth and love. Give him wisdom to lead his family according to Your Word, and grant him peace that surpasses all understanding as he trusts in You. Guard his heart from bitterness, and fill him with Your Spirit so that he may reflect Christ in all things.
For the child in this home, we ask for Your divine protection. Shield him from the influence of sin, and surround him with godly examples who will point him to You. Let him grow in the fear and admonition of the Lord, and may he never stumble because of the sins of his parents.
To the church, we pray for courage and discernment. Give them the boldness to speak truth in love, even when it is unpopular. May they not shrink back from their responsibility to warn and restore, but may they do so with humility and grace. Let this situation be a wake-up call to the body of Christ, that we would all examine our own lives and turn from any hint of sin.
Father, we know that salvation is found in no one else but Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). We pray that this wife would come to know Him as her Lord and Savior, if she does not already. Soften her heart to receive the gospel, and let her experience the freedom that comes from repentance and faith. For those in the church who may be struggling with secret sin, we pray that they too would find the courage to confess and turn away from it.
Lord, we trust in Your mercy and Your justice. You are faithful to forgive when we confess our sins (1 John 1:9), and You are just to judge those who refuse to repent. We ask that You would intervene in this situation according to Your perfect will. If there is to be restoration, let it be for Your glory. If there is to be discipline, let it be for the sake of repentance. Above all, let Your name be exalted.
We ask all these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, the only name by which we are saved and through whom we have access to the Father. Amen.
Church would be warned about bloodguilt of silence Ezek 3:18-19, Acts 20:26-29, warns female spouse Mt18:16-17 Lk17:3 Lv19:17, family also obeys God and warns Gal 6:1. Practicing immorality excludes from kingdom 1Cor6:9 Rev21:8 Gal5:19-20, New Testament forewarns exclusion from entrance into kingdom of God, Gal5:21...
Father, we're concerned but praying, as it is written, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus," Phil 4:6-7. Jesus said Mt 6:13 pray for others "Lead US not into temptation but deliver us from evil," -- Thank You it's plural -- i.e., we pray for each other Eph 6:18. Prevent sin, Mt 18:6: let her take down her online profiles to protect her from sin, "But the... sexually immoral... and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” Rev 21:8. Let it come down to keep her from evil men, 2 Thes 3:2 for evil men and imposters proceed from bad to worst (in the last days) 2 Tim 3:13.
Knowing her disposition, deception and hardness of heart, we thank You this request and its follow through has been and must still be mingled with prayer, fasting and intense mercy, yet not so as to lose the stern frankness and danger to herself and others by continuing in immorality at all, especially while married, Rom 7:2-3, 1 Cor 6:9-10, Rev 2:20, Rev 3:19, Rev 21:8 -- and by endangering the child and softening his moral stance, Matt 18:6, Mk 9:42, Lk 17:2, Rev 18:21. Galatians 6:1 "Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted." Thank You in for hearing prayer in Your will, and when You hear, we have the requests, 1 Jn 5:14-15, in Jesus' Name, the male spouse.
