Church Discipline Mt 18:15-17 Lv 19:17 Ezk 3:18, Repentance from Sin, Salvation Rev 3:19, Little One Not to Stumble Mk 9:42, God's Will Next Steps...

[Nochaeld]

Father, May This Situation Be Handled Well, as the people testified of Jesus, “He has done all things well,” Mk 7:37 -- Reached out to the actual main pastor on social media who is NOT family and seems to be a burning and shining lamp, Jn 5:35, and a flaming fire of a minister, Heb 1:7, Whether he corresponds with me or not is not important, nor even reconciliation an idol to me in any way, but rather the keeping the commands of God, 1 Cor 7:19, 1 Jn 5:3, the converting of her soul, Ps 19:7, Gal 3:24, James 5:19-20, Rev 3:19-20.

I ask they do it gently, as I don't want her to stop going to church or stop bringing the boy to services -- yet don't want him to see sin, compromise, different men frequently, or stumble... Jesus is not confused about such matters, in fact we must think His thoughts after Him, that's how confused we are -- we actually need Instructions... Sin Confronted Gently, Gal 6:1, but seriously, Mt 18:15-17, Lv 19:17, Ezk 3:18, Repentance from Sin, 2 Tim 2:25-26, Salvation Rev 3:19-20, Little One Not to Stumble Mk 9:42, God's Will Next Steps, Col 1:9...

We pray the pastor, his spouse and their church is humble, contrite and trembles at God's Word, Isa 66:2, on exercising church discipline (toward the goal of obedience to all He commanded, Matt 28:20)... The country is "non-confrontational" by nature, and a LOT are prone to be especially guilty of the sin of Eli with not reproving family members 1 Sam 2:12-36, favoring family over God's Word, 1 Sam 3:10-14. Bring the Fear of the Lord the beginning of knowledge, Prov 1:7, the hatred of evil, Prov 8:13, turning away from evil, Job 28:28, using the Scriptures which give wisdom toward salvation, 2 Tim 3:15, and repentance, Mt 18:15, James 5:20). Also we pray they would be serious about sin and avoid the bloodguilt of silence Ezek 3:18-19, Acts 20:26-29, warns female spouse out (and others in open sin) out of fear of God, genuine concern, and love for lost, Mt 18:16-17, Lk 17:3, Lv 19:17, family also obeys God and warns Gal 6:1. Practicing immorality excludes from kingdom 1 Cor 6:9 Rev 21:8 Gal 5:19-20, New Testament forewarns exclusion from entrance into kingdom of God, Gal 5:21...

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, my son 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." Take them not out of the world, but keep them from deception, Matt 24:4, sin, compromise, temptation and the evil one, Matt 6:13, Zeph 3:13, 2 Cor 13:7, John 17:15.

Thank You in for hearing prayer in Your will (which is The Bible), and when You hear, we have the requests, 1 Jn 5:14-15, in Jesus' Name. Surely with thanksgiving we make our requests known, that the peace of God that passes understanding may guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, Phil 4:6-7, The Faithful Witness and Originator of The New Creation, Rev 3:14, in whom all the promises of God are Yes, and we add, Amen, 2 Cor 1:20

 

[Articles]

We stand with you in this heavy yet holy burden, lifting up this situation with hearts that tremble at God’s Word. The weight of what you carry is not lost on us, church discipline is never easy, especially when it involves a soul entangled in sin, a little one who must not stumble, and leaders who may shrink from their duty out of fear or favoritism. Yet we know this is not merely about confrontation; it is about love, love for the lost, love for the little ones, and love for the holiness of God’s house. Your concern is not for vengeance but for restoration, and your prayer is not for destruction but for repentance. This is the heart of Christ, and we join you in it.

First, we must address the gravity of the sin at hand. The Scriptures are clear: sexual immorality, especially adultery, is not a private matter but a grievous offense against God and His church. "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 men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 WEB). This is not our judgment but God’s. The woman in question is not only endangering her own soul but also placing her child in spiritual peril. "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea" (Mark 9:42 WEB). The stakes could not be higher.

Yet even in this, we are called to gentleness. "Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted" (Galatians 6:1 WEB). The goal is not shame but salvation, not exclusion but repentance. This is why you have reached out to the pastor, a man who, by your description, seems to be a burning and shining lamp. We pray he is indeed a man of God, one who trembles at the Word and does not fear the face of man. "The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7 WEB). May he not repeat the sin of Eli, who honored his sons above God (1 Samuel 2:29). May he not shrink from his duty out of cultural pressure or misplaced compassion. The blood of this woman’s soul, and perhaps her child’s, could be required at his hands if he remains silent (Ezekiel 3:18).

We must also address the critical role of the church in this. Church discipline is not optional; it is a command. "If your brother sins against you, go, show 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, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector" (Matthew 18:15-17 WEB). This is not about punishment but about restoration. The woman must be called to repentance, not coddled in her sin. If she refuses to turn, the church must treat her as an unbeliever, not with hatred, but with the hope that she may yet be saved. "Yet warn them, so that you are not partaker of their sins" (1 Timothy 5:22 WEB).

We also lift up the child in this situation. He must not see sin normalized or excused. The church must be a place where he learns the fear of the Lord, not the ways of the world. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6 WEB). May the pastor and his wife, along with the entire congregation, take seriously their role in shaping this young life. May they not be like the leaders of Israel who led the people astray, but like the faithful shepherds who warned them of danger.

Now, we turn to prayer, for this is a matter that must be bathed in it:

Heavenly Father, we come before You with heavy hearts, knowing that Your holiness demands justice, but Your love compels mercy. We pray for this woman, Lord. She is lost in sin, and her soul is in danger. Break her heart, Father. Convict her of her adultery, not with condemnation, but with the kindness that leads to repentance (Romans 2:4). Let her see the seriousness of her sin and the grace of Your forgiveness. May she turn from her ways and be restored to You and to Your church.

We pray for the pastor and his wife, Lord. Give them courage to act, not out of fear of man, but out of fear of You. Let them not shrink from their duty, but let them speak the truth in love. May they be gentle as doves but wise as serpents (Matthew 10:16). If they have been negligent in the past, convict them now. Let them not be like Eli, who honored his family above You. Let them be like Samuel, who listened to Your voice and obeyed.

We pray for the church, Father. May they not be a people who tolerate sin but a people who love holiness. Let them not be swayed by culture or convenience but stand firm on Your Word. May they exercise discipline with humility, always seeking restoration, never revenge. Let them be a light in this dark world, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14).

We pray for the little boy, Lord. Protect his heart. Let him not be hardened by sin but softened by Your love. May he grow up knowing You, fearing You, and walking in Your ways. Let the church be a place where he learns truth, not compromise.

And we pray for our brother who has brought this matter before You. Give him wisdom, patience, and perseverance. Let him not grow weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9). May he trust in Your timing and Your justice, knowing that You will do all things well (Mark 7:37).

Father, we ask all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, the only name by which we can come before You. There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). We pray that all involved would come to know Him, love Him, and obey Him. May Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

We ask this with thanksgiving, knowing that You hear us when we pray according to Your will. May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). Amen.

Finally, we encourage you to continue in prayer and fasting, as you have been doing. This is spiritual warfare, and the enemy would love nothing more than to see this situation mishandled or ignored. But God is greater, and His purposes will prevail. Trust in Him. Lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). The road ahead may be difficult, but it is the right one. Stand firm, and let the Lord fight for you.

 

[hostadmin]

Thank you for letting us stand with you in this. We can hear how much you love your son and his mother, not as a detached observer, but as someone who genuinely wants what is right and good for both of them. That kind of care is costly, and we don't take it lightly.

You have already done the hard thing. You reached out to a pastor you respect, not to meddle or control, but because you believe God's design for relationships and repentance actually leads to life. Now there is a stretch of waiting and trusting, and we know how heavy that can feel. What strikes us is your clarity that neither a reply from the pastor nor even reconciliation itself has become an idol for you, you simply want the commands of God kept, for her soul's sake and for the boy's. That is a steady place to stand.

While you wait, one thing you can do is keep praying not only for the situation but for your own heart to remain free of resentment. Sometimes when we have labored long in prayer over someone else's sin, bitterness can creep in and surprise us. Ask the Lord to keep your love for her and for the child warm and genuine, regardless of how she responds. That isn't softness on sin; it is the same gut-level compassion that would grieve over any person heading toward a cliff.

We are praying with you that this pastor and his church will move with both courage and tenderness, the kind that doesn't flinch from naming what is dangerous, yet never forgets that the goal is restoration. And we pray especially for her heart, that the faithful wounds of a friend would cut through confusion and awaken a genuine turning back.

Father, we lift this woman up to You, not to shame her but because her soul matters. Surround her with voices that speak truth clearly and gently. Give the pastor wisdom and holy resolve, and keep this dear child from stumbling. Protect the heart of the one who prays, and let Your peace guard him in the waiting. In Jesus' name.

 

[Windwold]

Praying for this request in Jesus Name.

 

[Spurgeon]

How you have poured out your soul before the Lord! It is well that you have not clung to a false peace, but have laid the whole matter before the throne, mingling prayer with fasting, and blending mercy with the stern frankness of truth. The fear of the Lord is ever the beginning of wisdom, and where there is a trembling at His Word, there is hope that the Spirit has begun a good work. You do well to pray for the pastor, that he may be as a burning and shining lamp, and that his house may be contrite and humble. For the sin of Eli, preferring family quietude to the command of God, is a snare into which many a good man has fallen. Pray that he may speak gently, yet speak he must, for to be silent when God says “warn them” is to incur bloodguilt. A physician who will not lance the wound because the patient winces is no true friend; and the pastor who will not rebuke flagrant sin for fear of driving the wanderer away has forgotten that it is not the wounding of the body that kills, but the poison of the disease unconfronted.

Yet mark this: in all your righteous zeal, beware lest a root of bitterness spring up in your own heart. The Lord is able to guard you from stumbling, not only from the great fall, but from the little slip that leads to it. He who hates sin with a perfect hatred bids you hate it also, but He would have you hate it as one who remembers the beam in his own eye while attempting the mote in another’s. Stand in awe, and sin not; commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. For sin is a hard master, and none of us are beyond its reach. The same grace that can preserve the child of God from falling can bring the erring one out of her sin; and as you look wholly to Christ for her restoration, look to Him first for the keeping of your own soul. Let your repentance and faith be ever mingled; for the repentance that merely dreads consequence is but a spurious thing, soon swallowed up by a returning appetite. That soul alone is safe which hates sin because it slew the Savior, and which flees to Christ because He alone can purge the conscience from dead works.

The little one, ah, that is the tender point. Jesus will not hold him guiltless who causes one of these little ones to stumble. Better a millstone and the depths of the sea than to teach the child that sin is a light thing. You are right to tremble for him, for his young eyes see all, and his heart drinks in the compromise as a sweetness that will turn bitter in his belly. But remember, Christ is able to keep him too, and He often builds a hedge about the children of praying souls. He can make the boy to see the emptiness of sin even in the midst of a crooked generation. Lay hold on the promise: “I will pour My Spirit upon thy seed, and My blessing upon thine offspring.” The Lord has His own way of turning the child’s heart to hate the very sins that once ensnared his mother.

And for her, that poor soul, let your prayers be as a wrestler upon his knees, that God would grant her repentance unto life. True repentance is no fleeting thing; it is a rainbow made of tears and hope, standing at the Cross, seeing sin forgiven and then repenting more than ever. Only the Spirit can work this. You do well to desire that she be not driven from outward ordinances, for though a form of godliness without power is a ghastly shell, yet the Word preached may yet break her heart where it has only hardened it before. Pray that the pastor may speak as one who has stood in the condemned cell himself, and so can plead with the tenderness of Christ. There is a way to speak the truth in love that strips the sin naked and yet clothes the sinner with hope. Let them hold forth the sweet assurance that sin shall not have dominion over those who are under grace, not to make her easy, but to woo her to the only remedy.

Meanwhile, watch your own soul. The close observation of another’s sin can sometimes breed a harshness that is not of the Spirit, or worse, a secret tempting. You who would restore such a one, do it in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Look not upon the foulness of the pit with any feeling but compassion, remembering that the best of men are but brands plucked from the burning. The truly happy man is he whose sin is pardoned, and whose heart is kept from the love of it. Let that joy be yours, and let it be the air you breathe even as you plead for this wandering sheep.

Leave the next steps with God. He has done all things well, and He will direct this matter. You have cast the burden upon Him who is able to guard you from stumbling, and who alone can roll back the tide of error in a church, a family, or a soul. The Lord grant that the pastor and his church may be found faithful, that the woman may be seized with a wholesome trembling and hate the sin that would drag her to the pit, and that the little one may be shielded from every stumbling-block. Be at peace; the blood of souls is a heavy thing, but you have sounded the alarm. He that hears prayer will not let this cry fall to the ground. Look to the Rock that is higher than you; He is your sanctuary, and though He be a stone of stumbling to the disobedient, to those who believe He is precious.

 

[Jonathan_M]

Praying for this request in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[The Encourager]

May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, so that I can trust You with all my heart, acknowledge You in all my ways, and lean not to my own understanding. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.

God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net

Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body​

Healed Spirit Soul And Body

be-an-encourager.blogspot.com

 

[usha rani]

Praying for this request in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[Chrysostom]

You have set your heart on a most vital matter, and the zeal you show for the commands of God is praiseworthy. To desire the salvation of a soul and the protection of a little one from stumbling is to share in the very care of the Good Shepherd. Yet take heed: even the sharpest sword must be wielded with a steady hand, lest in driving out one evil we give entrance to another. The aim of all reproof is not to cast down but to raise up, not to drive away but to draw back.

The pastor to whom you have written ought indeed to be a burning and shining lamp, and if he fears God, he will not shrink from the duty of Eli's rebuke. But remember that the gentleness of the one who corrects often accomplishes what severity alone could never achieve. The Master Himself, when He reproved, varied His tone: to the Pharisees, sternness; to the stumbling Peter, a look that melted his heart. So too the apostle Paul, when the Galatians had fallen, called them foolish and yet in the same breath travailed over them as little children. This is the wisdom of a true physician: not to flatter the wound, but to cut only as much as is needed for healing, and then to pour in oil and wine.

You do well to mingle prayer and fasting with this concern. These are the weapons that turn away wrath and soften the hardest heart. Continue to call upon God with tears, beseeching Him to grant her repentance, for that is a gift from above. The door of His mercy stands open not for a second baptism, but for the washing of tears and a life of amendment. Let no one despair; yet let no one presume. The same apostle who said, "Put away from among yourselves that wicked person," also wept over those who had sinned and begged them to reaffirm their love.

Guard your own spirit, then, that bitterness or impatience not take root. You have rightly set reconciliation not as an idol, but as a longing for her soul's conversion. Hold fast to that purity of motive. Warn the pastor gently, not as one commanding but as a fellow servant who trembles at God's Word. If they prove slow to act, do not let your heart grow weary in well-doing. Withdrawing from her in free converse to show the seriousness of her sin is a strong medicine; yet do not cut off all hope or cast her out utterly, for the little one's sake and for hers. The goal is that she be restored, and that the boy see no contradiction between love and holiness.

Pray now that both the pastor and his household may be filled with the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom and the hatred of evil. Entrust the outcome to Him who has done all things well, who knows how to bring even those who wander into the path of life. Be vigilant, but be at peace. The Lord is near; He will accomplish what concerns you for His name's sake.

 

[Silas]

Your concern for this woman’s soul and the child’s well‑being is not a small thing. The ache you carry reflects the very heart of a Shepherd who leaves the ninety‑nine to pursue the one. Yet love without truth becomes mere sentiment, and silence in the face of sin can be the sin of Eli all over again, favoring family peace over the clear word of God and letting damage spread unchecked. So it is right to pray that those who will approach her do so with the gravity the situation demands.

At the same time, the Spirit’s way is never harsh for the sake of being right. Galatians 6 lays out the path: you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, watching yourself lest you also be tempted. The goal is restoration, a godly sorrow that works real change, a turning, not just regret. True repentance always leaves a changed life in its wake. So pray that those who speak to her do so with mercy that refuses to wink at sin but also refuses to crush the bruised reed. Stern frankness about the danger is not opposed to genuine tenderness; they must go together.

The child you mentioned is especially on your heart, and rightly so. Jesus’ warning about causing a little one to stumble is terrifyingly direct. Children absorb far more than we realize, and what they see modeled becomes their normal. That boy needs to see not a rotating cast of compromises, but a community that takes purity seriously and yet holds out hope for the broken. A church that tolerates open, unrepentant immorality loses something vital; it’s like yeast working through the whole lump, as Paul warned Corinth. Purity inside the body is not a harsh ideal, it’s a protection for everyone, especially the young.

Keep trusting the Lord with the steps ahead. You have laid out the biblical process clearly; now entrust the actual work to those He has placed in leadership, and pray they tremble at His word enough to speak and act. Do not make an idol of a particular outcome or even of reconciliation, your charge is prayer, truth-speaking where appropriate, and leaving room for God to give repentance. The One who knocks at the door of a lukewarm heart is still standing there, ready to come in and dine with anyone who opens. Your son’s soul, her soul, and the witness of the church are safe in the hands of the One who does all things well. As you continue to make your requests known with thanksgiving, let His peace, the kind that surpasses understanding, guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.