We come before the Lord with heavy hearts, yet with steadfast faith in His Word and His will. The situation youāve laid before us is grave, and we recognize the weight of responsibility we bear as brothers and sisters in Christ to address sin with both truth and love, always aiming for repentance and restoration. Scripture is clear: "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 your brother" (Matthew 18:15 WEB). This is not merely a suggestion but a command from our Lord, one that carries eternal consequences for both the one in sin and those who remain silent.
The path of church discipline is not one we take lightly, nor is it one we can avoid without incurring bloodguilt before God. Ezekiel 3:18-19 (WEB) warns, "When I tell the wicked, āYou shall surely die;ā and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at your hand. Yet if you warn the wicked, and he doesnāt turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul." This is a sobering truth. We cannot shrink back from speaking the truth in love, even when it is difficult or unpopular, for the sake of the one caught in sin and for the sake of our own souls.
The immorality you describe, ongoing, unrepentant, and occurring within the covenant of marriage, is a grievous offense against God. Scripture is unequivocal: "Or donāt you know that the unrighteous will not inherit Godās Kingdom? Donāt 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 Godās Kingdom" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 WEB). Adultery is not a private matter; it is a violation of the marriage covenant, a betrayal of trust, and a direct rebellion against Godās design for purity and faithfulness. The Lord Himself says, "I have this against you, that you tolerate your woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. She teaches and seduces my servants to commit sexual immorality, and to eat things sacrificed to idols" (Revelation 2:20 WEB). This is not a warning to be taken lightly.
We must also address the danger this poses to the child in this situation. Jesus warns, "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a huge millstone were hung around his neck, and that he were sunk in the depths of the sea" (Matthew 18:6 WEB). The influence of unrepentant sin in the home is a stumbling block that can lead a child away from the Lord. We must pray fervently for protection over this childās heart, mind, and faith, and for the Lord to intervene in a way that draws him closer to Himself.
The online profiles you mention are a snare, a doorway to further temptation and sin. We must pray that these be removed, not as a mere suggestion, but as an act of repentance and a step toward holiness. The world will tell her that this is harmless, but Godās Word declares, "But the sexually immoral, the idolaters, the adulterers, the male prostitutes, the homosexuals, the thieves, the covetous, the drunkards, the slanderers, and the extortionists will not inherit Godās Kingdom" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 WEB). The kindness of God is meant to lead her to repentance (Romans 2:4 WEB), but if she hardens her heart, she risks the eternal consequences of remaining in sin.
We also lift up the husband in this situation. He is called to love his wife as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25 WEB), but this does not mean he is to enable or ignore her sin. He must speak the truth in love, confront the sin, and follow the steps of Matthew 18 with the support of the church. His role is not to condemn but to call her to repentance, just as Christ calls us all to turn from our wicked ways. We pray for wisdom, strength, and courage for him as he navigates this painful and difficult path.
The church must not shrink from its responsibility in this matter. Galatians 6:1 (WEB) instructs, "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 arenāt tempted." This is not a call to harshness but to humility, recognizing our own need for grace while firmly standing on the truth of Godās Word. The goal is always restoration, but restoration cannot come without repentance.
We must also guard our own hearts in this process. It is easy to grow weary, to become discouraged, or to allow bitterness to take root. But we are called to persevere in prayer, fasting, and love, trusting that God is at work even when we cannot see it. "Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we donāt give up" (Galatians 6:9 WEB). We must continue to intercede for her, believing that the Lord is able to break through the hardest of hearts and bring about true repentance.
Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts burdened for this sister in Christ who is walking in darkness. We know that You desire none to perish but all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9 WEB), and so we lift her up to You, asking that You would break the chains of deception and hardness in her heart. Lord, we pray that You would remove every stumbling block from her path, those online profiles, the influences of the world, and the lies of the enemy that tell her this sin is acceptable. Father, we ask that You would bring conviction, not condemnation, and that she would respond to Your kindness by turning from her sin and running back into Your arms.
We pray for the husband, that You would give him strength, wisdom, and courage to stand firm in the truth while extending grace and love. Help him to navigate this difficult season with faith, trusting in Your sovereignty and Your ability to restore what has been broken. We ask that You would protect their child from the influence of this sin, drawing him closer to You and shielding his heart from the deception of the enemy.
Lord, we also pray for the church, that we would not shrink back from our responsibility to speak the truth in love. Give us boldness to follow the steps of Matthew 18, to confront sin with gentleness and humility, and to trust You for the outcome. Help us to remain steadfast in prayer, fasting, and intercession, believing that You are able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20 WEB).
Father, we know that without You, all our efforts are in vain. But with You, all things are possible. We trust in Your power to save, to heal, and to restore. We ask that You would move in this situation in a way that brings glory to Your name and draws this sister back to You. May she experience the depth of Your love and the freedom that comes from walking in obedience to Your Word.
We pray all these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, the only name by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12 WEB), the One who died to set us free from sin and rose again to give us new life. May Your will be done in this situation, and may Your name be glorified. Amen.
Church obey Christ's Word on exercising church discipline (toward the goal from beginning of salvation and repentance, Mt 18:15, James 5:20), but also would be warned about bloodguilt of silence Ezek 3:18-19, Acts 20:26-29, warns female spouse out of genuine concern and love for lost, Mt18:16-17 Lk17:3 Lv19:17, 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...
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 deathā 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.
