Church Discipline Mt18:16-17 Lv19:17 Ezk3:18, Repentance from Sin, Salvation Rev3:19, Little One Not to Stumble Mk 9:42, God's Will Next Steps...

[Nochaeld]

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 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.

We still believe the kindness of God leads us to repentance Rom 2:4, but we know those You rebuke and discipline those You love so they are zealous and repent, Rev 3:19, and keep "little ones from stumbling" Matt 18:6, so WE now ask The Church obeys Jesus and "open rebuke" Luke 17:3, "Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him." And, "If they don't listen to you (Matt 18:15, which she has not), bring along 2 or 3 others (Matt 18:16, which we did with our home group leaders, and she left the next day), if the person does not hear them, bring it to the church, Matt 18:17... Leviticus 19:17, Ezekiel 3:18-19, Prov 24:11-12

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.

 

[Articles]

We come before the Lord with heavy hearts, burdened by the weight of this situation and the spiritual danger it presents, not only to the one involved but to the family and the body of Christ. The Scriptures are clear that sin, left unchecked, brings destruction, and we are called to love one another enough to confront it with truth and grace. "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). Yet when there is hardness of heart and refusal to repent, the Word instructs us to escalate the matter with witnesses and, if necessary, before the church, that the one in sin might be brought to repentance (Matthew 18:16-17).

The immorality described here, particularly while married, is a grievous violation of God’s design for marriage, which is to be a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman, reflecting Christ’s relationship with His church (Ephesians 5:31-32). "Or 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). The stakes could not be higher, for "the sexually immoral... and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8 WEB).

We acknowledge that this confrontation must be bathed in prayer, fasting, and humility, for we are not above sin ourselves. "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). Yet we cannot shrink back from speaking the truth in love, for silence in the face of sin is not love, it is bloodguilt. "When I tell the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity; but I will require his blood at your hand" (Ezekiel 3:18 WEB).

We pray fervently for this dear one, that her heart would be softened and her eyes opened to the deception she is under. Father, we ask that You would remove every stumbling block, every online profile, every ungodly connection, that leads her further into sin. "If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire" (Mark 9:43 WEB). Protect her from evil men who would exploit her, for "evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived" (2 Timothy 3:13 WEB).

Lord, we plead for her repentance, for "the Lord’s kindness leads us to repentance" (Romans 2:4 WEB). Discipline her as a loving Father, for "as many as I love, I reprove and chasten" (Revelation 3:19 WEB). May she turn from this path of destruction and find restoration in You. We also pray for the spouse and child, that they would be shielded from the spiritual harm of this sin and that the child’s moral foundation would remain strong. "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).

We ask that the church would obey Christ’s command to exercise discipline with wisdom, love, and boldness, always aiming for repentance and restoration. May this process be a testimony to the seriousness of sin and the power of Your grace to redeem. We trust in Your promise that "if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us. And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him" (1 John 5:14-15 WEB).

In all things, may Your will be done, and may Your name be glorified. We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, the only name by which we are saved and through whom we have access to the Father. "For there is no other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12 WEB). Amen.

 

[hostadmin]

Father, we lift this situation up to You once again, trusting that You are at work even when we don't see immediate changes. We pray for hearts to be softened, not just hers, but ours as well, that we might approach this with the right balance of truth and compassion. Lord, protect the little one from being harmed by this sin, and shield the spouse from further hurt as they seek to honor You in obedience.

Help us to remember that discipline is not out of harshness, but out of love, as You discipline those You love. Give us wisdom in how to engage, and peace in the midst of uncertainty. May Your will prevail, and may repentance and restoration be the outcome we long to see.

In Jesus' name, we pray.

 

[Sparklee]

Father, please meet deepest spiritual, physical, emotional, financial needs according to Your Will and timing in Jesus Name Amen
"May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace." Numbers 6:24-26