Silas
Beloved of All
Your prayer reflects a heavy burden and a sincere desire to see God bring conviction and restoration according to His Word, and it is right to bring that burden honestly before Him.
Scripture shows that God in His kindness does at times hedge a way with thorns as in Hosea 2:6-7, not to harm but to block paths that lead to destruction so that a person may come to their senses, as the prodigal did in Luke 15:17-19 when he admitted he had sinned against God and against others and was willing to take the lowest place. That kind of turning is what Scripture calls repentance unto life in 2 Corinthians 7:9-11. There is a difference between worldly sorrow that only feels bad about consequences and godly sorrow that works a real change. True repentance changes direction, confesses sin plainly such as adultery which violates Exodus 20:14 and even the lust of the heart in Matthew 5:28, forsakes it, and begins to walk a new way. God is patient and kind to lead toward that repentance as Romans 2:4 says, and He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance as 2 Peter 3:9 says, yet Scripture is also clear that there is wrath for the soul that persists in doing evil as Romans 2:9 warns.
You are right to want the help of the church and family in the spirit of Matthew 18:16-17. Jesus gave that pattern for restoration, not for punishment. It is to be done gently and firmly, with an eye on ourselves lest we also be tempted as Galatians 6:1 says, and with love and reverence for God and for covenant as 2 Corinthians 8:11 describes, not with negligence as Jeremiah 48:10 warns. The purpose is that the person may escape the snare of the devil as 2 Timothy 2:25-26 says, and that others may take sin seriously as 1 Timothy 5:20 says. That work requires spiritually mature men to oversee it carefully. When the early church is held up as a model in the book of Acts, it is not church history in general that we are pointed to, for history quickly shows how compromise and hypocrisy can enter. Jesus Himself called five of the seven churches in Revelation to repent, which shows how early corruption began. The pattern we look to is Scripture itself. When the church purges out what is wrong as Paul told the Corinthians to purge out leaven, the result is purity and power. Lack of spiritual power is not because God has withdrawn His Spirit, but often because compromise has been allowed to remain. Faithful correction, done with the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God as Hebrews 4:12 says, is part of how God restores health.
It is good to pray for conviction as John 16:8 promises the Spirit will convict of sin, for clarity and wisdom as James 1:5 and Colossians 1:9-10 and 4:12 and Philippians 1:9-11 describe, that love may abound with knowledge and discernment so that the most excellent way may be chosen and lives may be blameless before Christ. It is also right to pray for deliverance from temptation as in Luke 11:4 and Matthew 6:13 and John 17:15, from lies as Zephaniah 3:13 says, from evil men and impostors as 2 Timothy 3:5 warns to turn away from, and for inner healing as Isaiah 1:6 and Psalm 23 describe, for only the Shepherd restores the soul.
At the same time, Scripture calls you to guard your own walk. Do not be unequally yoked as 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, illustrated even in the law as Deuteronomy 22:10, and remember Amos 3:3 that two cannot walk together unless they are agreed. A shared vision and calling, such as supporting the work of an evangelist or missionary, cannot be sustained where there is no shared submission to Christ. To call holy what God has made holy is right as Acts 10:15 and Acts 15:7 show, and all Scripture is inspired as 2 Timothy 3:16 says, but holiness is God's work that must be evident in a truly changed life and in being born again through Jesus Christ alone. Marriage in Scripture is a lifelong covenant of one man and one woman, and sexual intimacy and living together belong only within that covenant. God cannot be asked to bless online dating that seeks what is outside that covenant or any relationship that continues in adultery. What can be asked is that God would grant repentance, cleanse, and make new.
Continue to pray persistently as Luke 18:1 teaches and to thank God in advance in faith as Mark 11:24 says, trusting Philippians 1:6 that He who began a good work is able to complete it, and trusting Jeremiah 29:11 that His plans are for hope and a future for those who turn to Him. Pray also for those you have asked to bring the Word, that they would act in love and truth and with proper fear of God rather than fear of man which is a snare as Proverbs 29:25 says, and that they would tremble at His Word as Isaiah 66:2 says. And as you wait, pursue what 2 Timothy 2:22 commands, to flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart, growing in the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom as Proverbs 9:10 says and in the hatred of evil as Proverbs 8:13 says, so that knowledge puffs up not as 1 Corinthians 8:1 warns, but builds up in love.
May the Lord give you and all involved increasing wisdom, keep you from evil, heal what has been wounded, and above all bring genuine repentance and new life where it is needed, for His glory.
Scripture shows that God in His kindness does at times hedge a way with thorns as in Hosea 2:6-7, not to harm but to block paths that lead to destruction so that a person may come to their senses, as the prodigal did in Luke 15:17-19 when he admitted he had sinned against God and against others and was willing to take the lowest place. That kind of turning is what Scripture calls repentance unto life in 2 Corinthians 7:9-11. There is a difference between worldly sorrow that only feels bad about consequences and godly sorrow that works a real change. True repentance changes direction, confesses sin plainly such as adultery which violates Exodus 20:14 and even the lust of the heart in Matthew 5:28, forsakes it, and begins to walk a new way. God is patient and kind to lead toward that repentance as Romans 2:4 says, and He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance as 2 Peter 3:9 says, yet Scripture is also clear that there is wrath for the soul that persists in doing evil as Romans 2:9 warns.
You are right to want the help of the church and family in the spirit of Matthew 18:16-17. Jesus gave that pattern for restoration, not for punishment. It is to be done gently and firmly, with an eye on ourselves lest we also be tempted as Galatians 6:1 says, and with love and reverence for God and for covenant as 2 Corinthians 8:11 describes, not with negligence as Jeremiah 48:10 warns. The purpose is that the person may escape the snare of the devil as 2 Timothy 2:25-26 says, and that others may take sin seriously as 1 Timothy 5:20 says. That work requires spiritually mature men to oversee it carefully. When the early church is held up as a model in the book of Acts, it is not church history in general that we are pointed to, for history quickly shows how compromise and hypocrisy can enter. Jesus Himself called five of the seven churches in Revelation to repent, which shows how early corruption began. The pattern we look to is Scripture itself. When the church purges out what is wrong as Paul told the Corinthians to purge out leaven, the result is purity and power. Lack of spiritual power is not because God has withdrawn His Spirit, but often because compromise has been allowed to remain. Faithful correction, done with the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God as Hebrews 4:12 says, is part of how God restores health.
It is good to pray for conviction as John 16:8 promises the Spirit will convict of sin, for clarity and wisdom as James 1:5 and Colossians 1:9-10 and 4:12 and Philippians 1:9-11 describe, that love may abound with knowledge and discernment so that the most excellent way may be chosen and lives may be blameless before Christ. It is also right to pray for deliverance from temptation as in Luke 11:4 and Matthew 6:13 and John 17:15, from lies as Zephaniah 3:13 says, from evil men and impostors as 2 Timothy 3:5 warns to turn away from, and for inner healing as Isaiah 1:6 and Psalm 23 describe, for only the Shepherd restores the soul.
At the same time, Scripture calls you to guard your own walk. Do not be unequally yoked as 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, illustrated even in the law as Deuteronomy 22:10, and remember Amos 3:3 that two cannot walk together unless they are agreed. A shared vision and calling, such as supporting the work of an evangelist or missionary, cannot be sustained where there is no shared submission to Christ. To call holy what God has made holy is right as Acts 10:15 and Acts 15:7 show, and all Scripture is inspired as 2 Timothy 3:16 says, but holiness is God's work that must be evident in a truly changed life and in being born again through Jesus Christ alone. Marriage in Scripture is a lifelong covenant of one man and one woman, and sexual intimacy and living together belong only within that covenant. God cannot be asked to bless online dating that seeks what is outside that covenant or any relationship that continues in adultery. What can be asked is that God would grant repentance, cleanse, and make new.
Continue to pray persistently as Luke 18:1 teaches and to thank God in advance in faith as Mark 11:24 says, trusting Philippians 1:6 that He who began a good work is able to complete it, and trusting Jeremiah 29:11 that His plans are for hope and a future for those who turn to Him. Pray also for those you have asked to bring the Word, that they would act in love and truth and with proper fear of God rather than fear of man which is a snare as Proverbs 29:25 says, and that they would tremble at His Word as Isaiah 66:2 says. And as you wait, pursue what 2 Timothy 2:22 commands, to flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart, growing in the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom as Proverbs 9:10 says and in the hatred of evil as Proverbs 8:13 says, so that knowledge puffs up not as 1 Corinthians 8:1 warns, but builds up in love.
May the Lord give you and all involved increasing wisdom, keep you from evil, heal what has been wounded, and above all bring genuine repentance and new life where it is needed, for His glory.
