SEXUAL MORALITY
Suggested Reading: 1 Corinthians 5-6
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Corinth was an important city in ancient Greece and it played a major role in the missionary work of the Apostle Paul. Seen behind the Temple of Apollo is the steep mountain of the Acrocorinth. On top is the fortified citadel of ancient and medieval Corinth (see David Reynold’s picture below). It is the most important fortification work in the area from antiquity until the Greek War of Independence in 1821. The mountain is 575 metres high and its walls are almost 2,000 metres in length. At the highest summit was the Temple of Aphrodite, where prostitution was a prominent part of the worship of the goddess.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
The Amish call the practice of separating a person from the congregation “shunning.” Paul, in 5:11-13, gives a list of those who are to be set aside from participating in the congregation. There is another list in 6:8-10. The leaders of the church in Corinth had written to Paul, who had founded their church, to ask him for his guidance in handling these most difficult matters (7:1). Why would Paul be so strict? The answer is found in 5:6-8. If we can find the time, we might do well to reread the words in the references listed here. Leaven, or yeast, if allowed to work unchecked, will cause the bread to rise well above the pan, unless checked by the heat of baking. Unchecked, it can make quite a mess. Sin, unless checked, will eventually infect the whole loaf, the church, the family, the individual life, and even the life of our country. The role of government is to stop evil from spreading out of control. This is the reason why “marriage” is regulated in our constitution. More about that tomorrow. We might want to pray for a turn around in the health of huge numbers of people infected by sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Sexual promiscuity is the root cause of this modern epidemic. May God help us to be faithful to one man, one woman marriage, or else remain chaste as a single person.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, I’m well aware that sin is not just those actions mentioned in Paul’s lists. I often think of Your Word that says, “To know to do good, and to not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). Anything less than Your perfect plan for the human family is sin. Therefore, I have no problem agreeing with the Apostle John in 1 John 1:8-9. Thus I ask for Your constant forgiveness and Your cleaning action in my life. In Your Holy Name I pray. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
As a very young minister, my hero in the ministry, Tom Johnstone, shocked me with this story. He was a Pastor in Montreal when he discovered one of the prominent men in his church was unfaithful to his wife. Here’s what happened! Pastor Johnstone, a one-time boxer, took this man by the lapels of his suit coat and said, “With the spiritual authority God has given me as your Pastor, I now deliver you unto Satan for the destruction of your flesh, so that your spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (5:5). The man fell to his knees, repented before God and his Pastor, and later to his wife, and the woman with whom he had committed this sin. God forgave him and so did his wife. That family was restored. His flesh was destroyed in that he, by his godly sorrow, identified with Christ in death. In Galatians 2:20 Paul writes, “I am crucified with Christ.” In Romans 6:11, Paul writes, “Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” I’ve never been brave enough to do what Tom Johnstone did, but I’ve seen the same results in a number of wayward men. I’ve knelt beside them and prayed fervently for the gift of repentance, and for the power of God to deliver them from evil. I know God answers prayer. AMEN!!!!!
Yours for living right before God and people,
David
A view from the entrance to the top of the Acropolis Hill (Acrocorinth).
The path of righteousness is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter until the full light of day. (Proverbs 4:18)
I so much enjoy reading your comments every day Scott!!! Thank you!
That’s so very kind of you Ruby; I too enjoy reading the comments from our fellow blog-buddies. This blog has been blessing to me, thank-you for your dedication to it David & Reynold & Ron (with the technical support).
Powerful words in today’s reading. Thanks for the link, David, to 1 John 1:8-9 and your prayer: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
So grateful the Lord forgives me and cleanses me when I bow down and confess my sins before him, each day. Our God is so good! We are so blessed!
Thanks, Reynold for the amazing photos, today. I can just picture Paul on the Acropolis Hill. Blessings to all!
I wish I had my notebook with me. There are quite a few Bible references to look up (and record). I will bring it tomorow and look back to today’s blog. — (From the burger store in Dundas). Thank you so very much David.
Good morning fellow bloggers. What a great God we serve! He is our ever source of strength and I am thankful by the blood of Jesus HE FORGIVES me as I come in repentance for cleansing.
Church discipline is a difficult thing to enforce but done lovingly turns around the sinner to restoration in Jesus. Praise god for those who have that courage. Thanks be to Jesus for His cleansing blood. Great pictures as always Reynold. Blessings to all today.
Luke 5:32 ” I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Was going to speak about the beautiful and strong sunrise this morning and then read your blog Scott. Thanks! Praying for cleansing each day so I am in the path of righteousness. Challenged by your saying, David that , “Anything less than Your perfect plan for the human family is sin.” Lord, give us strength to do Your perfect will, and keeping the early morning watch in prayer is my challenge. God gave me back CTS on my satellite again and I am so blessed by watching, “A Living Witness to Amazing Grace.” Thanks David. Amazing photos Reynold. What a challenge! God bless all today!
Dearest Brother David, please, please place the words “NO, GROW, SLOW, and GO!
Hi David, We hope you and Norma-Jean have a good day today. When reading about Christians going to lawyers outside of the church to settle disputes and how wrong that is,l couldn’t help but think of my cousin who has been waiting 5 years for the settlement of a will. She needs to get it settled as it has worn her down emotionally and she has called for prayer, and discussion, but no change.
Thank you for continued efforts under enormous health issues to continually enlighten us to the PATH TO CHRIST!!!!!
Excellent comments today fellow bloggers as always!!! God bless each and every one!!
Thank you David, for sharing about Tom Johnstone. That was so courageous with such a beautiful outcome! Praise God!!!
Dear Mr. Mainse,
you are an inspiration to younger men like myself. I needed the encouragement to keep the Bible standard of marriage in view. There are many temptations to lust after women here in South Korea. Before a God-ordained marriage, there should be no sexual moves. I want to live by the Bible standard. Your prayers for Canada are appreciated and will bear good fruit yet.
Serving Christ as an elementary school English teacher,
a Canadian Christian.
Dear David and Norma- Jean,
Thank you so much for your daily blog, it’s such an encouragement. Two words come to my mind when I think of you HUMBLE AND FAITHFUL. I wish I could give you both a big hug as you go through this difficulf time. I’ve been there my husband is now in glory as I felt so helpless during his cancer treatment. May God give you the strenghth to face each new day. My hope and song is “When we all get to heaven what a day of rejoicing that will be”.
Also thanks to Reynold for the amazing pictures, Some of the places remind me of when I was in Israel.
Love and prayers,
Irma.