SEXUAL MORALITY
Today’s 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, 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. 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 (STD’s). 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 cleansing action in my life. In Your Holy Name I pray. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
When I was 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).
Amen to today’s scripture and prayer. We are cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus. Ever grateful for evolving as a Christian and being purified from sexual sin. Please pray for me this week, saints, as I have a lot on the go that needs to fall into place. I am moving back to Kingston March 1st. God knows all the needs as I have been praying for His mercy and grace. Your prayers are always coveted. I am holding Joseph, Luisa, Ger and Irene up to the Lord, this morning for extra strength. Know that you are loved beyond measure. Jesus is watching, ever pleased with His children. His blessings upon you, fellow saints in the Lord. Amen.
Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:30-31 ESV
It Is Well With My Soul – Audrey Assad with lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY5o9mP22V0
Dear Lord God, thank You for this ministry. Bless all those involved in bringing Your Word to us. You know the needs of all Your people – we lift them up to You now, and ask You to help each one, in Jesus’s name, amen
Lifting up a prayer for you today Beverley.
Lord help Beverly today and in the days to take you at your Word.
You are a faithful God to those who are faithful to you.
May Beverly continue to cast ALL of her cares upon you, for you love and care for her so much.
No good thing will you withhold from those who walk upright. Psalm 84:11
May she continue to trust you taking one day at a time, wrap your loving arms around her and may she feel your love and presence today and in the days ahead, In Jesus Name, Amen.
Praying along with Karen and Doreen and everyone for Beverlee.
May the God of hope fill you, Beverlee with all joy and peace as you trust in him! (part of Rm 15:13……one of my favourite)
And also joining everyone in prayer for Luisa and Joseph and Ger and Irene and for all bloggers…may we all feel the love and care of our Heavenly Father!
Amen to your prayer Anne, in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
Thanks Beverlee for the music – we used to sing that so enthusiastically in The Peoples Church in Toronto years ago. Praying for you, Beverley, as you prepare for a move in a few days. Father God, in Jesus Name, please give Beverlee everything she needs during this change – strength, health, physical helpmates, and Your guidance. Thank You. Also, Father, help our bloggers who are also facing very difficult issues. I pray for Your blessings upon our families as well. Amen and amen
Amen, Doreen!
Amen to all the prayers for our fellow bloggers and their families.
Praying that your move goes well Beverlee and that you find joy, love and peace in your new home.
God bless each and everyone as they call on You to help them through whatever situation they are facing.
Agreeing with all these prayers, in Jesus ‘ Holy Name.
Beverlee, a move is challenging but you are strong in The Lord and He is with you always, leading and guiding.
The sun is shining right now, in the West and with it comes Joy in the morning.
Amen,amen and amen to ALL above prayers. God hears us and will answer our prayers.
Beverlee I remember you in my prayers morning and night . I read Psalm 91 upon you after prayer time and David’s reading. I am so thankful for the blog.
Plus I read 91 for all of my blog family.
We are experiencing some rain right now.
A lot of requests for prayers, may I add another one? My son and his wife are having a baby boy very soon. Like this week or weekend. My sons name is Chris and his wife is Angela. Baby is Jack. I pray that everything goes well and baby is healthy. Thanks in advance.
Just read Psalm 91 out loud; so powerful! Thank you Nan. I will read this aloud every morning and night and will begin to memorize it. And thank you all you wonderful saints who have been praying for me. May you sleep with angels whispering in your ears. 😇
Prayers for you Beverlee for the strength, safety and guidance you need for this move back to Kingston. Also thank you for your prayers for me as well to Rob, Anne, Joyce, HJR and any others as well. Also Lord please help Nan’s Son Chris and his wife Angela as she delivers this new baby Jack. In Jesus Name. Amen!
Agreeing with Ger for baby Jack, in Jesus’ Name. Amen. Thank you Ger, and all the blessed saints on this blog for your prayers for me. God bless you all!
Lord, I thank you for this blog family who cares enough to pray for one another.
I lift up Beverlee during these busy days for her. Please give her guidance, strength , favour and all the help she needs with the move and everything else that is going on in her life right now. We thank you for her contributions to this blog.
We thank you for baby Jack. We pray that Angela will give birth to a healthy baby without complications. We pray also for Chris in his new role as a father. May this family put you always at the centre of their lives and home.
Thank you all who are praying for my husband and myself. We need your continued prayers for a miracle as the doctors’ reports are not very encouraging.
Please pray for physical , emotional and spiritual strength for myself and our grown children who are suffering greatly seeing their father’s condition.
May the Lord bless all of you!