What if the Apostle Paul Was Your Pastor?
What if the Apostle Paul was your pastor?
Would you still go to Church? Or would you think he was too legalistic?
Would you think that he was too harsh and judgmental?
In today’s Church there is very little separation from open sin, and very few who even believe a Church should take a stand against sin.
Well, another question: is Church discipline practiced in today’s Church?
The answer is, in most all places: NO.
Most have never even heard of a Church voting someone out of the Church because of sin, and it is equally unheard of to hear of a Church who would tell its people, “not to associate with any so-called [Christian] brother if he is sexually immoral or greedy, or is an idolater [devoted to anything that takes the place of God], or is a reviler [who insults or slanders or otherwise verbally abuses others], or is a drunkard or a swindler — you must not so much as eat with such a person.”
Immorality Rebuked
“It is actually reported [everywhere] that there is sexual immorality among you, a kind of immorality that is condemned even among the [unbelieving] Gentiles: that someone has [an intimate relationship with] his father’s wife. And you are proud and arrogant! You should have mourned in shame so that the man who has done this [disgraceful] thing would be removed from your fellowship!
For I, though absent [from you] in body but present in spirit, have already passed judgment on him who has committed this [act], as if I were present.
In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I am with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to hand over this man to Satan for the destruction of his body, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Your boasting [over the supposed spirituality of your church] is not good [indeed, it is vulgar and inappropriate]. Do you not know that [just] a little leaven ferments the whole batch [of dough, just as a little sin corrupts a person or an entire church]?
Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new batch, just as you are, still unleavened. For Christ our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with leaven of vice and malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and [untainted] truth.
I wrote you in my [previous] letter not to associate with [sexually] immoral people — not meaning the immoral people of this world, or the greedy ones and swindlers, or idolaters, for then you would have to get out of the world and human society altogether!
But actually, I have written to you not to associate with any so-called [Christian] brother if he is sexually immoral or greedy, or is an idolater [devoted to anything that takes the place of God], or is a reviler [who insults or slanders or otherwise verbally abuses others], or is a drunkard or a swindler — you must not so much as eat with such a person.
For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders (non-believers)? Do you not judge those who are within the church [to protect the church as the situation requires]?
God alone sits in judgment on those who are outside [the faith]. Remove the wicked one from among you [expel him from your church],” 1 Corinthians 5 (AMP).
~ Desert Prophet Ken Dewey
The light will shine in His glory… In the desert.
Evangelist/ Prophet/ Pastor Ken Dewey is the founder of “OUT OF THE DESERT MINISTRIES“ in Belen, New Mexico, USA. He writes on this Web Site, many Prophetic words, Sermons and teachings while leading people into true church settings and preaching in an End Time Gospel Ministry.
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Dear Brother…
I actually came across this a while back in my Bible study and the Lord led me to 2nd Corinthians to show me Paul’s change of heart on the matter. It is important (I think) to always read the passage in 1st Cor. and also take what Paul wrote in 2nd Cor. before forming any doctrinal belief system.
The area of scripture in 2nd Cor. is as follows:
For I wrote you out of great sorrow and deep distress [with mental torture and anxiety] of heart, [yes, and] with many tears, not to cause you pain but in order to make you realize the overflowing love that I continue increasingly to have for you. But if someone [the one among you who committed incest] has caused [all this] grief and pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure, not to put it too severely, [he has distressed] all of you.
For such a one this censure by the majority [which he has received is] sufficient [punishment]. So [instead of further rebuke, now] you should rather turn and [graciously] forgive and comfort and encourage [him], to keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive sorrow and despair. I therefore beg you to reinstate him in your affections and assure him of your love for him; For this was my purpose in writing you, to test your attitude and see if you would stand the test, whether you are obedient and altogether agreeable [to following my orders] in everything.
If you forgive anyone anything, I too forgive that one; and what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sakes in the presence [and with the approval] of Christ (the Messiah), To keep Satan from getting the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions. 2 Cor 2:4-11 (AMPC)
In His Love,
Ashley
Timely message for now. Anointing doesn’t appear to be used either (godly anounting) for illness, encouragement in growth, setting apart for specific callings. God bless you in your calling of sharing Father God’s truth.
Not many want to hear the message about sin no, or anger or not liking some one in the church because one does not believe what they are saying or being used of God, they accuse one of something that is not true. Pray for me that I will continue to to fallow and obey what God tells me to do and show respect for these kind of people.