Day 54: 1 Corinthians 4-5 "Apostles of Christ" "Expel the Immoral Brother!"

I did it again... missed a day.  If I do this, I should be doing it ahead, not behind...

By the way, Vivi will be taking over for the next three days as I have no access to internet :)

(I HAVE MY BIBLE WITH ME THOUGH!!)

"Apostles of Christ"

"He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts.  At that time each will receive his praise from God."
Just picture it: a light shinning into our hearts, either revealing monsters, darkness, fear, shame or a clean home, loving, warm and cozy.  It also brings up a really good point of judging.  We are not to judge because we are imperfect.  God is perfect and therefore will judge everyone not fair in our sense, but just.  To expand, it's like we think that two kids should have the same amount of play time, that is fair.  But God may say that one child has been given more by Him and therefore needs to produce/do more.  God is entirely just.  We are stupid...actually thats a bad way of saying it.  We make mistakes.

"What do you prefer? Shall I com to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?"
 See the answer to these questions can be quite interesting.  If you think about it, the first inclination is to say in love and with a gentle spirit.  But then let me ask you: "Which one will make you change faster?"  One is encouraging, the other punishing.  Learn to learn through love.  Learn to teach through love.  IT'S SO HARD.
(but entirely worth it)

"Expel the Immoral Brother!"

1) Hand this man over to Satan:  This is not so the man can be punished for eternity but the verse follows up with the exact opposite.  "so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his SPIRIT SAVED on the day of the Lord."  Not only is God trying to protect His people from further sin, but He is also trying to save each and every lost sheep. Wow....

2) DO NOT ASSOCIATE with sexually immoral people THAT CALL THEMSELVES BROTHERS:  Do you see that condition? "What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church?"  We only distance ourselves from those who say they are following Christ but their actions say the exact opposite.  Now that this is clear, how about if there is a brother that is struggling with a sin?  Struggling with sexual immorality?  If that person has gone out, committed the sin, but acknowledges the sin, repents and asks for forgiveness?  The sinner is forgiven, but what if the sinner commits it again? and again and again?  and sincerely repents and asks for forgiveness each and every time?  Where does it end? Thorn in the side.