SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE

 

The church is both a family and domain in Christ where the King of kings (Jesus) rules. As God’s children, he desires us to grow in holiness (1st Peter 1:16) and give Him the glory for all His blessings in our life, (1st Cor. 10:31). If this doesn’t happen and the reverse takes place in our life, God expects older chlidren to help in a spirit of gentleness, the immature children struggling in sin. Sometimes when immature Christians do not respond to their leaders in the church, God resorts to dicipline!  Hebrews 12:5-11. This is not to teach us that God directly punishes His children through natural disasters or accidents.  But it does teach us that He expects His church to submit to His method of discipline. Sometimes we call this by several different terms, such as: withdrawal, excommunication, or disfellowshiping.

 

WHAT KIND OF IMMATURE CHRISTIANS NEED DISICPLINE?

Those who cause division, Romans 16:17-18 & Titus 3:10-11

Those who will not try to support their physical families, 2nd Thessalonians 3:6-14

Those who refuse to repent from sexual immorality, idolatry, physical abuse, drunkeness

 or fraud.1 Co 5:1-11

 

God’s Discipline has a loving purpose in that His Discipline should cause us…

 

1. … to be sound in The Faith, (Titus 1:13)

2. …to be ashamed of sin, (2nd Thessalonians 3:14-15)

3. …to be pure, (1st Corinthians 5:6-8)

4. … to produce fruits of righteousness, (Heb. 12:11)

5. … to grow in reverence, (1st Timothy 5:20 & Acts 5:5)

 

HOW SHOULD THE CHURCH PRACTICE DISCIPLINE?

 

Memorize Matthew 18:15-17, and keep in mind that not all of our sins are evident,

1st Timothy 5:24.

 

They should personally talk to, pray for and plead tenderly with the erring Christian and if he/she does not try to repent, then the whole congregation should avoid them until they try to repent, See 1st Corinthians 5:4-11, 2nd Thessalonians 3:14, Galatians 6:1, James 5:19-20 & 1st Timothy 1:20 &  5:20

 

The congregation should not treat the erring Christan as an enemy, but we should admonish him as a brother, 2nd Thessalonians 3:15.

 

The congregation should at some point in the future reconfirm their love to him/her in view of their repentance present, 2nd Corinthians 2:4-11. Paul’s concern for the brother in sorrow, was that he not drown in sorrow. Repentance was on the verge!

 

Prayer pointer for this week: Do we pray for our new members to grow in wisdom and strength?  Do we pray for our leaders of the church (elders & preachers) to serve and feed immature Christians, helping them grow spiritually and not get entangled with the affairs of this world, 2nd Peter 2:20 & 2nd Timothy 2:4.