Paul's attitude

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.  

Primary Text

“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, impurity of a sort that is condemned and does not occur even among the heathen; for a man has [his own] father’s wife. And you are proud and arrogant! And you ought rather to mourn (bow in sorrow and in shame) until the person who has done this [shameful] thing is removed from your fellowship and your midst! As for my attitude, though I am absent [from you] in body, I am present in spirit, and I have already decided and passed judgment, as if actually present, In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, on the man who has committed such a deed…” 1 Corinthians 5v1-4 (AMP)

The apostle Paul, in continuing his letter to the Corinthians, says that though he is not there with them physically, he is there with them in spirit. One Bible commentary talks of “in the Spirit” as “Paul’s spiritual unity with them and the authority he had received from God through the Spirit were effective among them.” Paul as a spiritual father to the Corinthians accesses the situation of the church – something is blatantly wrong there, and yet, they are not mournful or sorrowful. This little leaven can leaven the whole loaf! In the name of the Lord Jesus, he passes a judgment on the man who has committed this deed. His judgment being “You are to deliver this man over to Satan for physical discipline [to destroy carnal lusts which prompted him to incest], that [his] spirit may [yet] be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” (1 Corinthians 5v5, AMP). Beloved, once again, I appeal to you, let us not take any sin lightly in our life. If it will be an offense to the Lord, by the power of His Holy Spirit, deal with it.

Supplementary Text

“But the spiritual man tries all things [he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by no one [he can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into him]. For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.” 1 Corinthians 2v15-16 (AMP)

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word. Father this morning, we mortify everything of sin and lust and carnality that is lurking in our members  – envy, jealousy, bitterness, backbiting, anger, malice, lying, fornication, (……), in our words, in our thoughts, in our deeds, by the power of Your Spirit. We ask Lord that You will search us and sit as a refiner’s fire and a fuller’s soap, to purge us of all that is not of You. We yield to You Holy Spirit of God and ask that You have Your way in our lives that we may glorify God in all that we do, speak or think in Jesus name, amen.