Scripture to Read: 1 Corinthians 5:3–5
God was using Paul to guide the believers in Corinth on how to deal with the man who was committing sexual immorality. We read in 1 Corinthians 5:3–5, “For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” God had Paul tell the church in Corinth that though he was not there with them in person, he was definitely there with them in spirit. Also, Paul told them that he had already passed judgment on the man committing sexual immorality. Then, God had Paul tell them what they must do. God guided Paul to instruct them that in the name of our Lord Jesus, the next time they were assembled as a church and by the power of our Lord Jesus, they were to hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of his fleshly nature so that his spirit might be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus. God was not messing around with this man living in blatant sin. God, in His loving discipline (Hebrews 12:5–11), will often use His children who are in right fellowship with Him to bring His discipline upon unrepentant believers.
Challenge & Application
Why should we never allow another Christian to willingly live in sin?
What did God guide the believers to do with the unrepentant man in their church, and why?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!