Timely Insights into God's Word from Khandielese Reyes

The Apostle Paul writes:

“It is reported commonly [that there is] fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, [concerning] him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying [is] not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” (1^st Cor 5:1-13)- KJV

How often have we closed our ears and shut our eyes to the corruption of sin within the body of Christ deeming it as being their problem and not our own? Or worst yet, how often have we even sat amongst those professing Christ as Savior and yet living immoral lives and we’ve welcomed and accepted such behavior? While it is not our place to judge those outside of the Body, it is most certainly our place to judge those within the Body. Not in arrogance or pride being puffed up, but in Love and Compassion with Truth in hopes that such a one may turn from their wicked ways, crucify their flesh, and surrender themselves completely back to the Lord.

The bible says in (Rom 15:14) “And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.” And again in (2^nd Thess 3:13-15) “But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count [him] not as an enemy, but admonish [him] as a brother.”

Therefore we note the purpose for admonishing a brother or sister is not to seize hold of an opportunity to expose their sin through malice and bitterness. But because we LOVE them we admonish them for the purpose of correction in hopes this may bring upon Godly sorrow which leads to repentance.

Paul writes “A little leaven, leavens the whole lump”. My mother use to say “One bad apple spoils the whole bunch”. Some Christians may say, “how is this so? I’m not the one serving the deeds of the flesh. I’m not the one living an immoral life. How can another brother or sister sin affect me?” Even if you are living your life right in the eyes of God, those on the outside view and judge Christians as a whole. Very seldom do they separate person from person to judge on an individual basis. When one member of the Body stumbles and fall into sin, the entire Body of Christ is judged and criticized and much evil is spoken of against “Christians” and not necessarily the person(s) who’s living in sin. Such negative views of Christians may prevent one who is lost from searching for the truth feeling that we are no better than they if our conduct is such as theirs. I’ve heard it said by unbelievers: “Christians are hypocrites, hiding behind the cross. They tell others not to do that which they themselves do!” Such a negative view the world has of the Body of Christ, and because of certain conduct of many (especially those in leadership), I suppose they have a right to complain, to judge, to criticize for the church can openly condemn the world for their sins, and yet totally ignore the very same sins operating within the body. No wonder the world view the church as hypocrites, for truly how can the church tell a non-believer whose bound by sin for example an adulterer, or a fornicator, or one bound by drugs and alcohol, saying to such they are a sinner and are bound for hell, and yet personally know of members of the body of Christ who are bound by the same sins and yet utter not a word? How can we say to one “you are a sinner, repent” and to another, we utter not a word and both, the believer and non-believer are bound by the very same sins. Shouldn’t they both be told of the importance of repentance? This is why the world calls us hypocrites, for we condemn them of their sins and turn a blinds eye and deaf ear to members of the church committing the same sins. There are many who are professing Christ and still living a life of sin and their conduct is what the world see which in turn affects the entire Body of believers as again, Christians are judged as a whole by unbelievers.

Therefore, knowing all this let us IN LOVE help one another in admonishing the wicked deeds of the flesh and no longer ignore the sin that dwells in the Body. We do this so that we may be a perfect and holy people in the eyes of the Lord, for this HE COMMANDS. Let’s not ignore sin, but rather expose it IN LOVE. Be encouraged by the words of (James 5:19-20) “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”

I love you all so very much. Have a blessed week in the Lord and remember: Whatever we do, do ALL for the GLORY of GOD, who ALONE is worthy of the GLORY and the PRAISE!

The Lord be with you this day and always!  Shalom Uvracha (Peace and Blessings)…….. 

Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh,
Adonai Elohim Tzeva-ot
Asher Hayah Va-ho-veh VaY’vo

Holy, Holy, Holy
Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come!

May the peace of the Lord be with you today and always……

Khandielese
Daughter & Servant
   of the Lord God