KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Saturday, December 01, 2018
Chapters: I Corinthians 5-8
Message: Be A New Lump
Hello My Friend,
Yes, I know the title of the message sounds strange, but bare with me here. Lump; To throw into a mass; to unite in a body or sum without distinction of particulars. As born again Christians, we are one lump, meaning one body united in Christ. In other words, we are all members of one body, that being of Jesus Christ Himself, joined together by His blood that was shed on the cross. Before we were saved we were also a lump, a body of the world, and if we want to go deep, of the devil himself. While the devil cannot take one soul that receives Jesus Christ as their Saviour, he can bring disruption should one lump that is living sinfully keep doing it within the body of Christ. When you think about it, God’s judgment really does begin with His house, after all, we are the examples that lead people away from the worldly lump, and to the Saviour, if we are living sinfully then they would not see the need for the Saviour. As born again Christians, it is important that we be the Godly example He needs us to be because people are dying and going to hell. “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” – I Peter 4:17-19.
I have known my guy for three years now, he is saved, but not been in church for quite some time, he got really sick earlier this year, was home bound for three months, and now that he is able to get around I am urging him once again to come to church with me. I do believe that everything happens for a reason and is in God’s time, even our relationship, which I say is moving at a snails pace, but to God is moving right along. In the three years I have known him I have to say that we have boundaries, we do not cross them, and God will not let us cross them. Why am I telling you this? Because the chapters for today cover one topic that no one likes to talk about, fornication. Fornication is, plain and simple; Sexual relations between unmarried persons, including adultery, and something we may not be aware of, idolatry, which is defiling our bodies with sinful things, such as worshiping false gods, drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes. Now, Paul got word that the church in Corinth had a member there who was having an affair with his fathers wife, they were fully aware of it, and even condoned it. In this letter, Paul warns them not only against the fornication, but that it is also destructive.
“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 Corinthians 5:1-8.
“have judged already, as though I were present,” Trust me when I say that God’s hand is in our relationship, and He makes sure we do not even come close to crossing those boundaries. How do I know? Right here, people hear things and make assumptions on that. We are both a part of the body of Christ, even if he does not go to church, he is still saved and a part of the church (the body of Christ), if we are living in sin it will make an impact on the whole church, not just our own relationship. Oh, and do you see this? “and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles,” If the world sees it as wrong and we do not, what does that tell you? I will be honest, I was in a relationship before I dedicated my life to Christ, I knew it was wrong to cheat on one another, but I did not know that I was committing fornication by living with him in a committed relationship. However, once I found that out I vowed not to have sexual relations with anyone until I am married, and praise God, He has helped me fulfill that vow. There are two reasons why I choose to live this way, one, I do not want to disappoint God, and two, I never want to be in a position were I have to explain any sin to my church. Remember, we are one body in Christ no matter what physical church we go to.
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” – I Corinthians 6:9-11,15-18.
“neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners,” All of this is fornication by the way. Fornication; The incontinence or lewdness of unmarried persons, male or female. Incontinence; Want of restraint of the sexual appetite; free or illegal indulgence of lust. Lewdness; The unlawful indulgence of lust; fornication, or adultery. Fornication is also the criminal conversation of a married man with an unmarried woman. This means that even if a married man thinks about sexual relations with another woman it is still adultery. Let me tell you, as long as we have this flesh it is going to prevail sometimes, we are going to indulge in things that are considered lust, but of all the sins we can commit those that come through sexual lust are the most destructive. Paul stresses the importance of abstinence, but if we cannot control ourselves, get married.
“Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.”
“that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.” This means if you keep your spouse from fulfilling sexual relations that is going to lead to their becoming lustful to others who are all too willing to fulfill that lust. Keep in mind that if the only reason one wants to get married is for sex, then that is not the reason to get married, that will only lead to destruction in itself. The point of all this is to show you that we are all sinners and guilty of something, even lusting over something someone else has, but the second we accepted Jesus Christ as our Saviour He cleansed our souls of all that, and if we walk with Him He will purge our bodies from whatever it is that would not let go of. We can never say that when we are tempted that we have no way out, while God allows the devil to tempt us, He does give us a way out, and never brings us to anything that we cannot handle. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” – I Corinthians 10:13.
Fornication; Idolatry; which is forsaking of the true God, and worshiping of idols. In reality the world has no idea that the immoral things they are naturally doing is sin, that is why it is important for the church to explain it right from the Word of God. Paul addresses idolatry. “Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.” – I Corinthians 8:1-7,11-13.
“For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth,” This is not a contradiction, a god or lord back then was often referred to as a prince; ruler; or judge, still today men of royalty are called lords. Think about this, we were bought with a price, Christ gave His life for us so we do not have to end up burning in the lake of fire. We should be honored that Christ has chosen us to set an example and show others that while we were once dead in sin we are now risen from the dead and alive through Him. Our bodies have been redeemed by His atoning sacrifice, show Him some gratitude by becoming a new lump. “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” – II Timothy 2:21.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” – I Corinthians 6:11.
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for sending Your Son to save me, I am redeemed and saved from hell because I believe in His sinless death, burial, and resurrection, confessed that I am a sinner, and asked Him to save me. While I do not intentionally try to let You down, I know I will at times. Lord, make me a new lump, feed me with the spiritual things I need to be healthy in mind, body, and spirit. Help me to learn, repent, and avoid the things of the world that constantly try to defile my relationship with You. Only by Your power can I resist temptation and see Your blessings unfold as I yield to Your Holy Spirit in me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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