Staying in the War
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Pray
Ask to open bible to 1 Timothy 1:19-20
And church
as you turn
to our passage this morning.
We announced earlier this morning
that we need children’s ministry volunteers.
And here’s the thing:
we only need volunteers to serve
once a month.
And you don’t even have to teach
we need assistants.
Although if you are able to teach children
then we’d be glad
for you to do so.
This is an excellent opportunity
to fulfill God’s command
to disciple
those younger than you
and to pour
into our children
and serve the Lord.
So please talk to me, pastor Jeff
and sister Lorna
if you are interested!
Read 1 Timothy 1:19–20 “By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.”
On September 11, 2001
the United States
began
its longest war
in US military history.
The war in Afghanistan.
What seemed
like what would be
an easy victory
was in reality
a different story.
The Taliban
had a repeated mantra:
‘you have the watches
we have the time.’
They knew
all they had to
was wait
and to stay
in the war.
So they waited
and stayed:
over the span of 20 years.
During those two decades
the combination
of constantly changing objectives
a corrupt government
and unreliable supply chains
the US
slowly
over time
was drained
of its resources
and morale.
Until finally
in 2021
the US fully withdrew
and the Taliban
retook
the country.
The US
didn’t lose
because
they had inferior
troops
or inferior weapons
quite the opposite:
they had the best troops
and weapons
in the world.
They lost
because they were unable
to stay
in the war.
In the church at Ephesus
a war between Timothy
and the false teachers
who opposed him
broke out.
But it was
a war
not of flesh and blood
but a spiritual one.
A war
between the spiritual forces of darkness
and their lies
versus
the Lord
and His army:
Christians
and their weapon:
the sword of the Spirit
the Word of God.
Christians
are called
to wage
spiritual warfare.
And one
essential part
of spiritual warfare
that we are focusing on
today:
is being able
to stay
in the war.
When Jesus
was abandoned
by the 12:
his closest disciples
it was not because
they lacked zeal.
It was not because
they lacked equipment.
It was because
they lacked endurance.
When Jesus asked them
on that night
in the Garden of Gethsemane
and to keep watch
and pray
they fell asleep
instead.
So while
last week’s message
was about the confidence
God has given us
by equipping us for spiritual war
and the caution
to live carefully,
today
we look at
what we need
to do
to stay in it.
Because the enemy
knows
that there is no way
he can win
in a straight
head to head battle
with the superior weapons
of believers
the sword:
the word of God.
So all
he has to do
is drain your endurance
so that you withdraw
from the war.
Hence our need to
and our title this morning:
Staying in the War.
And our main point:
In order to stay in spiritual warfare, Christians must correct one another with the goal of restoration.
In order to stay in spiritual warfare, Christians must correct one another with the goal of restoration.
1. Spiritual warfare requires correction (v.19b-20)
1. Spiritual warfare requires correction (v.19b-20)
Let’s look at the latter half
of v.19
where it says
‘By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith’.
This verse
is a contination
of v.18
where Paul writes,
‘This charge I entrust to you
Timothy, my child
in accordance
with the prophecies
made about you
that by them
you may wage the good warfare
holding faith
and a good conscience.’
Last week
we learned
from this passage
that we need confidence
and a genuine Christian walk
in order
to wage warfare
against the spiritual forces
of darkness.
Timothy
who was pastoring in a church
where false teachers
have rose
and taught a false gospel
causing
great harm
to the people.
And Timothy
facing tremendous pressure
from this situation
was tempted to leave.
So Timothy
was encouraged by Paul
back in v.3
to stay at Ephesus
and put out
this fire
that if not put out
would destroy the church
and disgrace the name
of Christ.
So Paul reminds Timothy
of this charge
to stop the false teachers
and to
protect the gospel
and that Paul
is entrusting this charge
to Timothy.
By entrusting Timothy
this great charge
he is instilling
confidence
in Timothy
because Paul knows
that Timothy can do it
because of the prophecies:
the messages from God
that Timothy
was to serve
in pastoral ministry
and also
the spiritual gifts
God had given Timothy.
So God himself
had affirmed Timothy
for this task
and gave him
the gifts
sufficient
to do it:
to wage
the good warfare.
And therefore
Timothy
was given the confidence
needed
in order to fight
the good fight.
But Timothy
not only needed confidence
he also
needed
to live carefully.
He had to hold
or keep
faith and a good conscience.
Which meant:
if Timothy
was not careful
to set guardrails
around his life
and did not
seek
to please God
but man
he would be giving in
to the temptations
of the enemy
and the flesh.
He would become a hypocrite
and have a burdened conscience.
And when a minister
lives hypocritically
and his conscience
is weighed down with guilt
he cannot serve the Lord
effectively
and that
takes take him out
of the war.
That is the goal of the enemy:
to distract
and tempt you
so that you become drained
and you leave
the war.
And there are too many stories
about Christians
and Christian leaders
and pastors
who were caught
in some scandal.
And every time they do
their ministry
gets destroyed.
Famous Christian apologist
Ravi Zacharias
is an example
of someone
who did not hold
on to faith and a good conscience.
After a life
of tremendous ministry
of talks around the world
and countless books sold
it was found
after his death
that he had numerous counts
of sexual abuse
with women.
Ever since then
his name has been
forgotten.
And the ministry
he left behind
crumbled.
Ravi
was one of many
who did not hold on
to faith
and a good conscience
but instead
shipwrecked
his faith.
And neither
did Hymenaeus and Alexander
which is what
it says in v.20,
‘among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander’.
Hymenaues
and Alexander
were some
of the false teachers
at Ephesus.
So who were Hymenaeus
and Alexander?
We don’t know much
unfortunately.
Their are quite a few others
in scriptures
named Alexander
such as Alexander the Coppersmith
who also
was a problem
to the church.
But Alexander
was such a common name
during the time
that’s it’s hard
to definitively say
that Alexander
is this specific Alexander
in Scripture
because there are many
Alexanders.
So if you’re listening today
and your name
is Alexander
os Alex
look out!
With Hymenaeus however
there is one other mention
of him
in the Scripture
and we see this
in 2 Tim 2:16-18
But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.
Here we see Hymenaeus
taught
that the resurrection
already happened.
This is similar
to what Paul had to deal with
in 2 Thessalonians
where false teachers taught
that the day of the Lord
had already come.
Now why
would Hymenaeus and Alexander
do such things?
How could
they turn away
from the blessed hope
and gospel
of the Lord?
And the answer
is that it has nothing to do
with intellect
or intellectual arguments.
They were not swayed
due to logical conclusions
but rather
their rejection
was because
they rejected
to holding on
to faith
and a good conscience.
Or in other words
they rebelled against God
and gave in
to the temptations
of the enemy.
So the real cause
for their rebellion
was a moral
problem.
A problem
in their heart.
They did not
hold on to faith
meaning
their life was hypocritical.
When they came to church
they looked
clean
and righteous.
But outside of the church
they were just as filthy
as the people
they condemned
They lived
in secret sin.
And their conscience
was bad.
The conscience
being the faculty
in every person
that God created
that tells people right
from wrong.
But they ignored it.
When their conscience
went off
like a loud police siren
because they had done something
wrong
they ignored it.
And like ignoring
the check engine light
in your car
what happened to them
was inevitable:
they crashed.
They made shipwreck
of their faith.
They taught heresy
and became
the very people
they were supposed
to correct.
It’s quite possible
that the false teachers in Ephesus
just like Hymenaeus
and Alexander
were official elders
of the church.
If you ever wondered
how could such and such pastor
who seemed very solid
eventually go the wrong way?
It’s because
they ignore
their conscience.
When they see things
in God’s Word
that are very clear
and they teach the opposite
they are
ignoring their conscience
that is screaming at them
that what they are doing
is wrong.
This is why
Paul told Timothy
to hold on to faith
and a good conscience
so that
he doesn’t become
like Hymenaeus
Alexander
and the many others in church history
who have shipwrecked
their faith.
Because they have completely ruined
their life
which was supposed to be
in faithful service
to the Lord.
On April 10, 1912
the greatest ship
of the
time
the Titanic
set sail.
It was an incredible ship
and a true feat
of engineering
for its time.
The ship was even called
unsinkable
and the captain
being extremely confident
in his ability
said
quote
‘I have never been in an accident
of any sort
worth speaking about
nor was I ever
in any predicament
that threatened to end
in any disaster
of any sort.
I cannot imagine
any condition
which would cause a ship
to founder.
Modern shipbuilding
has gone beyond that.’
End quote.
But days after the ship set sail
on a dark night
after receiving
multiple warnings
of ice
from other ships
instead of slowing down
maintained its high speed
and suffered
one of the greatest shipwrecks
in history
costing the lives
of over 1500 people.
The pride
and overconfidence of man
led
to this great shipwreck.
So how
do you prevent
shipwreck?
The answer
is to not
ignore warnings
but
to correct
course.
Had the crew of the Titanic
humbled themselves
slowed down
listened to correction
and corrected course
they could have prevented
such a great shipwreck.
So if you are going
the wrong way
and on top of that
people are telling you
you must stop
and turn around.
There must be
correction.
Because if you do not
correct
one another
that fellow brother
or sister
will end up
in a shipwreck.
Now in these verses
in 1 Timothy
we see
important details
of correction.
We must not only
correct others
we must do so
in the right way
or else
we end up
not being helpful.
And when we see
that Paul was direct
in calling out the names
of people
who needed
to be corrected
we realize
that when we correct others
we must also
be direct.
This is what we see
in Matthew 18:15
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
This verse
begins an overall discussion
on church discipline.
Church discipline
is not something done
in one go.
It’s not sudden.
It’s a process.
It takes time.
And it has steps.
And the first step
in this verse
is that if someone
sins against you
go and tell him
his fault
between you and him
alone.
Go correct him.
The Bible
is very specific
about how
we are supposed
to correct
one another.
It says here
that you must tell a brother
in the Lord
who is sinning:
directly.
You must talk to them
directly.
One mistake
that is common
in correcting one another
is that
to tell
the correction
to a third party:
to tell it
to some other person
to then go
and tell it
to the original person.
But Scripture
is making it clear
that that
is the wrong way
to correct one another.
It says
you go
and tell him
his fault.
It does not say
go tell
another person
to tell him
his fault!
And I know people
that when they do that
they don’t have a bad motive
but they are timid
and shy
so they resort
to this method.
But the problem with this
is that
this can easily
become gossip.
There is a lot of miscommunication
when you add extra steps
to the communication.
A few weeks ago
during our caregroup fellowship
hosted by the Germantown group
we played this game
where you
are told a word
such as doctor
and then we had a line of people
who instead of telling each other
the word
would act it out.
And what blew my mind
was how
I gave
one person a motion
to describe something
like a doctor
but by the end
the last person
was doing the motions
of a DJ!
It was hilarious
and a clear example
of how
when you add steps
to communication
you also add
mis
communication.
And this is why
the Scripture tells you
that when you correct someone
you do not
do it
through a third party
because the original message you said
will turn
into
something completely different
through more and more
people.
No
when you correct
you do it
directly
to the person.
No third parties.
And yes it’s hard.
It can be intimidating.
Because it requires faith.
But the Lord’s Word
is worthy to be trusted.
If God says being direct
is how
we correct one another
then that is the best way
because it comes
from one
who is infinitely more wise
than us.
And in this verse
it also
gets even more specific
it says
between you and him
alone
meaning
in private.
Because again
if it’s not in private
there can be miscommunication
from those who hear it
on the outside
which again
can become gossip.
Half the time
gossip
was not intended
to be gossip
it was just miscommunication
that was deformed
into gossip.
So when we see
that correction
must first be direct
and private
we also realize
that correction
that is anonymous
is unwise. (repeat)
Unless the information
is extremely urgent
or sensitive
such as cases of abuse
correction
should not be anonymous.
As you can see
when the Lord gave us
specific directions
on correcting one another
and being direct
that it assumes
accountability
from the one saying it.
If you are supposed
to correct one another
directly
then that means the person
knows
who
is correcting him.
And that makes the one
doing the correcting
accountable.
Unfortunately
in our modern society
and the internet
sharing criticism
anonymously
and avoiding accountability
is far too easy.
The internet is a great enabler
of the sinful hearts of man
to bully and attack others
by removing accountability
in speaking anonymously.
Just earlier this year
a Christian leader
of a conference
and pastor
was removed
for anonymously criticizing
the speakers at his conference
on a separate
anonymous X account.
But posting
an anonymous hate message
on X
was not an option
for 1st century Christians.
This is why
pastors have
often
wisely said
that if they receive
feedback
that is not signed
that it is often
best
unread.
Charles Spurgeon said,
never write what you dare not sign.
never write what you dare not sign.
(repeat)
If you want to remain anonymous
again
unless its a severe case
like abuse
then often
the intent behind
the words
is not pure.
Why hide in darkness
if your intent is pure?
It’s because most often
it’s not.
Words coming from a dark place
are often not
good.
So If you do not want
to be accountable
for what you have to say
then don’t say it.
So make sure
when you correct someone
that in vast majority of circumstances
you do not do it
anonymously
but directly.
When people receive
anonymous feedback
there is also
just like with the other examples
great room
for miscommunication.
I’ve experienced this as well
that when I receive feedback
that I don’t know
who it’s from
I’m more discouraged
than encouraged
because it’s easy
for the flesh
and the enemy
to twist it
into something that may
or may not be true.
But when I know who said it
ironically
I feel more encouraged
because especially
if the person who said it
is a dear brother
or sister in the Lord
then I’m far more encouraged
because I know
it comes from a godly place.
And likewise church
when your brother or sister
corrects you
do not take it the wrong way.
It’s really unfortunate
when a brother
receives correction
from another fellow believer
and they completely
just go off the radar
and become ultra defensive.
You must realize
the bravery they have
to even tell you
in the first place
and that they also are telling you
because
they love you.
Realize also
that you do not
have to take every feedback
that people give you.
At the end of the day
you must take the feedback
between you and the Lord
consulting God’s Word
and praying
about it
and decide
whether the feedback is helpful
or not.
And if our church
wants to develop a culture
of discipleship
we need to develop
a godly understanding
of taking and receiving
correction
and to humble ourselves.
And that all boils down to
that correction
must be private
and direct
and not anonymous
or through a third party.
Now there’s one more point
about correction
and that is
that correction
lies
in the hands of God. (repeat)
Look at the next part
of v.20
where it says,
‘whom I have handed over to Satan.’
But wait.
It says here
that Paul
handed over Alexander
and Hymenaeus
to Satan.
How could correction
lie
in the hands of God?
And the answer
is found
when we understand
what is Satan’s role
in relation
to the sovereign hand
of God. (repeat)
And we find that answer
most clearly
in Job.
Look at Job 1:6-12
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”
And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”
Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”
And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
So if you are unfamiliar
with the story of Job
Job
is a man
who is very wealthy
and has a big family
but is also a faithful
man of God.
And yet
he goes through
a great trial
where he loses
all his possessions
and children.
Now right before this happens
there was this conversation
between God
and Satan
the enemy.
And Satan
roaming around the earth
seeking someone to devour
was referred
Job
by God.
So Job challenges God
that if Job loses
his earthly possessions
he will lose faith
and curse God.
But God
knowing
that Job will
stay faithful
and he does
at the end of the book
allows Satan
to attack his possessions
but not take Job’s life.
And this
gives us clearer understanding
of Satan’s
role
in God’s world.
And there’s a few things
we learn from this:
Satan is not omnipresent.
Some people
think that Satan
is everywhere
all at once
just like God.
But as we see here
Satan
walks
around the earth.
Now there are also demons
in league with Satan
that have presence in multiple places
but Satan himself
is not everywhere
like God is.
He is limited.
2. Satan needs permission.
God had to give Satan
permission
in order for him
to attack Job’s possessions.
This is reinforced
by the fact
that God gave Satan
a rule
that he can attack Job’s possessions
but not take his life.
Everything is taken away
from Job
his servants
his wealth
and even his children
but not his life.
Satan cannot take your life
unless
God gives permission.
Because Satan
needed permission
from God.
3. God is sovereign over Satan.
Because Satan
is limited in power
and needs permission from God
that ultimately means
that God is sovereign
not Satan.
To be sovereign
means to have the final rule and authority.
And unfortunately
people attribute sovereignty to Satan
even if they don’t realize it.
They will say things like
the devil won today
when things don’t go their way.
But as we see in Job
Satan
has never won.
Not even once.
And because God is sovereign
over Satan
Satan is just
God’s dog.
He’s limited
and cannot be everywhere
at the same time
like a dog on a leash.
And he needs permission
from his master:
the Lord
just like a dog
and his owner.
And because
Satan
is God’s dog
God
is able to use Satan
in a way
that is good:
to correct.
So whatever happens in life
any trials or hardship
and attacks from Satan himself
that ultimately
God is in control.
Everything is in God’s hands
not Satan’s hands.
Satan is not winning.
He already lost
when he was crushed
by Christ
on the cross.
And if you are here today
and you’re not a true believer
and you don’t believe
that Christ was victorious on the cross
either
that’s your personal belief
or the way you live your life
recognize
why God sent Christ
to die on the cross
in the first place.
God sent Christ
to save sinners.
Because God has created us
and made us to serve him
and serve others
we have all
rebelled against Him
through our sin.
And because
we have rebelled against Him
there is a penalty
for our sin
which is eternal punishment
because God is just.
But instead
of sending Christ
to judge every person on earth
to punishment
which He would have been completely right
in doing so
He sent Christ
instead
to live a sinless life
and pay for the sins
of those who believe in Him
and removing the punishment
by taking it
for whoever
believes
in Him
giving us eternal life.
And so all you have to do
to accept
this great salvation
and eternal life
is not earn it.
But just
by putting your faith
and believing in Christ
that you have rebelled against Him
and He paid for your sins on the cross.
That’s it.
So I urge you today
if you don’t know Christ
to put your faith
in Him
today
so that you don’t have to pay
for your sins
on judgement day
in eternal flame
but enjoy a relationship with God
as Father
and child
now
and forever.
And for those today
who are children of God
realize instead
that God has a plan
for good
if you are his child
no matter how dark
and bleak
the situation you are facing.
So now look back
at 1 Timothy 1 verse 20
and see where Paul writes
‘whom I have handed over to Satan
that they may learn’.
Paul is administering church discipline
to Hymenaeus and Alexander
by handing them over to Satan
because he knows
that God uses Satan
in order to teach
or to correct
people.
And this handing over
of people in the church
to Satan
is also called
church discipline.
This is what we see
in Matthew 18:15-17
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
We already went through
the first part
of church discipline
in correcting your brother
directly
and in private.
That’s step one.
But what if he does not listen?
What if he still want to live in sin?
Then there’s a second step
which is to take one or two others
to also talk to the person
in sin
so that there are multiple
witnesses
and there is no error
or mistake
if the person is actually in sin
or not.
And if he still does not listen
then it must be told
to the whole church
and if he still does not listen
to the church
he must be to you
a Gentile
and tax collector
meaning
treat him as an unbeliever
and remove him from membership
and from fellowship.
1 Cor 5:11 says
But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
Now this whole process
of church discipline
is rarely practiced
because most churches
do not do this.
They see this passage in Scripture
taught by the Lord Jesus
and just act
like it doesn’t exist.
Because they see
church discipline
as cruel
and unusual punishment.
And that’s the problem
right there:
they have the wrong
understanding
of church discipline.
Church discipline
is not punishment.
It’s correction.
The point of church discipline
is so that those
living in sin
learn
how to follow Christ
more closely.
Church discipline
corrects them.
And it’s no different
than a father
who disciplines
his child.
Without discipline
children
run amok
living wild
and loose
saying words
that are ungodly
because they are not being corrected.
This is why it says
in Proverbs 13:24
Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
The rod
refers to discipline
and God’s Word says
if you do not discipline your child
you hate them.
Imagine that.
If I don’t discipline my child
I hate them?
How can that be?
Because love
means to sacrifice
for the good of another.
And refusing to discipline one’s child
is because
the parent
loves themself more
than his child.
Because it takes sacrifice
to discipline
your child.
It hurts
it’s uncomfortable
and it’s easier
and more comfortable
for us
to just not do anything.
But if one loves their child
than he will discipline him.
Because yes it hurts
it hurts
for both the parent
and the child
but
it’s ultimately for their good.
And likewise
we must not see
Christ’s commands
on church discipline
not as means
to attack people
but as godly means
to correct
people
that it’s ultimately
for their good.
James 5:19-20 says
My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Don’t forget
that we are at spiritual war church.
The enemy
is always trying to take us out
of the war.
But James says
that if we bring a wandering
brother or sister
that his or her soul
gets saved
from what?
Death.
And will cover
a multitude of sins.
Meaning that when you correct someone
who is living in sin
and they stop
God forgives them
of their sin
through
your
correction.
It’s not you who forgives sin
it’s God
but God uses your correction
to accomplish
His forgiving of their sin.
So church
as we
fight
this spiritual war
and you see
your brothers
and sisters
retreating
from battle.
Go help them.
Help them
by correcting them.
‘But what if
they don’t respond?
What if they don’t listen?
What if
they leave
the church?’
These kinds of thoughts
are what make us scared
to even correct one another
in the first place.
But just because
they may
or may not listen
or even
leave
does not mean
we should avoid
correcting them
altogether.
Because remember
at the end of the day
if we are simply
being faithful
to God’s Word
in correction
and church discipline
all we have to do then
is just trust
the Lord.
But when we don’t follow
God’s Word
in this
then we have nothing
to trust in
but ourselves
and how scary is that?
So when you see
your fellow solders
in the Lord
going
the wrong way
and you feel
afraid
to correct them:
trust the Lord.
Trust the Lord
in the process.
Because spiritual warfare
requires
correction.
2. Correction must be done with the goal of restoration (v.20)
2. Correction must be done with the goal of restoration (v.20)
Now in war
you can have soldiers who run away.
But there are also soldiers
who have been wounded
and have fallen.
We see this
in the very last phrase
of v.20.
But let’s read these verses together again
starting at the end of v.19
‘By rejecting this,
some have made shipwreck
of their faith
among whom
are Hymenaeus
and Alexander
whom I have handed over to Satan
that they may learn
not
to blaspheme.’
Learning
not to blaspheme
is the focus
of our point:
that spiritual warfare
requires
restoration.
Yes we know now
that spiritual warfare
requires
correction.
But what is the goal
of correction?
You see correction
can be done
with a variety of motives.
Correction
can even be done
in a way
that is attacking.
That is belittling.
That is destructive.
And this may be why
people hear church discipline
and think
that it’s barbaric.
Because many people
they think church discipline
is destructive
and they think it’s destructive
because of this reason:
they don’t know
how
to do it.
Even today
many parents
are confused
in how to discipline
their child.
And society
is not helping.
With how restrictive
schools are
with discipline
and how parents
are taught
often
to not discipline
their child at all.
If there is confusion
in the world
on how to discipline
there is surely confusion
in the churches
on how to discipline
not just children
but members.
So if correcting
one another is good
how exactly
do we do that?
And the answer
is found
in 1 Cor 5:5
you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh,
In the context of 1 Corinthians
Paul is addressing a man
committing sexual immorality
and is rebuking the church
for not disciplining him
and then
commands the Corinthian church
to deliver this man to Satan
for the destruction of flesh.
Which is the same idea
in 1 Timothy
with Hymeneues and Alexander.
The church
is to correct the man
by administering church discipline
and putting him out
of the church
so that Satan
God’s dog
would have his way
with him
and correct him.
But the rest of the verse
is the key here
it says:
so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
The Corinthian church
is to correct this man
so that what?
His spirit may be saved
in the day of the Lord.
The way
we correct one another
in the right manner
is to do it
with the goal
that their spirit
may be saved.
Or in other words
to do it
with the goal
of restoring them.
Our goal
in correcting one another
and even doing church discipline
is not because we hate
the person.
It’s because
we love them.
And at the cost
of our personal comfort
we are willing
to tell them the truth
so that
they may
be restored.
We are not
correcting people
to put them down.
We are correcting people
to raise
them
up.
There are many testimonies
with the few people out there
who have experienced
church discipline
and how it brought them back
to the Lord
and now they are closer
to him
more than ever.
One story
was about a pastor
who was going to correct a man
for hurting his marriage
through pornography
but on the way
they discovered
the wife cast aside
her marriage vows.
So the pastor confronted her
and asked her to meet
with the elders
and she responded
in anger
and hateful words
and left.
She was then removed
from the body
through church discipline
and she remarried
and lived in rebellion
which lead to another divorce
and more brokenness.
At times the church
would hear that she was
going
to another church
that accepted her
for membership
despite being informed
that she was under
church discipline.
But after about 9 or ten years
on her third marriage
she was broken
over her sin
and returned
to her original church
that loved her enough
to correct her
and plead with her
for repentance.
Because she repented
she was restored
joyfully
to fellowship.
One more example
is about a young man
who was a member
of the church
but found
to be living
with his girlfriend.
His closest friends
confronted and corrected him
that he was bringing
dishonor to Christ
and that he was living in sin.
He still did not listen
so the elders
also came to talk to him
and warned him
of his sin
and that if he did not repent
that they could no longer
affirm his Christian faith
since the sexually immoral
will not inherit
the kingdom of God.
He acknowledged
that what he was doing
was sinful
but he refused to move out.
So he was church disciplined
and removed from membership
and instructed to not take
the Lord’s Supper.
So for several months
as one would expect
he stopped attending church.
But after those few months
he returned
and approached the elders
expressed his sorrow
and repented
so he was restored
to membership
and fellowship.
And years since then
the young man’s repentance
proved to be genuine
and has even used himself
as an example to others
on the importance
of church discipline
the importance
of correcting
one another.
And there are many more
powerful testimonies
from broken marriages
to sexual immorality
to substance abuse
and how church disciplined
completely
corrected
people from going the wrong way
and restoring
their faith
in the Lord.
If we want to restore
our fellow brothers and sisters
who have been wounded
and have fallen
in the spiritual war
we need
to correct them
with the goal
of restoring them.
The goal
of lifting them up.
Is it hard
to do
church discipline?
Absolutely.
No one
including myself
wants
to do it.
Is it the only thing
when a member is living in sin
and can save their marriage
or even save his soul?
Absolutely.
If we want
to stay in the war
we must restore
one another
who have fallen.
Galatians 6:1
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Paul is challenging
those in the church
who think they are spiritual.
Paul challenges them by saying
that the true test
if whether you are truly spiritual or not
is if you are willing
to go and correct one another
and restore one another.
God’s Word says
if you cannot correct one another
with the goal of restoration
you are not truly spiritual.
He then says
we are to help
those who have been caught
or trapped
in sin.
How are we
to help them?
Not by getting angry
at them
but by restoring them.
Our goal
is not to make them
into an outcast
but to restore him
in a spirit
of gentleness.
Gentleness
is the key.
If you can’t correct
in a gentle way
don’t do it
at all.
It doesn’t matter how right
you are
if there’s no gentleness
there’s no restoration. (repeat)
So be gentle.
And when we do
correct one another
to restore them
we have to be careful
because we will be tempted
to get angry
and upset at them
when they respond
in mean
and rebellious ways.
You will be tempted
to become proud
as you look at this person
caught in the trap of sin
and cursing you
and reviling you.
You may think,
‘I would never fall for this
sin!’
But we must remain
humble
and
gentle
but firm
in correcting them.
And by doing it this way
God’s way
we are making room
for there to be
restoration.
Is restoration
always guaranteed?
No.
But this
is the only way
it can happen.
Through love
and trusting
that restoration
lies
in the hands of God.
So church
if you see
someone
especially
a member of this church
living in sin
and not repentant;
and they have been wounded
by the flaming darts
of the enemy
if you love that person
then go
and restore them.
That person you see living in sin
is like a wounded soldier
in the battlefield.
Instead of just watching them bleed out
and die
by complaining
about their behavior
and just watching
and watching
for years
and not doing
or saying anything
go and talk to them.
Go and correct them
so that they grow closer
to Jesus.
And remember to be gentle!
Go and correct them
tend to their wounds
so that they may be restored
and return
to fight
the good fight.
If last week
you received the confidence
to go
and fight the good fight,
this week
give that confidence
to fight the good fight
to others
by helping
your fellow soldiers
and to help those who are running away
or have fallen.
Because correction
must be done
with the goal
of restoration.
In conclusion
Spiritual warfare requires correction (v.19b-20)
Correction must be done with the goal of restoration (v.20)
Main point: In order to stay in the war, Christians must correct one another with the goal of restoration.
Let’s pray.
