Daily Manna

Key Verse

“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” (1 Corinthians 5:1).

TEXT — 1 Corinthians 5:1-4

Message

A popular pastor of a mega church was reportedly forced out of his duties after a former female prostitute alleged they had an immoral relationship. The pastor had to step down as president of an association of churches and confessed to undisclosed “sexual immorality.” He then relocated to another State, to begin a programme of spiritual cleansing and restoration with counselling and prayers, which church leaders indicated will last five years. The discipline became necessary because God hates sin in His church.

Apostle Paul rebuked the Corinthian church for failing to discipline an erring member who committed fornication with the wife of his father in what looks like a heathen practice common in the society. His immoral action was not addressed appropriately by the local church leaders. When Apostle Paul heard of it, he directed that the sinning member be removed from the church immediately.

The pastor’s office demands a high level of discipline. The pastor may have slightly corrected the case under review, as Eli did to his immoral children in the Old Testament. But God, in a swift reaction, cut short Eli’s priesthood while his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were killed in battle. Church leaders are not just to preach about the faith; they must defend the faith.

Sin is a cankerworm that eats deep into the spiritual fabric of the church if left unchecked. When discipline is not in place and sinning members are left in charge of sensitive aspects of the ministry, the effect can be grave. We must purge the church and keep it righteous till Christ comes.

Thought for the day

Without discipline, the Church declines and disintegrates spiritually.

• Bible
• in one year
• 2 KINGS 11-13 (Read By Alexander Scourby)