EZRA 8:21 - 9:15
WALK & TALK SHOULD LINE UP: When Ezra told the king that the "hand of God" was on him, would it be inconsistent for him to ask for an armed guard to protect all the gold he was hauling? Also, he travelled 1000 miles, and there was no report of the hardship!
BREACHED BY SIN: Ezra, the Intercessor, was clearly taken by surprise. The people in the Land had mingled with the world, which is spiritual adultery and idolatry (Jam 4:4). It says he was "stupefied", "stunned", "devastated", "silenced". He sat naked, plucking hair from his head and beard, tore his garment, got on his knees, then his face before God. "I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God...." He identified with the transgressors, calling it "our iniquities", and "our trespass". He said he had never been so ashamed as he was that day. The world is full of "filthiness" and "abominations" and "filled from one end to the other with uncleanness." STAY SEPARATED. We are not to be yoked in any way, not to compromise for the sake of "peace at any price", not to want their money or wealth. After all our sin, our punishment is way less than we deserve, and God still delivers us. BUT.."We cannot stand before Thee because of this....."
RESPONSE: I don't think most of us repent to this degree. Perhaps we don't really understand the magnitude of our sin. No one can really know God and not hate sin. It is a breach of our commitment to God when we "flirt" with the world-spirit. It is not a matter of "personal preference" when we make deals with sinners about our behavior. Or when we enter into covenants with unbelievers. We have nothing in common with them! And in this passage, we find out that the leaders were the chief offenders! Perhaps they had too much confidence in themselves to stay pure while dallying with world-thought! The future of the Kingdom of God is at stake. Stay separate! Love the world that Jesus loves, but don't allow world-thought to impact and influence your life in any way!
1 CORINTHIANS 5:1-13
SIN IN THE CHURCH: Only the spiritually immature (or fleshly and carnal) would tolerate known sin in the church and think it was "politically correct". In fact, these spiritual infants were actually PROUD of their tolerance! ("political correctness?") As a "church father", Paul judged this situation without even being there! By tolerating certain behaviors, especially sexual sin, in their efforts to be politically correct, they were actually destroying the church from the inside! Just like they purged their homes from leaven during Passover, the church must be purged also - or the whole place would be taken over "with malice and wickedness". Paul had already told them before to not associate with sexually immoral people, but they thought they knew better than Paul.
WHAT IF HE SAYS HE IS A CHRISTIAN, TOO? Especially if they call themselves a Christian! Don't associate in a meaningful way, with anyone involved in adultery, or homosexuality or into pornography, or idolatry (habitually putting anything ahead of God), a bad temper, a drunk or heavy drinker, someone who cheats or is crooked. This is not talking about the people outside the church - but the people INSIDE the church who are passing themselves off as believers, just like YOU! "Expel the wicked person from among you!"
KICK HIM OUT? Sin, especially sexual immorality, is infectious and will spread. A so-called "brother", or person claiming to be a fellow-believer, who is sinning openly and in the church, needs to be addressed - a REMEDY must be applied - sacrificing his external life (his FLESH - body & soul), in order to heal and save his spirit. By casting him out, he is hopefully "brought to his right mind" about what he is doing. That his behavior was not acceptable to God. That he cannot continue to live this way and be saved. By casting him out from under the protection and safety of the church, he will be forced to live "unsaved" - so he is no longer deceived about his true condition. Casting him out has two effects: (1) He "may be saved" (or maybe not). (2) Cleanse the church from the leaven-effect of his sin. THE BIBLE DOES NOT SAY THAT YOU CAN'T EAT WITH SINNERS OUTSIDE THE CHURCH. JESUS ATE WITH SINNERS AND DRUNKS WHEN HE WAS "SEEKING AND SAVING THE LOST". It is talking about open, habitual sin INSIDE the church.
What does it mean to "cast him out"? Do not to eat with him. Do not "keep company" with him. Don't be known as their friend or confidant. Don't allow them to depend on you for anything, including "prayer". They are now outside that protection, remember?
PSALM 31:1-8
STRENGTH IN THE TIME OF TROUBLE: Everything that pertains to me is under God's control. I will die when and where and how God decides. God will keep us from becoming disillusioned and cynical if we will bind ourselves to Him through praise and thanksgiving. He is "the Lord God of Truth", the covenant-keeping, promise-keeping, faithful Lord.
PROVERBS 21:1-2
God gives to the world good or bad kings, according as He seeks to bless it or to visit it with punishment. Even though the "king" is exalted above his subjects, he is still governed by God one way or the other. There is nothing as awful as self-deception. You may think you're right, but God knows our real motives.
RESPONSE: When I am trapped by circumstances, I can depend on God for a way out. I just have to make myself wait for Him and keep my mouth shut! When I feel pressured, God makes a way of freedom when I keep my focus on Him and trust Him.
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