MY ASSOCIATIONS

MY ASSOCIATIONS

 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 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. —I Corinthians 5:9-11

 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! —Psalm 143:10

             Who are the people I am associating with?  According to the verses above I should be associating, but not yoked with (I Corinthians 6:14), the lost of this world— the sexually immoral, the greedy, swindlers and idolaters.  If I am not seeking to reach these people with the gospel then it would be better for me to leave this world.  Better because I am not being faithful to God’s call on my life to reach out to these lost people as someone did to me.

            Oh, that God would teach me His will and I would be faithful to it.  Oh that His Holy Spirit would guide me and I do trust that He will.  As I follow Him He will lead me to those of this world who desperately need Him.  May I share the gospel clearly with them.

            Now it is interesting, according to the passage above, who I am not to associate with.  I am “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 here is a serious dictate.  One who calls himself a brother but is involved in any of these lifestyle issues is a person to stay away from— a person not to associate with!  Pretty strong words, aren’t they?  Why is this?  Because these disobedience professing believers will have a negative leavening affect on the rest of the body.  Let us take that to heart!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEhRucEVzH8

Dear Father may I be doing Your will with the time I have left to live on this planet.  May this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus.