Christian Living
Such Were Some of You
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexual immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 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.
Recently I attended a support group for individuals struggling with various issues/bondage.
I heard a pain shared, saw hope exalted, I witnessed insanity masquerading as sanity. I was privy to laughter as well as tears and frustration. My sole mission was to be a visible support to a friend who is struggling on life's journey.
Almost 2000 yrs ago, the Apostle Paul found it quite necessary to remind the unbalanced/carnal Corinthian church that "Such were some of you".
This was a church high in spiritual gifting, yet very low in holiness and maturity. Hmmm...., sound familiar?
How swiftly we forget, suppress, and overlook our past condition and past addictions. David said, "God remembered us in our low estate"! (Psalms 136:23) It is sad how cold-hearted, distant and downright self-righteous some church folks can be. It is a running gag, for quite some time, that the Christian Army is the "only Army that kills its wounded"! Perhaps your defense is the fact that you have committed none of the above sins. Never the less, regardless of past behavior, we all were shapen in iniquity; and in sin did our mothers conceive us! (Psalms 51:5) BC (before Christ) all of us had prepaid tickets for the "Hell Express", like it or not!
How can an ex addict feel superior to a current drug user?
Such were some of you!
How can a man or woman who yet battles lust and multiple affairs look down their snouts at the lady who gets pregnant outside of marriage? How many kids would you have, if every sex act resulted in childbirth? Many would have enough to start a mass choir! Others a small city!
Such were some of you!
How can you criticize the couple that got divorced when secretly God kept your husband or wife from leaving you?
Such were some of you!
The "Such were these" have been preordained by God to be the "Once were these"! That only occurs when the Church carries the message of reconciliation!
Do you truly believe you brought you and emancipated yourself? Do we really want to go there with the Spirit of God knowing that He is well able to open up all of our "Skeleton Closet's" and expose those dry bones!
The Remedy
1. Gethsemane and the Cross of Christ
There was a reason the saints of old sang and preached the Cross. It keeps us humble, grateful, dead to ourselves and alive to the resurrection power of Christ! We must know that “death worketh in us, that life might be manifest in the broken hearted”! IICor 4:11, 12
2. A renewed commitment on broken humanity, and less obsession with our ministering, preaching and oracle abilities
Please don’t believe all your press clippings, God’s not impressed with your hoop or your revelation He admires humility and servant hood!
How many would still preach without an offering, without an Armor Bearer, without a/c, without a crowd and outside on the streets in enemy territory? It's time to seek the invisible pulpits! We must make full proof of our ministry!
3. By the renewing of our minds
Minister Sytrena recently ministered an awesome message on "Transformation". (Roman 12:1-2) Lack of mind renewal/transformation is the major culprit behind why people can sing, shout, dance, shabach, preach, prophesy and still treat people nasty, demonstrate open rebellion, continue to lie and devour one another right in the house of God with no remorse! I’ll leave jealousy for a later season!
Some one told me many years ago that it was amazing what had transpired in my life. His insistence upon the word amazing was rather startling! I thought about it for a brief moment and simply replied, “It wasn't amazing my friend. It was "Amazing Grace"!
You see "amazing" would have dropped me long ago; "amazing" would have let me died the death of a junkie, but Glory to God I met someone greater than "amazing"!
Yes, "amazing" would have let me perish as another sad statistic with a tragic end!
Nevertheless, I was pursued and over taken by the immeasurable, unconditional Grace of God!
I was apprehended by the Supreme Power of the Universe of which I’m still trying to apprehend!
Paul presentation in verse 11 of the text demonstrates the solution for all mankind!
This “Amazing Grace” has washed you in the blood of the Lamb!
This “Amazing Grace” has sanctified you (set aside for the exclusive use of God)
This "Amazing Grace" has justified you (made into right standing with God, just as if you never done anything!)
Since it was "Grace" who brought us and kept us, who among us can boast (take credit) about us?
If it's ain't fatal, it ain't final!
Always remember the old saying,” But for the Grace of God there go I".
Still tempted to talk, backbite, slander or forget where you came from? Just remember!
"Such were some of you"
Amazing Grace shall always be my song of Praise!
In Him
Elder Reginald L. Turner
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