ARE YOU GROWING (10).

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*ARE YOU GROWING (10)*

*Scripture Treasure.*

Gal 6:1 *Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

Christian growth and discipline.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

Christian discipline is a measure to correct sinful behaviour and to guide God's children towards righteousness. It is to

strengthen faith and deepen a relationship with God. It must be done in love.

It is a corrective tool but often Christians make it injurious to fellow Christians.

Christian discipline has two characters: the disciplinarian and the one under discipline.

Christian discipline under a Christian disciplinarian must be well managed in a way that mirrors Christ.

Christian discipline is well managed by a Christian who is *"......spiritual...."*, Gal 6:1. This is someone who is walking in the Spirit.

Christian discipline, when badly managed by an immature Christian leader, can result in complete separation of a sinner from Christ indefinitely without hope of restoration (unless Christ intervenes).

Prov 29:2 *When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.*

Paul's writing in Gal 6:1 teaches us the fineness of discipline when handled by, not just Christians, but mature Christians.

People who have been trapped in sin need humble, gentle hands, compassionate, empathic and restorative hearts. These are the qualities that mirrors Christ.

A heart that condemns can not discipline correctly. He can not guide but will look for ways for people to make mistakes so that he could unleash his wedge and harsh instrument of discipline.

A mature Christian warns his followers to guard against falling into sin and he disciplines the sinner in a way that would help and guard him from falling into similar temptations again.

There are times Christian discipline is well managed but resisted by the one under discipline (i.e the erring Christian).

These so called Christians are carnal. When discipline is metted on these types of Christians, who know they had sinned, they arrogantly separate themselves and thus avoid the discipline never to return back into the fold. For those who ignore discipline yet remain in the Church, they will be serving in rebellion.

Proverbs 29:1 says *He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.*

In Christian discipline, the mature Christian may attimes look at observing circumstances surrounding some sinful behaviors. There are Christians who are suddenly trapped, or overtaken by sin and there are some who are repeated offenders: who live in persistent sin.

Though both deserve discipline, it must be done in the Spirit of restoration.

There is another form of Christian discipline.

Paul writes about an unrepentant and immoral member.

Paul writes in 1 Cor 5:1 *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.*

In 1 Cor 5:9, he writes *To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.*

Though it refers to handing the individual out of the fellowship of the church and into the world, which is under the domain of Satan.

The purpose here is not to separate without any hope to restore any sinner of this sinful magnitude.

The sinner is reconsidered when repentance is tendered. The purpose is to protect the church and provoke the sinner to turn back to God. 

We must pay close attention to Paul's final word in this verse and this is that the soul of such sinner *".....may be saved.*

Though it is a form of separation from the Church fellowship but not from follow-up and/or the fellowship of Christians who are *"....spititual..."*.

Christian discipline of this form is a loving discipline. It hopes to remove the protective barrier of the church so that the person could face the consequences of their actions, and possible come back.

Oftentimes the torment of Satan could lead him back to God to seek refuge.

Paul wrote this to protect the Church from sinful nature or habits of persistent immoral member(s).

Are you mature enough to administer Christian discipline?

Are you growing as a leader?

Are you a leader with *".....a spirit of gentleness...."*?

Are you growing as a follower?

*Remorse corner.*

Mature Christians watch themselves. They remain humble and cautious recognizing that anyone is vulnerable and prone to temptation, 1 Cor 9:27, 10:12.

*Call to Word action.*

A mature Christian disciplinarian will *"....carry each other's burdens.....,"* which fulfills the law of Christ, Gal 6:2

*The Christian clarion duty.*

Jesus preaches restoration *"..... in a spirit of gentleness...."* He does not delight in the death of sinners. He does not want condemnation but reconciliation.

*Prayer.*

Lord grant me the heart to discipline with aim of restoring rather than a heart that totally separate a sinner from You, in Jesus name.

Good morning all and have a blessed day.

God bless you.

Shalom.