Chico Alliance Church
“Dealing with Unruly Members”
Continually pursue the eternal
Continually contemplate the eternal
Conclusively deal with our “members” on the earth
“THEREFORE”
In light of the realities mentioned above Paul calls for further action. Paul shifts from the teaching that there is an aspect of our new life that is not earthly but hidden and still hidden with Christ in God urging us to deal with an aspect of our life that is yet earthly. He calls them the “on the earth members” “Members” is used of the parts of the physical body, or the differing members of the body of Christ to the capacities of our earthly body.
We are spirit, soul and body. God renews the spirit at conversion. The soul is being transformed by the renewing of the mind The body will be redeemed at the coming of Jesus. A conflict, a war rages on the battlefield of the soul and body between the fleshly aspects imbedded there and the new inner man.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Galatians 5:16-18
The struggle comes as Satan through the desires of the flesh seeks to control our members our capacities to communicate, love, relate to others, feel, think, and dream. These capacities can be used for good or evil.
Paul said…
I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wishes to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Romans 7:17-25
Paul urges us, in light of our new life and freedom, to deny our members expression and exposure to certain activities.
“put to death” point time command (do it now)
to make dead, to put to death, slay, to deprive of power, destroy the strength of
We operate according to a new system. We are to deny the members of our body access and expression to the things it once drew its strength. Paul instructs us to actively put the former practices and habits and inclinations ingrained in our system to death.
We are to count our members dead, unresponsive to the old ways. We are to refuse interaction with the old ways. Paul lists some specific areas deserving this severe treatment.
The items in this list appear many other places also because they are representative of a life lived on the level of the flesh with an earthy focus. Those who have experience new life in Christ are to operate from a NEW basis. We now exist in two dimensions.
Part of us operates in the spiritual dimension.
“Hidden with Christ in God.”
“Seated with Christ in the heavenlies”
“Blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies”
“Battling evil forces in the heavenlies”
Yet there is still part of us connected to the earthly. The Christian life is all about learning to live on the earth from a heavenly perspective and with resources drawn from the heavenlies. We are now to live according to the law of the spirit of life in Christ.
Romans 8:10-11
The Christian life is a process of seeing Christ’s life continually manifested through our members through His Spirit who indwells us. We are no longer obligated to live by the old ways. We are instructed to cut off our members from the old patterns by the power of the Spirit. We are to put to death the deeds of the body. Here Paul instructs us to deal with our members on the basis of our death and resurrection.
If you want to deal with anything out of control is to cut of the source of energy.
Paul calls us to cut off all the sources of energy that energize the flesh.
First – Cut off your members from “sexual immorality” (pornos)
The word used by God here was a word for prostitution, homosexuality, and sex outside of marriage. It is where we get our word pornography. We live in a society obsessed and out of control. We are bombarded by appeals to our members everyday. Our spirit, set free by Christ, is not attracted to such things. Our flesh, infected with sin, is enflamed by these things. Paul said in Romans 13 “make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”
James clearly indicates that sin is the result of unchecked desire linked with opportunity.
But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. James 1:14-15
Paul calls us to deal severely with our members in regard to some critical areas of concern. Put to death your members in regard to sexual immorality.
Sex is used for everything but to express and celebrate oneness of spirit and soul within the safe boundaries established by God.
DIVINELY DESIGNED BOUNDARIES
We have evolved into a society relationally disengaged but sexually inflamed. Passion inflames us but meaningful relating or sacrificial giving elude us. Even the commercials toss gasoline on the coals of our flesh. Paul provides two reasons for this drastic dealing with our members in regard to the old ways.
1. These things stir up God’s anger.
2. These things are what controlled your old their way of life.
Paul even more clearly urges us to deal with our members in regard to “pornea” in his letter to the Thessalonians chapter 4.
“abstain” the word to “have, or possess”. Used to indicate close fellowship even to have a demon. (the accusation that Jesus “had” a demon). The preposition “away” is attached to the word for “possess”. Thus to disassociate or not have allow fellowship with “pornea”.
“possess” acquire as in a purchase, to posses or get a wife.
“vessel” pot, clay jar.
“lustful” Pathos = passion, emotion, sexual emotion or stimulation
“passion” desire, longing both evil and good
In his letter to the Ephesians Paul included this problem and urged that they not even let “pornea” be named among them.
Failure to deal with these unruly members in regard to these things will result in continual strife in families and the family of God.
For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there may be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced. 2 Cor. 12:20-21
There are some specific things in the Bible. Before we go on I want us to briefly add the other related issues addressed here because the prevention and restoration steps are similar.
Second cut off your members from “uncleanness”
This is the word for clean or pure in both the physical and spiritual sense with a negative put in front of it. Our English word catharsis comes from this word.
To purge or cleanse, innocent, clear
• Pure motives. “Blessed are the pure in heart” Matt 5:8; 1 Tim 1:5
• A sinless life. “First clean the inside of the cup so that the outside of it may become clean also.” Matt 27:59
• A regenerated core “you are clean but not all of you.” Need feet washed John 13:10-11; 15:3
• Clear conscience Acts 18:6; 20:26;
• Clean food Rom 14:20
• Untainted practice of Christianity James 1:27
• Pure gold Rev 21:21
• to cut away dead wood, prune, clean John 15:2
The Word here in Colossians is the same word with a NOT in front of it.
“akathartos” unclean, impure, unclean things, impure person.
Far and away this word is used most often to describe fallen angels. The are “akathartos” spirits, unclean spirits. What is it that makes unclean spirits unclean? Sexual impurity? Eat impure food? What is the difference between an “unclean spirit” and a “holy angel”? What separated the evil from the elect is their rebellion? Now this word has other specific aspects, but I feel that at its core is a desire to operate independently of God. This is the bent of the rebel; a stiff-neck attitude to the will of God.
This tendency left in our members is at times as strong as the drive for sexual passion.
It is used in relation to food. Acts 10:14
It is used to describe the fate of children born to an unequal union but for the grace of God. 1Cor 7:14
It is used concerning certain things 2 Cor 6:17
It is used to describe dead, decaying and diseased flesh and sin. Matt 23:27
It is used of sexual perversion. Rom 1:24
It is used of sin in general Rom 6:19; 2 Cor 12:21
It is used of evil motives. 1 Thes 2:3
“Impurity” describes the drive to operate apart from God and his protective boundaries.
Third, cut off your members regarding passion and evil desire
These two words were used previously in 1 Thess 4 as lustful passion.
“passion” emotion, senses “desire” lust, longing
The Word desire here is a derivative of the word for anger. It has to do with strong passion and response to stimulus. There are many things in this world that turn our head and our heart. John categorizes them into three basic categories.
Lust of the flesh; Lust of the eye Lust for power
We are instructed to cut off our members from exposure and expression in this regard.
Another word for a strong desire for things is “greed”. Our members are also to be cut off from the passion to acquire and use things.
Fourth – Cut off your from greed
In Ephesisans Paul urged us not to let GREED even be named among you! This word comes from two words “to have or possess” “much or many” The marriage of the two terms describes the drive to desire more, covet. Here, Paul equates this desire lurking within our members with idolatry. The Greek word is “idolatria”
Greed, or desire to possess much get in the way of the desire to know God. We are to seek first the kingdom of God. We are to love the Lord with all our being. We are to have no other object of devotion before us.
Rich Young Ruler
The rich young ruler who claimed to keep all the commandments failed in at least two. “You shall not covet.” “You shall have no other gods before me.” Thus Jesus exposed his core by forcing him to expose the real object of his devotion.
Luke 12:15 And He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."
2 Peter 2:3 and in greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
2 Peter 2:14 having eyes full of adultery and that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children;
At the heart of greed and covetousness is dissatisfaction with God’s handling of our life. Satan urges this underlying feeling that that God is holding back, that we deserve more. We must continually guard our heart from greed.
The opposite is contentment.
Luke 3:14 And some soldiers were questioning him, saying, "And what about us, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages."
2 Cor. 12:8-10 Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Philip. 4:11 Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
1 Tim. 6:6-13 But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang. But flee from these things, you man of God; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confusion before Pontius Pilate,
Hebrews 13:5 Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,"
Hiding in our members are longings and desires contrary to life as experience on the level of the spirit. These lust wage war against our soul. Paul instructs us to mortify, or destroy the power of these. He wants us to deal with our unruly members by cutting them off, considering them dead to pornea, operating apart from God, deep passion and evil desires, greed.
How do we deal with these unruly members? There is a great deal in Scripture regarding these things. I do not want to spend a long time on each one because there is more.
I do want to provide you with some tools that will help you deal with ALL of these engrained tendencies and put them to death.
If we don’t deal with the left over desires of the flesh they will connect with opportunity and we will fall to the resulting temptation and sin and sin will bring death.
Prevention
1. Keep your focus on things above.
12:1Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. 4You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; Hebrews 12:1-4
2Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. 3And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 1 John 3:2-3
2. Remember who you are and where your life really is.
24Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Gal 5:24
7For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.
3. In regard to avoiding immorality, couples focus on your relationship with each other.
But because of immoralities (pornos) , let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again lest Satan tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 1 Cor. 7:2-5
4. Guard your heart for from it flow the springs of life make no provision for the flesh
Just to look at a woman with a desire to have relations with her results in similar soul damage as actual adultery.
5. Deny the requests (screams) of the flesh by walking by the power of the Spirit.
Put to death the deeds of the body.
6. Continually renew the mind through memorization and meditation.
12:1I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2
Memorize passage related to the area of struggle. Use the sword on our members.
7. Invite accountability
If you are trapped by unbridled desire of any kind be it sexual, chemical, material, emotional, visual, intellectual, physical there is help.
God jealously desires unwavering devotion and fellowship with us.
Restorative (James 4)
1. Submit to God
2. Resist the devil
3. Draw near to God
4. Realize the gravity seeking life apart from Christ (the husband)
5. Humble yourself before God by confession to God and a trusted spiritually mature person.
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the sky poured rain, and the earth produced its fruit. My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins. James 5:14-20
6:1Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2
APPLICATION THROUGH THE WEEK
Jot down anything God pointed out during the message?
What can I do to implement what He pointed out to me personally?
SUGGESTED APPLICATION EXERCISES
Take inventory
Who or what drives me? Where do I feel driven or out of control? Where are my battlefields? Who is winning the war the flesh or the Spirit? What is the war like in you life?
Clean house
Look around your house and examine your practices. Are there some things that need to be purged or changed that energize my members in a harmful way? Are there some programs on TV that should be eliminated? What about unproductive books or magazines?
Re-think the message
Think over the war. How does the war of the flesh manifest in your life? What makes it better or worse? Read through the points related to prevention. In what ways can you implement them in your life? Think about the points related to restoration. Who could I talk to about my struggle?
Hold a family meeting
Whether just you and your spouse, or with children, talk about our culture and the pull of the sensual against the pull of the eternal. Invite one another to describe in a general way their personal battlefields. Offer to pray for one another.
Further study (individual or family)
Jot down everything God teaches you about “desire” or “lust” from the word study provided.
Study the passage from 1 Corinthians 10 and the admonition to not be driven by “desire”. What parallels can be drawn from the Old Testament examples t apply to us?
In response to our death and resurrection with Christ
Continually pursue the eternal..
Continually contemplate the eternal.
Conclusively deal with your members.
