SPIRITUAL WARFARE 2.5

AUTHORITY AND CHARACTER – SECTION 2-5:

*** God Uses Satan To Discipline Wayward Believers ***

(1 Corinthians 5:1-5)
    – One of the church members
      was having sex with his father’s wife.
      Note:
          She could have been either his mother, or his step-mother.

    Question:
    How did the church feel about this type of sin in their church?
        – They were proud.
        Question:
        What could possibly make them proud?
            – They may have completely misunderstood
               the idea of God’s forgiveness.
                   – They may have thought this man’s sin magnified
                      the victory of the cross to cover sin;
                      …in other words, the more he sinned,
                         the more God’s forgiveness was demonstrated.

            – They may have thought that forgiveness meant
               freedom to do anything with no consequences.

        Whatever the case, Paul was not happy and he gave some
        strange advice for handling this situation
        ….“turn this man over to Satan”.
        Question:
        Why?
            – So that his soul would be saved,
              even though his flesh might be destroyed.

            Question:
            What does this say to Christians today?
                – God loves us, but His discipline can be severe.

    Note:
        There is no indication as to why only the son
        was disciplined, and not the husband’s wife.

(1 Timothy 1:18-20)
    – Paul was counseling and encouraging Timothy.
      Then he changed his focus to two men, Hymenaeus
      and Alexander, whose faith had been “shipwrecked”.
      Paul “turned these two over to Satan”
      to teach them not to blaspheme.

Question:
What percentage of Christians would you say realize
that God may use Satan as a means of discipline?

Question:
How do you think it would impact their lives
if they suddenly realized this truth?

Question:
Do you agree or disagree with these statements?
    – Many Christians don’t fully understand what the
      fear of the Lord really means. (respect, honor,
      obedience, and knowing He disciplines those He loves)

    – A disturbing number of Christians can sin with no
      sense of accountability, and no awareness that God
      will discipline them.

    – Too many Christians believe forgiveness means they
      can continue with sinful habits and God is obligated
      to exclude them from discipline.

    Note:
        From what we have just seen in 1 Timothy and 1 Corinthians,
        Christians should be warned that there is a real possibility
        of being “turned over to Satan” if they continue to live in sin.

*** Discipline Is Designed To Lead To Repentance ***

    – When God allows Satan access to an unrepentant Christian,
      His goal is not to “get even”, or to watch His children squirm.

    – The goal is repentance; God wants to restore our fellowship
      with Him, and mold our character in the process.

    – God is ready to comfort and reassure Christians when they repent.
      Note:
          (2 Corinthians 2:5-11)
           – Paul instructs the church
              to treat a repentant sinner in this manner.
             Note:
                 This means that individually we should treat repentant
                 sinners in this way. We have a responsibility to forgive
                 others (even in our own family) whenever they have
                 offended us in some way. God demands that we forgive!

            Question:
            Why?
                – Because he had repented and was truly sorry for his sin;
                  to fail to love and encourage him now could cause him
                  to feel alone and to be overwhelmed by his sorrow,
                  which serves no good purpose.

            Question:
            What are some reasons other Christians
            would not love and encourage a repented sinner?
                – “Holier than Thou” attitude?
                – Mad at him or her?
                – Jealousy…afraid he/she would get more attention?
                – Dealing with sin in their own life?

Note:
    Knowing that God may use Satan to discipline, could cause
    some Christians to fall into a kind of neurotic fear…a fear
    that every time they sin, God will unleash Satan into their lives.
    There are some things we need to remember:
        – God’s use of Satan is probably determined
          by the state of our love relationship with Him.

        – God uses Satan to break a believer of sin so that
          the love relationship with God can be restored.

        – Pain is not His goal, but molding character is.

        – Since He loves us and He is perfect, His use of Satan
          in the life of a Christian is the very best thing that
          could happen to a believer.

*** This Discipline Usually Follows Persistent Rebellion ***

    – Typically when God used Satan to discipline,
      the people were in a state of rebellion.

    – It wasn’t an occasional sin,
      but a continual sin with no thoughts of repentance.

    – The length and severity of discipline most likely
      is determined by the willingness to respond to
      he discipline, and repent.

    – More than likely, repentance is the only thing
      (other than death) that will remove Satan.

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