REPROVE THEM
Friday – February 17, 2017
Greetings from The Three Minute Word publication with prayer for each of us to choose prosperity and health when we first choose to prosper our soul.
3 John 1:2 (HCSB)
2 Dear friend, I pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health physically just as you are spiritually.
Notice that our physical is directly related to and dependent upon the spiritual. We cannot prosper financially and be in good physical health in this life according to Kingdom of God principles without first being in good spiritual health. Since the principles of the Kingdom of God are incomparably superior to the principle of darkness why are not the very richest people on the earth Christians, the top line inventors, and the longest lived in a healthy state Christians? Bottom line we are puny spiritually. What is our excuse? We have none and will answer to God. None reading this should feel condemned but perhaps each of our conscious were pricked and we will be wooed forward by the Holy Spirit. Now back to our Bible Study text in Ephesians.
Ephesians 5:8-12 (KJV)
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Yesterday I talked about the command from our Lord through the Apostle Paul for us to; “prove what is acceptable unto the Lord.” That brings us to the next command (not try to or holy suggestions) which is to; “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” We are commanded of God to have “no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness”. Notice that the word ‘them’ is in italics meaning it is not in the original manuscripts but added by the translators for completeness or clarity. We have to decide if the ‘them’ is referring to acts or to people. It seems to me it is referring to the unfruitful works of darkness not the people doing the unfruitful works of darkness. These works are fruitful in the darkness that is they further the darkness, the works of Satan, but these works in no way have a positive effect on the Kingdom of God and are a hindrance, unwelcome leaven, in any given body of believers.
When the Scripture says to have no fellowship it means that we are not in any way to appear to approve of these unfruitful works of darkness. This is not to say that you can’t sit on the same row at Church or even have a lunch with persons involved with unfruitful works of darkness however they are never to be one of those with whom you have a close relationship (inner circle). No contact, no influence. The person involved in these unfruitful works of darkness should have no question as to the Truth. At some point in the unrepentant the space between us and them widens until they are as the heathen to us.
2 Corinthians 6:14 (KJV)
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
As we move forward I will again list these works of darkness in part: unGodly doctrine, lasciviousness, corrupt communication, deceitful lusts, lying, anger with sin, bitterness, wrath, clamor, evil speaking, malice, calloused toward others, practicing unforgiveness, fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talk, jesting, lack of thanksgiving, whoremongering, all of which are idolatry. Please study each of these and do not only consider the physical aspect but the spiritual, remembering that we are principally spiritual beings. Everything, righteousness and unrighteousness, has its origin in the spiritual realm. Each of us are likely guilty of one or more of these works of darkness so let us be diligent in finding what is hindering us and opening the door for the devil to steal, kill, and destroy in our lives. Let us all strive to lay claim all that Jesus paid for at Calvary.
Finally, our text ends with the command to reprove the unfruitful works of darkness. The word ‘reprove’ in our text means: to shame, disgrace, to convict, and to prove one in the wrong and thus to shame him (The Complete Word Study Dictionary – New Testament). This must be done under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, like all else in the Kingdom of God, remember we are dealing with a brother or sister, a child of God, at least at this stage.
Galatians 6:1 (KJV)
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
The correction will come through a Prophet or a Teacher led of the Spirit of God who may or may not be a part of the congregation who may or may not know of the situation. Sometimes this may be done between friends when one has become aware of a work or darkness in the other. Iron sharpens iron.
The correction must come and God will lead one and then another if the first is disobedient. God is merciful and patient and so must we be merciful and patient as well. If all in that persons circle refuse He will send others in various ways like the TV preacher, a Newsletter, and so on. There may come a time when the person(s) engaged in darkness harden their hearts and the leaders of the Church also harden their hearts to bringing the proper correction and teachings to illuminate the differences of light and darkness.
A person who persists in unfruitful works of darkness which may be a wrong doctrine which is unbelief, they believe a lie and not the truth therefore cannot be in leadership. A little leaven will leaven the whole loaf and the Church will stall and start dying. When we read in Scripture that we are to speak the Truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) that does not mean with a hushed voice and the intonation that this is minor and not a big deal but you wanted to mention it. It means that we speak the Truth in obedience to God, the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
