I Am With You in the Spirit

1 Corinthians 5:3-4 "Even though I am not with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit.  And as though I were there, I have already passed judgment on this man in the name of the Lord Jesus. You must call a meeting of the church.  I will be present with you in spirit, and so will the power of our Lord Jesus" NLT

      Lord, blatant sin in the church must be dealt with quickly, not only for the sake of the church, but for the individual as well.  If one has cancer,  early intervention and treatment can usually save the patient's life.  The surgery can be painful, and the radiation and chemotherapy very unpleasant indeed, but the outcome is worth it.  Sin left "covered and ignored" in my life can not only affect me, but will in time affect the folks around me. I pray someone would love me enough to "catch" me and help with restoration. In our culture we are not encouraged to "call someone out" in their sin.  Students come to me with issues and when I tell them they need to go to the proper authority they normally say, "I don't want to get anyone in trouble."  I have to tell them the person is already IN trouble and the most loving thing one can do is to get them the help they need to stop that behavior before something horrible happens to them.  Is that pleasant for the one having to do it...no!  Why? Because we are thinking more of ourselves and what that person will think of us.  SELFLESS TOUGH LOVE HURTS!  But, You are our example.  You were willing to suffer rejection, persecution, and even death out of Your great love foe us and were concerned for our ultimate eternal future!
    Lord, it is still a wonderful mystery that when two or more are gathered in Your name, You are in the midst.  Paul says here that You, by the Spirit, will be at this called meeting , and he will be there also by the same Spirit!  If the Spirit is quenched by all of the members of the body, the Spirit will have no power at all.  That is disastrous and the church dies.
      Lord, I never want to be the reason for even a small group of believers to lose Your Spirit's power.  Please, in lovingkindness, bring folks into my life to "call me out" in my sin so I may repent, and I will praise You for it!