1 Corinthians 5:4 - The Power in the Meeting

 

1 Corinthians 5:4

 

NKJV

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

 

NLT

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.

 

Earlier in this chapter, Paul is gettin’ after the church at Corinth for basically saying that an open sin by one of the brothers was ok. He said that he’d already judged the one who’d done the deed.

The Living Word (Bible) is best understood in context, but God can also take pieces (individual verses) of it and speak truth to us.  For me, he does it here. While I get what is being talked about here, the removal of an unrepentant brother; I also am struck by the last part after Paul says when you must call a meeting.

It says, when you are gathered together with the power of the Lord Jesus Christ…How bout dat!?!?  Mathew 18:20 says where two or more are gathered in my name there I am. Ecclesiastes 4:12 tells us that three strands are not easily broken. There is strength to be gained when believers gather. There is strength to be gained because we can encourage each other to pursue Jesus.  Hebrews 10:25 tells us to meet together; to not forsake it. How can we grow in our relationship with Christ if we’re not going to be around brothers and sisters in Christ? Yes, God supplies the growth…but you never know who He is going to be speaking through.  Meet together and do it with the power of Jesus!

 

In a meeting,

cej