Turning someone over to Satan

Scripture Read: 1 Timothy 1:18-20 This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, ¹⁹ keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. ²⁰ Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.

Application: What does it mean to deliver over to Satan? It sounds mean spirited. We need to see that this thing we call Christianity, the Body of Christ and Spiritual Warfare, is not just some social club with rules. You are very serious about it Lord. So is the enemy. There are believers suffering heinously over their belief in You, many even dying throughout this world. There is no time for games, because we are dealing with peoples eternities here. For some the issue is eternal destination, for others it is eternal investment. The most dangerous “being” on the globe, is a carnal Christian. How can that be? Temporal things are exactly that, temporary! They pass, they burn, they end. That which is eternal exists forever. The human soul is eternal, it will exist forever. The scriptures make it clear there are ONLY two places a soul can exist for eternity; with God or separated from Him. When a Christian becomes carnal in their way of life, they do the greatest damage that can be done to the souls of those that do not yet know the Lord. This is why Your Word Lord speaks so strongly about accountability beginning with believers:

1 Corinthians 5:9–13 (NASB95) I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; ¹⁰ I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. ¹¹ But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. ¹² For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?[This is a rhetorical question]  ¹³ But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.

1 Peter 4:14–17 (NASB95) If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵ Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; ¹⁶ but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

Paul goes on the record about two individuals that are rejecting the faith and shaming the Lord. If the Body of Christ would do this today, we would see less church splits and the unbelieving world would see a clearer message. As it is today, so many that “claim” to be in the Body of Christ live just like the world. We ignore them in our assemblies and just hope they will leave our local Body and go to someone else’s. This is shameful Lord! We owe You more! We owe the world more! This is just the beginning of “handing someone over to Satan” – publically acknowledging that this individual has gone astray and refuses to repent.

Meditation Questions: Do you know of a child of God that is living in open sin? Does their lifestyle only impact them? Have you witnessed individuals leave a local assembly because of sin, and now are worshipping elsewhere like nothing happened? How did that impact the local assembly they left? What do you think it does to the local church they went to? If we warn people that God will judge those that live in sin, yet we ignore those in our churches who are doing the same thing, what does that say?