Hebrews 12:15-16 (Foresight – An Active Spirit)
15 Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God’s grace, in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and many become defiled by it – 16That no one may become guilty of sexual vice, or become a profane (godless and sacrilegious) person as Esau did, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. – (AMP)
It is very possible that bitterness and fornication will not take root inside the church, because the Word of God says we can stop it. It would not take root because the church exercises foresight and watches out one for the other, not only by encouraging ourselves in the Word but by praying.
A lot of wrong can be prevented by being active in the spirit (praying in the spirit), that is one way to get and exercise foresight. A lot of times, we’ve not watched as we ought but we’re ready to deal with a fallen one, when prevention is clearly better than cure. If anyone understands the birth pains it takes sometimes to birth one Christian, such will be ready to watch and pray other weak Christians into a higher place of understanding (righteousness). No wonder Paul says in Galatians 4:19, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth AGAIN until Christ be formed in you.” Please notice the word “AGAIN”. This means that Paul has travailed before for them to get to where they are, now he travails AGAIN even though absent. He “exercises foresight” to ensure that Christ be formed in them and hence sin does not take root.
The Bible clearly states when we ought to stop praying for the Church – WHEN CHRIST IS FORMED IN ALL OF US. Until that happens, WE DON’T STOP PRAYING.
– From Ven. Prof. Sam Ike