1 Corinthians 10
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prob of a title - live fixed, fix your focus who’s on your throne?
if you don’t know the purpose of the thing you misuse the thing.. you don’t ask another thing.. you ask the creator of the thing
Paul returning to the issue of meat takes a negative turn from thinking of others surrendering your right for sake of not being a stumbling block - to danger of them falling back into idolatry
we are not immune the most subtle of idols - us
In , Paul established two principles. First, an idol really is nothing, and it was fine for Corinthian Christians who understood this to act according to this knowledge, in regard to themselves. Second, for Christians love is more important than knowledge. So even though I may “know” eating meat sacrificed to an idol is all right for myself, if it causes my brother to stumble, I won’t do it, because it isn’t the loving thing to do.
1 Corinthians 1. Israel in the Exodus: Blessed with Many Spiritual Experiences, Yet They Were Disqualified (1–5)
In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul established two principles. First, an idol really is nothing, and it was fine for Corinthian Christians who understood this to act according to this knowledge, in regard to themselves. Second, for Christians love is more important than knowledge. So even though I may “know” eating meat sacrificed to an idol is all right for myself, if it causes my brother to stumble, I won’t do it, because it isn’t the loving thing to do.
ii. In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul showed how important it is for Christians to give up their “rights.” Just as Paul gave up his “right” to be supported by his own preaching of the gospel, so some of the Corinthian Christians must sometimes give up their “right” to eat meat sacrificed to idols, based on the principle of love towards a weaker brother. In the end of chapter 9, Paul showed how a Christian must be willing to give up some things—even “good” things—for the sake of winning the race God has set before us, otherwise we will become disqualified (1 Corinthians 9:27) in the competition of the Christian life.
ii. In , Paul showed how important it is for Christians to give up their “rights.” Just as Paul gave up his “right” to be supported by his own preaching of the gospel, so some of the Corinthian Christians must sometimes give up their “right” to eat meat sacrificed to idols, based on the principle of love towards a weaker brother. In the end of chapter 9, Paul showed how a Christian must be willing to give up some things—even “good” things—for the sake of winning the race God has set before us, otherwise we will become disqualified () in the competition of the Christian life.
Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 10
Paul appeals to examples from Israel’s history to warn the Corinthian church of the dangers of idolatry.
1 Corinthians 1. Israel in the Exodus: Blessed with Many Spiritual Experiences, Yet They Were Disqualified (1–5)
i. In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul established two principles. First, an idol really is nothing, and it was fine for Corinthian Christians who understood this to act according to this knowledge, in regard to themselves. Second, for Christians love is more important than knowledge. So even though I may “know” eating meat sacrificed to an idol is all right for myself, if it causes my brother to stumble, I won’t do it, because it isn’t the loving thing to do.
ii. In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul showed how important it is for Christians to give up their “rights.” Just as Paul gave up his “right” to be supported by his own preaching of the gospel, so some of the Corinthian Christians must sometimes give up their “right” to eat meat sacrificed to idols, based on the principle of love towards a weaker brother. In the end of chapter 9, Paul showed how a Christian must be willing to give up some things—even “good” things—for the sake of winning the race God has set before us, otherwise we will become disqualified (1 Corinthians 9:27) in the competition of the Christian life.
Guzik, D. (2013). 1 Corinthians (). Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik..
In chapter 10 Paul turns again to the question of idolatry in tackling the question about eating idol meat, up to this point his argument has taken a positive form .. for the sake of the fellow believer whose conscience is weak but now uses a warning from history of Israel in Exodus and Numbers that of them falling back into idolatry themselves aft constantly exposing themselves eating and drinking in the company of idols and idolaters.
we are not immune to idol worship
Hate being told off , compared uses what people know and do comparison.. but Paul is using their history in the same way as we are using our history, this letter as a warning and guidance for us 3 different time scales, different cultures and situations each still very relevant
Paul uses Israels experience to warn the Corinthians and us about he need to finish what God has set before us and how dangerous it is to refuse to give up or surrender something that gets in the way of finishing.
Read
Glass half full/half empty do you see how you are blessed with gratitude or do you see what you feel you are lacking thorgh comaprison and grumble -
if the latter you are on dangerous ground.
Comparison the blessing that Israel had in the Exodus from Egypt
fathers under the cloud - cloud of Shekinah glory - by day cloud sheltered them fro heat, by night a pillar of fire lit their way..constant visual reminder of Gods glory and presence.. in a pillar.. he was with them
all passed through the sea, all baptized into Moses - Gods incredible power holding up the walls of the red sea saving them and destroying the Egyptian army
Cloud - Gods presence
1 Corinthians 1. Israel in the Exodus: Blessed with Many Spiritual Experiences, Yet They Were Disqualified (1–5)
This was not only an amazing demonstration of God’s love and power, but also a picture of baptism—by “passing through water,” all of Israel was identified with Moses, even as by “passing through water,” a Christian is identified with Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3–4).
went through the sea - Red sea parting ()
All ate spiritual food and spiritual drink all were sustained by God miraculous provision water manna quail. This was a remarkable display of God’s love and power for Israel, and a pre-figuring of the spiritual food and drink we receive at the Lord’s table ().
Baptized into Moses- Israels salvation from Egypt through figurehead Moses, Like our salvation being baptized into Christ
1 Corinthians 1. Israel in the Exodus: Blessed with Many Spiritual Experiences, Yet They Were Disqualified (1–5)
Israel even had ancient versions of the two Christian sacraments we receive to this day: baptism and communion. The word sacrament was used for the oath of allegiance that the soldiers of the Roman legion took to their emperor. The early Christians considered communion and baptism to be an “oath of allegiance” unto Jesus Christ.
Spiritual food and drink - miraculously provided by the spirit manna provided water from rock when they complained
Guzik, D. (2013). 1 Corinthians (). Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik.
God was with them His presence and provision with them
The Rock - Paul identifies that Christ was with them - Paul urging the corinthians not to follow the israelites example of complaining about provisions given by God
But with most of them God was not well pleased: Despite all these blessings and spiritual privileges, the Israelites in the wilderness did not please God. In light of all those blessings, gratitude should have made them more pleasing to God, but they were not.
i. Most of them: This is a hard-hitting understatement. Only two men from the adult generation that left Egypt came into the Promised Land (Joshua and Caleb). Most indeed!
Paul’s point hits hard: the Corinthian Christians were probably taking all sorts of liberties (like feasting in pagan temples, stumbling their brothers), thinking that they were “safe” because of past blessings and spiritual experiences (especially baptism and communion), and free living under grace and not law..
So Paul warns them and us to beware, because just as Israel was blessed and had spiritual experiences, they still perished—and so some of the Corinthian Christians might also!
v 6 and 11 an example - so what are we going to do?
bring it to your today right here right now - Recognize our frailty - knowledge puffs up, love builds up - open our eyes be aware - God first -
Today Idol worship is a lot more subtle unless out and out - Hindu sheikh budda worship of a imagery God - we could say things like media - money , sex,
Idols do not have to be figures made of stone/things you can touch or hold or see, some of the most powerful idols exist in the mind. Human understanding isa workshop where idols are continually crafted.
What is an idol?there arte so many idols that a simple definition is hard.. so look at tit this way
A christian a Jesus follower could make the following statements about God:
God gives purpose, meaning and fulfillment to their lives
God governs the way they act
God is the focal point around with their existence hangs
God is often in their thoughts and they get enthusiastic about God
thoughts of God comfort them when they are down
They read about God, they talk about God they make friends with those who are also committed to God
they desire more of God
Got the picture? so idolatry is where something - anything takes the place of God in this central position
Who is on the throne of your life ?
an idol is anything you cold put in place of the word God in those statement, try it with money, possessions, career, holiday, music, sport, sex
idol is what people live for, fills our minds when we lie awake at night, idols are what we spend our time money and energy on. Idolatry occurs when we hold any value or activity higher than God
But it is oh so subtle.... your’e thinking not me God first…
Dr John Andrews shared wisdom and insight into the idols in our lives today the most common idol can be ourselves the subtle exchange in our relationship with god where we try and form Him in our image, attempt to manipulate him to do our will, for our blessing… dare i say our glory???
Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
=14
great care surrounded by something for us to Do
Last week Pastor talked about our identity and Knowing God and because we know God we grow - do.
So what do we do The Corinthian Christians seem to have regarded this issue of eating meat sacrificed to idols and thereby stumbling their brother as a “small” issue. Paul wants them and us to know that it reflects a selfish, self-focused heart, which is the kind of heart God destroyed among the Israelites in the wilderness. It may have been a relatively small symptom, but it was a symptom of a great and dangerous disease
Guzik, D. (2013). 1 Corinthians (). Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik.
You see with knowing comes responsibility.. if you know something you are responsible to act.. no “i didnt know!!!’ we are in the third cycle what will we do with the warnings?
For the Corinthian Christians and ourselves to resist the temptation to be selfish and self-focused, they must first understand they are vulnerable. The one who thinks he stands will not stay on guard against temptation, so he may easily fall.
i. Temptation works like rocks in a harbor; when the tide is low, everybody sees the danger and avoids it. But Satan’s strategy in temptation is to raise the tide, and to cover over the dangers of temptation. Then he likes to crash you upon the covered rocks.
Guzik, D. (2013). 1 Corinthians (). Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik.
ii. “The highest saint under heaven can stand no longer than he depends upon God and continues in the obedience of faith. He that ceases to do so will fall into sin, and get a darkened understanding and a hardened heart.” (Clarke)
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man: We often want to excuse our particular tempting circumstances as “very unique” and a “special exception,” but God reminds us that our temptation is not unique. Many other men and women of God have faced the same or similar temptation, and have found the strength in God to overcome the temptation.
i. Others before you have found strength in the Lord to overcome your same temptation—and worse. So, you can be victorious—in the strength of Jesus, not in your own strength.
We fight temptation with Jesus’ power, like the girl who explained what she did when Satan came with temptation at the door of her heart: “I send Jesus to answer the door. When Satan sees Jesus, he says, ‘OOPS, sorry, I must have the wrong house.’ ”
Promise to not allow us to be tempted beyond your ability.. our ability in Him as we rely on Him , not our capability as we rely on ourselves… drawing us out of us being the idol.
God is so gracious also the promise to make a way of escape - never forces us to use the escape but it is available if we chose to take Gods way of escape.
Guzik, D. (2013). 1 Corinthians (). Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik.
1 Corinthians 3. Summary of the Lesson from Israel’s History: Standing Strong against Temptation (11–13)
Barclay says the word for a way of escape is really a mountain pass, with the idea of an army being surrounded by the enemy, and then suddenly seeing an escape route to safety. Like a mountain pass, the way of escape isn’t necessarily an easy way.
f. The way of escape does not lead us to a place where we escape all temptation (that is heaven alone). The way of escape leads us to the place where we may be able to bear it.
Back to us doing....
Therefore beloved FLEE
I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
1 corinth10:15-
back to the meat.. not talking about the butchers market meat in the temple markets talking about the temple restaurant
here is the word partake..Paul’s point may seem obscure to us, but it was plain to someone in that ancient culture. Just as the Christian practice of communion speaks of unity and fellowship with Jesus, so these pagan banquets, given in the honor of idols, spoke of unity with demons who took advantage of misdirected worship. To eat at a pagan temple banquet was to have fellowship at the altar of idols
what are you bringing to the table this morning?
do away with idols,
psalm139
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
take heed of warnings, lets stop the cycle for the next generation and generations to come - be vigilant of who is on the throne, we've been here before, we've preached this before, but do you find yourself like the Corinthians in their comfort and puffed up-ness of knowledge
time now to come to the sacrament - ritual action of communion - visible sign of the invisible divine grace bestowed upon us when we take part… lets take a moment then as this word was used for the oath of allegiance that the roman soldiers took to their emperor, we too re align ourselves and make our oath of allegiance to Jesus christ.