Sermon Tone Analysis

1 Corinthians 10:23-33

June 30, 2002

 

*Intro:* *The 1st item in the Westminster catechism is:  *The chief

          purpose of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.

*A-  **This is the biblical God desired purpose for man.*

*1 Peter 4:11*,  If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.

If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever.

Amen.

1-   To glorify God is to acknowledge and magnify the dignity, majesty, purpose, and holiness of God in our lives.

a-   Is this being accomplished in your life.

-         HOW DO WE ACCOMPLISH IT?

*The Bible says we do so through: *Confessing sin,  trusting God,  bearing fruit for Him,  thanking Him,  suffering for Christ’ cause,  being content,  praying,  and spreading His Word.

b-   And one way or another God WILL be glorified, either through the positive (obedience) of through the negative.

*Exodus 14:17*,  “And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them.

So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen.

*Jeremiah 13:16*,  Give glory to the Lord your God Before He causes darkness, And before your feet stumble On the dark mountains, And while you are looking for light, He turns it into the shadow of death

And makes it dense darkness.

2-   Here Paul’s desire is to show us how to glorify God through our liberties.

a-   Our thoughts can be; liberties as allowed negatives.

-         The theme of this portion of scriptures is:

*1 Corinthians 10:31*,  Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Ø *Paul’s lesson here is to direct us in how to use liberties to God’s glory.*

A-  So the following is for those whose desire and passion is to have God glorified in every aspect of our lives.

*1 Corinthians 10:23*,  All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.

*A-  **Do you see liberties (not sin) as a tool to be helpful (to achieve a purpose),   or to feed you desires.*

1-   “All things are lawful”

a-   I am a Christian, I have been saved by grace, I can not loose my salvation, does what I partake in really matter?

-         Possible the people of Corinth were using liberties as an excuse for exorcising fleshly desires.

*Read 1 Corinthians 6:12-20*

2-   “but not all things edify.”

a-   *Edify* = building up something (being built up in a Christian walk).

1-   What, exactly, *does* edify (build up).

*#1- The word *

*Acts 20:32*,  “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

*#2- Preaching and teaching*

*1 Corinthians 14:3-4*,  But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.4

He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

*#3- Love*

*1 Corinthians 8:1*, …Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

*#4- The exorcising of our spiritual gifts.*

*Ephesians 4:11-12*,  And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

*                    *3- So in evaluating our actions we need to ask ourselves.

a-   Does the bible tell me this is sin?

b-   Is the action helpful for building godliness in myself or others?

c-   Is my action useful in bring glory to God.

 

*1 Corinthians 10:24*,  Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.

*#2- The next consideration is using liberties to glorify god is “Is *

*       this going to edify me at the expense of another?*

*A-  **As a Christian my 1st thoughts are of god and my 2nd thoughts are of others.*

1-   Remember you are the expression of God to believers and unbelievers.

*Philippians 2:3-4*,  Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.4

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

2-   The Greek word for “I” is “ego”.

a-   We pronounce it ego

-         Do I really need to build my ego more?

 

*1 Corinthians 10:25-27*, Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake;26 for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”27

If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake.

*#3- The biggest way to use liberties as a way to glorify God is to*

*      not be a legalist.*

*A-  **What is most people’s perception of religion.*

1-   More O.T. than N.T

2-   More self sacrifice than relationship

3-   More rules than grace.

4-   More bondage than freedoms.

a-   This is the counter balance to the previous point.

-         Although I need to sacrificially minister to others I will not allow their standards to rule my life .

·        Matt & Laura

b-   Paul’s point is Meat is meat.

-         To participate in the ceremonies of idols is to have fellowship with demons.

·        But in the market place…

*Psalm 24:1*, The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.

*1 Timothy 4:4-5*,  For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

c-   Go into the unbelievers house as a minister not as a policeman.

-         Dad and Buddha, music, videos, TV.

 

*1 Corinthians 10:28-30*,  But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”29

“Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other.

For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience?30

But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?

*#4- Never use your liberties to cause a believer to stumble.*

*A-  **When it comes to offending a believer or a nonbeliever, choose to offend the nonbeliever.*

1-   The example set by arguing, division, and infighting.

*Romans 14:3*,  Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.

*1 Corinthians 10:31-32*,  Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,

*#5- Our theme speaks for itself.*

A-  Whatever the issue this is;  this is gauge.

*1 Corinthians 10:33*,  just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

*#6- Make your liberties of a practical nature.*

*2 Timothy 4:5*,  But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

A-  If I (Pastor Mike)

1-   used bad language,  manner of dress,  smoked, drank.

a-   What effect would that have on my presentation of the gospel?

*Read 1 Corinthians 9:19-23*

2-   The greatest form of flattery is imitation.

a-   Is you Christian walk a pattern for others

*Close Philippians 3:17-4:1.

*

 

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 10:23-33

June 30, 2002

 

1 Peter 4:11

Exodus 14:17

Jeremiah 13:16