The Test of Spiritual Things

Introduction:
Thanksgiving is over, and a new season is beginning.  Fall is shifting to winter, giving thanks shifting to “gimmie, gimmie, gimmie,” and after more than a month 1 Corinthians 11 is shifting to 1 Corinthians 12!  So far in 1 Corinthians we’ve seen what church is like when we do it our way and that we need to do a Spirit-led self-test to see if we’re messed up like the church in Corinth was. Now we’ll start to see what church is like when it functions God’s way.  It begins with another test…

The Test of Spiritual Things
Concerning Spiritual Things (READ 1 Corinthains 12:1)
The main point of this chapter is about the unity of followers of Christ based upon the unity of the Godhead (Father, Son, Spirit).  Last Sunday night we heard about laminin: you know, that cross-shaped protein that keeps your body from falling to pieces, that glue of the human body.  Well, the glue of the Church is the Holy Spirit and He very much uses spiritual gifts to hold the Church together.

The verse says, “I do not want you to be ignorant.”  It shows concern about the immaturity of the believers at Corinth.  We’ve seen already that they were not growing in spiritual maturity, given the division, immorality, pride, idolatry, etc.  The truth is that if you’re not becoming more Godly, you are becoming less.  There is no neutral.  Their carnality was proof that they were ignorant of spiritual things.  Oh, they had knowledge of spiritual things, but “knowing” doesn’t mean you ARE spiritual.  Knowing doesn’t mean you use spiritual knowledge to edify the church.  It might make you feel good about yourself, but that doesn’t mean squat!  So the Spirit wants them to test what they see and hear.  What were they listening to? 

The first they need to understand is that the old things are certainly not of God…

Former Spiritual Things - READ 12:2
”You were carried away by dumb idols,” is what it says.  Remember, idols themselves are nothing, just wood and stone (1 Cor 8:4), but they are powered by demons, so have no part with them (1 Cor 10:20).  On your own you were carried away by the dumb idols, but in Christ you left them, forsook them, right?  Of course they didn’t forget or forsake you!  They lie in wait and want nothing more than to carry you away again.  Can a believer be “carried away by an idol?”  Well, 1 Timothy 4:1 says, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.”  Matthew 24:24 says, “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”  

Back to 1 Corinthians, 12:2 says, “you were carried away by dumb idols, however you were led.” There are as many ways to be led into idolatry as there are idols; there is diversity in idolatry.  You can worship any number of idols and you can worship any idol in any number of ways.  “Hang on preacher, I don’t have any idols!  I don’t use drugs or alcohol!”  Okay, but the Scripture says we were ALL enslaved to some idol.  We either worship God or some part of His creation.  It could be a person, place or thing, a philosophy, even yourself.  We were ALL carried away by some dumb idol. 

Here is the hard truth: most sin is really just the practice of an addiction, and addictions are the worship of an idol.

They seem innocent or manageable to start, but sooner or later they turn on you, bringing consequences and powerlessness.  What once seemed enjoyable or harmless becomes hurtful and overpowering.  Now there are no shortage of ways the world tries to deal with the reality of idols that oppress us.  There are self-help books, TV talk shows, rehabs, psychology and all kinds of things.  But all of them have the same problem: they try to treat the addiction instead of removing the idol.  In fact, many times they see no issue with the idol at all.  Let me give you an example.

Food addiction.  Want to know what happens if we just treat the addiction?  First, let me say that this is something I struggle with so I have some experience here.  There are many reasons people develop a food addiction, but the results are an unhealthy diet and medical problems to name a few.  You try to address your problem of over-eating by tackling the addiction; so, you diet and exercise.  After some short-term success you find yourself relapsing and gaining weight again.  This goes in cycles for awhile and you get really frustrated.  Then you watch some exercise show on TV and they spend a lot of time trying to understand why people are addicted to food, often they connect it to low self-esteem or the fear of rejection.  But those are just part of the addiction.  The idol that is being worshipped is pride.  Think about it, low self-esteem and the fear of rejection come about when our pride has been hurt, so we develop behaviors that comfort us…one of those behaviors is over-eating.  The experts know that in order to treat the addiction to food, they must help the people shift all that “worship” over to something else.  So, they create new patterns of worship like exercise and “looking good.”  You’re told to make it all about you, focus on yourself, and do it for #1.  In many cases it works for awhile and people loose weight.  The world applauds and says, “How amazing!”  But after all the hoopla is over many of the folks go back to their old worship/addiction patterns and put the weight back on.  Others, adapt to the new worship and become addicted to their self-image.  You say, “What’s wrong with that?”  Well, eventually what seems good will turn on you and take you captive.  The popularity will soon fade and the world won’t care about you anymore.  

All along, the idol has never been addressed.  The worship of that idol, that is the practice of an addiction, may have shifted to new behavioral patterns, but it’s still the same old idol.  It doesn’t matter if you worship by over-eating, or if you worship by exercising to maintain a certain self-image.  The idol is pride, which is nothing more or less than worshiping self.  That is also called worshipping the creation instead of the Creator.  So, we shift from one addiction to the next, each one just as destructive as the last.  That’s what happens when we treat the addiction.

What is the only way out of addiction?  Stop worshipping the idols and start worshipping God.

Well, how do we avoid being ignorant and getting carried away again, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons?  How do we know if we’re truly worshipping God alone and not allowing another idol in…or going back to the old one?  

The Spirit tells us to test what/who we are following and listening to…

Testing Spiritual Things - READ 12:3
The test is to identify what can and cannot be attributed to the Holy Spirit.  This is not only a Spirit-led self-test, like we just covered in the previous section, it is mainly a test of what you are following and listening to.  It is a test of all the influences that you come in contact with.  How do you know if that expert speaks on behalf of God or an idol?   The answer is do they call Jesus Lord or curse Him?

“Hang on preacher, just because someone fails to mention Jesus being their Lord doesn’t mean they are speaking for a demon.”  Yeah, but anyone who is submitting to the Holy Spirit will constantly testify about Jesus, and proclaiming Him as Lord.  In John 15:26-27 Jesus said, “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth, who goes out from the Father, He will testify about Me, and you also must testify…”  If you are listening to anyone or anything that does not proclaim Jesus as Lord...you are listening to someone/something who is not submitting to the Spirit but rather to demons.  They fail the test.

Who or what is influencing you?

 

Crossroad

Introduction:
The Spirit continued a work I came to understand far more clearly this week.  He knew the plan long before I did and He has been working for months to bring us to this Crossroad, a Crossroad where you and I stand.  The church at Corinth was a church where the people were trying to be Godly…but they couldn’t.  They were excited about their new freedom in Christ, so much so they started loving that more than Christ and each other.  As a result they were living according to their own wisdom and desires, and soon the worship of idols replaced the worship of God.  It sounds much like Israel in the OT; they tried to be Godly but they couldn’t either, not on their own.  They were following the rules, so much so they started loving the routine and forgot to love God and each other.  As a result they lived according to their own wisdom and soon the worship of idols replaced the worship of God.

Last week, the Spirit revealed just how great a problem this was in Corinth (see 1 Cor 11:17-22).  Their love of liberty, their idolatry, their lack of unity caused them to be gathering separately.  It was a disgrace to God, especially at the Lord’s Supper.  The church at Corinth, like the nation of Israel before it, was at a Crossroad.  We now see them standing at that Crossroad in 1 Corinthians 11.  To the left or right is more trying to be Godly, division, idolatry, and judgment.  Straight ahead is Christ-likeness, unity, worship, and peace with God & each other.

Crossroad

I Cannot (1 Cor 1-11:22)
That is the two-word summary of 1 Corinthians up to 11:23, for that church, for me, for you, and for every person of all time.  I cannot be Godly on my own.  When I try it ends up like that mess in Corinth.  Think about all we’ve talked about since we started this journey through Revelation 2-3 and 1 Corinthians: the rebukes Jesus gave most of the churches in Rev 2-3, and the rebukes the Spirit gives the church in Corinth.  They all earned those rebukes by trying to be Godly on their own.

Except for those with the spirit of antichrist that slip into churches to destroy it, people don’t try to divide churches, introduce heresy, or bring in idolatry, but that’s what happens when the entire church is not functioning like what’s coming up in 1 Corinthians 11:23 and beyond.  What does the church in 1 Corinthians 11:23 and beyond look like?  Well, every believer cherishes God’s authority.  Every believer knows his spiritual gift and is using it for the good of the church.  There is perfect unity within the Body.  Faith, hope, and love are the preeminent characteristics of the church, and the greatest is love.  There is worship as God intended it and the church is growing in number as each believer grows in spiritual maturity.

So there is a Crossroad in 1 Corinthians 11…knowing I’ve tried, I’ve really tried, but I Can’t…

God Can (1 Cor 11:23-26)
Here is the testimony that God not only can, He has!  None of us can save ourselves by following rules or trying to be Godly, but God did what we could not do ourselves…He redeemed us by grace through faith!  As believers, none of us can live like Christ did, grow spiritually, or do our part within the Church by following rules or trying to be Godly.  But God will do what we cannot do ourselves.  He cares about us too much to leave us like we are.  He wants to mold and shape us, help us mature spiritually, and use us to further His purposes and will.  He can do that…I cannot.  All I can do is decide to cooperate with Him.  That’s the Crossroad: deciding to commit my life and will to Him, or do it my way.  It’s a Crossroad we face every day.

Jesus said, “Take, eat, this is My Body which is broken for you…this cup is the new covenant in My Blood.”  Jesus offered Himself for you.  Yes, a once for all sacrifice for sin that when we accept by grace through faith, we receive forgiveness, victory over the power of sin, and eternal life.  BUT you also enter into communion with Him.  The Holy Spirit indwells you; you are baptized by the Spirit (Acts 1:5).  Jesus said in Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  The Holy Spirit, more than anything else, makes you a powerful witness of Christ. 

Do you think it is coincidence that the Holy Spirit is all over 1 Corinthians 12?  It isn’t… consider the sequence in 1 Corinthians: people got saved but soon were being Christians as they thought best; it led to division, pride, idolatry, and much more.  Then they started looking around asking what the problem was.  Then God laid it out through the Apostle Paul, and it is the same deal here as in the letters of Rev 2-3  When you do it…it’s a mess. 

So, how do we let God do it…well we have Communion with Jesus who won the victory (1 Cor 11:23-26).  We examine ourselves (1 Cor 11:27-34) and submit to the Spirit who gives the wisdom & power to live that victory (12+).  More on that in the weeks to come…

Conclusion:

My challenge to you this week: read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 everyday and ask God to reveal to you if you’ve been trying to live as a Christian on your own.

Gathering Separately

Introduction:
Ever been told to do something, but you didn’t want to do it  In fact you didn’t do it, but you acted like you did?  We like the Andy Griffith show at our house.  There is a first season episode where Opie fakes brushing his teeth; he just wets the brush and all.  Ever do that as a kid?  I’m guilty; not any more, but I did that as a kid.

Jesus told a parable with a situation kind of like that…  It was after Triumphal entry, during that last week before Jesus went to the Cross.  The setup is in Matthew 21:23-27 where the chief priests and elders come to challenge Jesus by asking what authority He has to do and say the things He did and said.  Part of Jesus’ response is the parable recorded in Matthew 21:28-31.  In this parable, a father told two of his sons to go work in his vineyard.  One son told dad “no”, but then felt remorse and went and did it.  The other son said “okay dad” but didn’t do it; he just wet the toothbrush. 

This week we are in 1 Corinthians 11:17-22.  The Holy Spirit continues His transition to a new, yet related topic.  So far, through Paul, the Spirit has rebuked the church at Corinth over division, pride, etc (1 Cor 1-7).  He has rebuked them for idolatry (1 Cor 8-10).  He also rebuked their disrespect of Godly authority (1 Cor 11:1-16).  Today we will see the Spirit’s rebuke the church’s “gathering separately.”  What in the world is “gathering separately,” right?  And you’re probably wondering what this has to do with Jesus’ parable of the 2 sons, right?  Well, we’re about to tackle all of that. So let’s see what the Spirit has to say to the Churches…

Title this morning is…
Gathering Separately

Gathering Separately to Their Shame (11:17-19)
We start in 11:17 with some hard words for the church at Corinth.  God was not well pleased with them and it says they, “came together not for the better, but for the worse.”  Remember that beginning back in 1 Cor 7:1, questions previously asked by the church at Corinth are being answered: 7:1 – relating to marriage, 8:1 – relating to idols, 12:1 – relating to spiritual gifts, and 16:1 – relating to the collection for the saints in Jerusalem.  This discussion in 1 Cor 11 is still relating back to the question about idols in 8:1.  Until now, the Spirit has been rebuking their idolatry and their abuse of liberty, but now He turns to proper worship, the Worship of Christ. 

Now, I find The Word of God to be amazing…amen?  The Word, that is Scripture, given by the Holy Spirit, reveals a pattern in the idolatrous and divided church at Corinth.  It is the same pattern the Word Made Flesh, that is Jesus, addressed in the idolatrous/divisive chief priests.  So lets compare Matthew 21:23-31 and 1 Cor 11:17-22 for a moment.  In Matthew, the chief priests / elders questioned, even challenged Jesus’ authority.  In Corinth, everything from division over leaders, to demanding their own liberty, to rebellion against God’s natural order with hair length, the church in Corinth was questioning, even challenging God’s authority as well.  Also, in Matthew Jesus responds with a parable about one son, who represents the tax collectors and harlots, says he will not obey his father, but later regrets it and obeys.  Meanwhile the other son, who represents the religious people, says he will obey but he does not.  In 1 Corinthians, you’ve got this church that is following the path of the chief priests, saying they obey God, but not doing it!  The church at Corinth was full of religious people who were not obeying God and now in their gathering together, they were divided, separated, due to all the selfishness, pride and other sins, bringing shame upon Christ’s church. 

The Spirit begins by having Paul issue the rebuke of 11:17, saying that the church was not “coming together” or “gathering” for good, but for worse.  How can that be, the church is commanded to assemble together, right?  Hebrews 10:25 commands us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves.  So, NOT gathering is sin.  Yet the Spirit says that obeying God’s command in the way they were was worse than breaking that command about gathering together.  Ah…that sounds like a problem don’t you think?  So what were they doing that was so heinous, so repulsive to God?  Just read the next two verses.

In 1 Corinthians 11:18 we see that it’s that same problem that’s been addressed throughout the letter…division.  That division was evident in so many ways and the impact was being felt in all areas.  It was certainly being felt in their poor attempts at worship.  After all, you cannot go on praising, giving thanks, and worshipping when divided, self-centered, and prideful?  There were obviously divisions among them.  The Greek word used in 11:19 that’s translated “factions” is the same Greek work used in Galatians 5:19  Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions…  Such factions, division, and contentions are serious offences to God.  Contention in the church at Corinth was enough to make their gathering worse than not gathering…when gathering is commanded by God!  One thing for sure, that division did reveal who among them was “approved.”

Remember the account of the nation of Israel standing on the boarder of the Promised Land not long after they left Egypt and then Mount Sinai?  Together the whole crowd of them decided not to trust and obey God; they decided to follow the 10 spies who said that God was wrong…that they’d loose if they tried to take the Land from those giants.  They decided to reject the 2 spies who trusted God and insisted that He was able to deliver the giants into their hands.  Those two men, Joshua and Caleb, were “approved by God” and were the only two of that entire company over the age of 20 to enter the Promised Land.  The division at Corinth would also reveal who was approved in God’s eyes. 

So the church in Corinth gathered separately to their shame.  But, as we will see, they were also…
Gathering Separately to Their Harm (1 Cor 11:20-22)

Here in lies a BIG problem with division within the church: worship time is a façade, and a disgrace, and never more so then when sharing the Lord’s Supper, otherwise known as Communion.  Communion is all about our unity with Christ and thus with each other.  The Spirit says to them, “when you gather together, it’s not Communion.”  They had made the Lord’s Supper into a fiasco where some of them hogged all the food, leaving nothing for others.  Everyone made sure they got theirs first and they didn’t care if others got nothing.  Talk about being self-centered!  It’s the same attitude that makes us care nothing about what our liberty does to someone else.  It’s the same attitude were we get when we’re offended if things go the other guys’ way.  It’s the same attitude as “I don’t like him or her, I’ll just stay away from them.”  Communion is not about getting your fill; this isn’t Burger King!...it’s not about “having it your way.”  Communion, and any gathering of the church is about fellowship with Christ and each other.  Fellowship is not about you; it’s not about having your needs met. 

Communion, and all worship, is about gathering together, giving praise to the Holy God.

Conclusion:

Fellowship and unity were major ingredients of worshiping God in Israel.  Jesus rebuked the chief priests and elders for ignoring that.  Fellowship and unity are major ingredients of worshiping God in the church.  The Spirit rebuked the church at Corinth for ignoring that.  When our self-centered living leads us into idolatry, we may gather together, but we’re separated, divided, and our worship is displeasing to God.  My challenge to you this week: READ 1 Corinthians 11:17-22 everyday, and pray that God will reveal any ways you may be “gathering separately.”

Communion in Christ

Introduction
Over the last couple weeks we’ve been talking about idolatry.  It is        something that has plagued mankind since being expelled from the Garden.  It was a problem to the Israelites under Moses.  It was a problem to the believers in Corinth.  It is a problem for us, and it’s not just a little problem, it’s sin that keeps us from communion with God.  Last week I challenged us all to read 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 everyday, and pray that God would alert you when you were using human wisdom, which leads to self-centeredness and idolatry, instead of God’s wisdom, which leads to love for God  and  people.  I trust you took that challenge.  How has it been so far?

In 1 Corinthians 10, the Spirit continues to tell us to flee from idolatry and cling to community with God and His people.  God has organized perfect community among His people, the Church, although the church only acts as perfectly as those who are part of it.  Hence the problem!  Within the church, God provides everything we need through Christ and He gives us the Holy Spirit to enable us to function as a very successful unit.  Jesus said that the gates of Hell could not withstand the power of His Church.  But we are always fouling up that community by our own sin and self-centeredness which inevitably leads to idolatry within the church and making my liberty more important than anyone (or anything) else.  We thus rob the Church of its power.

So, let’s hear what the Spirit says to the churches in I Corinthians 10:14-22…

Communion in Christ:
Seek Communion in Christ (10:14-17)
As we read 10:14, we see God’s command the church to, “flee from idolatry.”  We’re told to stop loving anything more than we love God and His People.  As most of you know, we had shirts made up that say, “life is short, serve hard”, because that’s the essence what God says many times in the New Testament.  Until the day we die our God-given purpose is to love Him and His Church such that we are compelled by that love to serve Him and His church.  What does that kind of love look like?  Well, Matthew 10:37-39, gives us a clue.  It says, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”  Now, it seems like anytime you hear a message on those verses, you hear apologies and sidestepping, but it means what is says!  No apologies.  If we are to be counted worthy of Christ, we can’t just serve Him when it’s convenient for us.  He can’t just be one of our priorities, He must be our only priority.  He told us to honor father and mother, and to care for our kids, raising them in Godly homes and giving them the love they need, yet, our love for God should far exceed our love for anyone else. 

Think about this sequence of statements over the last several chapters of 1 Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 6:19 “your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit -you are not your own.”
1 Corinthians 7:19 “keeping the commandments of God is what matters…”
1 Corinthians 8:13 “Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. “
1 Corinthians 9:19 “for though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more.”

As followers of Christ, we are not our own to go off doing whatever we want, whenever we want, and we better be careful what we say, think, and do since we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit.  After all, it is important to keep God’s commands, not to earn salvation, but to be His holy people as He commanded.  Something that He commands over and over again is to love people, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.  So, out of my love for others, I will limit even the things that might be okay to say or do if in the process I cause them to be tempted and sin.  In fact, even though I am not under obligation to men, I will make myself a slave to all so that I might win them to Christ through the Gospel of Christ.  But instead of loving and worshiping God like that, we just go on doing our thing, living as we want, which throughout history has led to serving and loving idols.

Reading on in 1 Corinthians 10:15-17, we see that our ability to flee from idolatry has strong connections with the community we have in Christ.  Not only is communion with God and His people why I should flee from idolatry, it is how I flee from it.  As believers, we are meant to be in communion with the blood and body of Christ and with each other.  The cup of blessing is a symbol of our being united by the blood Christ, united to Him by His sacrificial death on the cross in our behalf.  The bread of blessing is a symbol of our being united in the body of Christ.  We are many, but we are one body.  Thus, my idolatry is sin against Father, Christ, and the Temple of the Holy Spirit.  It is also sin against God’s people, Christ’s Body.  It takes my time and passion away from God and His Church.  The Spirit has given each of us at least one spiritual gift and we rob God and His Church when we don’t use it, or worse yet use it on ourselves.  Jesus commanded His disciples: “but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses…” (Acts 1:8).  If you have the Holy Spirit, that is your job.  Idolatry will definitely keep you from that job.  However, if you are truly in communion with God and the Church, you will have plenty of strength against any idol, and addiction, and the worship of anything other than God Himself.

So, flee from idolatry and instead seek communion with Christ and His Church.

Forsake Communion in Demons (1 Corinthians 10:18-23)
In 1 Corinthians 10:18 we are reminded that the priests in the Old Testament we told to partake of certain offerings, they ate some of the meat from sacrifices on the alter.  We partake of the Communion Table as an act of worship and unity.  Then 1 Corinthians 10:19-20, like 1 Corinthians 8:4 says, “an idol [itself] is nothing.”  But there is more to it, for behind the idol is most often a demon who wants nothing more than to steal the worship we owe to God.  The idol is just an object, person or activity, but the force behind it that makes it appealing to us is demonic.  The fact is that we are in a spiritual battle. 

Now if we’re talking about drugs, witchcraft, child abuse or murder, we’d all say, “yeah, that’s demonic.”  But if we’re talking about sports, TV, shopping, entertainment, or family…anything or anyone that we love and sacrifice for more than God, we say, “that’s not demonic!  That’s nothing!  Those are harmless things!”  But anything that robs God of the love, worship, and service He deserves…is sin.  Stop the fellowship with demons.  Why do we struggle with idols so much?...because we try physical defenses; it doesn’t work. 

Finally, 1 Corinthians 10:21-22 tells us we cannot worship God and idols too.  The Israelites tried that all the time in the Old Testament and it didn’t work for them either.  We cannot have communion with God and with demons.  God won’t let us get away with that.

Conclusion

My challenge to you this week: READ 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 everyday this week, and pray that God will remove the idols and prepare you to be His witness so some person in the next 30 days.

Learning from History

Introduction:
I’m sure you’ve all heard the phrase, “history repeats itself”?  It seems like I used to hear that often, but not as much anymore.  Yet history does repeat itself, not with specific people, or places, or nations,   but certainly in human behavior, and God’s interaction with mankind.  History repeats because mankind thinks we’re going to know better than the ones before us and that we can break the pattern of foolishness and consequences that’s as old as man.  Today we’ll be reminded of the pattern of foolishness connected with human wisdom.  A pattern evident 4,000 years ago in the early days of Israel, a pattern evident 2,000 years ago in Corinth, a pattern evident today in 2013, and a pattern that can only be broken by forsaking human wisdom and living by God’s wisdom.

Last week we were in 1 Corinthians 9:19-27.  The context is about fleeing from idolatry and not abusing of liberty.  God calls us to be slave to all and gives some examples: to the Jew, to those with law, to those without law, and to the weak, we are to become as they are.  That does NOT mean we engage in their sin.  We are still under the Law of God and Christ.  Also, I don’t do this just so I can just “fit in” or be a friend, but…it is for the sole purpose that some of them may be saved.  Recall our theme verse for 2013 – “I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2).  In these verses we see Paul being an example of following our perfect example who is Jesus Christ.  That we are to forsake our liberty and do all for the sake of the Gospel.  To do that requires discipline.  Our live is then compared to running a race in that we are to focus everything on the goal living for Him and advancing the Gospel – no self indulgence, no cruise control.

In 1 Corinthians 10, the Spirit continues to focus on the problems if idolatry and abuse of liberty where we see that those problems are more deeply rooted in the problem of living by human wisdom.  Human wisdom says, “this isn’t idolatry, it’s liberty and I can handle it” and, “I’m entitled to my liberty,”  That human wisdom kept the ancient Israelites in the pattern of foolishness and consequences, kept the less-ancient Corinthians in the pattern of foolishness and consequences, and keeps us in the pattern of foolishness and consequences of ignoring God’s wisdom.

So, let’s hear what the Spirit says to the churches…

Learning from History:

OT Examples of God’s Wisdom (10:1-5)
The Spirit reminds us of how God, in His wisdom, provided a way for Israel.  Q way out of slavery in Egypt, a way into a covenant relationship with Him, a way into being His people.  The unity and fellowship among the Israelites was very important!  Much of the Law dealt with proper treatment of each other and that violation of the Law often meant being put out of that fellowship.  Fellowship within Israel was a BIG DEAL!   

That fellowship is emphasized in the next phrases…”ALL our fathers were:”
Under the Cloud
For the nation of Israel traveling from Egypt to the Promised Land, the Cloud was their guide by day; it was what they followed (Psalm 78:14).  The Cloud was also a covering to give them protection from the scorching sun (Psalm 105:39).  The point is, they were all together, being led and protected by God through the Cloud.

All passed through the sea

The miracle where God divided the Red Sea so Israel could escape Pharaoh’s army is a central unifying event to the Jews.  God opened the way of their final escape from their slave masters and delivered the nation from bondage.  The point is, together, God redeemed Israel.

All were baptized into Moses in the cloud and sea

This is an obvious connection with Christian baptism.  The nation of Israel was united in Moses by the cloud and in the sea.  That is, it was through Moses that God led them and made them His people.  We are united in Christ by His death, burial, and resurrection (which water Baptism symbolizes).  The point is, that it is through Christ that God leads us and makes us His people, and thus we are united in Him.

All ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink

This is making an obvious connection to Communion.  The nation of Israel was united in their basic but miraculous provision for food and water.  Even then, that provision was the manna and the Rock who is Christ!  They didn’t much appreciate it either did they.  By the way, the Hebrew word “manna” means “what is it?”  Now guys, I don’t recommend that when your mom or your wife makes you a meal you ask, “What is it?” 

As believers, we are united in the Body of Christ, which is part of what we celebrate during Communion.  But like ancient Israel, we don’t always appreciate that fellowship either.  And like the Church at Corinth, sometimes we get offended with each other like the “weaker brothers” in that church.  The point is, the Israelite were united by God’s provision, and we are united by Christ’s provision.

Then in 1 Corinthians 10:5 it says, “but with most of them God was not well pleased.”  Why?  Because they complained about, and rejected God’s provision.  They didn’t like the “what is it?”, they didn’t like the direction they were going, they didn’t like Moses, and they didn’t like each other!  Remember that Moses was so occupied with their quarrels, his father-in-law suggested he set up a hierarchy of judges to handle all the disputes!  Then, nearly 2,000 years later, there were nothing but problems in the Church at Corinth and fighting between them was a big part of it.  And now, 2,000 years after that, division is still a problem in the church.  That’s because life being “all about me” is nothing new.  As a believer, complaining about, and rejecting God’s provision is nothing new.  Putting my desires and wants ahead of the church is nothing new.  Making my liberty a priority over a weak brother is nothing new.

But what was the result of all of Israel’s disunity and rebellion?  “Their bodies were scattered in the wilderness!”  They rejected God’s leading and provision; they rejected fellowship with God and each other, which go hand in hand, so God scattered their dead bodies all over the desert.  Worse yet, we learned nothing from it and we continue to reject God’s leading and provision.  We think we can have fellowship with Him without having fellowship with His Church…so God scatters us.

Our unity in Christ is God’s wisdom!  It is central to God’s leading and provision for us.  We are not to destroy that with idolatry and abuse of liberty that hurts our brothers.

OT Examples of Human Wisdom (1 Corinthians 10:6-11)

Some time ago Kevin filled in for me one Sunday and talked about the list of sins presented here in 1 Corinthians 10:6-11 so I won’t spend much time here.  Just know that these are sins that plagued Israel, they plagued Corinth, and guess what…plague us too.

I must say that 1 Corinthians 10:6-10 makes me challenge people with the question, “Is the Old Testament relevant today?”  Of course it is!  It says here, “Now these things became our examples…”   The account of God’s wisdom and provision for ancient Israel, and their response to God, is recorded in the OT as an example to us.  That sounds pretty relevant to me.  These are our example so that we “should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.”  You see, human wisdom hasn’t changed; we still lust after this same junk, like they did nearly 4,000 years ago, and like they did 2,000 years ago.  Here are some specific examples, and again I won’t spend a lot of time here:

1 Corinthians 10:7 says, “do not become idolaters.”  We’ve been talking about it for weeks, we worship all kinds of stuff.  Anything we love more than God is an idol. 

1 Corinthians 10:8 says, “do not commit sexual immorality.”  That’s a huge problem among God’s people, whether it was in Moses’ time, Paul’s time, or today.  
1 Corinthians 10:9 says, “do not tempt Christ.”  This is a reference to Exodus 17:2 where they contended with Moses about his leading, when the water first came from the Rock.  We also contend with Christ, though maybe not openly, when we contend against His Church and His will.
1 Corinthians 10:10 says, “do not complain.”  Like complaining about someone else in the church, or the leadership, etc.

 1 Corinthians 10:11 says, that “all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition.”  That is a powerful statement.  The testing and consequences  of failure happened to them to be examples to us.  After 4000 years, maybe we better start paying attention.  When are we going to figure out that unity in the church is important to God, that community health is more important than individual liberties, that sacrificially loving one another is God’s wisdom and command, that doing whatever I want is sin (idolatry and abuse of liberty)!

 
So we’ve got God’s wisdom which brings unity and community among His people, and human wisdom which brings idolatry, immorality, contention, complaining…

NT Admonition to Follow God’s Wisdom (1 Cor 10:12-14)

In 1 Corinthians 10:12-14 it says, “Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”  The Israelites contended and complained because they thought they were right.  They got into immorality and idolatry because they thought they could get away with it.  In Corinth, the church was divided because they all thought they were right.  They got into immorality and idolatry because they thought they could get away with it.  In both cases they are called out for their carnality and spiritual immaturity and a warning was given saying, “let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

Then in 1 Corinthians 10:13 we see that there is no new temptation, it’s the same stuff today, 2000 years ago, and 4000 years ago.  God always gives you a way out, so take it.  By the way, the easiest time to look for, and take the way out is before the temptation has escalated into a self-inflicted compulsion.  So run early!

I’m ending today where we’ll pick up next Sunday, Lord willing.  That is with 1 Corinthians 10:14 which says, “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.  See, we’re still talking about idolatry and the abuse of liberty

Conclusion:

Idolatry and the abuse of liberties are human wisdom that tear down the unity of God’s people.  These are products of living by human wisdom instead of God’s wisdom.  These are problems that have always been trouble for God’s people.  My challenge to you this week: READ 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 everyday, and pray that God will alert you anytime you start to operate by human wisdom instead of His wisdom.

Free to Be a Slave

Introduction:
He always existed (according to John 1 and other passages).  He was with God, and He was God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made.  He is life, and that life is the light of men.  Then Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us.            He left the Throne of Heaven to enter humanity on earth (according to Philippians 2).  He made Himself of no reputation, and taking on the form of a bondservant He humbled Himself, even to the point of death on the cross.  He was obedient to the Father who has highly exalted Him.  Jesus set the example we are to follow.  If anyone ever had the liberty to do as He wanted…it was Jesus, yet He chose to become a slave and to put Himself in bondage.

Last week we were in 1 Corinthians 8:9-13 and our title was “Loving Liberty.”  We saw the Spirit warn us through the Apostle Paul to beware of liberty: our knowledge can lead us to think we have more liberty than we actually have and we never have liberty to sin – to go into the idols temple.  We must also be sure that the liberty we do have doesn’t lead us to idols as well.  In fact, our liberty can itself be an idol.  The Sprit through Paul also warned us not to sin against Christ allowing our liberty to be a stumbling block to a brother or sister in Christ.  If our words or actions permit a brother to stumble, we have sinned against him and sinned against Christ who died for that brother or sister.

As we begin 1 Corinthians 9, the Spirit continues focus on the problems if idolatry and abuse of liberty.  We tend to skip right over 1 Corinthians 8 because, “I don’t eat meat offered to idols!”  We skip right over 1 Corinthians 9 because, “it’s just Paul defending himself.”  We skip right over 1 Corinthians 10 because “Oh my, it’s back to talking about eating meat offered to idols again.” 

Today we’ll be getting a broad view of 1 Corinthians 9 so we don’t “miss the forest for of the trees.”  I don’t want to get into such a deep discussion of the examples here that we forget we are talking about idolatry and the abuse of Christian liberty.  So, let’s hear what the Spirit says to the churches…

Free to Be a Slave:

I Am Free (1 Corinthians 9:1-14)
This passage starts with Spirit-given words of Paul saying, “Am I not an Apostle?  Am I not free?”  Now, some say this is just Paul defending himself as it is very clear that there was division in the church at Corinth, and that part of that division was over who they thought they should be following, either Paul, Cephas, or Apollos.  Some argue this is just Paul stating his case.  Such an argument shows a complete misunderstanding of this entire section.  Look, 1 Corinthians 8 is about idolatry and abusing liberty, 1 Corinthians 10 is about idolatry and abusing liberty, and guess what: 1 Corinthians 9 is about idolatry and abusing liberty too!  The Spirit through Paul is demonstrating, that as much as anyone, the great Apostle to the gentiles was “free” in Christ.  The issue in question here is Paul’s liberty, not his qualification as a leader of the church.

Then 1 Corinthians 9:3-7 it says, “My defense to those who examine me is this…”  No doubt there were some in the Corinthian church who didn’t even like Paul.  But this wasn’t a competition or popularity contest!  Cephas, Apollos, and Paul were all given to the Church for God’s purposes and the church’s edification.  But what we see there and anywhere there is division, criticizing becomes commonplace and the church was involved in idolatry and abuse of liberty.  There were many things they loved more than Christ and it seems clear that they cared more about their freedom to do what they wanted than they cared about each other.  YET, they all wanted to put chains on Paul…they wanted to restrict his liberty.  The Spirit says of Paul, “he has the right to sustenance, has the freedom to have a wife, has the right to earn a living from preaching the Gospel as he has been called.”

I’ve talked to some older, and even retired oversees missionaries who recall receiving the old, worn out clothes as an offering, receiving out of date food, and even receiving used tea bags!  Now none of these missionaries were complaining, but seriously, we’re going to send used tea bags to a missionary and keep the new ones for ourselves?  We’re going to clean all the old, out of date food from our pantry and send it to a missionary in order to make room for our new stuff?  We’re going to replace all the old clothes in our closet with new ones, sending the old stuff oversees?  Seriously!  How about we keep our old junk for ourselves and send the new thing to the brother on the field who can’t run to Walmart!  Who wants a used tea bag!!!  I guess the thinking was, “I would never use it again, but it is good enough for a missionary who has nothing otherwise.”  Seriously?  That’s the kind of attitude of those in Corinth, “I’ll keep the best for myself, and you take the leftovers.  You don’t need it, or should have to sacrifice anyway!”  Specifically they were saying, “Why should I have to feed you?  You don’t need a wife.  You should have a real job too.  Look Paul, I have the liberty to do whatever I want…but you don’t.”  Maybe you’re thinking: “we don’t have that problem here because we are very generous in our giving.”  And you are very generous.  But consider this; what if you found out that some of our oversees missionaries had two brand new cars, paid extra $1,000/mo just to have an ocean view apartment, paid $100/mo for cable TV, and spent much time and money on sporting events and shopping?  They don’t I assure you!!!  But would you be offended?  Would it make you think twice about that offering you put in next month?  Some people get offended when they send their $10 to a missionary and then find out they aren’t living in a grass hut and eating bugs.  But, we have nice houses, new cars, cable, and go to ballgames and shopping anytime we want…  We have the liberty for that…but they don’t?

In 9:8-12a it says, “Do I say these things as a mere man?  Or does the Law not say the same also?”  Again, this is not Paul’s defending himself…this is the Holy Spirit rebuking their hard, idolatrous, liberty-worshipping hearts.  Paul had the liberty to earn a living by preaching, God had called him to that work.  God seeks to care for Paul’s needs like He does all of His children, but those in the church at Corinth were so interested in doing for themselves that they apparently resented the thought of giving to Paul.  They thought it wrong that he should earn a living as minister of the Gospel even though the majority of them would still be enslaved to sin and death if God hadn’t of used Paul to bring them to faith in the first place!  This attitude would have been evident in many ways, but the Spirit uses this issue of financial support because it is so obvious.

So, you’ve got a church full of people who worship idols – there were many things they loved more than they loved God.  One of the big idols was their own liberty.  There were many bad results…division, pride, immorality, divorce, etc.  They believed they had the liberty to do such things, but that others, like Paul, shouldn’t even have the most basic of liberties.

In 9:12b-14 it says, “Nevertheless we (Paul and Barnabas) have not used this right.”  They had gone hungry; they had not taken a wife, or accepted payment for their ministry to the church at Corinth.  What they truly had liberty to do, they had not done.  WHY?  “Lest we hinder the Gospel of Christ.”  They were absolutely justified to these basic liberties, but Paul and Barnabas did not use their liberty. 

That’s the whole point!!!  Paul, who truly had liberty to such things, did not use it…


I Will Not Use My Liberty (1 Corinthians 9:15-19)
Reading 1 Cor 9:15-18, remember that it is preposterous to argue that Paul is just defending himself and arguing that he is the one the church at Corinth should be following.  The Holy Spirit’s point is using Paul as another example after Christ.  Having every reason to use their liberty, Paul and Barnabas chose to forsake that liberty for the sake of advancing the Gospel.  They were following the example of Christ who is also our example.  It is completely the opposite of what was happening in Corinth.  Their mantra was “all things are lawful for me!  I’m saved; I can now do anything I want.  I can say anything I want – I have knowledge, I know what’s best for me.  I can follow any desire – even if it leads me into the idol’s temple.  I can consume anything I want – whether food, or sport, or lust, or selfish gain.”

That brings us to 1 Corinthians 9:19 which says, “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant of all, that I might win the more.”  I am free, YET I make myself a slave to all, that I might win more for Christ.  That is the example set by Christ Himself.  That is the example Paul was following.  That is the example we are called to follow.  It is in complete agreement with what is said in Philippians 2:5-8.  “Let this mind be in you,” that is, follow Christ’s example.  Christ was one with God (and we are one with Him), but He humbled Himself, did not consider His reputation, and made Himself a slave, obeying God. 

“That’s fine for Paul preacher, but that’s not for me! That’s too radical!  That’s legalistic!  I have my liberty!”  Yes you do…but do you love that liberty more than you love God or your brother in Christ?  If your liberty is a stumbling block to a brother (or yourself) it is sin against Christ.

Conclusion:
I’ve said it before; sometimes the Word of God offends us.  Is your liberty a stumbling block to someone else?  Does what you say or do embolden someone else to sin or fall into idolatry?  Is your liberty a stumbling block to you?  Is what you think, say or do more important to you than God?  What is it that you love this morning?  Do your thoughts, actions, and words reveal that you love God more than anything or anyone else, or is there something else that you love more than Him?

My challenge to you this week is to READ Phil ippians2 everyday, and pray everyday that the Lord would reveal any areas that you have not yielded to Him, where you have not humbled yourself.

Loving Liberty

Introduction:
He was raised in Godly home.  His father was a very influential man who greatly loved the Lord and the Word of God.  His father taught him to love and serve God, but along the way he began to enjoy his freedoms and liberties more than he cared about love for God.  Though he knew the Word, knew the truth, knew about God’s mercies and blessings, his desire for liberty began to overshadow all those things.  He began to worship his liberty rather than the God who gave it.  When his father, Josiah, a man of whom the Scripture says in 1 Kings 23:25, “neither before nor after him was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did, with all his heart, all his soul, and with all his strength”…when Josiah died, Jehoahaz became king of Judah.  He followed his idols, forsook the God of his father and, “he did evil in the eyes of the Lord.”

Hundreds of years later, many like Jehoahaz were in the church at Corinth.  Not that they were the sons and daughter of a Jewish King, but they knew the truth, knew the Word of God, and they had allowed the liberty they had as believers in Christ to turn to idolatry.  In fact, they worshipped many idols.

Last week in 1 Corinthian 8:7-8, we talked about “Knowing an Idol.”  We have become so familiar with idols they are just an accepted part of life.  That’s why many righteous OT kings in Judah would leave some “high places” when they brought reform and led the nation back to serving God.  God said way back in Exodus, “you shall have no other gods in My presence!”  To get rid of what we are habitually familiar with requires significant changes; changes we cannot make on our own, but that can be made when we submit to Christ.  Last week we also talked about “Making an Idol.”  We make many things that are not inherently good or evil, into idols and thus sinful.  Anything that we love more than God  is an idol for us.

This week we move onto 1 Corinthians 8:9-13.  Here, the Spirit continues to focus on that problem among Corinthian believers – idols.  We skip right over 1 Corinthians 8-10 because, “I don’t worship idols, this is not a problem.”  That is exactly what Israel thought in the OT, as well as many churches in the NT.  There are plenty of false gods and “high places” considered perfectly normal and innocent, and lots ways for us to become addicted to the worship them.
So, let’s hear what the Spirit says to the churches…

Loving Liberty:
I.    Beware of Liberty (8:9-11)
Verse 9 says, “but beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.”   But beware” means to be ready to learn of something hazardous.  The modern battle cry for Christian liberty is like that in the church at Corinth.  They believed they “all had knowledge” (1 Cor 8:1), but knowledge without love makes you prideful (1 Cor 8:1).  If anyone thinks he knows anything, he knows nothing yet (1 Cor 8:2).  They were divided and arguing (1 Cor 1:10-11).  They were carnal and spiritually immature (1 Cor 3:1); they were still following human wisdom (foolishness to God) (1Cor 3:18-19).  They affirmed immorality that even their pagan society rejected (1 Cor 5:1), and they were even taking each other to court (1 Cor 6:7).  That’s where worshipping their liberty got them!

Again, this discussion is in response to a question asked by the church (1 Cor 7:1, 8:1).  It was sparked by an argument between them and the question was something like this, “Is it okay to eat meat offered to idols?”  Now, we don’t eat meat offered to idols, but like I said 2 weeks ago, we consume the meat offered up on our TVs, we get our fill of the meat in our sports arenas, we chow down on paychecks, bigger houses and better cars, we feast on beauty products, and all the latest fashions.  Through the Spirit, love and worship of God takes away the power of idols.  As a spiritually healthy and mature believer, idols are truly nothing, having no power over us.  However, if we are not spiritually healthy and mature, like those in the Church at Corinth, they are a problem.

Now sin is always sin, if the idol is inherently evil we have no liberty to have any interaction with it.  Period.  But if something is not inherently evil then we do have liberty, but watch out!  TV is not itself evil, but most programming involves lust, murder, pride, etc which is sinful.  Sports are not inherently evil but can be something we love more than God, making them sinful.  Paychecks, a house, and a car are not evil, but we can worship them, making them sinful.  Beauty products and clothing are not evil, but if they involve creating lust or making you prideful, then they are sinful and can be idols.

Our passage in 1 Corinthians 8 goes on to say, “but beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.”  It’s already clear that the church at Corinth was not healthy, they were carnal and weak.  They all thought they were very spiritual, and thought that they knew what was best saying something like, “I have liberty to do whatever I want, but you are not doing right!”  For the majority, it appears, their knowledge was without love and their liberty permitted them back into idolatry.  Their love for God and each other should have put up a red flag that their liberty was a stumbling block to others.  But their heavy dose of liberty, and light dose of love made them insist upon their own liberty no matter how that affected a brother or sister in Christ.

So you’ve got people who did have some knowledge and some faith, who were being a poor examples to those who were weaker in their faith, and you had people who were still weak due to past familiarity with idols…

“For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?  It says that some of those with knowledge “ate in an idol’s temple.”  Hang on a second!  Eating meat at someone’s house, or buying meat in the market as in 1 Cor 10:25-28 talks about is one thing, but that is not what it says they were doing in 1 Cor 8:10.  Their “liberty” allowed them to eat IN the IDOL’S TEMPLE!  Right there where idol worship going on – this crosses over into sin.  In the pagan Corinthian temples, worship involved open immorality and all kinds of sinful activity.  What is a believer doing in that sin drenched place?!   There is a pagan temple just a couple blocks away…that gentlemen’s club.  If you saw me walking out of there and I said, “I was in there telling the girls about Jesus” you say, “yeah right!”  In such an case, the proper thing to do is tell people the Gospel when they are not engaged in the activities inside the pagan temple.  Entering such a place is subjecting yourself to things of which you should have no part. 

Our liberty can become an excuse for idolatry.  When it does a weaker brother is often emboldened to engage in outright sinful activity or interaction with an idol that can cause him great hurt and harm. Continue with 1 Corinthians 8:11, is our personal liberty so important to us that we’re unconcerned about how our influence may lead others into deeper worship of idols?  Is our liberty so important to us that we are unconcerned what may happen to someone else who gets a nod of permission from our actions or words?  We watch, talk about, and give approval to TV shows full of murder and sex.  We talk about our favorite drink, or take a glass after dinner and we are sending a clear message.  We, especially guys, joke about past escapades and, oh what fun it was!  We, particularly ladies, ear clothes that leave nothing to the imagination and wonder why our young girls dress the same way. But we say, “I have liberty!”  We even get offended at times that anyone question us about it.  

Just as knowledge without love surly leads to pride, so liberty without love surly leads to idolatry…our own, and in others.

II.   Do Not Sin Against Christ (1 Corinthians 8:12-13)
It is sin.  I my legitimately have liberty to do something because it is not inherently sinful, like owning a car, listening to music, watching sports, shopping, etc.  But again, I do not have liberty to do something if it is inherently sinful like, anything that promotes lust, materialism, pride, selfishness, etc.  Either way, if my actions or words give “permission” to another person to become involved with outright sin, or addicted to something that becomes an idol…I sin against Christ.

Then in 1 Corinthians 8:13, the Holy Spirit led the Apostle Paul to say, “if eating meat offered to an idol makes my brother stumble, I’ll never eat meat again.”  If in any way someone might have thought that his eating meat meant it’s okay to worship that idol or engage in that sin…never again!  Radical huh?  If my watching TV can lead someone to think the murderous, sex-crazed shows are okay to watch…I should never watch any TV again.  If watching football can lead someone to think that following sports is more important than following Christ…I should never watch football again.  If drinking a wine after dinner makes some kid think it’s okay to drink when they could very well end up an addict…I should never drink again.  Ladies, if wearing that top temps the guys eyes to stray or makes some young girl think that such provocative attire is appropriate…you should never wear such a thing again.  “That’s too radical preacher!  That’s legalistic!  I have my liberty!”  Yes you do, “but when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ” (1 Corinthians 8:12).

Conclusion:
I’ve said it before: sometimes the Word of God offends us.  The issue raised in these verses is, could your liberty give permission to another person to get involved in sin or some kind of idol worship?  Idolatry is loving something more than we love God.  Perhaps your liberty itself is something you love more than God, reflected by the fact you would never hold back on your liberty just so you might not offend someone for whom Christ died?

My challenge to you this week – READ 1 Corinthians 8 everyday, and pray everyday that the Lord would reveal any area in your life where you need to give up an idol and you need to give up something that could cause a brother to stumble.