1Corinthians 10

Sunday Evening Bible Study

February 20, 2000

Introduction

Paul ended 1Corinthians 9 by talking about the need for self-discipline in ministry.

(1 Cor 9:24-27 KJV) Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. {25} And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. {26} I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: {27} But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Paul is now going to elaborate on this need for self-discipline and give some examples from the history of Israel.

1Corinthians 10

:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

His example he is going to use to illustrate with is going to come from the historical example of Israel as they came out of Egypt.

All these guys that came out of Egypt had the same blessing of being under the "cloud by day", and all had escaped through the parting of the Red Sea (Ex. 14).

:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

Just as we are baptized into Jesus, they had a sort of baptism as they were surrounded by the sea on the sides with the cloud on the top.

:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

They all got to eat of the special food in the wilderness that God had provided, the manna (Ex. 16)

:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Twice, when the people had complained about a lack of water in the desert, God used a rock to bring forth water (Ex. 17:1-9; Num. 20:1-13)

Ryrie: Since the Rock is mentioned twice, and is in different settings, a rabbinic legend held that a material rock actually followed the Israelites. Paul, however, says that it was Christ who was with Israel all the way.

:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Just as Paul has warned (9:27) about not becoming "disqualified" or "castaway", for most of the people, that’s exactly what happened to them. Only Joshua and Caleb made it from the Red Sea into the Promised Land.

:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

The Old Testament is a rich resource of historical lessons that we ought to be learning from. We need to learn from their mistakes.

lusted –

(Num 11:4 KJV) And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?

They had been fed "manna" from the Lord, but they got to wishing that they could go back to their old life and the kind of food they had in Egypt.

:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

This is talking about the incident of the "Golden Calf".

The people had grown bored waiting for Moses to come down from Mount Sinai and asked Aaron to make them something they could worship. He made a calf out of gold. (Ex. 32) The people had a big party.

:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

This was when Balaam had instructed the Moabites to send in their young ladies to have sex with the Israelites and make them worship the Moabite gods (Num. 25). Though Moses tells us that 24,000 total people died, there were apparently 23,000 that died in the first day.

:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

tempt – put to the test, try

The issue here (Num.21:6) was the complaining that the people were constantly doing. After all they had gone through and after all that God had done for them, they were constantly complaining and wishing they could go back to Egypt.

Let go of the old life. God has a new, Promised Land for you. Stop complaining.

Lesson

Your complaining tries God’s patience.

Some people are always complaining!

Illustration

The woman’s husband had been slipping in and out of a coma for several months, yet she had stayed by his bedside every single day. One day, when he finally came out of it, he motioned for her to come nearer. As she sat by him, he whispered, eyes full of tears, "You know what? You have been with me all through the bad times: When I got fired, you were there to support me. When my business failed, you were there. When I got shot, you were by my side. When we lost the house, you stayed right here. When my health started failing, you were still by my side... You know what?" "What dear?" She gently asked, smiling as her heart began to fill with warmth. "I think you’re bad luck."

:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

This was another incident (Num. 16) when Korah and others began to grumble about the leadership in Israel. They thought they could do just as good of a job as Moses and Aaron. The only problem was that God had chosen Moses and Aaron.

:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Don’t get cocky and think you’ve arrived.

:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

You aren’t the first person who has ever been tempted with sin.

God will not allow you to be tempted with something that you are unable to say "no" to.

That’s a really hard thing to swallow. We often give in because we think there is no other way to deal with the situation.

Illustration

There was once man on a diet who prayed, "Lord, if you don't want me to go get donuts, then let there not be any parking spots at the donut shop." But he had to give in to the donuts because sure enough, when he got there, there was a parking spot right in front of the door … after his twentieth time around the block .

All "temptations" have to come across God’s desk. He knows what you can handle and what you can’t.

I’ve heard of how some people have been tempted with things and have wondered, "Why don’t I ever get to be tempted like that?" Why? Because God knows I couldn’t handle it!!!

Lesson

Use the appropriate exit.

God always provides a way of escape.

There is always an "EXIT". You need to look for it. You need to take it.

Illustration

The smartest man on earth, a pastor, and a Cub Scout were taking a plane trip when the pilot came on the intercom and announced that they were having serious trouble and they were going to crash. He suggested that everyone grab a parachute and jump out of the plane. Then the pilot jumped out himself. The three looked at each other and realized that there were three of them, but only two parachutes. The smartest man on earth said, "I’m a very important person, the world needs me, I need to be saved!" He grabbed a parachute and jumped out of the plane. Then the pastor said to the little boy, "Son, I’ve lived a long life and I’m ready to meet the Lord. You take the last parachute." Then the little boy responded. "Hey mister, no need to worry! The smartest man on earth just took my back pack and jumped out of the plane!"

Make sure you’re taking the right way out. Then take it! Don’t wait for the plane to crash!

:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

Paul is going to talk about a believer’s place at a feast given for an idol.

:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

communion – koinonia – fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation

:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

The eastern world has a concept that when you ate a meal with someone, there was a sense in which you were becoming one with them, each sharing from the same food. This is why the Jews did not want to eat with Gentiles. They didn’t want to share with Gentiles.

:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

Though there are no other gods except ours, there is a real spiritual presence in idolatry. Behind the idols are real demons.

Paul is concerned that when food has been offered up to idols, that if a Christian partakes in an idol feast, that they would become sharers in demons. I don’t think this means that a Christian can become demon possessed. I know that some people teach that a Christian can become possessed, but I have a problem reconciling that with verses like:

(1 John 4:4 KJV) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

But I think that there can be some ways in which a Christian opens the door to demonic activity in their life, influences, oppression, that doesn’t belong there.

:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

Paul is dealing with the subject of a Christian going with his friend to the sacrificial feast at Aphrodite’s temple. The Christian goes into the temple and sits down at the pagan feast.

It’s hard to know just what Paul is trying to get at here.

Apparently, some people had taken communion and gone to pagan idolatrous feasts. The point is that a Christian doesn’t belong at one of these feasts. We just shouldn’t be pushing the envelope as to what is permissible as a Christian.

I’m not sure that the idea here is that a Christian can’t be influenced at all by demonic forces, because the warning in verse 20 is that he doesn’t want people to open that door.

:22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

If you as a Christian go to a pagan feast, you are making God jealous. Don’t do it.

:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

expedient – sumphero – to bear or bring together; to bear together or at the same time; to help, be profitable, be expedient

The point goes back to –

(1 Cor 9:27 KJV) But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

We want to be careful that we don’t discredit our witness in the world and ruin the ministry we have because we’ve been doing foolish things. Doing things that invite demonic activity are foolish.

:24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

Think of others first.

:25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:

shambles – the market. Paul now shifts from eating meat directly in the feast of a pagan god, to eating meat that may have at one point been sacrificed to a pagan god, but is now being sold at the local Alpha Beta.

If you see a good cut of meat for cheap, buy it. Just don’t ask where it came from. The sin isn’t in having eaten some piece of meat that had been sacrificed to an idol. The actual sin would have been in participating in the worship rituals associated with the sacrifice in the temple of the idol. The meat itself isn’t really an issue. So if the meat has been resold at the local meat market, go ahead and eat it.

:26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

Everything belongs to God. Eat the steak.

:27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

Don’t be the one to ask where the meat came from.

:29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?

For the sake of the other person’s conscience, not your own, you should restrict what you are doing. This goes back to the principle of walking in love:

(1 Cor 8:13 KJV) Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

:30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

(1 Cor 10:30 NLT) If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?

:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

A principle that applies to all areas of our lives.

Lesson

Glorify Him in all things.

Illustration

We have a tendency to look for wonder in our experience, and we mistake heroic actions for real heroes. It's one thing to go through a crisis grandly, yet quite another to go through every day glorifying God when there is no witness, no limelight, and no one paying even the remotest attention to us. If we are not looking for halos, we at least want something that will make people say, "What a wonderful man of prayer he is!" or "What a great woman of devotion she is!" If you are properly devoted to the Lord Jesus, you have reached the lofty height where no one would ever notice you personally. All that is noticed is the power of God coming through you all the time.

We want to be able to say, "Oh, I have had a wonderful call from God!" But to do even the most humbling tasks to the glory of God takes the Almighty God Incarnate working in us.

-- Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest, (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Discovery House, 1995).

Illustration

J. Gresham Machen, world renowned theologian, accepted lowly work while serving as a YMCA volunteer during World War I. He was assigned the task of making hot chocolate at a canteen. Since it had to be ready at 7 a.m., Machen would get up before 5. He'd take bars of chocolate and shave them into slivers. Then he'd melt them, gradually adding condensed milk and water as the mixture heated. From 7 till 9 he kept busy serving the hot chocolate, often not getting his own breakfast until the middle of the morning. Although Machen would have been an excellent counselor to the servicemen, he honored God by accepting a mundane task without complaining.

:33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Learning to think of others first.