"He rigged the game"

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

13 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.

Introduction: Share example of when I thought the finals were rigged

Begin by explaining how many sports I played growing up (Make fun that Pastor is laughing while watching online because I’m bad at golf)

Make a transition into explaining my affinity not for the Golden State Warriors but Steph Curry)

Speak about the 2016 NBA season, how historic it was, and how devastating it was watching the playoffs and subsequently the Finals. (Sub-points below)

Jimmy called me and prophetically told me all that would happen after game 5

The antics of Draymond lead him to be suspended

The horrible play of Steph led us to being defeated in 4 straight games

The Heroism of Kyrie and Lebron game 5 and Lebron taking over in Game 6

4. Speak about how shortly there-after news began to re-circulate about an official by the name of Tim Donaghy who served 1 year in prison for being found guilty of rigging NBA games and even accused the NBA officials of doing similar most notably game six of the 2002 western conference finals where Sacramento was on the end of every bad call that allowed the Lakers to survive. Mention that as this came to mind, people assumed that rigging was still in play, but say that once the upsetness had subsided that the truth simply was that the Cavaliers were the better team

5. Speak on what rigging was and the advantages of it

6. Transition into speaking on how even as we read our bibles there is some clear evidence of rigging, or things working in favor for us.

The bible says that is Genesis 3:15

Genesis 3:15 (ESV)

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and her offspring;

he shall bruise your head,

and you shall bruise his heel.”

Break down what Enmity means

Enmity refers to hostility or deep hatred toward an individual

In the world of Psychology, this can be referred to as our Flight or Fight response

This response typically happens because the amygdala (Part of our brain that is responsible for our emotions or behaviors, typically dealing in the realm of survival

When you enter flight flight or freeze (Explain some of the things that happen when you enter this mode)

After Adam and Eve Fall, God says that he will put enmity between the woman and the serpent (Explain why that’s important”

Praise here that God knowing that the temptations of the enemy would always be prevalent what he does is that He puts in us, a system that lets us know when we’re in situations that our detrimental to us. (Speak on why this is so important for our young people) (God literally will tell you when you’re not supposed to be at a certain place with certain people)

Body I. (Context of this text)

The book of 1 Corinthians, all 16 chapters is split into 5 sections

CH. 1-4 (Divisions in the Church)

CH 5-7 (Sex and Sexual Immorality)

CH 8-10 (Speak on food and idol worshipping)

CH 11-14 (Gathering in a church setting and the last supper)

CH 15 (The resurrection and victory over death)

CH 16 (Final Greeting)

Exegetical Question that needs to be asked: “Why would Paul include this important scripture about Liberation from sin and temptation, in a section that deals pre-dominantly with issues about food and idol worshipping?”

Transition: Transition and give context around the church Paul was writing to and some of their issues

It is believed amongst scholars that Paul didn’t write two letters to the church at Corinth but that he wrote 4, and that 2 Corinthians is comprised of two of the letters he wrote.

Corinth was a large, Greek city or port-city. It was a major, diverse, metro-polis style city. Which was verse unique and diverse and opened to all individuals. Yet these city followed in pagan traditions and worshipped many gods, one in particular was the goddess Aphrodite who was the goddess of fertility, love, lust, passion, pleasure, beauty, and sexuality. Scholars suggest that she was the patron of prostitutes of all varieties, from pornai (cheap street prostitutes) to hetairai (expensive, well educated hired companions who were often self employed. The city of Corinth was renowned or well known throughout the entire ancient world, who had a widespread reputation for having some of the most skilled yet expensive prostitutes. And historians both biblical and none, both agree that a major temple was located at acrocorinth where one of the main centers of her cult was located

Be of it no surprise that while Paul was stationed here for a year and a half (Acts 18:9 he experienced fear, trembling and worry. Yet God reminded Him not to be afraid because he was with Him, and had many in THAT city! (Speak on how surprised we usually are where God decides to move)

Mention that as you read Corinth you come across issues that are similar to today’s church (expounds on the divisions)

Mention the dealings with sexual immorality and how a brother was laying with his step-mother and members of the church encouraged it

Speak on Paul’s view of marriage, and how he wishes some remained even as he did, and not give over to their sexual lust

Then get to chapter ten and open up with the context of this Chapter:

Then he gets to chapters 8 where he begins to speak about liberty, but uses the food we consume as a way to tie all of this together. He mentions on how food does not bring us closer to God (Verse 8) but to take care of this liberty of food choice that they have so that it does not cause somebody weak in their walk to stumble. He then gives an example on if a brother who is weaker, sees you eating in the temple of an idol, he’ll like be strengthened to eat things that are sacrificed to idols, and because of your choice, they are now ruined, then He gives this bombshell of a statement where he says “If food, cause my brother to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to sin.”

Body II (Context about chapter 10)

Mention how Paul opens this Chapter by bringing things back to Israel’s history, and speaks on their victories, on their protections.

1.) References their victory through the red sea,

2.) How they were under the cloud

3.) How through their wilderness journey they were always fed, both spiritually and physically

But with all of those things in mind, with all those protective shielding in mind, with all those good things in mind, God was not pleased with them (Mention to members to read through (exodus through Deuteronomy)

Some gave themselves over to immorality, some idol worshipping, some insisted on tempted the Lord, and some chose to grumble, argue with moses, argue with the Lord

Mention how Paul’s is eluding to how God offers believers protection after protection, and some will go back on God’s goodness by sinning against God even with all of His protective coverings!

Refer back to all the temptations that Corinth was facing, and how now the outside world was beginning to look at the inside of the church believing that because they sin, they are now able to sin as well, and Paul is coming against the spirit of Sin!

(Explain Pastor’s point that sin is not an inanimate object, it’s a choice, it’s a spirit, it’s a lifestyle choice) Sin is not just something that comes and goes, if you are not constantly working to win in the Lord, sin will always be your foe

Explain that victory from sin is possible, victory from temptation is possible, victory from the vices of the enemy are possible, though your circumstances say other wise, victory over sin is possible! Mention that in the Lord’s prayer Christ says “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us, from evil.” (The bible says that the Lord told Cain that victory was crouching at the door, but you MUST rule over it) in John 16 Jesus lets his disciples know that they will face trouble but Jesus has overcome! All of those things tell us one thing, that even though sin is possible, victory over sin is still possible! (Mention the nba finals stat 0-146) was not possible, but they made it a reality!

Body III (The Key to overcoming temptation)

First thing is the word temptation here can mean two things (Temptation or Testing), so there could be two things this text encourages us with as opposed to just one. Now this may just my translation, but as I read this, I read it in this way (No temptation has come over you, that is special to you!) or (No testing is special for you) If that’s the case then we see that God can participate in one of these, which is the testing; because every good teacher knows that the way students grow and evolve is not through lectures and reading all year, but at some point there needs to be a testing! (Get excited on that)

Open up bible and reread text 12-14: Mention how the first step in overcoming temptation is by looking back on experiences, both good and bad, and learning from them and using it as instruction.

1.) The problem is nobody wants to speak about their experience because of the shame that it brings

2.) People don’t like looking back on the past, reliving ugly moments, because somehow it makes us feel that they are a reflection of who we currently are one thing I’m grateful for is that we are not who we were, but we are in the process of becoming who we will be. In other words, your past is that though your past may be indicative of where you are physically, it doesn’t have to be where you are mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually.

3.) Explain my fear and mention the young people: That if they don’t hear about the ugly reality of our past, once they go through bad experiences they’ll cling onto the things we once clung onto, and because they don’t know that they overcome we’ll see them do the same things we did, yet they won’t be able to overcome it, because we’re too afraid of opening up dark and grey areas in our closets. Because we’re afraid of admitting our struggle with lust, pornography, deceitfulness, drunkeness, we have a generation of young people growing up believing that what they’re experiencing is NEW, but if Solomon ever taught me one thing is that there aint nothing new! It’s the same problem, just a different generation, same problem, just a different name, and if we don’t start sharing how the Lord brought us through, they will never be able to claim victory over what the Lord claims we have victory over.

4.) Mention that in Revelation 12:11, after the great dragon was hurled down, after the great accuser came down, the bible says the way they overcome him was by the blood of the lamb, and the word of their testimony. (Mention that we don’t overcome by being quiet about our victory, we overcome by refusing to stay silent with the victories that God has given us)

Bring Band up:

Ending:

Mention that there’s this quote that goes around saying: “God won’t give you more than what you can handle”

Let me just say that ain’t biblical, because if you live long enough, you’ll come to realize that sometimes, the plate isn’t in proportion to what you can handle

Sometimes the kids are too much, Sometimes the bills are too much, Sometimes the church members are too much, and as I’m reading this text it seems like Paul is being tone deaf and lying, by saying that Christ won’t give us more than what we can handle, because life has shown us that YES HE WILL!

But as I read this text I couldn’t put it down, because it was just so good to me, I felt the spirit telling me keep looking! Now many of us think the shout is on the temptation not being beyond what we can handle, but the shout comes after the semi-colon! (Begin to walk down and rejoice on this part) Eh I thought the shout was that what I’m going through, you’re going through, but no, that just encourages me! I thought the shout was on the way of escape, but that just gives me peace, I thought the shout was that he won’t allow me to be tempted more than I can bear, but that’s just a reminder, the shout is after the semicolon! The shout is that brief pause in the text! The shout is that God is FAITHFUL! (Begin to shout on this part about his faithfulness!)

I had to look up the explanation for faithfulness; And what it means is steadfast, or loyal in allegiance. In firm adherence to promises or duties, and as I wrestled with that for a little bit I remember last week as I watched my brother moises get married, they got to vows: Promises each-other to always be there for one another, in sickness and in health; till death, do they part! Then it dawned on me, that they were making promises to be faithful to one another, in whatever season they were in. But married folks will tell you, that there are sometimes, where you need to give 99 percent, while the other person gives 1 percent. And when you read the bible, it’s simply a novel, about unfaithful people, and a faithful God, who still tries to reconcile unfaithful people to him!

And Even as I am with Christ, I haven’t always been faithful, I haven’t always been a good significant other, I haven’t always been a good partner, but UH, THE BIBLE SAYS! That HE IS FAITHFUL! So even though temptations may arise, and sometimes they look like consequences, HE IS FAITHFUL! That even when the money acting funny, HE IS FAITHFUL! That EVEN though I don’t deserve mercy, He is faithful, I said He is Faithful, SOMEBODY GIVE HIM A PRAISE FOR BEING FAITHFUL!

I KNOW YOU MAY BE GOING THROUGH A TOUGH SEASON, I KNOW YOU MAY BE ON THE END OF HARD TIMES, BUT CAN I REMIND YOU THAT HE IS FAITHFUL! I KNOW THE DOORS, SEEM LIKE THEY WON’T OPEN, BUT CAN I JUST REMIND YOU, THAT HE IS FAITHFUL! AND THOUGH THE TEMPTATION SEEMS TO BE CONSTANT, SEEMS TO BE HAVING THE ONE UP ON YOU, JUST HANG IN THERE! JUST LOOK UPON JESUS, JUST LOOK UPON THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF YOUR FAITH, HE IS FAITHFUL! HE’S MADE A WAY OUT FOR YOU, HE’S RIGGED THE GAME FOR YOU! YOU’RE THE HOME TEAM, YOU GOT HOME-COURT, YOU’RE UP 3-0, HE’S FAITHFUL! SOMEBODY SHOUT HE’S FAITHFUL!

Isaiah 40:28–31 ESV

28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.