You Are What You Eat

Introduction:

English Standard Version Chapter 10

14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

Introduction:

So my beard is in its awkward middle school years of growth.

Its too short to brush out and put in a nice shape but its too long to lay flat and thus before you this morning stands a “hopefully” eloquent homeless man, ready to preach the word to you.

And you know, I’ve been learning more and more each passing week that while my time is limited, my responsibilities continue to grow.

But our time is a funny thing and rather than just being currency we spend in exchange for life and experiences, it turns out that time ends up being something that defines us. Or at least how we spend it does.

More and more each day I am faced with questions like “do I love television, or spending time with my family” or “do I love sleep, or do I love spending time with Stephanie”

Am I a father because Asher carries my genetic material, or am I a father because I spend my time fathering?

Now if you hear me say that TV is evil then you're not listening to what I’m saying.

Christian there are only 24 hours in a day and the way we spend those 24 hours tells us and the world something about what we love.

Now we understand this when it comes to food right?

Similarly

If I eat nothing but double cheeseburgers from McDonald’s for the next 3 months then my beard might be looking better but I am going to start looking like a double cheeseburger all right?

Christians there is no two ways about it.

Am I a husband because I said I do to Stephanie, or am I a husband because I spend my time husbanding?

We do what we love, and we are what we eat.

We have been exploring over the past couple months or so this tension of Christian Liberty and Idolatry.

In Chapter 8 Paul introduces us to a case with very literal idols being offered food and whether the Christian has any place eating the food offered.

Paul argues that eating such food is permissible for what god is this food being offered to? There are no such gods that exist.

In Chapter 9 Paul digs deeper into our freedoms by challenging the Corinthians that freedom is not for self indulgence but rather Christian freedoms are a sort of currency that we have to sacrifice for the sake of those around us. Having the freedom to do something gives me the unique opportunity of forgoing that freedom for the sake of my brothers and sisters around me.

Then in Chapter 10 Paul begins to teach us biblical truth from accounts of Israel’s failures. “These things were written that you might not desire evil as they did” resounds in our minds as we approach what seems to be the conclusion of Paul’s discussion of idolatry.

How interesting then, in light of what we have heard, that Paul would use the example of the Lord’s Table as a way to conclude his discourse.

If you have your bibles we will be continuing in our series: Course Corrections and we will find ourselves in chapter 10:14-22

While you're turning there, as you can see in your bulletin the title of the sermon is “You are what You Eat”

The theme that we will be exploring this morning is simple: No one can serve two masters.

I bring these things up to point out that, in this busy, scheduled world we live in, where stopping to take a breath makes us feel late for the next occasion, have we asked ourselves:

What does my schedule say about me?

What story does the way I spend my time tell?

Because Christian, I would propose to you, that just as Jesus says: “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” so I propose to you that the way we spend our time tells a story about us.

Christian we do what we love.

We neglect what we do not value

Because deep down, it really is true what they say: You are what you eat.

Christian consider as we open our bibles this morning that

To explore our theme we will unpack two truths:

Am I a husband, fully or factually

Too many responsibilities, I can’t abort

We spend our time where we want to

How you spend time says something about you

You Become what you Participate in

How do you change, you are what you eat

It doesn't matter if its public or discrete

That which you do will ALWAYS change you

We eat too much poison

We need to be rescued.

No one can serve two masters

But we pretend we are the exception!

You Participate in what you Love

Then we come here to this table

Masters of deception

You cannot partake of the tables of demons and the Lord

Just as you can’t expect to divide yourself by the sword

and expect yourself to walk in two different directions

as if u can serve Christ and keep giving sin your affections

Like a thief in the night comes the end of days,

Yet here you remain, unstable in all your ways

Yet you continue in the charade

Double minded men, unstable in all oour ways

A double minded man unstable in all your ways

Now if you have made it in your bible to lets read the word together

English Standard Version Chapter 10

14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

Pray with me

You Become what you Participate In

Before we dig into this point, I want to point out that there is no actual difference in the truths “you are what you eat”, and you “become what you worship”

The reason I went out of my way to write the truth differently however is to highlight that we “worship” every day of our lives, not just here on Sunday.

And with that, I want us to see that maybe, the things we worship throughout the week are not in fact the God we worship here on Sunday mornings.

Now Paul commands us to  “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”

That statement at face value is something that most of us grasp, basically don’t worship other things.

But why the word flee?

To answer that, let’s consider his argument:

English Standard Version Chapter 10

I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?

I will attempt to argue the point like Paul does. He says in v.15 that he will present his argument and leave it to the Corinthians to judge. Likewise Cedar View, hear Paul’s argument and evaluate your lives. Test and see if his words ring true.

Paul makes 3 claims then offers us a proof.

First, consider that: The cup of blessing is the “wine” of the Lord’s Table

So then Paul’s claim is that taking the wine at the Lord’s Table is participation or “communion” with the shed blood of Jesus

Now

Second: The “one bread” is the bread of the Lord’s Table

Likewise the bread that we eat at the Lord’s table is participation with the bruised and stricken body of Jesus

Third: But before giving us the proof, Paul connects the 1st two claims in v.17:

17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

Christian, know and rejoice that in our participation in the Lord’s Table, we who are many are one body.

But this is only true if THIS bread

and THIS cup

Are different, separate, and unique from every other drink and food we consume.

Are different, separate, and unique from every other drink and food we consume.

There is something special about the Lord’s Table Christian, even if it is difficult for us to wrap our minds around special juice and crackers.

And for the Proof, in order to tie these claims together, Paul uses Old Testament precedent to prove his point in v.18.

English Standard Version Chapter 10

I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?

Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?

Don’t turn there but listen as I read Leviticus 7:11-17

English Standard Version Chapter 7

11 “And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings that one may offer to the LORD. 12 If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the thanksgiving sacrifice unleavened loaves mixed with oil, unleavened wafers smeared with oil, and loaves of fine flour well mixed with oil. 13 With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving he shall bring his offering with loaves of leavened bread. 14 And from it he shall offer one loaf from each offering, as a gift to the LORD. It shall belong to the priest who throws the blood of the peace offerings. 15 And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day of his offering. He shall not leave any of it until the morning. 16 But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow offering or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice, and on the next day what remains of it shall be eaten. 17 But what remains of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned up with fire. 18 If any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering is eaten on the third day, he who offers it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be credited to him. It is tainted, and he who eats of it shall bear his iniquity

Paul is trying to say here that it is nothing new to say that participation in the sacrifice has meaning.

Consider from Christian that:

A sacrifice was made.

There was a particular way in which the sacrifice was to be consumed

There was a punishment for consuming the sacrifice incorrectly.

Now I ask you as sensible people Cedar View.

What do YOU think this has to do with the Lord’s table?

Jesus was a sacrifice made

The Lord’s table is the prescribed way for us to participate in His work of redemption

There is punishment for those who participate in the table incorrectly

Paul will clarify some

And

Consider, that in the unique gift of the Lord’s Table to the church, we have participation with Jesus in some unique way that unites us as one body.

It is this unifying element

This necessary bond that is established when we participate in the Lord’s Table that moves Paul to close his discourse on idolatry with this example.

So again:

You are what you Eat

You become what you Participate in

No one can serve two masters.

You Participate in what you Love

To this point we have not addressed the question of the text I posed earlier,

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

But why the word flee?

But bring this question back to the forefront of your thoughts.

Now that we see and understand Paul’s argument: You Become what you Participate in, we can actually understand the fundamental truth of our sin. The base reality of our nature. The deep dark truth about our dispositions: You Participate in what you Love

Read with me in

English Standard Version Chapter 10

19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

English Standard Version Chapter 10

19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons.

Now to understand v.19 we need to turn back to chapter 8:4-6

English Standard Version Chapter 8

4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

So Paul then is not contradicting himself in our text this morning but rather he is teaching us something about idols.

1. Idol’s have no REAL existence because there is no God but one.

2. Idols then are of “so-called gods”

And from our text:

3. Those so-called gods are the schemes and work of the enemy.

To capture the glory of Paul’s statement here we must recognize the gravity of his contrast!

You Christian may eat as much food offered to idols as you desire

Why? Because those idols are no god’s that they should be counted anything

But you Christian beware, consume properly that which is offered to the Lord

Why? Because there is one God and Lord in all creation and to him should be counted ALL glory, ALL honor, and ALL praise!

So Christian, know that an idol has no real power. It is no god.

But likewise Christian recognize that we are ever so inclined to give that idol power in our lives because of our wicked flesh.

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

But why the word flee?

Matthew 6:24

English Standard Version Chapter 6

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

But why the word flee?

No one can serve two masters.

James 1:12-15

English Standard Version Chapter 1

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

But why the word flee?

No one can serve two masters.

James 4:1-10

English Standard Version Chapter 4

4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

But why the word flee?

1 John 2:15-17

English Standard Version Chapter 2

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Christian we flee because we participate in what we love.

So take a moment.

Just consider your life.

Do you in fact flee from idols?

Or do you participate in them?

Matthew 5:29-30

English Standard Version Chapter 5

29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

You are what you Eat

You become what you Participate in

You Participate in what you Love

No one can serve two masters.

Conclusion:

English Standard Version Chapter 10

22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

Now Christian, what do we do with that question?

We are about to Participate in the Lord’s table, should we all throw in the towel and not partake?

If:

Jesus was a sacrifice made

The Lord’s table is the prescribed way for us to participate in His work of redemption

There is punishment for those who participate in the table incorrectly

Then:

In what way am I supposed to participate in the table?

Speaking about prayer and supplications, James speaks in this way:

English Standard Version Chapter 4

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Consider Christian that maybe approaching the table, according to Paul, and following the example here of James, is for some of us cause and reason to be wretched and mourn and weep where we have not just failed to flee from idols,

But perhaps some of us are fleeing from the Christ we claim to participate with

Recall the statement you are about to hear read once again as we are blessed to participate in the Lord’s Table:

The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance practiced by the local church where God nourishes his church through our participation. We spur amongst ourselves the remembrance of Jesus Christ and in some unique way participate in his work of redemption by his sacrifice on the cross

Christian give the Lord’s Table the weight and gravity it deserves. It is not to be taken lightly nor is it to be taken apart from our humbling ourselves before the Lord. If you are not fleeing from idolatry then you are unfit to participate in the Lord’s Table. Just as there was punishment for those who ate the sacrifice wrongly so there is punishment for those who participate in the table wrongly.

Because the Lord’s Supper is intended for the life of the Christian, we would ask that anyone who is not a part of God’s church, by faith alone in Jesus Christ for your salvation today and in the days to come, that you would refrain from partaking in the Lord’s Supper.

If you are here this morning and you are not in Christ, walking in the way of Christianity by the power of His Spirit, then I would tell you today that the table is not for you. Because if the blood of Jesus does not cover you then why would you pour the judgement of God upon yourself instead? Just as there was punishment for those who ate the sacrifice wrongly so there is punishment for those who participate in the table wrongly.

Scratch notes

you are what you eat/worship

The Lord’s Supper is the opportunity for the Christian through God’s church to celebrate Jesus Christ through a physical representation of a spiritual work of God. So as we prepare, seek in your heart whether the work of Jesus Christ spurs in you the need and desire to celebrate him. The Gospel is a Good News worth celebrating.

English Standard Version Chapter 6

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

English Standard Version Chapter 4

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Now my words have landed heavy, so consider with joy the words of the Gospel I am about to share! Where you might have pursued idols with vigor all month, know that right now as you are confronted with the Word of God you can truly repent, turn away from those idols and begin fleeing right now even as you remain seated!

English Standard Version Chapter 26

26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

strength to challenge God

English Standard Version Chapter 6

7 All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. 8 For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

10 Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. 11 The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? 12 For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?

Cedar View, God is the creator of all things (). He is perfectly holy, worthy of all worship, and will punish sin (, , ).

eating at the altar

All people, though created good, have rebelled against God and have become sinful by nature (, , ). From birth, all people are alienated from God, rebellious against God, and subject to the wrath of God ().

English Standard Version Chapter 13

7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fully man, lived a sinless life, died on the cross to bear God’s wrath in the place of all who would believe in him, and rose from the grave in order to give his people eternal life (, , , , , ).

God calls everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and trust in Christ in order to be saved (, , ).

English Standard Version Chapter 7

11 “And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings that one may offer to the LORD. 12 If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the thanksgiving sacrifice unleavened loaves mixed with oil, unleavened wafers smeared with oil, and loaves of fine flour well mixed with oil. 13 With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving he shall bring his offering with loaves of leavened bread. 14 And from it he shall offer one loaf from each offering, as a gift to the LORD. It shall belong to the priest who throws the blood of the peace offerings. 15 And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day of his offering. He shall not leave any of it until the morning. 16 But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow offering or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice, and on the next day what remains of it shall be eaten. 17 But what remains of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned up with fire. 18 If any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering is eaten on the third day, he who offers it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be credited to him. It is tainted, and he who eats of it shall bear his iniquity.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

“If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers an animal from the herd, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD. 2 And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and kill it at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall throw the blood against the sides of the altar. 3 And from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as a food offering to the LORD, he shall offer the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, 4 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys. 5 Then Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering, which is on the wood on the fire; it is a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

This is the Gospel and this is the same good news that gives you the opportunity to participate in the Lord’s Table with confidence this morning!

Cry out to the Lord even now and declare WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM, DELIVER ME FROM THIS BODY OF DEATH

And know in the deepest crevices of your heart that there is now therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Be wretched and weep people of Cedar View, but CELEBRATE that when we resist the devil, he will flee from us, and when we raw near to God, He will draw near to us.

You are what you Eat

You become what you Participate in

You Participate in what you Love

No one can serve two masters.

If you would like to respond to the gospel this morning I will be in the front as Josh plays, and for the christian in the room, use this time following the preached word to prepare your hearts to celebrate the good news of the gospel by participating in the Lord’s Table.

And praise God through our Lord Jesus Christ that the Gospel is a Good News worth celebrating