1 Corinthians 8_9 Six prevailing principles for powerful people of God
Six Prevailing Principles for Powerful People of God
1 Cor. 6:12; 8:9; 10:23, 31, 33
Is it okay to dance, go to movies, play cards, play bunko, go to the casino to eat, or go and only spend $20 for entertainment?
How about listening to classical music, country music, or soft rock, or rock and roll.
How about, in the privacy of your own home, on your anniversary, when all the kids are gone, is it okay to have a glass of wine with your dinner.
The Bible says that there are some things that are right and wrong. For example adultery, stealing, lying.
But the bible is not a rule book, it is a guide book. But you say, what about the 10 commandments. They are not rules that we break. We are broken by them. They are guides to show us that we are not able to save ourselves.
A man jumps out of the window of a 10-story window. He doesn’t break the law of gravity. He proves it.
The Bible is not a rule book. It’s a guide book.
Not a list of Do’s and Don’ts.
For three reasons it is not a rule book.
1. If the Bible where a book of minute laws it would be big.
2. The rules would not relate to every generation.
Driving - speed limits
Eating food offered to idols.
However, the bible does relate to every generation.
3. You can find loop holes in laws but not principles.
Rules are primarily for kids.
Principles are for the maturing Christian.
Let’s look at Six Prevailing Principles of Powerful People of God.
1. The Principle of Expediency (1 Cor. 6:12)
Expedition - something is going somewhere.
Although there, may be no rule against it. It may not bring me to my goal.
What is your goal?
To be godly.
Some things are wrong because they are a waste of time. They are weights, anchors. “Lay aside every weight and the sin that besets us.”
What hinders you from giving Christ your all? Throw it off. Reduce the things that weigh you down. F.B. Meyer says, "Thousands of Christians are like water‑logged vessels, they cannot sink; yet, they are saturated with so many inconsistencies, worldlinesses and little permitted evils that they can only be towed with difficulty into the celestial port.
Suppose some morning we go to a race. Runners are lined up, stripped to the bare essentials. All is ready for the race when suddenly we see another fellow coming to the starting line. But strange as it seems he is fully dressed. He has on a full suit, heavy overcoat, hip boots and a heavy woolen cap. In his hands he carries his lunch bucket and an umbrella. His pockets are filled with medicines. Everyone is surprised that such a person would try to win the race.
Finally we approach him and ask him about it. "Of course," he says, "I'm running the race. What's wrong with what I wear? Is anything wrong with a coat or cap or medicines? After all, the race is long, the terrain is treacherous, and I may become ill. I'm going prepared for whatever may lie ahead." We can't tell him that what he carries is a burden, maybe even a sin. But we know he'll never win the race. Why? Because he is loaded with weights.
Does this practice pass this principle?
2. The Principle of Enslavement (1 Cor. 6:12)
Does it enslave you? “Under the power”
Enslaved man thinks he is free but he is a slave.
Lust, nicotine, caffeine, a hobby, hunting, fishing, eating,
Christ died to save us "from our sins," not in our sins. It is not a good sign to hear a believer either defending or excusing his sin.
The story is told of an eagle perched on a block of ice just above Niagra Falls. The swift current carried the ice and its majestic passenger closer to the edge of the great precipice. The cries of other birds and animals warning the eagle of danger that lay ahead were to no avail. "I have great and powerful wings," he boasted. "I can fly from my perch at any time. I can handle it." Suddenly the edge of the falls was only a few feet away. The torrent of water rushed the block of ice over the great falls. The eagle spread his powerful wings to mount up over the impending doom only to discover too late that his claws had become frozen to the cake of ice. Do I have to say more? None of us is immune to the consequences of sin.
If it masters you, it is wrong.
3. The principle of Example (1 Cor. 8:8-13)
The great question is not “will it hurt me?” The great question is “will it hurt somebody else?”
Tell the historical setting = Best meat and cheap, but offered to idols.
Example = In a building program. Do we buy meat at A Pagan meat market? With money saved do we give it to building program.
Whose right? Man who eats pagan meat or man who thinks it is wrong?
Rom 14:13, 21
Social drinking - for a sensitive Christian this is enough.
Out of 15 people who begin drinking 5 will become heavy drinkers, 3 alcoholics.
If alcoholism is a disease,
* It is the only disease that is bottled and sold;
* It is the only disease that is contracted by the will of man;
* It is the only disease that requires a license to propagate it;
* It is the only disease that requires outlets to spread it.
If alcoholism is a disease,
* It is the only disease that produces revenue for the government;
* It is the only disease that provokes crime;
* It is the only disease that is habit forming;
* It is the only disease that brings violent death on the highways;
* It is the only disease that is spread by advertising;
* It is the only disease without a germ or virus cause.
It just might be that it's not a disease at all.
Drinking in moderation is not the answer. It is the problem.
“We need to tach our children to drink in moderation.”
Gluttony is just as bad.
I’ve known of people who have been arrested for driving drunk, but I’ve never seen a man pulled over for driving fat.
Mama, Bro. Rick drinks wine and he loves Jesus.
Brewed with tears, thickened with blood, and paid for with children’s lunch money.
4. The principle of Edification 1 Cor. 10:23
An edifice is a building. Is it building me or bringing me down?
Measure every film by this principle.
Entertainment is recreation — Re-creation. We all need this refreshing.
Ex. Watching a dumb movie.
Sitcom = 9 out of 10 are based on 1 principle “Laugh at Sin.”
The Devil wants us to laugh at sin so we want take it serious.
Fools make a mock at sin. We have a generation laughing its way to hell.
Amuse means “not to think” Much amusement in this world
Museum = a place to think.
5. The Principle of Exaltation (1 Cor. 10:31)
Would I feel comfortable doing, watching, going with Jesus as my companion?
“I have dressed in this strapless dress to go on a date with Jesus.”
“This cigarette is for you Lord.”:
“This bud’s for you.”
“For the glory of God I tell this joke.”
This one convicts me more than any others. It is not a rule it is a principle.
6. The Principle of Evangelism (1 Cor. 10:33)
Don’t laugh at a dirty joke and then tell them about Jesus.
Curse with the same lips that spread the gospel.
Every act or deed is evangelism
Our job is to move a person closer to God.
When I am finished with him, I want to move him closer to God then when I met him.
A certain woman, preparing to entertain guests, went to a small grocery store to buy food. She stopped at the meat counter and asked the attendant for a large chicken. He reached down into the cold storage compartment, grabbed the last chicken he had, and placed it on the scale. "This one weighs four pounds, ma'am," he said. "I'm not sure that will be enough," the woman replied. "Don't you have a bigger one?" The attendant put the chicken back into the compartment, pretended to search through the melting ice for another one, and then brought out the same bird, discreetly applying some finger pressure to the scale. "Ah," he said with a smile, "this one weighs six pounds." "I'm just not sure," the woman said with a frown. "I'll tell you what‑‑wrap them both up for me!"
Don’t give anybody and offense. There are times when I want to tell people off. But I can’t do it. I want to win them to Christ.
I can’t stand cigarette smoke.
We may have the right to be served correctly at the restaurant. Is that the most important thing to me? Or should I be about winning souls?
Rules are for kids. Principles are for the mature.
A minister one day sat in the vestry of his church to meet anyone who might have spiritual difficulties. Only one came. "What is your difficulty?" asked the minister. The man answered, "My difficulty is the ninth chapter of Romans, where it says, 'Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated,'" "Yes," said the minister, "there is great difficulty in that verse; but which part of the verse is difficult for you?" The latter part, of course," said the man. "I cannot understand why God should hate Esau." The minister replied, "That verse has often been difficult, but my difficulty has always been with the first part of the verse. I never could understand how God could love that wily, deceitful, supplanting scoundrel Jacob."