Sermon Title: Question, Your Obsession.

Review & Overview

1. Previous Study’s Review

We’re still dealing with the 2nd question asked of Paul involving:    

Our Christian Freedom or our Liberty:  chp.8-10.    

chp.8: Paul talked about our Christian Freedom as it pertains to things offered to idols:    

The problem this church had was meat that was offered and dedicated to idols.

He mentioned that Knowledge, Idols, & Food were nothing.      &     that Love was everything…   

And that we should put aside our liberties & freedoms so we don’t Stumble Others…

chp.9: Paul gave an illustration regarding his own Christian Freedom that he put aside.

Paul had the Right to be Support Monetarily, Physically, Financially but he didn’t. 

So Paul was a Great Example of how he set his freedoms aside to serve the Lord (Reference 9:24-27).

Now in chp.10: Paul gives another illustration regarding the Israelites who were a Bad Example because they handled their freedom inappropriately:

In Verses 1 through 4 Paul noted that God had freed the Israelites from bondage under Egypt, God...

Gave the Israelites Direction, protection, provision, and there was Identification - The Israelites identified w/ Moses & God.

In other words they were saved.

And in spite of all that, the Israelites were a Bad Example because they misused their freedom.

In Vs. 5-13 we learned that Paul is communicating this bad example for us to learn from them, for us to learn that lesson.

Because in the process of them misusing they freedom they were disqualified, and none of us here do not want to be disqualified.

The Nation of Israel Misused Their Freedom Because they:

Lacked Faith, Lusted, Idolatry, Sexually Immoral, They Tempted God, and they Complained against God.

2. Current Study’s Overview

Now here beginning with vs.14 Paul deals with those who have a prideful attitude in thinking: They are Immune towards sin. (Reference 10:11-12)

Just because you are saved and are free in Christ, doesn’t mean you are exempt from sin, your not unaffected by sin, we are not immune to sin. Read...

The Corinthians were free to eat the meat offered to idols…  They were free to go to the festivals of idols…  

But they were Not free to revert back to the Worshipping of Idols…

You see, Paul understood this freedom could become problematic… So Paul gives them a command.

If you are taking notes we’ll look at 3 things:

1. The Communication of the Command Vs. 14a & 15

2. The Obligation of the Command Vs. 14b

3. The Motivation for the Command Vs. 16-22

1. The Communication of the Command Vs. 14a & 15

1.1 The Command is Communicated in Love Vs. 14a   

Beloved:  agapatos,  well loved…  worthy of love…  it speaks to how much Paul loved the Corinthians…

Now Paul had to deal with a lot of problems in the church at Corinth…    he had to set them straight on many issues…       &           in doing that Paul might seem to them to be harsh or heavy…  

But Paul was their pastor and he had a heart of love for them…   that’s why he was correcting them…

But when he did correct them he did it in love.

Ephesians 4:15 (NKJV)

15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

Colossians 4:6 NKJV

6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Quote: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

1.2 The Command is Communicated with Respect Vs. 15

He says I speak to you as wise men...

Wise:   phronimos, 14,    skillful…     expert…     intelligent…     

Paul had enough respect in their ability to understand that what he was saying to them was not because he was mad at them… 

Or because he wanted to punish or hurt them… it’s because his great Love for them

No doubt the reason they were able to receive Paul’s instruction is because of the Holy Spirit in them.

When we have the Holy Spirit living in us we too are able to receive instruction…    &   correction…  

1 Corinthians 2:14–15 NKJV

14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.

APPLICATION: When we’re filled with the Spirit we realize that we’re not perfect & there is always room for growth.

And when someone comes up to us with some instruction or correction we are able to receive it…               

2. The Obligation of the Command: Flee from Idolatry Vs. 14b

So the command is to flee idolatry...

Flee Definition:  seek safety by running…  to escape out of danger

Idolatry: is the worship of false gods…  

And the Corinthians knew a lot about idolatry…     it was everywhere…     all the time… 

So Paul is emphasizing how dangerous idolatry can be…      so escape out of danger… Flee from it...

APPLICATION: Which is a good word for us.  because while we don’t have little wooden statues, we all can be tempted to worship something or someone.

The question for us is simple, what do we live for… what’s our master passion… what drives us in the morning…  what motivates us to do what we do… because  that’s what we worship…  that’s our idol… 

In Gal.5:19-21 Paul talks about the works of the flesh… 1 is idolatry & results in not inheriting the kingdom of God

If we put more importance on anything or anyone other than Jesus Christ…   that’s idolatry…

Quote: “You are the POSSESSION of your OBSESSION.”

Matthew 6:21 NKJV

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

3. The Motivation for the Command Vs. 16-22

Paul gives us 3 reasons to Flee from Idolatry: vs.16-22.

3.1 Flee Idolatry Because The Fellowship it Represents Vs. 16-18

And Paul illustrates this in 2 ways:       

A) Paul Illustrates The Fellowship Through the Lord’s Table Vs. 16-17 - Communion:   koinonia,   fellowship,   oneness,     2 aspects to this fellowship…

  The Cup:  this cup is called the cup of blessing…    during the Passover meal there are 4 cups used…

Keddush, Makkot, He-Geulah, Halel…  in 1 Cor.11:25 Jesus took the cup after supper which is always the 3rd cup the He-Geulah…   or   the cup of redemption…  

Colossians 1:14 NKJV

14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

But we pick up the Cup of Blessing…  the 1st cup the Keddush…  thus having fellowship with Jesus.

The Bread:  unleavened,  leaven is a type of sin,   1 Cor.5:6 little leaven…    but    Jesus was sinless…        

2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV

21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Hebrews 4:15 NKJV

15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

1 John 3:5 NKJV

5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.

When we take the cup & the bread we enter into fellowship with Christ, we are identifying with Christ.

APPLICATION: And here is the point the same is true about idolatry…       so flee from it…

B) Paul Illustrates The Fellowship Through O.T. Sacrifices Vs. 18 - In Lev.3: we have the Peace Offering:  this offering was brought by the worshipper given to the priest then put on the altar, cooked, then a portion would go to God, the priests & the worshipper… 

So they all ate the same meat thus there was fellowship or an oneness with each other…  

because in ancient times they didn’t have silver ware… they grabbed it with their hands… no double dipping rules.

APPLICATION: By being involved with idols we become one with that idol and the people that are involved, so flee from it…

3.2 Flee Idolatry Because of the Demonic Influence it Has Vs. 19-21

Statement Paul Makes Vs. 19-20 - Paul said back in chp.8:4 idols were nothing… 

But here we’re told that behind every worthless idol…    there is demonic influence… 

2 Corinthians 4:4 NKJV

4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Ephesians 2:2 NKJV

2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

2 Corinthians 11:14 NKJV

14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

So ultimately whatever is not of Christ…    is of the Anti-Christ…   or   Satan himself…  is it no wonder we should Flee from Idolatry…

The Fact Paul States Vs. 21 - This is not something Paul made up…    no, it’s something Jesus said… 

Matthew 6:24 NKJV

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

APPLICATION: A lot of people today think they can have one foot in the World…    &    one foot in the Word…

That during the week we live our life how we want to but on Sunday we’re totally different…

We should be the same person everyday of the week… no matter where we’re at or what we’re doing… 

3.3  Flee Idolatry Because of the Consequences it Brings Vs. 22 

The words Provoke & Jealousy are the exact same Gk. words…   

So by being joined together with idols we are making Jealous a Jealous God…   &   obviously we are not Stronger than Him…    

So by making jealous a jealous God we will be bringing wrath or judgment upon ourselves…    

listen to Deut.32:21-25…  no doubt Paul had this passage in mind when he wrote 1 Cor.10:22…   Read...

Deuteronomy 32:21–25 NKJV

21 They have provoked Me to jealousy by what is not God; They have moved Me to anger by their foolish idols. But I will provoke them to jealousy by those who are not a nation; I will move them to anger by a foolish nation. 22 For a fire is kindled in My anger, And shall burn to the lowest hell; It shall consume the earth with her increase, And set on fire the foundations of the mountains. 23 ‘I will heap disasters on them; I will spend My arrows on them. 24 They shall be wasted with hunger, Devoured by pestilence and bitter destruction; I will also send against them the teeth of beasts, With the poison of serpents of the dust. 25 The sword shall destroy outside; There shall be terror within For the young man and virgin, The nursing child with the man of gray hairs.

APPLICATION: And here is the point if we are putting anything or anyone above Jesus Christ it’s our idol… that’s what we worship… 

And ultimately it will bring judgment upon us… 

Matthew 6:33 NKJV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

so hopefully today we all make that commitment to put Jesus First… 

ENDING......