(#048) 1 Corinthians 10 - If All My Friends are Worshipping Idols, Isn’t It Okay?

Sure, walking into the lion filled jungle usually works out.

Welcome To

BARAH MINISTRIES

a Christian Church

Rory Clark

Pastor-Teacher

Good Morning!

Welcome to Barah Ministries…an intimate, local Christian Church with worldwide impact. My name is Pastor Rory Clark.

For our Jewish friends around the world, we say, "Shanah Tovah!" The two-day holiday known as Rosh Hashanah began Friday night at sundown and concludes tonight at sundown. It is the Jewish New Year, one of the most important holidays on the Jewish calendar. It’s a time for special foods, with important traditions and with mitzvahs…deeds that are done to fulfill God's commandments…and a time to hear the blowing of the shofar, a ram’s horn.

In Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verses 11 to 16, the apostle Paul, who is Jewish AND Christian, reminds us Church Age believers that thanks to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross, we are now one with our Jewish brethren.

EPHESIANS 2:11

Therefore, remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision” … a circumcision which is performed in the flesh by human hands—

EPHESIANS 2:12

…remember that you were at that time separate from Christ…excluded from the commonwealth of Israel (a national hope)…and strangers to the covenants of promise (five promises made to Abraham by the Lord)… having no hope (of a coming Messiah)…and without God in the world (in a desperate situation).

EPHESIANS 2:13

BUT NOW (a new position)…in union with Christ Jesus (out of union with Adam)…you Gentiles who formerly were far off have been brought near to God by the blood of Christ.

EPHESIANS 2:14

For Jesus Christ Himself is our peace…who made both groups (Jews and Gentiles) into one group…and He broke down the barrier of the dividing wall of hostility between the groups…

EPHESIANS 2:15

…by abolishing in His flesh (on the Cross) the enmity which is the Mosaic Law of commandments and ordinances (now completed by Christ)…so that in Himself, Jesus might make the two groups (Jews and Gentiles) into one new man (a new creation)…thus establishing peace…

EPHESIANS 2:16

…and so He might reconcile them both (Jews and Gentiles) in one body to God the Father through the Cross…by the Cross having put to death the enmity.

Always remember…Anti-Semitism has no place in the Christian Way of Living. May all of our Jewish friends have a great 5781! J

At Barah Ministries we know this truth…that Jesus Christ is God. As the Lord He is 100% Deity…He is God the Son, a member of the Triune Godhead. He is also 100% human just like you and me, and His name is Jesus Christ. The Lord…God the Son…became flesh…Jesus Christ...and lived among us. He is the uniquely born One…100% God and 100% man in one Person forever. He is the Sovereign God of the Universe. He is the Jewish Messiah.

At Barah Ministries, we make a difference by teaching the Word of God from God’s perspective and not from man’s perspective. As those who make Barah Ministries our spiritual home, we are Christians. Being a Christian means we believe in the DEITY of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we have a deep, intimate, and personal relationship with Him.

God has an enemy, Satan, “the ruler of this world.” He is a liar who deceives

the whole world, including you. He doesn’t want you to get to know God, and he interferes with your chance to know God.

The Word of God is the truth…and it keeps us aware of Satan’s insidious

deceptions. As believers in Christ, we are in union with Christ, and we have

the victory over Satan through our Lord, who has overcome the world.

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

If All My Friends are Worshipping Idols, Isn’t It Okay?

LESSON INTRODUCTION

One of the big lies of our time involves following the crowd. In my experience, the majority is almost always wrong. We may no think so, but like the first-century Corinthian believers, we have an obsession with idols!

Today, most of them are electronic…smartphones…social media…and all forms of impersonal gadgets. We've turned from people to things, and it is ruining our relationships. Worshipping idols is a great way to ruin your relationship with God. In today's lesson, as we continue the study of First Corinthians, Chapter 10, Paul continues making his argument about our relationship to idols with his most severe warning in the passage.

SONG INTRODUCTION

Let’s hear some music! Second Corinthians, Chapter 5, Verse 17 says…

SECOND CORINTHIANS 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in union with Christ, and all believers in Christ are, he is a new creation…the old things passed away…behold, new things have come.

The only thing that makes this life worthwhile is a relationship with Jesus Christ. Chris Tomlin tells us why…it because He is the GOD OF ALL MY DAYS.

MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

GOD OF ALL MY DAYS

Casting Crowns

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray...

We’re grateful, Heavenly Father, for the privilege of studying Your absolute truth...the Word of God…

Father, thank you for the comfort a relationship with you provides…when everything in our lives is darkness You are the one constant…You are the light…thank you for Your perfect plan for our lives…thank you for Your provisions which are abundant beyond measure…thank You for the unseen and often unnoticed protections You provide to keep us safe in Satan’s kingdom…and thank most of all for Your unconditional love, and Your forgiveness, and Your grace…

Teach just to pass Your provisions on to all…and to love everyone unconditionally just as you do…

…we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ’s

name...Amen.

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

If All My Friends are Worshipping Idols, Isn’t It Okay?

Collusion. A secret agreement between parties to do something illegal and to cover for each other. “Don’t tell Dad!” “Don’t tell Mom!” We engage in collusions every day. Does it work? If we all agree that the collusion is okay, is it?

The passage under study extends from First Corinthians, Chapter 8, Verse 1 to First Corinthians, Chapter 11, Verse 1. Three chapters on a single subject…idol meat. For us it is a lesson in idols and idolatry. We’re coming to the end of the lesson…just two sections to go.

You may remember a couple of lessons ago, I told you that God is the perfect instructor. He gives us the questions that will be on a test, He gives us the answers to the test, then He gives us the test. Said another way, He teaches us in a specific way because God is very intentional and very specific…

GOD’S TEACHING METHOD

Here’s What to Do

Here’s an Example of It Done Well

Here’s What NOT to Do

Here are the Consequences

In First Corinthians, Chapter 10, Paul is making four arguments about idol meat. First, even though there is no such thing as an idol, mature believers must avoid idol meat so they will not lead immature believers back to pagan worship. Second, Paul argues that great teachers practice what they preach…and Paul offers an example of him doing it. Third, Paul warns, “Don’t be like the Jews in the wilderness!” They ignored all of God’s provisions…the freedom from Egypt…the parting of the Red Sea…the provision of manna, the perfect food…the provision of water in the desert…the protection of His presence…and they complained incessantly. As a result, 23,000 of them died at the hand of the Lord in one day.

Paul’s message in his final argument is the most severe…he warns the Corinthian believers not to lick hand grenades after the grenade pin is pulled.

My recommendation is don’t ever lick a hand grenade…but that’s another story. Let’s take a look at the next section of this passage and study it verse-by-verse…First Corinthians, Chapter 10, Verses 14 to 22…

FIRST CORINTHIANS 10:14

Therefore, my beloved (you divinely loved believers who are members of the Christian church at Corinth)…FLEE FROM IDOLATRY.

Why? There is a demon…an angelic creature…behind every idol. If we all agree to idolize demons is it okay? Paul has shifted from indirect to direct in his argument. He is no longer pulling punches. There is no compromise… eating food sacrificed to idols is off-limits. Just as Paul told us to flee fornication earlier in this letter…to avoid consorting with prostitutes…he wants us to flee idolatry as if it were a hand grenade with the pin pulled.

We are to be one with Christ and not one with idols, just as we are to be one with our spouses and not one with prostitutes and gigolos. A way to look at the sin of consorting with idols is to imagine that you are taking a bath in nuclear waste! Would you ever consider that to be okay? Absolutely NOT!

FIRST CORINTHIANS 10:15

I speak as if you are wise…you judge what I say.

Sarcasm? Probably. Remember what Paul said earlier? First Corinthians, Chapter 10, Verse 12...

FIRST CORINTHIANS 10:12

…let him who thinks he stands take heed so that he does not fall.

Paul doesn’t want the “wise and knowledgeable” believers at Corinth to think getting together with unbelievers to eat idol food is ever okay. There are consequences! God is teaching the consequences now through Paul, and The Lord’s Supper is used as an example. First Corinthians, Chapter 10, Verse 16…

FIRST CORINTHIANS 10:16

Is not the cup of blessing which we bless (referring to the wine of The Lord’s Supper) fellowship in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread (of The Lord’s Supper) which we break fellowship in the body of Christ?

Paul asks questions to stimulate thinking. When we return from our five-minute break, we’ll take your offering, and then we’ll see what else Paul has to say.

FIVE MINUTE BREAK

NOBODY

Casting Crowns

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

If All My Friends are Worshipping Idols, Isn’t It Okay?

We’re living in a time where many have lots of money, yet they are poor in

heart and poor in spirit. In Deuteronomy, Chapter 15, Verse 10 the Lord gives us a command…

DEUTERONOMY 15:10

You shall generously give to the poor…and your heart shall not be grieved when you give…because for this thing…giving…the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings.

Your generosity is making it possible for people all over the world to hear the only message that is really soothing to the soul…the Word of God. Keep on being generous! Let’s welcome up Deacon Denny Goodall with today’s offering message.

THE OFFERING

Deacon Denny Goodall

OFFERING VERSE

ROMANS 12:1

Therefore...I (Paul)...beg you believers in Christ as you keep on being persuaded because of the many mercies of God...TO PRESENT YOUR BODIES (by choice, not by command...as) A LIVING AND HOLY SACRIFICE... acceptable to God the Father... which is your spiritual service...worship.

OFFERING VERSE

ROMANS 12:2a

And do not be conformed to this world (by Satan, by his cosmic system of thought, and by the flesh resident in you)...instead, keep on being transformed by God the Holy Spirit through the renewing of your mind by studying the Word of God...

OFFERING VERSE

ROMANS 12:2b

...so that you may see clearly...through the testing of experience...what the will of God is...and the will of God is that which is good for you and that which is acceptable to Him and that which is perfect in result.

OFFERING SONG

THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU

David Bauer, Instrumental

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

If All My Friends are Worshipping Idols, Isn’t It Okay?

Welcome back! A quick recap…First Corinthians, Chapter 10, Verses 14 to 16…

FIRST CORINTHIANS 10:14

Therefore, my beloved (you divinely loved believers who are members of the Christian church at Corinth)…FLEE FROM IDOLATRY.

FIRST CORINTHIANS 10:15

I speak as if you are wise…you judge what I say.

FIRST CORINTHIANS 10:16

First Corinthians, Chapter 10, Verse 17…

FIRST CORINTHIANS 10:17

Since there is only one loaf of bread, we who are many are (come together as) one body (in unity)…for we all partake of the one loaf of bread.

Paul wants us to know that the expression, “Anything in moderation is a lie from the pit of hell.” A little idol worship can ruin you forever. The Corinthians needed to know that going back to their former manner of life is catastrophic. Paul had a similar problem among the believers in the church at Galatia. Here’s what he said to them…Galatians, Chapter 3, Verse 1…

GALATIANS 3:1

You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?

The Lord’s Supper is the ultimate expression of fellowship…it’s a reminder

of a partnership. Partnership with the Lord excludes partnership with

anyone or anything else. First Corinthians, Chapter 10, Verse 18…

FIRST CORINTHIANS 10:18

Look at the nation Israel (those Jews in the wilderness)…are not those who eat the idol sacrifices partners in the altar (of an idol…the golden calf…thus a demon)?

Remember what Paul says in Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 6? The Jews in the wilderness demonstrated this idea…

ROMANS 8:6

For the MIND SET ON THE FLESH is set on death…but the MIND SET ON THE SPIRIT is set on the resurrection life and on peace...

A sure way to have peace with God is to worship God. The unbelieving mind has no regard for God. The believing mind is led by the Spirit to worship God and to obey God.

FIRST CORINTHIANS 10:19

What do I (Paul) mean then? Do I mean that a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything (am I inferring these actually exists)?

FIRST CORINTHIANS 10:20

No! But I do say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice (through

idolatry…even though idols do not exist), they sacrifice to demons and not to God…and I do not want you to become partners with demons.

A sacrifice to an idol is a sacrifice to the demon behind the idol. Demons, fallen angelic creatures, are Satan’s minions and they encourage us through influence to do ANYTHING except worshipping God.

In the human realm, meals forge bonds. Meals symbolize fellowship and partnership. Meals have always represented a coming together. But who do you, as a Christian, want to come together with, God or a demon? The Lord's Supper forges a bond with the Lord. Sacrifices to idols, and eating idol meat forges a bond with demons. Paul issues a warning to the unfaithful Corinthians…

FIRST CORINTHIANS 10:21

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons…you cannot partake from the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

The message is simple…COMMIT. Demons are hostile to God. A Christian’s intentions don’t matter when they patriciate in idol worship or when they eat idol meat. The facts matter.

FIRST CORINTHIANS 10:22

Or do we keep on provoking the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than the Lord, are we?

If the Corinthians believers are to prosper they need to learn from the Jews in the wilderness. They saw the consequences. Do they want to repeat the error? Do they want to “tug on Superman’s cape” to quote a Jim Croce song? Of course not! Let’s not lick hand grenades. Paul warns us to FLEE IDOLATRY! What are the idols in your life? How do they separate you or distract you from your worship of the Lord?

Don’t buy into the collusion of the world. Dare to be different.

GOD WANTS YOU!

Make the Most Important Decision of Your Life

The closing message of this study is the most important message of this study. We want you to know that GOD WANTS YOU.

First and foremost, this message is for the benefit of believers in Christ. First Peter, Chapter 3, Verse 15 says…

FIRST PETER 3:15

…believers…sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts…always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that is in you (the absolute confidence provided by your faith in Christ)… and give the defense with gentleness and respect…

Second, this message is for unbelievers, so you can be saved. Whether you know it or not, you were born a sinner. That’s bad news for you. Sinners need a Savior. The good news is that this gospel message offers you the chance to make the most important decision of your life, the one outlined in Acts, Chapter 16, Verse 31…

ACTS 16:31

“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and everyone in your household who also believes.”

We want you to know that God wants you!

If you closed your eyes in this life right this moment…and found yourself standing before the Sovereign God of the Universe, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…and the Lord asked you, “Why should I let you into heaven?” …what would you say? Such a scenario would never happen because that’s not how God works…but let’s just suppose.

Many would talk about what a good person they are. Many would talk about all their good works…the things they have done to earn and to deserve entrance into heaven. The Bible has bad news for “good people” who want to work their way into heaven…Romans, Chapter 4, Verse 4…

ROMANS 4:4

Now to the one who works for salvation, his payment is not paid as if it were a gracious favor from God…but his payment is paid because it is what he is due...it is paid to him as what he has earned because of his work.

The bad news is that your goodness as a person and your hard work are not good enough to get you into heaven, because they are not perfect.

You were born with a problem. From the moment of your physical birth, God considered you a sinner. Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 10…

ROMANS 3:10

…it is written, “There is no creature who is righteous…not even one…”

Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 23…

ROMANS 3:23

…all creatures have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…

In addition to being a sinner, you commit personal sins. Sinners and those who sin simply don’t meet God’s absolute righteousness standard, because God requires perfection to get into heaven. So being a good person, or trying to work your way into heaven with good, but imperfect deeds, does not impress God at all. It’s not your fault that you’re a sinner from physical birth, but it is your circumstance. Unfortunately, being a sinner has a penalty. Romans, Chapter 6, Verse 23…

ROMANS 6:23

For the payment earned for being a sinner is both spiritual death and physical death…

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself passed along this very bad news to a self-righteous Pharisee, Nicodemus, in John, Chapter 3, Verse 3…

JOHN 3:3

Jesus answered and said to Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless

you are born again (the spiritual birth) you cannot see the kingdom of God the Father (in heaven).”

This gospel message is the good news concerning what God did to fix the bad news for a sinner. Romans, Chapter 5, Verse 8…

ROMANS 5:8

But God the Father demonstrates His own unconditional love toward all mankind…in that while we were yet sinners (while we were unrighteous, ungodly, unbelievers) … Christ died a sacrificial death for us.

Who is this God who saves you? The apostle Paul describes the Lord Jesus Christ…in First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verses 3 and 4…

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:3

For I (Paul) delivered to you as of first importance the gospel message I also received…that it was Jesus Christ who died for our sins according to the Scriptures…

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:4

…and that He was buried…and that He was raised from the dead on the third day…according to the Scriptures…

Absolute righteousness is the admission ticket to heaven and it is the key to

eternal life…the resurrection life…and it is yours FREE OF CHARGE if

you want it. Romans, Chapter 10, Verses 9 to 11…

ROMANS 10:9

…if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord (that He is God) … and if you believe in your heart that God the Father raised Him from the dead…you will be saved…

ROMANS 10:10

…for with the heart a person believes…resulting in the imputation of absolute righteousness (your admission ticket to heaven) … and with the mouth a person confesses (choosing faith in Christ alone) … resulting in salvation.

ROMANS 10:11

For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in the Lord Jesus Christ will not be disappointed.”

ACTS 16:31

“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and everyone in your household who also believes.”

All you have to say is, “I believed in You when I was alive, Lord. That’s all it takes to get to heaven.” And you’d be right! So, heed the invitation and the warning of John, Chapter 3, Verse 36…

JOHN 3:36

“He who believes in the Son has the resurrection life right at that moment… but he who does not obey the command to believe in the Son will not see the resurrection life…instead the wrath of God (the Lake of Fire) abides on him.”

There is a hell…a very real place…and it is described this way in the Bible… Matthew, Chapter 13, Verses 41 to 43…

MATTHEW 13:41

The Son of Man (the Lord Jesus Christ) will send forth His elect angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks (unbelievers), and those who commit lawlessness (unbelievers)…

MATTHEW 13:42

…and the elect angels will throw unbelievers into the furnace of fire (the Lake of Fire) … in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

MATTHEW 13:43

Then the righteous (believers in Christ) will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father…

For those without a relationship with Christ, He’ll just ask them to step to

the left and to take the “HELLIVATOR” … just press down. Don’t let that be you! Sinners need a Savior, and that Savior is the Lord Jesus Christ. Believe in Him and you will be saved!

SONG INTRODUCTION

Let’s close with music! First John, Chapter 4, Verse 16 says…

FIRST JOHN 4:16

We believers in Christ have come to know and have come to believe the unconditional love which God the Father has for us. God the Father is unconditional love (in His very Person)…and the one who abides in the sphere of unconditional love abides in union with God the Father…and God the Father abides in him.

Here’s June Murphy to sing the best song she has ever written…one of the best songs of all time in fact…sung from God’s perspective which is the ONLY perspective…WHEN I SAY I LOVE YOU.

CLOSING SONG

WHEN I SAY I LOVE YOU

June Murphy

CLOSING VERSES

A Doxology of Praise to Our God

PROVERBS 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.//In all your ways acknowledge Jesus, and He will make your paths straight.

DEUTERONOMY 31:8

“For the Lord is the one who goes ahead of you…He will be with you…He will not fail you or forsake you…so do not fear or be dismayed.”

ISAIAH 30:18

The Lord longs to be gracious to you…He waits on high to have compassion

on you…for the Lord is a God of justice…blessed are those who wait for Him.

FIRST PETER 5:6-7

Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may promote you at the proper time…//…slamming all your cares on His back, because He cares for you.

God considers your problems to be His responsibility.

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray...

Thanks for coming!

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for listening!

www.barahministries.com