[0:00] Good morning. Are we well this morning? Glory to His name.
[0:12] ! Thank you, Brother Jake, for motivating us this morning in the opening to worship the Lord.!
[0:23] This morning in Sunday school, as we continue in the parenting class, we had a question presented to us, something to consider.
[0:34] What are our thoughts as we enter a church building? And so, you know, what do we think, what's in our mind as we come to this building?
[0:47] And then to compare that, what are our thoughts when we enter our home? And so, it's a nice little discussion on that, some different viewpoints, some different thoughts that we have on that.
[1:05] And just to bring up, you know, as parents, as families, as we raise our families, that a family is a sacred entity.
[1:20] And that our home is an important place where we raise up our families. And in that as well, that we worship God in doing so.
[1:34] And the point came out that it's not about us, it's about Him. It's about God. And that is what our passage this morning speaks of as well.
[1:50] As we close chapter 10 in 1 Corinthians, in the past couple of chapters, Paul has been addressing idol worship and the different, you know, sacrifices offered to them.
[2:08] And, you know, with that situation that they had in Corinth, it gave him the opportunity to teach selflessness, to be considerate of others.
[2:23] And so, as he closes the chapter, he reflects back on that situation regarding idol worship and so on. And he kind of summarizes a little bit what he has been bringing out in the last couple of chapters, mainly chapters 8 through 10.
[2:44] And so, in this last portion, Paul makes some thoughtful statements as he closes. And each one of them is unique.
[2:55] And it concerns our character as Christians. And it causes us to focus on what we are here to do.
[3:07] And Paul clearly states that in verse 31 of chapter 10, which is going to be our key verse for this morning. And so, I don't want to, again, go over all the different things that Paul has addressed in the past couple of chapters, but to focus on these statements a bit and to share some thoughts on them.
[3:35] And so, with that, let's start in verse 31 before we back up to 23 again. Verse 31 in our text. Do I do that?
[3:57] Does that describe me? Is God receiving the glory on my behalf?
[4:11] And in everything that I do, it says, do all to the glory of God. Just keep that verse in mind as we look at the rest of the passage.
[4:27] Let's go back to verse 23. Thank you, Brother Mike, for reading the passage for us. We start off, Jesus says in Matthew chapter 5, verse 17.
[5:04] Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill. And then, just before he died, as he hung on that cross, he said, It is finished.
[5:24] The law was fulfilled. He had come and fulfilled. And so, from that point forward, all who come to Jesus in faith are freed.
[5:36] Freed from the burden of sin. Freed from the law. Let's turn to Galatians chapter 5.
[5:52] Speaking of that freedom. Galatians chapter 5, in verse 1. Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty by which Christ has made us free.
[6:07] And do not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage. We're encouraged here to stand fast. To remain firm in this new freedom.
[6:21] Not to, again, surrender it for the bondage that we were previously trapped in. We came out of bondage. Why would we want to go back?
[6:34] And then, in the same chapter, we'll drop down and read verses 13 and 14. For you, brethren, have been called to liberty. Only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh.
[6:48] But through love, serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word. Even in this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
[7:00] So, we have been called to liberty. Called to freedom. And we have this in the new spiritual life that we have when we are born again.
[7:15] Spirit and flesh do not mix. There is freedom in the spirit. Not in the flesh.
[7:27] What will the flesh do? The flesh will pervert freedom. It will deceive us and bring us back into bondage.
[7:38] So, those verses, you know, they go hand in hand with our text in verse 23 and 24.
[7:51] We are to be considerate of one another. In love to serve one another. It says, in the whole law.
[8:05] The whole law is fulfilled by loving your neighbor. We are not bound to the law any longer.
[8:17] And yet, it is written in our hearts. The Holy Spirit that we have been given, that is indwelling us, has written two simple commandments on our heart.
[8:32] To love God and to love our neighbor. If we do that, we will not kill.
[8:43] We will not steal. We will not lie. We will not covet. Which we had last week. Coveting is idolatry.
[8:56] Coveting is idolatry. That Paul is addressing in these chapters. So, as we are in tune with the spirit, we will remain free.
[9:09] And we will fulfill the law. And so, we see then that the guidelines or the boundaries of our freedom is love.
[9:23] And so, it makes sense that Paul writes, all things are lawful, but not all helpful. And so, he writes that in the sense of being considerate of others.
[9:48] As in Corinth, the struggle with idolatry. The more mature believers, we heard of in chapter 8, they didn't struggle with eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols.
[10:03] The argument that they had, idols are dead. There is no power in them. Meat is only meat. They didn't struggle with that. And yet, eating it, eating that meat in front of younger, less mature believers who still struggled with that concept, wasn't helpful.
[10:27] It was a stumbling block. And so, it didn't edify or build others up. Even though, the more mature ones, you know, it was their right to eat.
[10:41] And yet, the thought behind it is to be considerate of others. And so, the instruction is then not to seek our own well-being, to seek our own will, our own desires, our own rights, but to think of others before we go ahead and do something.
[11:12] That is showing love. That is exercising our freedom. And it's, you know, whether it's in food or drink or any other action, if we stop and we consider the well-being of others and act upon those convictions, we are fulfilling the commandment given to us in the New Testament, to love one another.
[11:42] And obedience to God brings glory to Him from us and from those around us who are witnessing us acting in love.
[11:58] As they see that, they too glorify God. Remember, I failed to mention the title of my message this morning.
[12:14] It is all to the glory of God. So, based off of the key verse. It is all to the glory of God. Continuing in verse 25.
[12:29] Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake. For the earth is the Lord's and all its fullness. If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake.
[12:51] But if anyone says to you, this was offered to idols, do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you and for conscience' sake. For the earth is the Lord's and all its fullness.
[13:08] Conscience, I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience? But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?
[13:27] Again, in this portion, the context is of food offered to idols and invitations to meals in unbelievers' homes.
[13:43] As we began with, we are to act out of love. If someone else is struggling with certain foods, we should refrain.
[13:55] If an unbeliever invites us over for a meal, go. Show love, not a holier-than-thou attitude.
[14:10] In these verses, in this portion, I want to focus on the quote that Paul shares twice. For the earth is the Lord's and all its fullness.
[14:28] It is a quote from Psalm 24, verse 1. And it was used by the Jews as a blessing at mealtimes.
[14:38] Mealtimes. So it's fitting that he adds that in here in regards to food. So as we realize the truth of this statement, the earth is the Lord's in all its fullness, forgiveness.
[15:05] It was the Lord who created the earth, the day and the night, the sun, the moon, the stars. It was the Lord who created trees, grass, herbs, plants.
[15:22] and it was the Lord who populated the earth with all manner of creatures and mankind.
[15:36] Everything that was created, it was the Lord who did it. So it all belongs to Him. And when man sinned and made it necessary for blood to be spilled, the Lord took of what He had created and He made clothing to cover man's nakedness and to feed him.
[16:06] All we have comes from the Lord and so we owe it all to Him. Do we praise, honor, and glorify God for all that we have?
[16:25] All creation glorifies God. Turn with me to Psalm chapter 19. Just pick a few scriptures that speak of this.
[16:42] Psalm 19, verse 1. The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork.
[16:58] Speaking of the heavens, the sky, glorify God and they show His handiwork. Another one in Nehemiah, Nehemiah chapter 6.
[17:18] Nehemiah chapter 9, sorry, verse 6. I'll back up to verse 5 and start with a quote.
[17:34] Stand up and bless the Lord your God forever and ever. Blessed be your glorious name which is exalted above all blessing and praise.
[17:45] You alone are the Lord. You have made heaven the heaven of heavens and all their host. The earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them and you preserve them all.
[18:00] The host of heaven worships you. The host of heaven worships. All creation worships its creator.
[18:19] Mankind is something else. Mankind rebels. Why is that?
[18:29] everything that the Lord created he spoke into existence.
[18:42] When it came to man the Lord made extra effort. He created man in his image and he did not speak him into existence.
[19:00] He took time to form and to shape man from the dust of the ground to shape his features to be different than all the rest of creation.
[19:14] man and then when he had formed man he breathed the breath of life into his nostrils.
[19:27] God was so particular about creating man and yet man is so stiff-necked about worshipping the one who created him.
[19:39] When someone creates something or invents something we give them praise for it.
[19:50] We lift them up for their creativity their knowledge. How wonderful how great that this person created this. We ought to think of the one who created all of us who gives us the ability to think to plan to create to choose and we ought to lift him up above any other thing.
[20:26] This morning I am thankful for fellow believers for all of you here this morning for the fellowship the encouragement the unity the like mindedness and the friendship that is here amongst you.
[20:49] It is important for us and it's the reason why in Hebrews 10 we are instructed not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together.
[21:08] We need it. The fellowship the accountability they remind us of our gracious father in heaven and it causes us to glorify him along alongside the rest of creation.
[21:27] Let's read on again verse 31 Therefore whether you eat or drink or whatever you do do all to the glory of God.
[21:46] Give no offense either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God just as I also please all men in all things not seeking my own profit but the profit of many that they may be saved.
[22:04] Imitate me just as I also imitate Christ. How do we do all to the glory of God?
[22:17] God number one we give our life to him. This was written to believers so that aspect is already covered but to do all to the glory of God is to be obedient to him in all things.
[22:41] We started off in verse 23 that all things are lawful and so considering the law Adam was given one commandment Israel 10 the church has been given two and those two are applicable to us and as already mentioned they are to love God and to love our neighbor.
[23:28] If we obey these two commandments we fulfill the whole law. The law given to God's people in time past the Israelites commandments are all wrapped up in those two that have been given to us.
[23:51] If we love God we will hear him and we will listen to him. We will turn away from idols. All our adoration our praise and our worship will go to God.
[24:12] He created us. He sustains and provides for us. He gave his son to die for us.
[24:24] He is patient with us. He desires a relationship with us. God is worthy of all the glory that we can give to him.
[24:49] And when we love our neighbor we care for his needs as much as we care for our own. Let's turn to Matthew 25.
[25:05] We had this in Sunday school this morning as well. A different looking at it from a different aspect in regards to raising children this morning as we look at it from this angle about serving and loving one another.
[25:30] Matthew chapter 25. And let's read verses 35 through 40. For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink.
[25:42] I was a stranger and you took me in. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.
[25:55] Then the righteous will answer him saying Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in or naked and clothe you?
[26:08] Or when did we see you sick or in prison and come to you? And the king will answer and say to them assuredly I say to you in as much as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren you did it to me.
[26:32] It says it so well with loving our neighbor how many problems in this world would be fixed if people only loved one another Paul wants us to be like him he is not boasting it's not his pride talking humbly he says in verse one of chapter eleven imitate me just as I also imitate Christ ultimately Christ is the one we are to imitate to be like we need to read the gospels and to meditate on the things that
[27:42] Christ did to observe His life how he lived his life why did he do it that way why did he say what he did what were his motives as we do this we begin to understand Christ more we will see that all that he did was selfless he didn't do it for himself it was all to the glory of God Paul modeled Christ he became all things to all men because he loved them and he cared about their souls he was willing to give up meat so that a weaker brother wouldn't have to stumble because of him because
[28:45] Paul dedicated his life to the Lord service didn't seek his own profit in anything he could confidently say imitate me because he knew who he modeled and like Paul our life should model Christ as well no idols should be present no self righteousness causes causing us to be focused on self leave us this morning with a couple of questions is God being glorified in all that we do could we tell someone else imitate me just as I also imitate
[29:49] Christ let's bow Lord Father in heaven we thank you that you love us first you loved us first and I'm thankful for each one who loves you in return and I'm thankful for every soul that you have created Lord you desire a relationship with each one Father help us to lay down our selfish desires and to stand up and to be considerate of others as much or more than as we are considerate of ourselves to reach out to them to desire to see their souls in your care and that you have a relationship with them as well
[30:55] Father help us to glorify you in all that we do in every single thing that we do that your name is lifted up and it is honored and glorified as it should be in Jesus name I pray Amen