WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.900 Good morning, church. Turn with me in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 10. We are 00:00:06.900 --> 00:00:11.200 looking at 1 Corinthians chapter 10, verse 1 to 22. If you're looking in one of the pew 00:00:11.200 --> 00:00:24.679 Bibles, it's page 957 as we continue in our series through this book. So, I'll be reading 00:00:24.679 --> 00:00:36.159 verse 1 all the way to verse 22. So, let's begin reading there. Paul's words to the Corinthians. 00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:43.379 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud and 00:00:43.379 --> 00:00:49.260 all passed through the sea. And all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and 00:00:49.259 --> 00:00:55.219 all ate the same spiritual food and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from 00:00:55.219 --> 00:01:01.739 the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most 00:01:01.739 --> 00:01:08.579 of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now, these things took place 00:01:08.579 --> 00:01:15.840 as examples for us that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:20.000 of them were. As it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. 00:01:20.980 --> 00:01:27.079 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and 23,000 fell in a single day. 00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:33.359 We must not put Christ to the test as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents, 00:01:33.420 --> 00:01:40.379 nor grumble as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now, these things happened to them 00:01:40.379 --> 00:01:46.119 as an example, but they were written down for our instruction on whom the end of the ages has come. 00:01:46.659 --> 00:01:55.199 Therefore, let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken 00:01:55.199 --> 00:02:01.259 you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, 00:02:01.379 --> 00:02:07.539 but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape that you may be able to endure it. 00:02:07.540 --> 00:02:15.860 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to sensible people. Judge for yourselves what I say. 00:02:16.560 --> 00:02:23.200 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, 00:02:23.800 --> 00:02:29.840 is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, 00:02:30.360 --> 00:02:34.980 for we all partake of the one bread. Consider the people of Israel. 00:02:34.979 --> 00:02:39.619 Are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 00:02:40.599 --> 00:02:46.519 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No. 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:52.479 I imply that what pagan sacrifice they offer to demons, and not to God. 00:02:53.199 --> 00:02:58.620 I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. 00:02:58.620 --> 00:03:08.039 You cannot partake of the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? 00:03:08.039 --> 00:03:14.900 Well, about seven years ago, my wife and I were living in downtown New Haven. 00:03:15.579 --> 00:03:21.919 It was a Sunday after church. I was downstairs. We had some kind of lunch meeting. I don't remember what it was. 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:27.579 I got a call from my wife. You need to come home immediately. Our house is on fire. 00:03:27.580 --> 00:03:32.940 It's one of the calls that there's only one right thing to do, and you better not delay. 00:03:35.500 --> 00:03:42.620 Well, while I was still at church, my wife had gone home. She was sitting in the living room, and she smelled wood smoke. 00:03:42.720 --> 00:03:50.060 And at first she thought, isn't that cozy? You know, one of our neighbors must have lit a fire in the fireplace. 00:03:50.060 --> 00:03:55.640 You know, reminds me of the town where I grew up. What a pleasant smell. 00:03:55.819 --> 00:04:01.840 Until the fire department banged on the door and said, get out of the house. There's a fire on the third floor. 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:07.400 Well, this morning's passage, Paul is giving a strong warning. 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:13.080 Found especially in verse 12 and verse 14, which both begin with the word therefore. 00:04:13.420 --> 00:04:18.120 Paul says, therefore, if you think you're standing firm, be careful that you don't fall. 00:04:18.120 --> 00:04:22.120 And therefore, flee from idolatry. 00:04:22.740 --> 00:04:26.199 Paul is warning his hearers about a danger that they don't recognize. 00:04:26.500 --> 00:04:31.220 It's like he's entering a house where people are pleasantly enjoying the smell of wood smoke, 00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:34.199 and he's saying, flee, run for your life, you're in danger. 00:04:35.639 --> 00:04:37.920 Of course, a warning like that is never pleasant to hear. 00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:45.220 But later on, when you look back on it, it might be the very thing, perhaps the only thing, 00:04:45.220 --> 00:04:46.899 that could have saved your life. 00:04:48.120 --> 00:04:53.040 Well, this morning, I want to look at three things about Paul's warning. 00:04:53.160 --> 00:04:57.019 I want to look at the basis for Paul's warning in verse 1 to 11. 00:04:57.639 --> 00:04:59.439 That will be the longest section of the sermon. 00:05:00.100 --> 00:05:00.840 So don't be worried. 00:05:01.019 --> 00:05:05.560 If I go for a long time in point 1, point 2 will be shorter, and point 3 will be the shortest. 00:05:06.040 --> 00:05:10.060 Anyway, the basis for Paul's warning, the application of Paul's warning, verse 15 to 22, 00:05:10.060 --> 00:05:14.560 and the encouragement that accompanies Paul's warning, verse 13, right in the middle. 00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:17.360 So that's where we're going, and let's dig in. 00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:18.879 First, the basis for Paul's warning. 00:05:18.980 --> 00:05:21.439 Let me remind you of the context that we're in. 00:05:21.540 --> 00:05:24.259 Paul's addressing the question of eating food offered to idols. 00:05:24.339 --> 00:05:28.459 This was one of the controversies that was dividing the Corinthian church. 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:30.199 Some people said, hey, go ahead. 00:05:30.840 --> 00:05:35.600 You know, idols aren't real, and as a Christian, you should have the freedom to eat anything, 00:05:35.600 --> 00:05:37.420 so enjoy it. 00:05:37.780 --> 00:05:45.480 Other people said, no, that's contaminated food, and we should avoid it at all costs 00:05:45.480 --> 00:05:47.220 and really keep our distance from it. 00:05:47.260 --> 00:05:49.780 Now, Paul's dealing with a complicated situation. 00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:50.620 We've seen that. 00:05:50.960 --> 00:05:54.480 So he doesn't just say, yes, go ahead, or no, don't. 00:05:55.400 --> 00:06:00.800 He's trying to lead the whole Christian community through a process of moral and spiritual discernment 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:04.400 in these chapters, chapters 8 through 10. 00:06:05.360 --> 00:06:09.960 So chapter 8, Paul begins by speaking about the dangers of knowledge. 00:06:10.100 --> 00:06:14.300 He says, knowledge can puff you up with pride and the priority of love. 00:06:14.980 --> 00:06:17.580 He says, you know, it'd be better not to eat meat at all, ever, 00:06:18.580 --> 00:06:21.580 than to cause your brother or sister to stumble into sin. 00:06:21.579 --> 00:06:28.339 So Paul starts there, and then chapter 9, Paul points out that there can be a spiritual benefit 00:06:28.339 --> 00:06:31.919 to not insisting on your personal rights. 00:06:32.919 --> 00:06:34.459 Paul says, I have rights. 00:06:34.979 --> 00:06:36.519 I can defend my rights. 00:06:36.979 --> 00:06:44.019 I'll defend other people's rights, but I won't always insist on exercising my own rights. 00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:51.199 Last week, we saw Paul's flexibility and focus for the sake of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:52.860 to all kinds of people. 00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:58.879 Here in chapter 10, Paul wants to point out some spiritual dangers 00:06:58.879 --> 00:07:02.800 that some of his people aren't taking seriously enough. 00:07:03.879 --> 00:07:08.360 But again, you know, if you read verse 1, right, Paul doesn't immediately go for it. 00:07:08.379 --> 00:07:10.879 He doesn't immediately start with a warning by saying, 00:07:11.039 --> 00:07:13.500 flee from idolatry, stop going to the idol temples. 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:19.459 You see, if there's a fire in somebody's house, the fire department's job is urgent, 00:07:19.459 --> 00:07:21.419 but it's pretty straightforward. 00:07:22.539 --> 00:07:25.379 Because everyone knows that fire poses a danger. 00:07:25.500 --> 00:07:30.120 The fire department knocks on the door, and they say, there's a fire, get out. 00:07:30.719 --> 00:07:31.959 Nobody will argue with them. 00:07:33.879 --> 00:07:34.120 Right? 00:07:34.180 --> 00:07:36.659 People generally trust the judgment of firefighters, 00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:40.839 and at most, they might have to offer physical assistance to somebody who needs a little help 00:07:40.839 --> 00:07:41.959 getting out the door. 00:07:41.959 --> 00:07:45.419 But Paul's job was more complicated. 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:53.659 Because Paul was warning people about spiritual dangers that they didn't recognize as dangerous. 00:07:54.579 --> 00:08:00.279 And he was also warning people about attitudes and behaviors that didn't always result in immediate, 00:08:00.859 --> 00:08:02.079 obvious harm. 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:08.359 But in the long term, Paul says, they're just as potentially deadly. 00:08:08.360 --> 00:08:19.139 It's Paul's situation is much more like a public health worker who has documented over the last six months 00:08:19.139 --> 00:08:25.240 a spike in incidents of lead poisoning among children. 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:30.660 And they have to prepare a report, and they're going to prepare a report to take the regional water authority 00:08:30.660 --> 00:08:33.759 and say, something's wrong with the water. 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:38.299 And of course, the immediate response of the water authority is going to be, but we've done our tests. 00:08:38.860 --> 00:08:40.379 It must be something else. 00:08:43.080 --> 00:08:44.500 Paul's situation is complicated. 00:08:45.059 --> 00:08:46.080 He has to make a case. 00:08:47.460 --> 00:08:51.700 It's sort of like he's going into the middle of the woods and finding people who are camping out. 00:08:53.159 --> 00:08:57.399 And he has to convince them that there's a wildfire a thousand miles away, 00:08:57.399 --> 00:09:04.039 but it's so strong that it's very likely, given the winds, that it's going to be down where they are in a couple of days, 00:09:04.199 --> 00:09:08.959 and they've got to start hiking out now because they're in the middle of nowhere and there are no roads. 00:09:10.360 --> 00:09:10.740 Right? 00:09:10.899 --> 00:09:12.319 It's not an immediate danger. 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:13.159 Right? 00:09:13.199 --> 00:09:17.000 It's not going to cause you harm today, the next minute necessarily, 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:20.259 but Paul's convincing people and saying, 00:09:20.259 --> 00:09:25.299 you need to trust me and you need to see why there's a danger that you're not realizing. 00:09:26.980 --> 00:09:28.179 Now, how does Paul do that? 00:09:28.259 --> 00:09:29.419 Well, Paul doesn't just give a warning. 00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:30.840 He starts by telling a story. 00:09:31.960 --> 00:09:35.460 One of the most effective ways to convince someone of something they don't already believe 00:09:35.460 --> 00:09:38.340 is to tell a story that they can relate to. 00:09:38.340 --> 00:09:43.379 That's what the prophet Nathan did when David had committed adultery with Bathsheba, 00:09:43.779 --> 00:09:46.100 and he was feeling just fine about it. 00:09:47.480 --> 00:09:49.299 And Nathan started by telling him a story. 00:09:50.259 --> 00:09:51.559 That drew David in. 00:09:51.659 --> 00:09:54.620 And then Nathan said, you're just like the man in the story. 00:09:54.860 --> 00:09:56.100 And then David got it. 00:09:57.139 --> 00:10:00.220 So what Jesus did when he told parables to the crowds, 00:10:00.919 --> 00:10:03.740 and it's what Paul does here. 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:08.080 Now, Paul begins by retelling some of the Old Testament story, 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:11.100 the journey of the people of Israel through the wilderness 00:10:11.100 --> 00:10:14.419 after they had been delivered from slavery in Egypt. 00:10:15.500 --> 00:10:18.299 And Paul didn't choose this story arbitrarily. 00:10:18.299 --> 00:10:22.379 Verse 1, Paul says, these are our fathers. 00:10:22.519 --> 00:10:25.059 That is, our spiritual ancestors. 00:10:27.359 --> 00:10:32.579 If you're a Christian, your spiritual ancestors are, number one, Christians, 00:10:32.740 --> 00:10:34.579 followers of Jesus who have lived in the past. 00:10:34.659 --> 00:10:35.759 We can learn a lot from them. 00:10:36.199 --> 00:10:40.679 And second, the people of Israel who lived before the coming of Jesus, 00:10:40.899 --> 00:10:42.779 trusting in the promises of God. 00:10:42.779 --> 00:10:43.220 Right? 00:10:44.039 --> 00:10:46.939 And so when we read the Old Testament stories, 00:10:47.299 --> 00:10:51.360 we're sort of, in a sense, reading our own family history. 00:10:51.480 --> 00:10:52.360 That's what Paul's saying. 00:10:53.459 --> 00:10:54.839 You know, for better or for worse, 00:10:54.899 --> 00:10:56.959 you wouldn't be who you are today 00:10:56.959 --> 00:11:00.779 apart from your ancestors. 00:11:02.079 --> 00:11:04.439 And that's how we should feel when we read the Old Testament, 00:11:04.500 --> 00:11:06.539 as if you're learning about your ancestors 00:11:06.539 --> 00:11:08.559 and how, through the generations, 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:12.319 they've influenced and brought you to the place where you are today 00:11:12.319 --> 00:11:14.240 and what we can learn from them. 00:11:15.299 --> 00:11:18.799 Now, what Paul does is he points to specific aspects of Israel's story 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:21.299 that parallel the Corinthian situation. 00:11:21.539 --> 00:11:24.199 So first parallel, verse 1 to 4. 00:11:25.839 --> 00:11:27.099 What Paul says is, 00:11:27.100 --> 00:11:30.960 you've all experienced powerful signs of God's favor 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:33.220 and His sustaining power. 00:11:34.159 --> 00:11:36.519 You've experienced and observed these things. 00:11:38.040 --> 00:11:39.620 And so did they, Paul says. 00:11:39.700 --> 00:11:41.759 Verse 1 to 4 is one long sentence. 00:11:41.920 --> 00:11:43.759 Five times Paul uses the word all. 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:46.440 They were all under the cloud. 00:11:46.540 --> 00:11:47.519 That is, when they left Egypt, 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:49.379 the cloud representing God's presence, 00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:51.620 His Holy Spirit overshadowed them, 00:11:51.960 --> 00:11:53.399 protected them from the Egyptians 00:11:53.399 --> 00:11:54.860 who were pursuing them, 00:11:54.860 --> 00:11:57.779 and guided them. 00:11:58.820 --> 00:12:00.419 They all passed through the sea. 00:12:00.500 --> 00:12:01.519 That is, the Red Sea, 00:12:02.600 --> 00:12:04.580 where the Egyptian army was drowned. 00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:08.060 They all ate the same spiritual food. 00:12:08.519 --> 00:12:10.220 That is, the manna in the desert 00:12:10.220 --> 00:12:12.600 that God provided for them each day. 00:12:12.680 --> 00:12:14.580 They all drank the same spiritual drink, 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:18.600 the water that God supernaturally provided for them from the rock. 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:21.320 Now, what's Paul doing here? 00:12:21.399 --> 00:12:21.980 Well, Paul's saying, 00:12:21.980 --> 00:12:24.820 think of some of the spiritual blessings 00:12:24.820 --> 00:12:27.940 and provisions that you have received from God 00:12:27.940 --> 00:12:29.879 as followers of Jesus. 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:32.340 In particular, Paul points them to 00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:35.019 baptism and the Lord's Supper. 00:12:36.420 --> 00:12:36.840 Paul says, 00:12:36.920 --> 00:12:38.680 think about baptism and what it represents. 00:12:38.820 --> 00:12:42.120 It's a sign and seal of being united with Christ, 00:12:42.560 --> 00:12:44.320 being washed clean from your sins, 00:12:44.519 --> 00:12:45.600 filled with the Holy Spirit, 00:12:45.800 --> 00:12:46.980 set apart to a new life, 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:48.620 belonging to Jesus forever. 00:12:48.620 --> 00:12:51.960 Paul says, think about the Lord's Supper. 00:12:53.240 --> 00:12:57.620 How every time you eat and drink at the Lord's table, 00:12:57.779 --> 00:13:00.000 God reaffirms His promises to you 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:03.220 and fills you and nourishes you 00:13:03.220 --> 00:13:04.379 and strengthens you 00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:08.120 and reminds you that Jesus died for you 00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:09.539 and He loves you. 00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:11.080 Paul says, 00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:13.940 these are wonderful, precious signs from God. 00:13:13.940 --> 00:13:15.440 And Paul says, 00:13:15.520 --> 00:13:17.920 the people of Israel had similar signs, 00:13:19.420 --> 00:13:20.760 similar experiences. 00:13:20.880 --> 00:13:21.980 They passed through the Red Sea, 00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:22.900 the cloud above, 00:13:23.100 --> 00:13:24.300 the water on both sides. 00:13:24.380 --> 00:13:25.660 Wasn't that a kind of baptism? 00:13:25.800 --> 00:13:27.960 They could look back on with gratitude. 00:13:28.800 --> 00:13:29.600 They ate the manna. 00:13:29.680 --> 00:13:31.000 They drank the water from the rock. 00:13:31.140 --> 00:13:31.300 Wasn't, 00:13:31.480 --> 00:13:32.880 that was a pretty amazing version 00:13:32.880 --> 00:13:33.940 of the Lord's Supper 00:13:33.940 --> 00:13:35.440 provided each day 00:13:35.440 --> 00:13:37.020 supernaturally from heaven. 00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:39.680 Now, Paul knows 00:13:39.680 --> 00:13:41.220 these are not precise equivalents. 00:13:41.220 --> 00:13:43.360 He's drawing broad parallels 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:45.899 between the spiritual blessings 00:13:45.899 --> 00:13:46.540 and provisions 00:13:46.540 --> 00:13:48.440 God gave to the Israelites 00:13:48.440 --> 00:13:49.040 in the wilderness 00:13:49.040 --> 00:13:50.120 and the spiritual blessings 00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:50.720 and provisions 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:52.120 God had bestowed 00:13:52.120 --> 00:13:53.680 on the Corinthian Christians. 00:13:53.800 --> 00:13:54.600 And he's reminding them 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:56.120 it's one and the same God 00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:58.240 who's active in both cases. 00:13:59.820 --> 00:14:00.019 You see, 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:01.379 Paul believed the same God 00:14:01.379 --> 00:14:02.740 who had sustained Israel 00:14:02.740 --> 00:14:03.540 through the wilderness, 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:04.680 the God of Abraham, 00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:05.560 Isaac, 00:14:05.560 --> 00:14:06.379 and Jacob 00:14:06.379 --> 00:14:08.139 was none other than 00:14:08.139 --> 00:14:09.200 the God and Father 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:10.640 of Jesus Christ, 00:14:10.980 --> 00:14:11.520 our Lord. 00:14:12.580 --> 00:14:13.759 And that's why Paul says 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:14.580 in verse 4, 00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:16.379 he says a couple things 00:14:16.379 --> 00:14:17.360 that might sound 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:18.020 a little odd. 00:14:18.800 --> 00:14:19.280 Verse 4, 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:19.600 he says, 00:14:19.680 --> 00:14:20.420 the spiritual rock 00:14:20.420 --> 00:14:21.379 that followed them 00:14:21.379 --> 00:14:22.620 was Christ. 00:14:23.580 --> 00:14:24.460 In verse 4, 00:14:24.540 --> 00:14:25.440 and in verse 9, 00:14:25.560 --> 00:14:26.420 he talks about, 00:14:26.940 --> 00:14:27.580 he says, 00:14:27.700 --> 00:14:28.740 that the Israelites 00:14:28.740 --> 00:14:30.180 were testing Christ. 00:14:30.680 --> 00:14:31.300 Now, you might read 00:14:31.300 --> 00:14:32.080 those verses 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:32.740 and be like, 00:14:33.340 --> 00:14:34.259 that sounds a little 00:14:34.259 --> 00:14:35.020 far-fetched. 00:14:35.500 --> 00:14:37.160 How is Paul seeing Jesus 00:14:37.159 --> 00:14:38.659 as the rock 00:14:38.659 --> 00:14:39.439 in the Old Testament 00:14:39.439 --> 00:14:40.759 and as the one 00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:41.439 the people of Israel 00:14:41.439 --> 00:14:42.059 were testing 00:14:42.059 --> 00:14:43.240 before he had even 00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:44.039 come into the world? 00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:46.039 But look, 00:14:46.459 --> 00:14:47.240 if you have a moment, 00:14:47.339 --> 00:14:48.699 look back at Exodus 17. 00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:51.600 Exodus 17, 00:14:51.819 --> 00:14:53.100 I'll summarize it for you. 00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:54.980 The people had no water. 00:14:55.939 --> 00:14:57.019 They start grumbling 00:14:57.019 --> 00:14:58.379 against Moses 00:14:58.379 --> 00:14:59.219 and it says 00:14:59.219 --> 00:15:00.919 they tested the Lord. 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:01.539 What that means, 00:15:01.620 --> 00:15:02.000 basically, 00:15:02.100 --> 00:15:04.419 is that they accused God 00:15:04.419 --> 00:15:05.500 of being unfaithful. 00:15:05.500 --> 00:15:07.259 It's a legal accusation term. 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:10.480 And Moses cried out to God 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:11.000 and Moses says, 00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:11.840 what shall I do? 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:13.200 They're about to stone me. 00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:14.679 They want to kill Moses 00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:16.039 as God's messenger. 00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:18.299 And God says to Moses, 00:15:18.820 --> 00:15:19.559 chapter 17, 00:15:19.659 --> 00:15:20.320 verse 5, 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:23.120 take your staff 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:25.419 in your hand. 00:15:26.419 --> 00:15:28.200 I will stand before you 00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:30.620 on the rock at Horeb. 00:15:31.419 --> 00:15:33.179 And you shall strike the rock 00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:35.399 and water shall come out of it 00:15:35.399 --> 00:15:36.319 and the people will drink. 00:15:37.659 --> 00:15:38.539 Now, many times 00:15:38.539 --> 00:15:39.299 in the Old Testament, 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:41.459 God summons 00:15:41.459 --> 00:15:42.299 a man 00:15:42.299 --> 00:15:42.979 or a woman 00:15:42.979 --> 00:15:43.959 or a family 00:15:43.959 --> 00:15:44.819 or even a nation 00:15:44.819 --> 00:15:45.959 to stand before him 00:15:45.959 --> 00:15:46.519 and he, 00:15:46.819 --> 00:15:48.019 as the lawgiver and judge, 00:15:48.139 --> 00:15:49.099 delivers the verdict 00:15:49.099 --> 00:15:50.179 and pronounces 00:15:50.179 --> 00:15:50.919 the sentence. 00:15:53.319 --> 00:15:54.079 But here 00:15:54.079 --> 00:15:54.899 and only here, 00:15:55.919 --> 00:15:56.539 God says, 00:15:56.699 --> 00:15:58.039 I will stand before you. 00:15:58.039 --> 00:16:00.980 And God authorizes Moses 00:16:00.980 --> 00:16:03.419 to execute judgment 00:16:03.419 --> 00:16:04.539 with his staff 00:16:04.539 --> 00:16:05.240 in his hand. 00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:08.860 You see, 00:16:08.899 --> 00:16:09.519 the people of Israel 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:10.579 saw an amazing sign 00:16:10.579 --> 00:16:11.019 that day. 00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:13.539 They had falsely accused God 00:16:13.539 --> 00:16:14.899 of being unfaithful 00:16:14.899 --> 00:16:15.360 to them. 00:16:15.980 --> 00:16:17.839 They were about to kill 00:16:17.839 --> 00:16:19.339 God's appointed messenger 00:16:19.339 --> 00:16:21.599 and God not only provides 00:16:21.599 --> 00:16:22.819 a spring of living water 00:16:22.819 --> 00:16:23.379 for them, 00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:25.879 he gave them a sign 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:27.179 that he would stand 00:16:27.179 --> 00:16:27.840 in their place 00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:28.779 and receive the judgment 00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:29.460 they deserved. 00:16:31.320 --> 00:16:32.559 And the Apostle Paul, 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:35.500 perhaps reading this very story, 00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:35.860 knew, 00:16:36.439 --> 00:16:36.740 look, 00:16:37.299 --> 00:16:39.259 knew that that's exactly 00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:40.220 what Jesus Christ 00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:41.279 had come to do. 00:16:43.059 --> 00:16:44.519 He who had done no wrong 00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:45.939 stood on trial 00:16:45.939 --> 00:16:47.100 before a human judge 00:16:47.100 --> 00:16:48.639 who condemned him to die 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:49.460 and he received 00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:50.740 the judgment we deserved 00:16:50.740 --> 00:16:51.919 for our rebellion 00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:52.639 against God. 00:16:53.419 --> 00:16:54.340 And through Jesus' 00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:55.080 atoning death, 00:16:55.080 --> 00:16:56.000 God's spirit 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:57.340 has been poured out 00:16:57.340 --> 00:16:57.879 on everyone 00:16:57.879 --> 00:16:59.200 who believes in him 00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:00.560 and so that's why Paul says 00:17:00.560 --> 00:17:01.500 the rock was Christ. 00:17:02.920 --> 00:17:04.000 Paul's not arbitrarily 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:04.840 sort of reading something 00:17:04.840 --> 00:17:05.819 back in the Old Testament. 00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:07.120 He's looking at something 00:17:07.120 --> 00:17:07.779 in the Old Testament 00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:08.160 and saying, 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:08.940 that is 00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:11.480 a pretty strong picture 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:13.279 of what 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:15.000 Jesus would come to do. 00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:18.559 So that's the first parallel. 00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:19.460 The people of Israel 00:17:19.460 --> 00:17:20.319 and the Corinthian Christians, 00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:21.380 they had all observed 00:17:21.380 --> 00:17:22.019 and experienced 00:17:22.019 --> 00:17:22.740 powerful, 00:17:23.340 --> 00:17:24.319 memorable signs 00:17:24.319 --> 00:17:25.119 of God's favor 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:26.159 and sustaining power. 00:17:26.619 --> 00:17:26.939 But, 00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:28.240 verse 5, 00:17:28.539 --> 00:17:29.500 back to 1 Corinthians, 00:17:30.139 --> 00:17:30.879 verse 5, 00:17:30.980 --> 00:17:31.619 Paul says, 00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:32.759 most of them 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:34.460 didn't make it 00:17:34.460 --> 00:17:35.339 to the promised land. 00:17:38.579 --> 00:17:39.279 So here's 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:40.000 the second parallel. 00:17:40.379 --> 00:17:41.079 First parallel, 00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:43.339 spiritual privileges 00:17:43.339 --> 00:17:43.839 and blessings. 00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:44.919 Second parallel, 00:17:45.179 --> 00:17:46.039 the Corinthian Christians 00:17:46.039 --> 00:17:46.679 were vulnerable 00:17:46.679 --> 00:17:48.919 to the same temptations 00:17:48.919 --> 00:17:49.819 which led some 00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:50.500 of the Israelites 00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:52.119 to their downfall. 00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:53.639 And in verse 10, 00:17:53.699 --> 00:17:54.559 Paul warns them 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:55.539 and he warns us, 00:17:55.659 --> 00:17:56.279 don't fall into 00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:57.239 the same patterns. 00:17:58.119 --> 00:17:58.799 Verse 6 and 11, 00:17:58.899 --> 00:17:59.199 he says, 00:17:59.379 --> 00:18:00.199 these things were examples 00:18:00.199 --> 00:18:00.839 for us 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:02.000 so that we might learn 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:02.439 from them 00:18:02.439 --> 00:18:03.939 and not follow 00:18:03.939 --> 00:18:04.579 the same pattern. 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:06.199 And verse 7 through 10, 00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:07.000 each of these verses 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:08.099 follows the same pattern. 00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:08.859 Basically, 00:18:08.979 --> 00:18:09.359 Paul says, 00:18:09.419 --> 00:18:10.479 don't do blank 00:18:10.479 --> 00:18:12.319 as some of them did 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:15.159 and look what happened 00:18:15.159 --> 00:18:15.719 as a result. 00:18:17.139 --> 00:18:18.039 Verse 7 and 8, 00:18:18.919 --> 00:18:19.699 Paul focuses on 00:18:19.700 --> 00:18:21.880 idolatry and sexual immorality 00:18:21.880 --> 00:18:23.360 which are linked together. 00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:24.019 Verse 7, 00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:25.720 and each of these verses 00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:27.279 refers to a specific episode 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:28.160 in the Old Testament. 00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:28.980 So verse 7, 00:18:29.340 --> 00:18:30.340 Paul quotes from the story 00:18:30.340 --> 00:18:31.279 of the golden calf 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:33.660 which he says, 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:34.480 the people sat down 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:35.259 to eat and drink 00:18:35.259 --> 00:18:37.420 in front of the golden calf, 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:38.539 right, 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:40.700 eating while worshiping an idol 00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:42.559 and they rose up to play. 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:44.240 That doesn't mean 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:45.299 they started shooting hoops. 00:18:46.580 --> 00:18:46.779 Okay, 00:18:46.779 --> 00:18:47.599 that could mean 00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:48.980 they were partying 00:18:48.980 --> 00:18:50.079 in front of the idol, 00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:50.539 shouting, 00:18:50.819 --> 00:18:51.079 dancing, 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:51.519 singing, 00:18:51.639 --> 00:18:52.740 in a frenzy of excitement 00:18:52.740 --> 00:18:54.079 stimulated by this idol. 00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:55.379 It could also mean 00:18:55.379 --> 00:18:56.220 they started playing 00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:57.079 around sexually. 00:18:58.059 --> 00:18:59.119 Sometimes the word play 00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:00.759 was used that way 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:02.220 like it still is today. 00:19:02.579 --> 00:19:03.839 That's part of what people did 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:05.240 in pagan religious rituals. 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:08.139 Verse 8, 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:09.599 Paul refers to another example 00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:10.680 in Numbers 25 00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:12.480 when idolatry 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:13.519 and sexual immorality 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:14.160 are linked. 00:19:14.379 --> 00:19:15.119 They go together. 00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:17.579 where that says, 00:19:17.699 --> 00:19:18.259 the people began 00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:19.799 to indulge in sexual immorality 00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:21.619 with the daughters of Moab. 00:19:21.739 --> 00:19:22.759 These invited the people 00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:23.759 to the sacrifices 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:24.679 of their gods 00:19:24.679 --> 00:19:25.539 and the people ate 00:19:25.539 --> 00:19:26.339 and bowed down 00:19:26.339 --> 00:19:27.239 to their gods. 00:19:28.639 --> 00:19:29.259 So again, 00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:30.419 those things are linked together 00:19:30.419 --> 00:19:31.219 and Paul's concern 00:19:31.219 --> 00:19:31.879 for the Corinthians, 00:19:31.979 --> 00:19:33.579 the reason why he warns them 00:19:33.579 --> 00:19:34.859 against these two things 00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:35.899 is he says, 00:19:35.959 --> 00:19:36.839 some of you are eating 00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:37.439 and drinking 00:19:37.439 --> 00:19:39.279 at idol feasts 00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:40.959 in idol temples. 00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:41.439 But Paul says, 00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:42.500 if you're willing to do that, 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:43.739 it won't stop there 00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:45.960 because sin 00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:47.079 or spiritual compromise 00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:48.579 won't stay confined 00:19:48.579 --> 00:19:50.059 in one area 00:19:50.059 --> 00:19:50.779 of your life. 00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:52.759 If you're sitting down 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:53.480 to eat and drink 00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:54.480 in the idol's temple, 00:19:54.599 --> 00:19:55.460 what are you going to do 00:19:55.460 --> 00:19:56.299 when you rise up? 00:19:58.440 --> 00:19:59.680 And it's not an accident 00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:00.440 that Paul connects 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:01.440 these two things. 00:20:02.440 --> 00:20:02.660 You see, 00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:03.440 idolatry 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:04.420 and sexual immorality 00:20:04.420 --> 00:20:05.500 go hand in hand 00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:07.180 just as faithfulness 00:20:07.180 --> 00:20:07.779 to God 00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:08.740 and faithfulness 00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:09.380 in marriage 00:20:09.380 --> 00:20:10.319 go together. 00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:11.200 They're consistent 00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:12.400 with each other. 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:13.340 So in both cases, 00:20:13.420 --> 00:20:14.100 the issue is 00:20:14.100 --> 00:20:14.860 you need to be 00:20:14.860 --> 00:20:16.280 exclusively loyal. 00:20:17.800 --> 00:20:18.180 Paul says, 00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:18.519 you have to be 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:19.980 exclusively loyal to God 00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:22.019 and don't bow down 00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:22.680 to any idols. 00:20:22.780 --> 00:20:23.259 And in marriage, 00:20:23.340 --> 00:20:23.700 you need to be 00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:24.580 exclusively loyal 00:20:24.580 --> 00:20:25.920 to your one spouse 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:27.300 and not to have 00:20:27.300 --> 00:20:28.500 any sexual relations 00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:29.440 with anyone 00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:30.460 who you're not married to. 00:20:31.560 --> 00:20:31.940 Paul says, 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:32.580 that's how God 00:20:32.580 --> 00:20:33.519 made us to flourish 00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:36.440 in monogamous 00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:37.900 relationship with God 00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:39.800 and monogamous marriage. 00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:39.859 marriage. 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:43.799 That's the pattern 00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:44.359 God designed 00:20:44.359 --> 00:20:45.319 to be life-giving 00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:48.139 and safe for us. 00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:51.960 So those are the first 00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:52.299 two things 00:20:52.299 --> 00:20:53.019 Paul warns against. 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:54.079 Verse 9 and 10, 00:20:55.019 --> 00:20:55.659 Paul focuses on 00:20:55.659 --> 00:20:56.539 two other sins 00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:57.460 which are also linked, 00:20:57.579 --> 00:20:58.579 testing the Lord 00:20:58.579 --> 00:21:00.000 and grumbling 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:00.680 against God's 00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:01.419 appointed leaders. 00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:02.599 He's referring 00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:03.579 to Numbers 21 00:21:03.579 --> 00:21:05.139 and Numbers 14. 00:21:05.140 --> 00:21:06.660 And in both cases, 00:21:07.120 --> 00:21:07.780 the people speak 00:21:07.780 --> 00:21:08.500 against God 00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:09.460 and against Moses 00:21:09.460 --> 00:21:11.780 and they say things like, 00:21:11.900 --> 00:21:12.780 why did you bring us 00:21:12.780 --> 00:21:13.280 out of Egypt 00:21:13.280 --> 00:21:14.340 to die in the wilderness? 00:21:15.540 --> 00:21:16.720 There's no bread 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:17.480 and no water 00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:18.080 and we hate 00:21:18.080 --> 00:21:19.300 this miserable food. 00:21:20.380 --> 00:21:21.080 That's what they said. 00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:21.920 I'm not paraphrasing. 00:21:23.560 --> 00:21:25.200 We wish we had died 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:26.380 in the land of Egypt. 00:21:26.860 --> 00:21:28.320 Let's choose another leader 00:21:28.320 --> 00:21:29.540 and go back to Egypt. 00:21:30.320 --> 00:21:30.840 Now, 00:21:31.700 --> 00:21:32.560 what's the parallel 00:21:32.560 --> 00:21:33.680 to the Corinthian situation? 00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:35.200 What's Paul warning them against? 00:21:35.580 --> 00:21:36.299 Now, for one, 00:21:37.360 --> 00:21:38.460 Paul's warning them 00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:40.600 against an unrestrained craving. 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:42.080 Right? 00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:42.779 Part of what 00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:44.060 could have motivated them 00:21:44.060 --> 00:21:45.160 to go to the idle temples 00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:47.320 is they just really wanted 00:21:47.320 --> 00:21:48.480 the food there 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:49.380 and the drink there 00:21:49.380 --> 00:21:50.440 and it was really good 00:21:50.440 --> 00:21:51.400 and really plentiful 00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:52.279 and really cheap. 00:21:54.100 --> 00:21:54.620 And perhaps 00:21:54.620 --> 00:21:55.600 there's a warning for us 00:21:55.600 --> 00:21:57.400 that a lack of self-discipline 00:21:57.400 --> 00:21:58.580 with regard to food and drink 00:21:58.580 --> 00:21:59.320 can be the doorway 00:21:59.320 --> 00:21:59.980 to grumbling 00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:01.360 and discontent 00:22:01.360 --> 00:22:02.000 when we don't get 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:02.680 what we want 00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:04.700 or when we overindulge 00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:05.460 and then feel bad 00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:06.039 about ourselves 00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:06.779 and hate ourselves 00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:07.480 and feel insecure 00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:08.279 around other people 00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:09.580 and it just 00:22:09.580 --> 00:22:11.140 can be a downward spiral. 00:22:12.100 --> 00:22:13.060 There are all kinds of ways 00:22:13.060 --> 00:22:14.539 that food can become an idol 00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:15.880 and Jesus has come 00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:16.580 to set us free 00:22:16.580 --> 00:22:17.519 from that bondage 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:19.039 so that food can be a servant 00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:20.820 that benefits us 00:22:20.820 --> 00:22:21.740 and not a master 00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:23.180 that controls us. 00:22:23.539 --> 00:22:23.960 But, you know, 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:24.900 that's actually not 00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:25.560 the main focus 00:22:25.560 --> 00:22:26.500 of verse 9 and 10. 00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:28.279 The main focus 00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:28.940 is not on food 00:22:28.940 --> 00:22:29.680 but on testing 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:30.640 and grumbling. 00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:33.040 Now, I think it's very interesting 00:22:33.040 --> 00:22:34.700 verse 7 and 8 00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:37.080 describe what we might call 00:22:37.080 --> 00:22:38.920 fleshly sins, right? 00:22:39.040 --> 00:22:40.520 Where you're actively 00:22:40.520 --> 00:22:41.660 overindulging 00:22:41.660 --> 00:22:42.860 our bodily desires 00:22:42.860 --> 00:22:43.600 and impulses 00:22:43.600 --> 00:22:43.920 in a way 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:45.020 that doesn't please God. 00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:47.600 Verses 9 and 10, 00:22:47.800 --> 00:22:48.820 by contrast, 00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:50.700 describe what we might call 00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:51.640 spiritual sins. 00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:54.640 Negative attitudes 00:22:54.640 --> 00:22:56.300 that hinder us 00:22:56.300 --> 00:22:58.180 from stepping out in faith 00:22:58.180 --> 00:22:59.120 and doing the good 00:22:59.120 --> 00:23:00.900 that God calls us to do. 00:23:02.100 --> 00:23:03.360 A grumbling attitude, 00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:04.720 an accusing spirit, 00:23:04.860 --> 00:23:06.400 always blaming someone else. 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:08.539 We're not out there 00:23:08.539 --> 00:23:10.680 on Saturday night 00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:11.860 dancing around the idols. 00:23:12.900 --> 00:23:13.640 Perhaps we're just 00:23:13.640 --> 00:23:14.940 sitting alone 00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:16.620 feeling sorry for ourselves 00:23:16.620 --> 00:23:19.039 or scrolling down our phone 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:19.880 looking on Facebook 00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:21.000 for the latest gossip 00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:23.480 or addicted to video games. 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:26.480 And Paul says 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:27.900 that kind of self-pity 00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:28.819 and despair 00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:30.460 expressed in a variety 00:23:30.460 --> 00:23:31.259 of different ways 00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:32.960 can be just as 00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:33.819 spiritually dangerous 00:23:33.819 --> 00:23:34.500 as 00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:36.740 idolatry 00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:37.279 and 00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:38.420 lust 00:23:38.420 --> 00:23:39.180 that's 00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:40.480 directed outwards. 00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:41.700 Now, 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:42.539 let me just say 00:23:42.539 --> 00:23:43.819 that in this fallen world, 00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:45.160 Christians will experience 00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:45.740 depression. 00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:47.720 And experiencing 00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.160 depression 00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:49.120 is not sin. 00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:51.140 But I think 00:23:51.140 --> 00:23:51.980 what Paul is saying here 00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:52.539 is that there's a 00:23:52.539 --> 00:23:53.879 spiritual battle to fight 00:23:53.879 --> 00:23:55.579 when you're experiencing 00:23:55.579 --> 00:23:56.099 depression 00:23:56.099 --> 00:23:57.119 just as there's 00:23:57.119 --> 00:23:58.200 a spiritual battle to fight 00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:59.099 when you're experiencing 00:23:59.099 --> 00:24:00.220 raging anger 00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:01.859 or passionate lust 00:24:01.859 --> 00:24:03.799 and you're trying to control 00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:04.639 and restrain yourself 00:24:04.639 --> 00:24:05.480 in a godly way. 00:24:07.399 --> 00:24:08.399 I've just started reading 00:24:08.399 --> 00:24:08.819 a book 00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:09.519 called 00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:10.379 A Praying Life 00:24:10.379 --> 00:24:11.180 by Paul Miller. 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:12.460 It's a great book. 00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:13.720 He wrote another book 00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:14.740 called A Loving Life. 00:24:15.180 --> 00:24:15.920 Both of them are down 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:16.500 on the bookstall 00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:17.059 and they're excellent. 00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:18.440 And he has a quote in there 00:24:18.440 --> 00:24:19.879 from a 16th century monk 00:24:19.879 --> 00:24:22.059 who I'd never heard of before 00:24:22.059 --> 00:24:23.619 but I think he's pretty wise. 00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.740 He writes this 00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:27.039 on this topic. 00:24:27.159 --> 00:24:27.419 He says, 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:28.179 When you sit there 00:24:28.179 --> 00:24:29.119 utterly alone, 00:24:29.919 --> 00:24:31.659 eaten up with unhappiness 00:24:31.659 --> 00:24:33.059 in a pure state of grief, 00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:35.700 if you don't move towards God 00:24:35.700 --> 00:24:36.899 but desperately imagine 00:24:36.899 --> 00:24:38.500 that everything you have ever done 00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:39.720 has been utterly lost 00:24:39.720 --> 00:24:40.339 and forgotten, 00:24:41.139 --> 00:24:42.220 this near despair 00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:43.119 and self-pity 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:45.200 are actually a form of pride. 00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:47.119 What you think 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:48.299 was a state of security 00:24:48.299 --> 00:24:49.339 from which you've fallen 00:24:49.339 --> 00:24:50.399 was really trusting 00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:51.180 too much 00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:52.500 in your own strength 00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:53.120 and ability. 00:24:54.080 --> 00:24:55.300 What really bothers you 00:24:55.300 --> 00:24:56.500 is that things 00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:57.460 just haven't happened 00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:58.320 as you expected 00:24:58.320 --> 00:24:58.900 and wanted. 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:01.920 Don't rely on your own strength 00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:02.480 and abilities 00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:03.220 and plans. 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.500 Distrust them 00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:05.740 and distrust yourself. 00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:07.640 Your own strength 00:25:07.640 --> 00:25:08.560 will no more help you 00:25:08.560 --> 00:25:09.360 to stand upright 00:25:09.360 --> 00:25:10.720 than propping yourself 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:11.759 on a broken reed. 00:25:12.320 --> 00:25:13.680 But you must not despair 00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:14.420 of Jesus. 00:25:15.420 --> 00:25:16.780 Hope and trust in him. 00:25:17.080 --> 00:25:17.640 Absolutely. 00:25:17.640 --> 00:25:19.360 Because his mercy 00:25:19.360 --> 00:25:21.340 is infinite. 00:25:24.140 --> 00:25:25.440 So there are Paul's warnings. 00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:27.820 The basis for Paul's warnings, 00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:29.920 Paul's saying, 00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:31.000 these are some of the traps 00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:32.240 that our spiritual ancestors 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:32.900 fell into. 00:25:33.020 --> 00:25:34.000 I don't want you to fall 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:35.060 into the same traps. 00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:37.080 And Paul's pointing us 00:25:37.080 --> 00:25:37.820 toward a better way. 00:25:39.180 --> 00:25:39.980 Second point, 00:25:40.560 --> 00:25:41.200 the application 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:42.040 of Paul's warnings. 00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:44.060 Verse 15 to 22, 00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:46.700 Paul applies the warning 00:25:46.700 --> 00:25:47.319 to the Corinthians 00:25:47.319 --> 00:25:48.359 particular situation. 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:49.119 Again, we'll go through 00:25:49.119 --> 00:25:50.700 more quickly this section. 00:25:50.859 --> 00:25:52.279 Verse 16 and 17, 00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:53.259 he goes down. 00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:55.619 He gives some reasoning. 00:25:56.740 --> 00:25:57.759 Verse 16 and 17, 00:25:57.839 --> 00:25:58.099 he says, 00:25:58.179 --> 00:25:59.000 when we as Christians 00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:00.039 share the Lord's Supper 00:26:00.039 --> 00:26:01.319 as an act of worship, 00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:02.500 it's a participation 00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:04.419 in the blood of Christ 00:26:04.419 --> 00:26:05.559 and the body of Christ. 00:26:05.559 --> 00:26:06.839 That word participation 00:26:06.839 --> 00:26:09.279 is the Greek word koinonia. 00:26:10.379 --> 00:26:11.419 It can also be translated 00:26:11.419 --> 00:26:12.940 fellowship or sharing 00:26:12.940 --> 00:26:14.159 or joining together 00:26:14.159 --> 00:26:15.039 or partnership. 00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:16.440 And Paul says, 00:26:16.579 --> 00:26:17.480 when we drink the cup, 00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:19.599 we share in the blood of Christ. 00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:19.940 That is, 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:20.599 we're proclaiming 00:26:20.599 --> 00:26:21.619 that the blood of Christ 00:26:21.619 --> 00:26:23.359 has cleansed us from all sin 00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:24.419 and we've received 00:26:24.419 --> 00:26:26.000 Christ's sacrifice 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:27.139 on our behalf. 00:26:28.099 --> 00:26:29.079 When we share the bread, 00:26:29.339 --> 00:26:30.799 we share in the body of Christ. 00:26:30.899 --> 00:26:31.259 That is, 00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:32.019 we're expressing 00:26:32.019 --> 00:26:33.079 our oneness in Christ 00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:34.980 with every other person 00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:37.000 who eats and drinks 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:37.779 of that meal 00:26:37.779 --> 00:26:39.000 by faith in Jesus. 00:26:40.399 --> 00:26:40.960 You see, 00:26:41.019 --> 00:26:41.619 in the Lord's Supper, 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:42.419 here's the point. 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:43.339 The physical act 00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:44.259 of eating and drinking 00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:46.240 has a spiritual reality 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:47.199 attached to it. 00:26:48.199 --> 00:26:49.159 And in chapter 11, 00:26:49.159 --> 00:26:50.359 we'll see that that's true 00:26:50.359 --> 00:26:52.439 whether we recognize it or not 00:26:52.439 --> 00:26:53.500 because some people 00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:54.220 are eating and drinking 00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:55.399 judgment on themselves. 00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:57.159 Now, the point is, 00:26:57.199 --> 00:26:58.059 when we eat this meal, 00:26:58.199 --> 00:26:59.759 Jesus is present with us 00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:00.679 by His Spirit. 00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:02.740 And when we take 00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:03.500 the bread and the cup, 00:27:03.559 --> 00:27:05.059 He confirms His promise 00:27:05.059 --> 00:27:07.039 that He is our God 00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:07.940 and we are His people. 00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:09.400 Now, we'll go more 00:27:09.400 --> 00:27:10.039 into Paul's teaching 00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:10.740 on the Lord's Supper 00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:11.559 in a couple weeks 00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:12.680 in chapter 11. 00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.460 But the point of this, 00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:14.339 taking is this, 00:27:14.380 --> 00:27:15.259 taking the Lord's Supper 00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:16.779 means participating 00:27:16.779 --> 00:27:18.059 in Christ. 00:27:18.839 --> 00:27:19.559 Verse 18, 00:27:19.660 --> 00:27:21.279 he gives another analogy. 00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:22.019 He says, 00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:22.779 consider the people 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:23.500 of Israel 00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:24.380 aren't those who eat 00:27:24.380 --> 00:27:25.059 the sacrifices 00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:26.559 participants in the altar. 00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:27.380 Once again, 00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:28.460 Paul uses that same word, 00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:29.259 participation. 00:27:30.539 --> 00:27:31.519 And Paul's referring 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:32.779 probably to the sacrifices 00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:33.619 of thanksgiving 00:27:33.619 --> 00:27:35.039 that the Israelites 00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:35.680 would share 00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:37.019 when they went to Jerusalem 00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:38.460 for the feasts 00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:40.980 where they were commanded 00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:42.639 to eat and rejoice 00:27:42.639 --> 00:27:44.259 before the Lord their God 00:27:44.259 --> 00:27:45.759 as an offering 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:47.000 of thanksgiving to Him. 00:27:48.099 --> 00:27:48.720 And the point is, 00:27:48.779 --> 00:27:49.539 when the people of Israel 00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:52.019 ate those thanksgiving meals, 00:27:52.619 --> 00:27:54.319 they were participating, 00:27:54.839 --> 00:27:55.099 that is, 00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:57.200 sharing in the worship of God. 00:27:57.200 --> 00:28:00.100 So Christians 00:28:00.100 --> 00:28:02.600 share in the worship of Jesus 00:28:02.600 --> 00:28:03.660 when we eat and drink 00:28:03.660 --> 00:28:04.319 the Lord's Supper. 00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:06.000 And the Jewish people, 00:28:06.059 --> 00:28:06.819 the people of Israel, 00:28:07.180 --> 00:28:08.039 share in the worship 00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:10.180 of the one true God 00:28:10.180 --> 00:28:11.220 when they participated 00:28:11.220 --> 00:28:12.480 in these meals 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:14.080 of thanksgiving. 00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:16.100 And then Paul goes on, 00:28:16.120 --> 00:28:16.900 verse 19 to 20, 00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:18.100 he's moving toward his point, 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:20.940 to address pagan meals. 00:28:21.380 --> 00:28:21.680 He says, 00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:22.299 verse 19, 00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:23.059 what do I imply? 00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:24.279 That food offered to idols 00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:24.779 is anything? 00:28:24.920 --> 00:28:25.740 Are the idols anything? 00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:27.099 No, I imply that 00:28:27.099 --> 00:28:28.099 what pagan sacrifice 00:28:28.099 --> 00:28:29.380 they offer to demons 00:28:29.380 --> 00:28:30.660 and not to God. 00:28:31.620 --> 00:28:32.480 Paul's saying each meal, 00:28:32.620 --> 00:28:33.599 whether it's the Lord's Supper 00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:35.620 or the Jewish meals 00:28:35.620 --> 00:28:37.440 or the pagan meals, 00:28:38.099 --> 00:28:39.359 creates or cements 00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:41.099 or reinforces a bond 00:28:41.099 --> 00:28:42.279 of participation 00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:43.740 or partnership 00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:45.240 or covenant 00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:46.779 between the people 00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:48.900 and the deity involved. 00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:50.240 And so verse 21 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:51.359 is Paul's conclusion 00:28:51.359 --> 00:28:53.039 applying his warning 00:28:53.039 --> 00:28:54.140 to the Corinthian situation. 00:28:54.279 --> 00:28:54.519 He says, 00:28:54.599 --> 00:28:55.240 you can't drink 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:56.000 the cup of the Lord 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:57.180 and the cup of demons. 00:28:57.180 --> 00:28:58.180 You can't partake 00:28:58.180 --> 00:28:59.000 the table of the Lord 00:28:59.000 --> 00:29:00.279 and the table of demons. 00:29:00.680 --> 00:29:02.039 No more eating food 00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:02.920 offered to idols 00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:05.380 during pagan religious ceremonies. 00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:08.839 He finally comes clear 00:29:08.839 --> 00:29:09.839 with his warning 00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:10.900 and its application 00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:12.220 to the Corinthian Christians 00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:12.819 after he spent 00:29:12.819 --> 00:29:13.339 three chapters 00:29:13.339 --> 00:29:14.319 laying the groundwork 00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:15.620 and getting us there. 00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:17.339 Now, what do we learn? 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.480 Number one, 00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:24.160 Jesus calls for exclusive loyalty. 00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:26.240 So don't play around 00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:26.720 with idols. 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:28.759 Paul was writing 00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:29.299 to some people 00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:30.380 who were being cocky. 00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:32.140 They were saying, 00:29:32.259 --> 00:29:32.779 we have the freedom 00:29:32.779 --> 00:29:33.960 to eat any kind of meat 00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:35.079 whenever we want, 00:29:35.140 --> 00:29:35.819 however we want, 00:29:35.880 --> 00:29:36.660 wherever we want. 00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:38.240 We know idols aren't real. 00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:39.380 We can go to the idol temple. 00:29:39.920 --> 00:29:40.480 And Paul says, 00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:40.980 beware. 00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:43.000 The first thing he wants 00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:43.660 to say is there are 00:29:43.660 --> 00:29:44.700 some practices 00:29:44.700 --> 00:29:45.980 and attitudes 00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:47.140 that followers of Jesus 00:29:47.140 --> 00:29:49.460 must not engage in. 00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:52.340 Jesus isn't just one option 00:29:52.340 --> 00:29:52.920 in the buffet 00:29:52.920 --> 00:29:54.360 and you can take 00:29:54.360 --> 00:29:55.319 some of his meal 00:29:55.319 --> 00:29:57.120 and you can mix and match 00:29:57.120 --> 00:29:58.340 with whatever else you want. 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:01.299 Jesus calls for exclusive 00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:02.559 and ultimate allegiance. 00:30:03.940 --> 00:30:06.059 And just as in a good marriage, 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:07.240 you should consider 00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:08.539 your spouse's opinion 00:30:08.539 --> 00:30:10.000 more weightily 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:11.480 than anybody else's opinion, 00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:13.220 Paul says, 00:30:13.360 --> 00:30:13.700 ultimately, 00:30:13.960 --> 00:30:15.380 in our exclusive loyalty 00:30:15.380 --> 00:30:15.920 to Jesus, 00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:17.220 we need to consider 00:30:17.220 --> 00:30:18.700 what pleases him 00:30:18.700 --> 00:30:22.019 first and foremost 00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:23.060 above anything else 00:30:23.060 --> 00:30:25.120 and be willing 00:30:25.120 --> 00:30:28.660 to refrain from other things 00:30:28.660 --> 00:30:31.240 if they would be compromising 00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:32.460 our loyalty to Jesus. 00:30:33.680 --> 00:30:34.200 So Paul says, 00:30:34.300 --> 00:30:34.759 beware. 00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:38.000 Beware that you don't fall 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:39.539 into idolatry. 00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:41.820 He goes on 00:30:41.819 --> 00:30:46.599 and so that's the first thing. 00:30:46.879 --> 00:30:48.059 Jesus calls for exclusive loyalty. 00:30:48.179 --> 00:30:49.200 Don't play around with idols. 00:30:50.539 --> 00:30:50.899 Second, 00:30:51.419 --> 00:30:52.379 according to the Bible, 00:30:53.099 --> 00:30:53.839 demons are real. 00:30:54.879 --> 00:30:55.319 Now this is, 00:30:55.419 --> 00:30:56.879 Paul doesn't go into demons here, 00:30:56.960 --> 00:30:57.740 but he mentions them 00:30:57.740 --> 00:30:58.519 in 20 and 21, 00:30:58.659 --> 00:31:00.480 so let me speak briefly to that. 00:31:01.139 --> 00:31:02.200 What does the Bible mean 00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:02.740 by demons? 00:31:02.899 --> 00:31:03.579 It means there are 00:31:03.579 --> 00:31:04.599 spiritual forces 00:31:04.599 --> 00:31:05.740 hostile to God 00:31:05.740 --> 00:31:06.960 who are active 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:08.279 in this present world. 00:31:09.079 --> 00:31:10.099 And according to Paul, 00:31:10.259 --> 00:31:10.899 some of them 00:31:10.900 --> 00:31:11.940 are associated 00:31:11.940 --> 00:31:13.080 with certain 00:31:13.080 --> 00:31:14.480 pagan cultic rituals. 00:31:15.780 --> 00:31:16.480 Now for some of you, 00:31:16.540 --> 00:31:17.360 that idea might sound 00:31:17.360 --> 00:31:18.019 really weird, 00:31:18.940 --> 00:31:20.460 but in a Christian worldview, 00:31:21.300 --> 00:31:23.080 it's not inherently irrational. 00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:24.600 You know, 00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:25.940 if you can believe in angels 00:31:25.940 --> 00:31:28.640 who serve under God's authority, 00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:30.400 then you should at least 00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:31.360 admit the possibility 00:31:31.360 --> 00:31:32.920 that there are spiritual beings 00:31:32.920 --> 00:31:33.840 who are in rebellion 00:31:33.840 --> 00:31:35.800 against God's authority, 00:31:36.460 --> 00:31:37.340 which is exactly 00:31:37.340 --> 00:31:38.680 how the Bible describes demons. 00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:41.060 And Paul's quite balanced here. 00:31:41.140 --> 00:31:42.000 Paul's not paranoid 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:42.759 about demons. 00:31:42.940 --> 00:31:43.539 He's not like, 00:31:43.880 --> 00:31:44.740 ooh, there might be a demon 00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:45.660 in that piece of meat 00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:46.980 in the store 00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:48.759 because it was sacrificed 00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:50.180 to an idol a long time ago. 00:31:50.279 --> 00:31:50.560 No! 00:31:51.180 --> 00:31:52.340 He's very clear about that 00:31:52.340 --> 00:31:53.580 in the next end of the chapter. 00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:54.039 He says, 00:31:54.640 --> 00:31:54.900 you know, 00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:56.200 that's not how it works. 00:31:57.980 --> 00:31:58.180 Okay? 00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:59.340 Paul's not paranoid 00:31:59.340 --> 00:31:59.920 about a demon 00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:00.960 being under every rock. 00:32:02.060 --> 00:32:03.200 And in several places, 00:32:03.320 --> 00:32:04.680 the Bible distinguishes 00:32:04.680 --> 00:32:06.080 demonic oppression 00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:07.579 from physical illness 00:32:07.579 --> 00:32:08.679 or mental illness. 00:32:08.919 --> 00:32:10.419 They're not the same thing 00:32:10.419 --> 00:32:12.299 even though they can overlap. 00:32:13.740 --> 00:32:15.379 But what Paul does say is, 00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:16.279 I don't want you 00:32:16.279 --> 00:32:17.819 to be participants with demons. 00:32:19.079 --> 00:32:19.679 That is, 00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:20.259 I don't want you 00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:21.500 to become entangled 00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:23.299 with spiritual forces 00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:24.579 that are hostile to God. 00:32:25.919 --> 00:32:26.939 And the only reason 00:32:26.939 --> 00:32:27.779 Paul gives the warning 00:32:27.779 --> 00:32:29.079 is that it's a real possibility. 00:32:29.299 --> 00:32:30.220 Paul wouldn't give the warning 00:32:30.220 --> 00:32:32.179 if they didn't exist at all. 00:32:32.180 --> 00:32:35.539 So, 00:32:35.860 --> 00:32:37.460 so let me say this. 00:32:37.519 --> 00:32:38.140 If you think, 00:32:38.840 --> 00:32:40.340 if you think 00:32:40.340 --> 00:32:42.799 that you might be experiencing 00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:44.320 demonic affliction 00:32:44.320 --> 00:32:45.080 or oppression, 00:32:45.620 --> 00:32:47.100 let me say three things. 00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:49.279 This isn't something 00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:50.160 we talk about a lot, 00:32:50.299 --> 00:32:50.420 but, 00:32:50.940 --> 00:32:51.799 but it's, 00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:53.299 it happens sometimes. 00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:54.720 Let me say three things. 00:32:54.779 --> 00:32:55.320 Number one, 00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:56.799 you need to be willing 00:32:56.799 --> 00:32:57.580 to renounce 00:32:57.580 --> 00:32:59.360 any ungodly practices 00:32:59.359 --> 00:33:01.259 that may have opened you up 00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:03.279 to what Paul calls 00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:04.500 participation with demons. 00:33:05.319 --> 00:33:05.799 Second, 00:33:06.159 --> 00:33:07.139 call upon the name 00:33:07.139 --> 00:33:08.379 of the Lord Jesus Christ 00:33:08.379 --> 00:33:09.919 because Jesus has given 00:33:09.919 --> 00:33:11.139 his followers authority 00:33:11.139 --> 00:33:11.859 over demons 00:33:11.859 --> 00:33:12.659 in his name. 00:33:13.639 --> 00:33:14.259 And third, 00:33:14.399 --> 00:33:15.500 seek spiritual help 00:33:15.500 --> 00:33:16.459 and discernment 00:33:16.459 --> 00:33:18.259 from other Christian believers. 00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:19.659 And particularly, 00:33:19.859 --> 00:33:20.859 if you're trying to 00:33:20.859 --> 00:33:21.459 figure out 00:33:21.459 --> 00:33:21.799 what's, 00:33:22.199 --> 00:33:22.459 what, 00:33:22.639 --> 00:33:23.639 what if anything 00:33:23.639 --> 00:33:25.039 might be demonic oppression 00:33:25.039 --> 00:33:25.859 and what's simply 00:33:25.859 --> 00:33:27.039 a physical or mental illness 00:33:27.039 --> 00:33:28.740 and how do we help each other 00:33:28.740 --> 00:33:30.740 in all those ways 00:33:30.740 --> 00:33:31.480 and get the help, 00:33:31.559 --> 00:33:32.279 kind of help you need. 00:33:33.059 --> 00:33:33.440 All right, 00:33:33.500 --> 00:33:35.000 so that's some of the application 00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:36.420 of Paul's warning 00:33:36.420 --> 00:33:38.539 to the Corinthians 00:33:38.539 --> 00:33:40.200 about don't eat the food 00:33:40.200 --> 00:33:42.440 in the idol worship services 00:33:42.440 --> 00:33:43.920 and a little bit to us. 00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:44.720 Finally, 00:33:45.779 --> 00:33:46.379 the encouragement 00:33:46.379 --> 00:33:47.480 that accompanies 00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:48.119 Paul's warning. 00:33:49.399 --> 00:33:49.839 Right, 00:33:49.899 --> 00:33:50.599 this whole chapter 00:33:50.599 --> 00:33:51.319 is a warning, 00:33:51.720 --> 00:33:53.000 but right in the middle of it, 00:33:53.700 --> 00:33:54.259 Paul gives a word 00:33:54.259 --> 00:33:54.799 of assurance 00:33:54.799 --> 00:33:55.480 and encouragement. 00:33:55.480 --> 00:33:56.660 And that's a common pattern 00:33:56.660 --> 00:33:57.240 in the Bible. 00:33:58.460 --> 00:33:59.620 There are wonderful passages 00:33:59.620 --> 00:34:00.940 of encouragement, 00:34:01.160 --> 00:34:02.039 but often with them, 00:34:02.140 --> 00:34:03.579 there's reminders 00:34:03.579 --> 00:34:05.319 to keep our focus 00:34:05.319 --> 00:34:06.559 where it needs to be 00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:08.219 and there's strong warnings. 00:34:08.340 --> 00:34:09.440 But with those warnings, 00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:11.019 God also provides 00:34:11.019 --> 00:34:11.780 a word of encouragement 00:34:11.780 --> 00:34:13.280 and he doesn't leave us alone. 00:34:13.360 --> 00:34:14.340 He doesn't want us to end 00:34:14.340 --> 00:34:15.280 feeling like, 00:34:15.420 --> 00:34:15.860 oh no, 00:34:16.340 --> 00:34:17.900 I've fallen into this 00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:18.900 and I can't get out. 00:34:20.119 --> 00:34:21.139 Verse 13. 00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:23.380 It's right in the middle 00:34:23.380 --> 00:34:24.199 of his two warnings. 00:34:24.199 --> 00:34:24.960 He gives this word 00:34:24.960 --> 00:34:25.559 of encouragement 00:34:25.559 --> 00:34:27.239 smack in the middle. 00:34:27.619 --> 00:34:28.199 No temptation 00:34:28.199 --> 00:34:29.079 has overtaken you 00:34:29.079 --> 00:34:30.379 that is not common to man. 00:34:31.079 --> 00:34:31.879 God is faithful 00:34:31.879 --> 00:34:33.419 and he won't let you 00:34:33.419 --> 00:34:34.219 be tempted beyond 00:34:34.219 --> 00:34:34.819 your ability, 00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:35.879 but with the temptation 00:34:35.879 --> 00:34:37.239 he'll also provide 00:34:37.239 --> 00:34:38.179 the way of escape 00:34:38.179 --> 00:34:39.599 that you may be able 00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:40.519 to endure it. 00:34:41.839 --> 00:34:42.519 So let me just end 00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:43.919 with three brief truths 00:34:43.919 --> 00:34:44.699 from this verse 00:34:44.699 --> 00:34:46.759 that I hope 00:34:46.759 --> 00:34:47.859 will encourage you 00:34:47.859 --> 00:34:50.079 if you're struggling 00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:52.119 or feel beset 00:34:52.119 --> 00:34:53.799 by any of these temptations 00:34:53.799 --> 00:34:55.219 that we've mentioned today. 00:34:56.099 --> 00:34:56.759 Number one, 00:34:56.960 --> 00:34:57.559 Paul says, 00:34:57.779 --> 00:34:58.659 you're not alone. 00:34:59.739 --> 00:35:00.400 No temptation 00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:01.239 has overtaken you 00:35:01.239 --> 00:35:02.539 except what is common to man. 00:35:03.579 --> 00:35:03.799 You know, 00:35:03.840 --> 00:35:04.440 one of Satan's 00:35:04.440 --> 00:35:05.559 most common strategies 00:35:05.559 --> 00:35:07.239 when you're being tempted 00:35:07.239 --> 00:35:08.079 is to make you feel 00:35:08.079 --> 00:35:08.880 all alone 00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:11.299 like nobody else 00:35:11.299 --> 00:35:12.219 has ever been through 00:35:12.219 --> 00:35:12.840 what I've been through 00:35:12.840 --> 00:35:13.639 and nobody else 00:35:13.639 --> 00:35:14.699 could ever understand 00:35:14.699 --> 00:35:15.779 and nobody who doesn't 00:35:15.779 --> 00:35:16.739 completely understand 00:35:16.739 --> 00:35:17.440 could ever give me 00:35:17.440 --> 00:35:18.400 any help at all. 00:35:19.740 --> 00:35:20.340 And you know, 00:35:20.400 --> 00:35:21.740 that's always a lie 00:35:21.740 --> 00:35:26.840 because God knows you 00:35:26.840 --> 00:35:28.440 and God says, 00:35:28.679 --> 00:35:29.139 no temptation 00:35:29.139 --> 00:35:29.920 has overtaken you 00:35:29.920 --> 00:35:30.880 except what is common 00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:31.760 to man. 00:35:32.059 --> 00:35:33.119 There's other people 00:35:33.119 --> 00:35:33.900 who've been there. 00:35:34.740 --> 00:35:35.720 It might take a little while 00:35:35.720 --> 00:35:36.679 to find those people 00:35:36.679 --> 00:35:38.519 and there's other people 00:35:38.519 --> 00:35:39.280 who can love you 00:35:39.280 --> 00:35:40.700 even if they haven't been there 00:35:40.700 --> 00:35:41.920 because we're all tempted 00:35:41.920 --> 00:35:42.880 in different ways. 00:35:44.340 --> 00:35:45.179 And Paul goes on and says, 00:35:45.260 --> 00:35:46.119 God is faithful. 00:35:47.440 --> 00:35:48.980 You don't need to fear 00:35:48.980 --> 00:35:49.820 that temptation 00:35:49.820 --> 00:35:50.820 will overtake you 00:35:50.820 --> 00:35:52.000 like a thief in the night 00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:53.340 and rob you 00:35:53.340 --> 00:35:53.780 of everything 00:35:53.780 --> 00:35:54.760 that you have in Christ. 00:35:54.900 --> 00:35:55.240 No. 00:35:55.960 --> 00:35:56.360 Paul says, 00:35:56.420 --> 00:35:57.099 God is faithful. 00:35:57.220 --> 00:35:58.240 He won't let you be tempted 00:35:58.240 --> 00:35:59.840 beyond your ability. 00:36:00.019 --> 00:36:01.200 God's like a good coach. 00:36:02.059 --> 00:36:03.200 He knows the capacities 00:36:03.200 --> 00:36:03.900 of his players 00:36:03.900 --> 00:36:05.220 better than the players do. 00:36:05.720 --> 00:36:06.880 He knows when to put you 00:36:06.880 --> 00:36:07.420 on the field 00:36:07.420 --> 00:36:08.539 and he knows when to put you 00:36:08.539 --> 00:36:09.960 and give you a little rest 00:36:09.960 --> 00:36:10.539 on the bench. 00:36:11.880 --> 00:36:12.800 He knows you better 00:36:12.800 --> 00:36:13.720 than you know yourself. 00:36:14.340 --> 00:36:15.159 He's been faithful 00:36:15.159 --> 00:36:15.800 in the past. 00:36:16.019 --> 00:36:16.579 He'll be faithful 00:36:16.579 --> 00:36:17.200 in the future. 00:36:18.039 --> 00:36:19.200 And because God is faithful, 00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:19.820 Paul says, 00:36:19.940 --> 00:36:20.480 third thing, 00:36:21.119 --> 00:36:22.300 there's a way through it 00:36:22.300 --> 00:36:24.480 and or out of it. 00:36:25.360 --> 00:36:26.300 With the temptation, 00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:27.380 he will also provide 00:36:27.380 --> 00:36:28.280 the way of escape 00:36:28.280 --> 00:36:29.579 that you may be able 00:36:29.579 --> 00:36:30.320 to endure it. 00:36:30.539 --> 00:36:31.440 Now, that's a very 00:36:31.440 --> 00:36:32.179 interesting verse 00:36:32.179 --> 00:36:33.400 and I always get messed up 00:36:33.400 --> 00:36:34.360 when I try to quote it 00:36:34.360 --> 00:36:35.980 because in my mind, 00:36:36.019 --> 00:36:36.400 I think, 00:36:36.500 --> 00:36:37.900 does he provide a way out 00:36:37.900 --> 00:36:39.079 or does he provide a way 00:36:39.079 --> 00:36:40.320 to endure through it? 00:36:40.559 --> 00:36:41.159 And he says, 00:36:41.400 --> 00:36:41.780 both. 00:36:41.780 --> 00:36:44.380 says, 00:36:44.460 --> 00:36:45.680 God will provide a way out 00:36:45.680 --> 00:36:47.500 so that you can endure 00:36:47.500 --> 00:36:48.120 through it. 00:36:50.040 --> 00:36:51.100 He'll give you the strength 00:36:51.100 --> 00:36:52.080 to endure through it 00:36:52.080 --> 00:36:54.620 as long as you need to 00:36:54.619 --> 00:36:55.940 and he's also going to provide 00:36:55.940 --> 00:36:56.599 a way out. 00:36:57.239 --> 00:36:58.319 And for the Corinthians, 00:36:58.539 --> 00:36:59.619 Paul's saying that way out 00:36:59.619 --> 00:37:01.139 is don't go back 00:37:01.139 --> 00:37:02.079 to the idle temples 00:37:02.079 --> 00:37:06.339 and be indulging 00:37:06.339 --> 00:37:08.819 in these pagan meals. 00:37:09.099 --> 00:37:09.480 Paul says, 00:37:10.339 --> 00:37:10.699 you know, 00:37:10.799 --> 00:37:12.559 if you're running headlong 00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:13.359 into temptation, 00:37:14.359 --> 00:37:15.940 you can't claim this promise 00:37:15.940 --> 00:37:17.039 that God's going to rescue you 00:37:17.039 --> 00:37:17.420 from it. 00:37:18.460 --> 00:37:19.779 God's provided a way out. 00:37:20.200 --> 00:37:20.760 The way out is 00:37:20.760 --> 00:37:21.440 don't go there. 00:37:22.660 --> 00:37:22.900 Right? 00:37:22.980 --> 00:37:23.480 Sometimes we need 00:37:23.480 --> 00:37:24.380 to flee temptation. 00:37:25.360 --> 00:37:25.820 But sometimes 00:37:25.820 --> 00:37:27.019 you can't flee temptation 00:37:27.019 --> 00:37:28.960 because it's just there 00:37:28.960 --> 00:37:29.940 or it's in your mind 00:37:29.940 --> 00:37:31.240 and you can't run away 00:37:31.240 --> 00:37:31.860 from yourself 00:37:31.860 --> 00:37:33.600 and you've got to face it. 00:37:34.380 --> 00:37:35.019 And Paul says, 00:37:35.100 --> 00:37:35.860 God will strengthen you 00:37:35.860 --> 00:37:36.519 to endure it. 00:37:38.220 --> 00:37:39.860 And the reason we can know 00:37:39.860 --> 00:37:40.700 and be confident 00:37:40.700 --> 00:37:41.980 that that's a true promise 00:37:41.980 --> 00:37:42.500 from God 00:37:42.500 --> 00:37:44.100 is because 00:37:44.100 --> 00:37:45.800 he came to meet us 00:37:45.800 --> 00:37:46.480 in the middle of it. 00:37:47.480 --> 00:37:48.019 The Bible says, 00:37:48.160 --> 00:37:48.920 Jesus Christ 00:37:48.920 --> 00:37:50.099 was tempted 00:37:50.099 --> 00:37:51.059 in every way 00:37:51.059 --> 00:37:53.099 just as we are 00:37:53.099 --> 00:37:55.539 and yet he never sinned. 00:37:56.760 --> 00:37:58.019 He never gave in. 00:37:58.579 --> 00:37:59.360 And Jesus knows 00:37:59.360 --> 00:38:00.440 the strength of temptation. 00:38:01.760 --> 00:38:02.119 Honestly, 00:38:02.240 --> 00:38:03.280 most of us don't know 00:38:03.280 --> 00:38:04.680 how strong temptation can be 00:38:04.680 --> 00:38:05.460 because we give in 00:38:05.460 --> 00:38:05.940 too quickly. 00:38:06.840 --> 00:38:07.099 Right? 00:38:07.159 --> 00:38:08.300 It's like if you're arm wrestling 00:38:08.300 --> 00:38:10.400 and you just sort of 00:38:10.400 --> 00:38:11.599 let your arm go limp. 00:38:12.800 --> 00:38:13.240 Right? 00:38:14.639 --> 00:38:16.220 The way that you really know 00:38:16.220 --> 00:38:17.619 how strong somebody else is 00:38:17.619 --> 00:38:19.199 is if you hold that arm up 00:38:19.199 --> 00:38:20.559 and your arm gets 00:38:20.559 --> 00:38:22.839 burning sore. 00:38:23.239 --> 00:38:23.599 Right? 00:38:23.900 --> 00:38:25.460 And you're trying to push it over 00:38:25.460 --> 00:38:26.279 and you... 00:38:26.859 --> 00:38:27.799 That's the way 00:38:27.799 --> 00:38:28.319 that you're going to know 00:38:28.319 --> 00:38:29.519 how strong somebody else is. 00:38:29.559 --> 00:38:30.420 Not if you just sort of 00:38:30.420 --> 00:38:32.299 give in right away. 00:38:33.880 --> 00:38:34.440 You see, 00:38:34.500 --> 00:38:36.359 Jesus knows how strong temptation is 00:38:36.359 --> 00:38:38.619 because he never gave in. 00:38:40.059 --> 00:38:41.319 He held on all the way. 00:38:42.619 --> 00:38:44.139 And so he's able to help you and me 00:38:44.139 --> 00:38:44.920 when we're tempted 00:38:44.920 --> 00:38:46.240 because he's been there 00:38:46.240 --> 00:38:47.440 and he's done it. 00:38:48.260 --> 00:38:49.780 And he sent his Holy Spirit 00:38:49.780 --> 00:38:51.420 to help us in the middle of it 00:38:51.420 --> 00:38:52.860 so that we're not alone. 00:38:55.360 --> 00:38:56.500 And so the scripture says 00:38:56.500 --> 00:38:57.659 we can boldly approach 00:38:57.659 --> 00:38:58.920 the throne of grace 00:38:58.920 --> 00:38:59.700 to receive mercy 00:38:59.700 --> 00:39:00.440 and find help 00:39:00.440 --> 00:39:02.240 in our time of need. 00:39:03.720 --> 00:39:04.300 Let's pray 00:39:04.300 --> 00:39:05.200 and do just that. 00:39:05.200 --> 00:39:05.260 Amen. 00:39:05.260 --> 00:39:05.320 Amen. 00:39:05.320 --> 00:39:05.380 Amen. 00:39:05.380 --> 00:39:05.500 Amen. 00:39:05.500 --> 00:39:05.579 Amen. 00:39:05.579 --> 00:39:05.599 Amen. 00:39:05.599 --> 00:39:07.380 Amen. 00:39:07.380 --> 00:39:07.480 Amen. 00:39:07.480 --> 00:39:07.500 Amen. 00:39:07.500 --> 00:39:09.440 Amen. 00:39:09.440 --> 00:39:09.500 Amen. 00:39:09.500 --> 00:39:09.539 Amen. 00:39:14.920 --> 00:39:15.480 Amen. 00:39:15.480 --> 00:39:15.760 Amen. 00:39:15.760 --> 00:39:16.119 Amen. 00:39:16.119 --> 00:39:16.680 Amen. 00:39:16.680 --> 00:39:16.900 Lord God, 00:39:16.960 --> 00:39:17.639 we thank you for 00:39:17.639 --> 00:39:20.200 this warning. 00:39:21.019 --> 00:39:21.940 We thank you that 00:39:21.940 --> 00:39:23.780 it is in your love for us 00:39:23.780 --> 00:39:25.579 and in your wisdom 00:39:25.579 --> 00:39:27.840 that you give us these warnings 00:39:27.840 --> 00:39:30.300 so that we don't 00:39:30.300 --> 00:39:31.940 fall 00:39:31.940 --> 00:39:34.320 into deadly patterns of sin 00:39:34.320 --> 00:39:37.960 but so that we can 00:39:37.960 --> 00:39:39.539 fix our eyes on you 00:39:39.539 --> 00:39:40.340 so that we can be 00:39:40.340 --> 00:39:41.900 both warned 00:39:41.900 --> 00:39:42.680 and encouraged. 00:39:42.800 --> 00:39:43.579 We thank you for this word 00:39:43.579 --> 00:39:44.179 of encouragement 00:39:44.179 --> 00:39:45.099 that you are faithful. 00:39:47.420 --> 00:39:47.840 Lord, 00:39:47.880 --> 00:39:48.420 that you won't 00:39:48.420 --> 00:39:49.440 let us be tempted 00:39:49.440 --> 00:39:50.619 beyond what we can bear 00:39:50.619 --> 00:39:52.159 that you will provide 00:39:52.159 --> 00:39:53.059 a way out 00:39:53.059 --> 00:39:54.539 so that we can endure 00:39:54.539 --> 00:39:55.420 through it. 00:39:58.299 --> 00:39:59.340 Please strengthen us 00:39:59.340 --> 00:40:02.219 to trust you 00:40:02.219 --> 00:40:06.019 and to walk 00:40:06.019 --> 00:40:08.539 in faithfulness to you 00:40:08.539 --> 00:40:09.579 as you have been faithful 00:40:09.579 --> 00:40:10.079 to us. 00:40:10.759 --> 00:40:11.420 We pray in your name. 00:40:11.639 --> 00:40:11.880 Amen.