to read to verse 22 and then pick it up again in verse 31.
So let's hear God's word to us. This is God's voice.
1 Corinthians chapter 10, which is on page 1151.
Starting at verse 1.
For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters,
that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.
They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink,
for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them.
And that rock was Christ.
Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them.
Their bodies were scattered over the desert.
Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.
Do not be idolaters as some of them were.
As it is written,
the people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.
We should not commit sexual immorality as some of them did.
And in one day, 23,000 of them died.
We should not test the Lord as some of them did and were killed by snakes.
And do not grumble as some of them did and were killed by the destroying angel.
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us,
on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
So, if you think you are standing firm,
be careful that you don't fall.
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.
And God is faithful.
He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.
But when you are tempted,
He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Therefore, my dear friends,
flee from idolatry.
I speak to sensible people.
Judge for yourselves what I say.
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ?
And is not the bread we break a participation in the blood of Christ?
Because there is one loaf,
we, who are many,
are one body,
for we all partake of the one loaf.
Consider the people of Israel.
Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?
Do I mean that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything,
or that an idol is anything?
No.
But the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons,
not to God.
And I do not want you to be participants with demons.
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord
and the cup of demons too.
You cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons.
Are we trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy?
Are we stronger than he?
Verse 31.
So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do,
do it all for the glory of God.
do not cause anyone to stumble,
whether Jews, Greeks, or the Church of God,
even as I try to please everybody in every way.
For I am not seeking my own good,
but the good of many,
so that they may be saved.
Follow my example
as I follow the example of Christ.
Well, let's pray together.
Our Father God, we thank you for your word,
which is your voice to us,
speaking to us clearly
about your Son
and about us.
And so we pray that as we hear your word,
we would be people who
take it in,
people who listen carefully,
people who
see Jesus
and follow him
as we ought.
Father, by your Spirit,
take your word
and plant it deep within
so that we may grow and mature
as your holy people.
We pray this in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, this week,
we are all going to be sharing
in the giving and receiving
of gifts.
And like everybody else,
I look forward to it
and I'm going to enjoy it.
Contrary to what everybody thinks
about me being a bah humbug,
I love Christmas.
But we need to keep our perspectives,
don't we?
Each gift we give
or receive
will be temporal,
not eternal.
Each gift
will either wear out
or it'll break
or it'll get eaten
or it'll die
or it'll fall apart
or become obsolete.
None of our gifts
are going to last.
they are all temporal.
They are not
eternal.
So, this morning,
we're going to be looking
at three gifts.
The first two gifts
are gifts that we receive.
And if we take these gifts
and use these gifts,
they will lead us
towards
the eternal kingdom of God.
So, the gifts we receive
have an eternal value.
The third gift
we're going to look at
is a gift
that we give
so that others
can share
in the eternal kingdom of God.
So, three gifts this morning.
The first two we receive,
the third gift
we give.
So, here's the first gift
and it might come
as a bit of surprise
or a bit of a shock to you.
This gift is a warning.
Be careful
that you don't fall.
Look at verse 12.
So, if you think
you are standing firm,
be careful
that you don't fall.
In London,
some of you will know this,
that on the underground
rail work,
there's a station
that has this
automatic warning.
As the train
approaches the station
and the doors open,
there's this great
big
warning.
Mind the gap!
Because between
the train
and the platform,
there's a gap.
And if you're not careful,
you could step
into the gap
and you'll fall.
So, if you want
to make sure
that you get
to your destination,
listen to the warning.
Mind the gap.
And that's what we have
in verse 12.
It's a warning,
but this warning
is a gift
to us
so that we
will not fall
and that we
will get to
our eternal
destination.
And to help us
understand this
warning,
we're to go back
and remember
Israel's salvation
from Egypt
and their journey
towards their
destination,
the promised land.
Go back to
verse 1.
He says,
I do not want
you to be
ignorant of the fact,
brothers and sisters,
that our forefathers
were all under
the cloud
and that they all
passed through
the sea.
It's taking us
back in time
to remember
how God
saved Israel.
Do you remember
the story
and what happened?
They followed
the cloud.
The cloud
was the very
presence of God
or representing
the presence of God.
And as they
followed the cloud,
they were led
out of captivity
and they were
brought to
the Red Sea.
And as they
faced the Red Sea,
they were like,
what are we going
to do?
How are we going
to get out?
As Pharaoh
and his armies
were chasing
behind them.
And then God
in a miraculous
act parted
the sea
so that they
could escape
Pharaoh
and his armies.
It was God's
mighty intervening
act of saving
his people,
rescuing them
from one ruler
and bringing
them to himself
so they could
live under
his saving
rule.
Now their
experience of
salvation
is actually
a picture
of our
salvation
today.
You see,
their salvation
was not just
a physical
leaving a land
to go to
another place,
it was a
spiritual salvation.
Have a look
at these verses,
verse 3.
You see,
as they made
their way
towards the
promised land,
look what God
did, verse 3.
They all
ate the same
spiritual food.
that was the
manna that
God sent.
And they drank
the same
spiritual drink,
for they drank
from the
spiritual rock
that accompanied
them.
You remember
that on one
occasion they
had nothing
to drink,
and Moses
with his
staff struck
the rock,
and water
flowed from
it.
That rock,
verse 4,
was Christ.
Christ.
So when
they ate
this food,
when they
drank this
water,
they were
in effect
looking to
God in
faith and
trusting God
to save
them.
And that
salvation,
we're told,
ultimately came
through,
verse 4,
through Christ.
It was a
picture of
Christ.
So just as
Christ saved
Israel and
brought salvation
to them,
so Christ is
the one who
has saved us
and rescued
us from
slavery to
sin and
brought us
out from
under slavery
and brought
us into
freedom towards
our ultimate
promised land,
the eternal
kingdom of
God.
This is our
salvation story.
This is what
God has done
for us.
But that
salvation
experience
is not
enough.
Have a look
at verse 5.
Nevertheless,
God was
not pleased
with most
of them.
Their bodies
were scattered
over the
desert.
You see,
the people
of Israel
thought that
because God
had saved
them in such
a miraculous
and mighty
way,
bringing them
through the
waters,
bringing them
into the
promised land
and providing
food and
drink and
heading towards
their promised
land,
they thought,
well,
God has
saved us,
we can do
as we want
now.
Not so.
All of the
adults that
left Egypt,
with the
exception of
two people,
Caleb and
Joshua,
all the
adults died
in the
desert before
they reached
their final
destination,
the promised
land.
God was
not pleased
with their
behaviour,
so he
judged them.
And the
reason for
writing this
is to say
to the
church in
Corinth,
listen guys,
you are
behaving just
like Israel
did in the
past.
So there's a
warning for
you.
Verse 8,
we should
not commit
sexual immorality
as some of
them did
when they were
in the desert.
and in
one day
God judged
them and
23,000 of
them died.
We should
not test
the Lord
as some
of them
did and
they were
killed by
snakes.
And do
not grumble
as some
of them
did and
they were
killed by
the
destroying
angel.
But it's
not just
the church
in Corinth.
Are we
any different
in our
behaviours?
You see
the story
of Israel
is also
a warning
for us.
Verse 11,
these things
happened to
them as
examples and
were written
down as
warnings
for us
on whom
the fulfilment
of the ages
has come.
So if
you think
you are
standing
firm,
be careful
that you
do not
fall.
Don't rely
on some
past
Christian
experience.
Yes,
you might
have a
story to
tell of
how God
saved you.
Yes,
you might
have been
baptised.
Yes,
you might
share in
communion.
Yes,
you may
have your
testimony to
tell.
But if
we are
not
walking
with
Christ
today
in
repentance
and
faith,
it
counts
for
nothing.
Be
careful
that we
do not
fall.
You see
this warning
is actually
a gracious
gift.
It's
reminding
all of us
to stop
and think
about our
walk with
Christ.
Don't
mess with
sin,
he says.
Don't
think that
it doesn't
matter.
It does
matter.
How we
live our
lives today
is a
serious
thing.
So make
sure we
look to
Christ,
our
rock,
our
saviour,
so that
we do
not fall
and that
we will
reach our
eternal
destination.
salvation.
So that
is our
first gift,
a warning,
be careful
that we
do not
fall.
Here's the
second gift
that we
are to
receive,
hope,
participation
in Christ.
So look
at verse
14.
Therefore
my dear
friends,
or my
dearly
beloved,
flee
from
idolatry.
You see
Israel as
a people
had turned
away from
God,
who had
saved them
and brought
them miraculously
out of slavery
into the
promised land.
They had
turned away
from God
and they
had now
turned to
their own
gods who
could not
save them.
And the
warning or
the message
for us is
that we
can do
exactly the
same thing
as they
did.
Of course
we might
not fashion
a golden
calf as
they did,
but we
must remember
that an
idol is
anyone or
anything that
replaces God.
Someone or
something that
is more
important to
you than
Christ is
an idol.
So if work
is more
important to
you than
Christ,
then work
is your
idol.
If your
children's
career is
more important
than our
trust in
Christ,
then the
children have
become an
idol.
If our
relationship
to our
spouse is
more important
than our
relationship to
Christ,
then that
relationship has
become an
idol.
If Christmas
is more
important to
you than
Christ,
then it's
become an
idol.
So,
verse 14,
flee from
idolatry.
Don't fall
as Israel
did.
Turn from
trusting in
your own
idols that
cannot save
you and
turn to
Christ who
is our
true and
ultimate
gift and
provides us
with all
that we
ever need.
Verse 16,
is not the
cup of
thanksgiving
for which
we give
thanks a
participation in
the blood
of Christ?
and is
not the
bread we
break a
participation
in the
body of
Christ?
He's
talking here
about the
Lord's
Supper,
communion,
which is a
gift to
us and
we think
of it as
a remembrance
meal.
With the
bread and
the wine
we remember
the death
of Jesus
Christ on
our behalf.
But this
is much
more than
just a
meal that
we
remember.
It's much
deeper than
that.
It's a
participation
in Christ.
So as
we eat
the bread
and as
we drink
the wine,
we are
by faith
joining or
uniting
ourselves to
Christ.
Again,
look at
verse 16.
He says
it's a
participation
in the
blood of
Christ.
It's a
participation
in the
body of
Christ.
So through
our eating
and through
our drinking
together,
we are
saying that
what Christ
went through
on the
cross,
he went
through for
me.
His death
was my
death.
His
condemnation
for sin
was my
condemnation.
His
experience
of wrath
and being
shut out
from the
Father
is my
deserved
wrath.
So he's
reminding us
and saying
look at
the
saviour
who truly
saves.
what gift
could we
have that
is better
and greater
than the
gift of
Christ?
So why
turn to
these idols
and these
God
substitutes
who can
never save
you,
never satisfy
you,
or never
fill you?
In fact,
if we
participate
with Christ,
we can't
be joined
to anyone
else or
anything
else.
Have a
look at
verse 21.
He
says,
you cannot
drink the
cup of
the Lord
and the
cup of
demons
too.
You
cannot
have a
part in
both the
Lord's
table and
the table
of demons.
You see,
Israel,
going back to
their example,
they were
trying to
live with a
foot in
both camps.
They were
trying to
have it
both ways.
Oh yes,
God is our
salvation.
He saved
us from
Egypt.
But we
like to
turn to
our own
idols and
live as we
please and
do what we
like.
The
Christians in
Corinth were
no different.
Oh,
Christ is
our
saviour.
He's
rescued us
from the
empty way
of life.
But we
like to
join in
in the
pagan
festivals and
enjoy our
sexual
immorality.
And they're
the sorts of
things we
like to
do.
I think
the point
is simple,
isn't it?
We cannot
share in
the Lord's
supper on
a Sunday
morning and
then live as
we please
Sunday night.
We can't
eat the
bread and
in our
hearts be
turning to
other gods
for our
pleasure.
We can't
drink the
wine and
in our
hearts turn
to other
gods for
satisfaction.
We can't
live with a
foot in
both camps.
Verse 21,
you cannot
drink the
cup of the
Lord and
the cup of
demons too.
Because
what he
sounds
strong
language
to say
the cup
of demons,
he's saying
but anything
else that
you give
your life
to,
idolatry,
a God
substitute,
it's like
a demon,
it's other
than God.
And we
cannot
participate
in it.
You see,
if we
participate in
Christ,
we are
joined to
Christ.
In Christ
we have
received the
greatest gift
of all,
he is
our hope.
So when
we feed
on the
bread of
Christ,
we are
truly
satisfied.
When we
drink of
the blood
of Christ,
we will
never thirst
again.
It's like
the rock
in the
desert that
continued to
flow.
Christ is
our ultimate
source for
all that we
ever need
and all that
we would
ever long
for.
He is
our salvation.
He is
the only
one who
truly fills
us.
We have
the greatest
gift of
all in
Christ.
He is
our eternal
hope.
So that
is the
second gift
we are to
receive.
We
participate
in him
today so
that we
will reach
our eternal
destination.
The third
gift.
is not
so much
a gift
that we
receive,
but it's
a gift
we give
because of
what we
have
received.
Life
so that
they may
be saved.
Look at
verse 33
of chapter
10.
Comes at
the end
of verse
33.
For I
am not
seeking
my own
good,
but the
good of
many,
that they
may be
saved.
You see,
in Christ
we have
received the
greatest
gift
possible.
Spiritual
life,
life with
God,
life to
come in
his eternal
kingdom.
And in
response to
this amazing
gift that
we have
received,
we are to
give our
lives to
others so
that they
may be
saved.
So that
they may
share in
the eternal
glory that
is to
come.
in fact,
we are to
use our
lives for
God's
glory.
Two things
we need to
do.
First,
I need to
ask,
how does
my life
today affect
a not-yet
Christian?
How does
my life
today affect
a not-yet
Christian?
Well,
look at
verse 31.
So he
says,
whatever
you do
in life,
whatever you
eat or
drink,
whatever you
do,
do it
all for
the glory
of God.
Do not
cause
anyone to
stumble,
whether
Jews or
Greeks.
No matter
their
background,
whoever they
are,
do not
cause them
to stumble
or fall.
You see,
as a
Christian,
I am
free to
do as I
please,
so long as
I do not
disobey
God's
word.
But,
I am not
free to do
what I
please if
it causes
an unbeliever
to stumble
and fall.
If my
life and
my actions
and my
behaviour
becomes a
barrier to
someone coming
to faith,
I must
change how
I live.
Second,
not only
must I
ask how
does it
affect a
not yet
Christian,
I need
to ask
how does
my life
affect
other
Christians.
Verse
32,
do not
cause
anyone to
stumble,
whether
Jews or
Greeks or
the Church
of God
or fellow
believers,
even as
I try to
please
everybody
in every
way.
So,
in the
choices and
decisions I
make in
life about
where I
go and
what I
do,
if that
causes another
Christian to
fall away
from Christ,
that means I
must change
how I
live.
You see,
how I
live today,
my life
today is
not a
private
individual
experience
that I'm
huddled away
and I do
things on
my own.
It has a
profound
effect on
the lives
of others.
A church
means a
gathering of
God's
people,
so what
I do
has an
effect on
the rest
of the
church
family.
So,
I will
seek to
do all
things for
the glory
of God.
And here's
the main
reason,
and it
comes at
the end
of verse
33.
For I
am not
seeking my
own good,
but the
good of
many,
that they
may be
saved.
You see,
how we
live
matters.
How
Israel
lived
mattered.
How the
people in
Corinth live
mattered,
and how I
live today
matters,
because it
has an
eternal
impact on
the lives
of other
people.
What I
do with
my life
has eternal
consequences.
But because
I have been
saved,
because I
now have
Christ,
because of
the hope
and the
participation
in Christ,
I will
want to
live in
such a
way that
it leads
other
people
towards
Christ.
And isn't
that our
longing and
our hope
over the
Christmas
season,
that our
friends and
our family
will not
fall because
of us,
but because
of the way
we live,
we lead
them towards
being saved.
Not to
be saved
is to
face the
emptiness and
the loneliness
of an
eternity
without
God,
which is
hell itself.
You see,
the greatest
gift that we
could possibly
give anyone
over this
Christmas season
is the
giving of
our own
lives in
service to
other people.
Look at
chapter 11
verse 1.
Follow
my example
as I
follow the
example of
Christ.
That's what
the Apostle
Paul did.
he followed
the example
of Christ.
And that
example is
really the
story of
Christmas,
isn't it?
It's all
about Jesus
Christ who
came down
to us,
the God
man,
the one who
gave up his
rights,
the King of
Kings,
the creator
of the
universe,
who was
born as
a child,
in the
back ends
of beyond
nowhere,
in a
manger,
fleeing for
his life as
a refugee
with no
one and
nothing,
becoming like
one of us
to serve
the world
in which he
came to.
But not only
did he live
his life in
service of
others,
he gave his
life in
sacrifice
so that
we could
be rescued
from our
slavery to
sin,
brought into
the freedom
of the
ultimate
promised
land,
the eternal
kingdom of
God.
That is what
he's done
for us.
That is the
example we
follow as we
give our
lives.
So just as
the apostle
Paul followed
that example,
so should
we give
our life.
give your
life so
that,
and you
fill in the
name,
so that
may be
saved.
So can
we begin
to see the
importance of
these gifts?
The gifts
that we give
and receive
on Christmas
morning are
all temporal.
They'll all
disappear,
they'll either
break or
they'll be
eaten or
they'll be
destroyed.
or they
will become
obsolete.
They will
not last.
These three
gifts
have an
eternal
value.
Receive
the gift,
hear the
warning,
so that you
do not
fall.
Participate
in the hope
of Christ
and the
blessings that
we have in
him.
And having
received those
gifts,
give the
wonderful gift
of your
own life
that will
lead and
point others
to Christ.
What
greater gift
could we
possibly give?
Let's pray
together.
our Father God,
we pray that
you would
enable us,
give us the
humility
opportunity,
that we would
accept and
receive the
gifts that you
have offered to
us today,
that we would
hear the
warning so
that we do
not fall,
that we may
reach out
and participate
in the hope
of Christ,
who fills
us and
satisfies us
like no
one else
or nothing
else.
And
Father,
would you
please give
us opportunity
that we may
give the
gift of our
own life
to others
so that
they may
know Christ
and be
saved.
Father,
would you
please give
us opportunity
to serve
you well
and to do
all things
for your
glory this
coming week.
We pray it
in Jesus'
name.
Amen.
We're going
to sing
together our
final song.
It's chosen
particularly with
the theme
that we've
looked at in
mind.