Don’t Get Stuck!
1 Cor. 10
Introduction: Have you ever been stuck somewhere? I have been stuck in traffic, stuck in the mud, stuck working with people that are belligerent, stuck in situations that you know the moment you are in them you want to run. I’ve been stuck in fights both with my fist because my brother would not be able to finish them, as well as gunfights that you kept your head as low as possible to not be headless. However, the one time that I was stuck that frighten me the most was when I had a mother cow chasing me and I had to dive under a barbed wire fence to get away and the barbs cut into my back pretty deep and I thought for sure that I was going to become ground human. Being stuck though is something that no one wants to to be.
Sometimes we get stuck in our ways and no matter how much someone talks to us we bow our neck and we aren’t going to change our minds. Some of you know what that’s like right! In fact some of you are probably there even now.
Paul is talking with the church of Corinth and he’ telling them to remember the past, but don’t get stuck there. Learn from what had happen and don’t repeat the same mistakes.
As we contemplate todays message let’s explore things that we can do to keep from getting stuck.
1. Keep Grounded!
1 Cor. 10:1-4 "Don't want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground. 2 In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses. 3 All of them ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ" NLT
a. How many of you remember “Knob and Tube wiring” Lucy and my first home had that kind of wiring and my dad wired numerous houses that had that kind of wiring. In fact, a third of my house I live in now the original wiring was the Knob and tube. When something went out you had to replace a fuse that would just screw in. The greatest issue with that wiring is there was no grounding throughout the house and when an appliance would go bad it would actually cause an electrical fire.
One house my dad and I remodeled you could actually see the wiring that had burned through the wall all the way back to the breaker box.
You see being grounded represents not only where our confidence lies, but also the first place we go when we are going through a real tough struggle.
b. As believers, we are going to struggle. Paul is saying even the ancestors that many had struggled and they had the overwhelming presence of this cloud that moved ahead of them by day and they had this fire that was right in front of them at night. They were given food that came from heaven daily, as well as enough meat to from quail that flew in daily. He says all of that was the preincarnate Christ. That foundation that they so quickly bring to remembrance was Christ showing them that they needed Him to make it through their daily life.
That is the same Christ that we need to dwell inside us now so that we can stay grounded. The difference is now His Spirit resides in us as believers to guide us daily if we choose to allow Him to do so.
T.S. However, in order to do that we have to set our hearts on things that give God glory not on the things that give man glory.
2. Set your hearts on pure things.
1 Cor. 10 5-10 Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, "The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry." And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day. Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. And don't grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death NLT
a. Aren’t you thankful that when we disobey today God doesn’t just send snakes to kill us or a plague to wipe out a bunch of us. However, we can’t allow that Grace to give us a license to do whatever we choose.
We need to concentrate on the things that really point our hearts to Jesus as well as keep our minds focused on heavenly things.
b. Phil 4:6-9 Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concern Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious — the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. Message
c. Paul is saying don’t get stuck on the things of the past, don’t continue living the life that caused you to sin, but start concentrating on this new life that you have in Christ. Even though God may not just come down and kill 23,000 people for an act of sin, when we are doing those things everyone around us is affected even if is a secret sin, it affects those around us.
T.S. As we concentrate on God it is so important that we are guarding our hearts to not boast on our accomplishments or even start believing that it is our righteousness that makes us capable to continue on, but it is by the work of the Holy Spirit that makes our works great.
3. Always check your temperature.
a. 1 Cor. 10:11-13 These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age. 12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. NLT
b. If I can point to one scripture that I am so thankful for t is this one. “ When I am tempted God is faithful to provide for me a way out.” I just watched the Matrix again this past week. In order for them to get out of the virtual world back into the reality it takes a phone to wake them back up and get them safely home.
c. God is quick to give us phone calls. sometimes it is a tap on the shoulder and God reminds us that we’re getting ready to go into dangerous waters. Other times He sends a friend that you have given permission to hold you accountable. My favorite though is when I read scripture and the Holy Spirit says Jim you're doing this right now and I wish you wouldn’t because it is hurting the relationship I have with you. Even though it hurts it is meant to bring you back into the right place with God again.
T.S. Friends, our Father in heaven greatest concern is for us to continue to have this relationship with Him. From the day Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden until Jesus came to walk this earth He has been working out the plan of salvation. So we need to look back at history, we need to study the Old Testament as well as understand the New Testament and do everything possible to not repeat what separates us so we won’t get stuck from moving forward.
4. Flee things that get you stuck!
a. 1 Cor. 10:14-22 So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true. When we bless the cup at the Lord's Table, aren't we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren't we sharing in the body of Christ? And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body. Think about the people of Israel. Weren't they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar? What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don't want you to participate with demons. You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord's Table and at the table of demons, too. What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord's jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is? NLT
b. We just talked about what can be considered idols in this day and age. I can think of at least a half a dozen areas throughout my life that have been idols. Don’t allow those things to cause you to get stuck from moving forward with God.
c. How many times have we said” but I have already tried that and it didn’t work” Ok, well maybe you need to quit trying it your way and do it God’s way. You know what the true definition of stubbornness it is when you continue to do the exact same thing in your own strength, but you expect a different result this time.
d. James 4:7-8 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. NLT
T.S. No one likes to humble themselves, but when we do it breaks all kinds of barriers in this world that we are suppose to be a light in. So stick to what is in the Word!
5. Stick to what’s biblical!
a. 1 Cor. 10:23-11:1 You say, "I am allowed to do anything"—but not everything is good for you. You say, "I am allowed to do anything"—but not everything is beneficial. Don't be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. For "the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it." If someone who isn't a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience. (But suppose someone tells you, "This meat was offered to an idol." Don't eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it? So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Don't give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don't just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved. And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. NLT
b. Can you imagine how much this world would be changed if as believers we would stick to what is biblical instead of what is politically correct. I’m so tired of what is politically correct. We are so busy trying to be people pleasers instead of God pleasers.
I know that no matter how hard I try to please everyone in this room someone will find fault with something I do. Maybe it is the way I communicate or don’t communicate. The way I dress or even the way my hair is combed. Someone will always find fault with something I do. Friends, I am human not superman, and definitely not Jesus. However, there is one thing I can do and that is stick to what is biblical. I can refer to scriptures and can joyously say Lord, you promise that
c. Isa 54:17 No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me," declares the Lord. NIV
d.Lord, you called us in 1 Peter 2:9-10 “ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. NIV
Conclusion: Friends, let’s set our hearts to really become grounded in God, to set our hearts on the things that are pure and bring him glory, constantly check your temperature so we know we are in sync with God, don’t get stuck in the temptations but flee those things and grab ahold of things that are biblical not politically correct.
Let’s pray!
