Chico Alliance Church
Pastor David Welch
“A Disciplined Life” Part Two
Review
I. Reproof for fleshly behavior 1-6
II. Responses to specific inquiries
A. Concerning marriage 7
B. Concerning the voluntary limitation of Christian liberty 8-11:1
1. To avoid ruining a weaker brother 8:1-13
2. To advance the gospel 9:1-23
3. To avoid losing heavenly reward 9:24-27
4. To avoid displeasing God 10:1-13
a) Israel’s Experience 10:1-5
(1) Israel enjoyed God’s spiritual blessing.1-4
(2) God’s disappointment 5
b) Their bad example for our good education 10:6-12
(1) Don’t be cravers of evil things. vs 6
Sin? They doubted and despised God’s provision. (We’re tired of manna. We want meat!)
Action? They set their heart on the things of the flesh rather than the spirit resulting in unbridled desire and craving.
Punishment? Severe plague immediately broke out among them.
(2) Don’t become idolaters vs 7
Do not become idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY."
Paul referenced the account of their stretch at the foot of Mount Sinai recorded in Ex 32.
Sin? They doubted and rejected God’s absolute authority (it’s taking too long).
Action? Idolatry leading to purposeless revelry.
They rejected God’s care and entrusted their life into the hands of someone else.
They attributed God’s wonderful works to an inanimate statue.
Idolatry is spiritual adultery.
Punishment? Destruction
The Corinthians were not strangers to idolatry. Most of them had been saved out of idolatry. Some cited freedom in Christ to continue to indulge in more than meat sacrificed to idols. Many were actually attending the pagan temple meals. Much of Paul’s letter urges distance from anything related to such influence.
(3) Don’t act immorally vs 8
Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.
Story found in Numbers 25:1-9
Sin? They doubted and ignored God’s rules for life. (Let’s check out the Moabite women)
Action? They engaged in immorality and self indulgence. (Partied at the Temple of Baal)
Punishment? Death by plague
Idolatry nearly always leads to immorality and sexual perversion before destruction.
The Corinthians would have winced at this example as well.
(4) Don’t try the Lord vs 9
Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents.
Story found in Numbers 21:4-9
Sin? They doubted and resisted God’s direction. (We’re tired of this journey)
Action? They rebelled, and demanded self determination, testing God to act.
Punishment? Death by snake bite
(5) Don’t grumble vs 10
Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
“Grumble” = to be dissatisfied because of disappointment, mutter, murmur, speak in a low voice, complain.
Story found in Numbers 14:26-32
Israel excelled in the art of grumbling. It was a full time occupation all through the wilderness walk.
Sin? They doubted and discarded God’s promise
Action? They desired ease and comfort resulting in grumbling
Punishment? Massive death in the wilderness and 40 years of aimless wandering.
All of these examples demonstrate the devastation of doubt; failure to really trust God.
All of these actions arose due to their failure to take God at His word and really trust Him.
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
Trust His person! Trust His promise! Most all of our sin stems from doubt. We accept a lie of Satan and reject the truth of God. The Israelites failed to enter God’s rest because of their unbelief. Each incident cited here could have been avoided had they affirmed their trust in God.
? God had abundant food in the Promised Land.
? God provided their leader with the necessary truth to build their nation to last.
? God told them not to take foreign women to protect them from idolatry.
? It is the journey that prepares us to experience the promise.
? God always fulfills his promise.
For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief. Hebrews 3:16-19
Too quick we jump ship and determine to make our own way since God is too slow or too mysterious or too insensitive or too hard.
(6) Watch out vs 11-12
Paul warns us to not be like the Israelites who not only doubted God but forfeited their reward.
Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
Don’t think it couldn’t happen to you! Don’t’ think that you are immune from destructive doubt. Don’t think that your sin does not have an effect on God.
? How many times have we doubted and despised God’s provision?
God is not enough. It’s boring or not exciting enough to satisfy our overly stimulated fleshly senses. God’s provisions don’t really satisfy my deep longings. God cannot be trusted to give what I really need. We are a culture of unbridled desire and craving.
Solomon was no different. He withheld nothing from himself yet found in the end the only thing that brings meaning to life is a life that focuses on pleasing God. We then cry and whine and demand something that, in the end, rots our soul. We put our trust in someone or something else to satisfy our desires.
? Trust God’s provision.
? How many times have we doubted and rejected God’s authority and direction?
He’s too slow. We’re not going anywhere. There is no clear direction. I’m tired of camping out here. I want to go back. Serving God is too mysterious and hard. God doesn’t care. Then we find ourselves putting our trust in something else that is not God. We look for something that will take us where we want to go. A person, an activity, a direction, a power, a plan, an achievement, an amusement. Idolatry is seeking life apart from life in God.
? Trust God’s timing and direction by submitting to his lead.
? How many times have we doubted and ignored God’s rules?
What’s wrong with it? Why can’t I do that? Why should I not enjoy the things of this world? If it feels good do it. Feels so good it can’t be wrong. The lie that there are no absolute rules in life leads to immorality and fleshly indulgence which captivates and destroys the soul and disqualifies us from rest and reward.
? Trust and follow God’s rules for living.
? How many times have we doubted and resisted God’s direction.
Please don’t send me to Africa. Why do I have to do that? Why can’t I do this? Why should I discipline myself? I’m tired of this journey! We can be anything we want to be.
I have I right to self-determination. No one can tell me what to do or where to go.
Such doubt of God’s direction leads to grumbling and complaining and ungratefulness and broken relationship with the one who alone can give us the proper direction.
? Trust God with the process as well as the purpose. Enjoy the trip.
? How many times have we doubted and discarded the promise of God?
That’s impossible. That’s too hard. It is taking too long. He never answers my prayers.
I can’t believe that. Give me the easy way. That takes me out of my comfort zone. My goals are to get as comfortable as possible and avoid pain and discomfort at all costs. Such doubt leads to disobedience and we miss the blessing and rest God has promised. Hebrews 3:7-19
How can we avoid such doubt in the midst of trials? How can I escape? What are my resources? How do we keep on trusting instead of doubting? Paul reminded the Corinthians of some vital truths about God to bank on. Trust God to do what He promised. How do we keep from doubting?
c) God’s way of escape vs 13
(1) Truth ONE
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to mankind, humanity. No struggle ever comes our way that has not touched other humans who have trusted.
“temptation” = discipline, adversity, experience, trial
“Overtaken” = seize, take, catch, get a hold
(2) Truth TWO
God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able,
God is faithful to not permit us to be tempted beyond His enablement. He oversees our development. Why do I feel like I am in over my head then? You have allowed more than God has allowed. You have lengthened the “lion’s” chain by your belief system. Or you have failed to take his way of escape.
(3) Truth THREE
but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
When God permits a trial He provides a way to escape doubting and endure the ordeal. Our responsibility is to take HIS way of escape. We must act for His pleasure not our escape. Only those who act in faith will please God. Only those who entrust their souls to a faithful creator will escape.
Hebrews 2:18 Hebrews 4:14-16 1 Peter 4:19
We do not want to be among those who displease God. Even though all things are lawful in Christ, not all things please God. Even though all things are lawful in Christ, not all things bring earthly and heavenly reward. Pursue self-discipline rather than self-indulgence. Make it your ambition in life to please God not self?
Only genuine trust pleases God so please God by trusting Him only.
Because of failure to really trust God, many still wander around in the wilderness. Yes you have water, you have provision, you have food and even sense God’s presence.
The one thing you don’t have is genuine rest by trusting God alone.
You are expecting yourself or something else to bring meaning to your life.
You are living below God’s design for you.
You have forfeited your heavenly reward.
You are not putting a smile on God’s face.
? The greedy doubt and despise God’s provision
? Believers trust God to provide. What he doesn’t provide I don’t need.
? Idolaters doubt and rejected God’s authority over us.
? Believers endure the dry spells and delays realizing life is not what it seems and trust God to work all things together for GOOD.
? Lawbreakers doubt and ignore God’s rules.
? Believers seek His righteousness no matter what is accepted by others trusting that God truly knows best.
? Rebels doubt and resist God’s direction.
? Believers listen for God’s direction and obey His commands even when we don’t fully understand that direction at the moment.
? Complainers doubt and discard God’s promise.
? Believers act on God’s promise trusting Him to bring about the desired end.
Paul ties together much of His argument that began in chapter 8 in the next passage which also provides us with the last filter to test our choices.
5. To avoid identification with demons 10:14-22
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say.
Any time we entrust ourselves to anyone or anything over God we commit idolatry. Anytime we doubt God, we choose to trust something else. As we have seen, doubt leads to an attitude toward God and actions that displease Him. Paul summed it up by instructing the Corinthians to always run from, flee, escape, and shun idolatry. Take God’s way of escape. Paul introduces the foundational reasons to avoid association with evil by appealing both to the Old Testament Passover and the New Testament Communion. He invited them to think about his application. Why should we flee the things the Israelites practiced? Why should they stop attending the Gentile temple dinners?
The significance of Communion
Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread.
When Israelites shared in the Passover, they identified as covenant people with the blood sacrificed on the altar to atone for their sin. They paused to recognize the Lord’s presence among them and to bless Him for His abundant goodness and mercy and lovingkindness toward them. Christians identify with the blood of Christ shed for us. We pause to recognize God’s presence among us and to bless Him for the ultimate sacrifice of His only Son that we might have life. Identification with the blood of the New Covenant in Christ proclaims a voluntary and grateful association with the one true Christ. The communal sharing of the bread also recognizes that we are bound together as those joined to the body of Christ. Communion is all about a personal and public reminder and declaration and celebration that we are the covenant people of God and united by blood with each others. It is a bonding experience with each other. It is a bonding experience with God.
In marriage we are joined into an exclusive covenant bond that vows to cling only unto each other and bond to each other so long as we both shall live. That bond is continually celebrated and communicated ultimately through the sexual union. That is why Hebrews adamantly demands that the marriage bed be undefiled.
The significance of the Passover
Look at the nation Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar?
A ceremonial supper was celebrated after each sacrifice that communicated and celebrated oneness with the other Covenant people and with the God of the Covenant.
The significance of the pagan temple ceremony
What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons.
The pagans attached the same significance to their religious ceremonies. The fact remained that idols are not gods. Idols of wood, metal or stone had no special significance. However there was still danger in associating with them. These idols were not god but they did have demonic connections. It wasn’t the idols but the supernatural powers associated with those idols that brought destruction. To partake in the temple ceremonies and activities of idol worshipers was to communicate and celebrate identification with the demons associated with those idols. In reality you would fellowship not only with the people who had entrusted their souls to the demons but with the presence of the demons themselves. How many activities and ‘ceremonies” have demonic associating today?
The significance for today
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we?
Paul clearly points out the absolute impossibility of entrusting your soul to two things.
Jesus said you cannot serve (entrust yourself to) God and money.
Trust is an exclusive thing. Worship is an exclusive thing. A covenant is an exclusive thing. You can’t affirm your trust in Christ alone and then put your trust elsewhere. You can’t doubt Him and trust Him at the same time. You can’t celebrate total identification with God and practice the things associated with demons at the same time. I can’t go from here to a witchcraft ceremony. I can’t celebrate communion that declares my covenant with God and then demonstrate utter hypocrisy by finding my life somewhere else. I can’t declare a covenant relationship with my wife and then join myself to another either physical or emotionally.
Idolatry or identification with anything other than God is spiritual adultery and it affects God. Most of the things I choose to trust other than God will eventually bring some level of demonic bondage or association. Such failure to trust God stirs jealousy in God as sure as unfaithfulness stirs jealousy in a spouse.
James declares…
You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"? But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." James 4:3-6
Are we strong enough to oppose God in this? Do we think that we can keep on cheating on Him and get away with it? That is why later we will learn of the severe penalty for celebrating the table of the Lord without the trust of the life. What do you trust? How deep is your commitment to fidelity with Christ? Trust Him only. Flee idolatry always.
I urge you today as James urges those he wrote to long ago as we prepare to communicate and celebrate our identification with Christ and each other.
Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. James 4:7-10
Are you willing to communicate and celebrate your trust in Christ alone?
Are you willing to communicate and celebrate you union with one another?
For Consideration this coming week
Below I provide some further activities to more deeply interact with the truths.
? Trace the grace of God and grumbling of Israel in Psalm 106.
? Take some time to review the application section carefully. Ask God to expose the areas of doubt and disappointment with God or your Christian walk.
? Take some time contemplating what you really trust. If you were told that you had only two weeks to live write down the top 5 or 10 things that would matter to you most. Then write down the top ten things that matter to you now as evidenced by your enjoyment level, time expended, resources dedicated and thoughts occupied. Where do you turn when things get difficult? Where do you seek relief from the junk of this word? What is your escape?
? Another Psalm recites God’s faithfulness against Israel’s unfaithfulness Psalm 78
? Take some time to reflect on how spiritual adultery may be present in your life. Review James 4. Any time I seek life from other than the true source of life I betray my commitment to Him as God alone and commit spiritual adultery. The book of Hosea talks about the Israel’s sin of spiritual adultery. How does our sin make God feel? Also for a very disturbing comparison and work picture try reading Ezek 16.
? Take each element of James’ suggestion in James 4:7-10
Submit to God – reaffirm your covenant with Him as Lord and boss of your life.
Resist the devil – Renounce your trust in him and his lies.
Draw Near to God – take time to rest in His love as a dearly loved child of God.
Deal with your sinful ways – let the Holy Spirit bring up areas of doubt and sin.
Humble yourself in His holy presence.
? Memorize and meditate on 1 Cor 10:13.
? Think about what escapes God has provided from temptations that you failed to see or take. Next time look for God’s way of escape. Review how Jesus resisted temptation in Matthew 4. The Word, prayer, and the Power of the Holy Spirit
