Two Camps

1 Corinthians 10:23-33

Both the world and religion have guidelines of what is acceptable and there is always two camps, have you noticed that?  The deceiver’s work is made easier when he has us in conflict, and those on the right believe the ones on the left are the problem, and the ones on the left are convinced the ones on the right are the problem.  This allows fear of the other to drive them to hate, and hate never allows reasoning or looking to the good of the other, for it has already established its own value system, based on its understanding of knowledge.  Many in the church have been lured into this false and foolish battle, and have not listened to the counsel of the Holy Spirit that was given to the apostle Paul.

As we investigate 1 Corinthians 10:23-33, will you be willing to look into the mirror and ask the Father this question; am I seeking Truth, or am I blind to the truth of my own understanding of truth?  For it is clear Jesus is Truth, for it is written in John 14:6 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  Those are not my words, Jesus is speaking, and it matters not the camp or the title you have established, God the Father has put all of His eggs in one basket, the finished work of Christ.

Now following Truth or Jesus will not be easy street as some wrongly teach and by doing so put obstacles in the path of many who enter into a relationship with Jesus.  In fact, I must confess relationships take work, and time, and produce love for the object of the relationship.  So we have this good word from Jesus; “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”

This is what the Spirit of Truth spoke to the apostle Paul and was recorded for you and me.  “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.”  In no way am I telling you what to do with your title, but is being on the right or the left, building you up, are you seeking your own good, or is your goal to love your neighbor?  Now this meat from the temple of pagans is very different in our culture, for some, it might be what you eat or drink, and for others it might be what one does in their free time, but it is still the same issue, if it causes my brother to stumble refrain from doing it.

The Spirit of Truth gives us this counsel; “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Idolatry - anything take the place of God

1 Corinthians 10:14-22

The fourteenth verse states; “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”  Will one flee from something they are comfortable with, or that brings them the hope of pleasure?  Do you as a follower of Christ have any understanding of idolatry?  Maybe a better understanding of the word will be of help to each of us; Idolatry: idol worship, now I feel much better, I have no idol in my home, not even anything close to a statue we pay homage to, and I’m betting that you do not either, so shall we move on?

Wrong, for that, is not the total definition of "Idolatry” it not only refers to false pagan worship, but idolatry is found in the hearts of mankind when they honor anything or allow anything to take the place of God.  I explored some of the great men of the faith about what they had to say on the subject: “You don't have to go to heathen lands today to find false gods. America is full of them. Whatever you love more than God is your idol.” (D. L. Moody)  “The God of the modern evangelical rarely astonishes anybody. He manages to stay pretty much with the constitution. Never break our by-laws. He's a very well-behaved God and very denominational and very much like one of us...we ask Him to help us when we're in trouble and look to Him to watch over us when we're asleep. The God of the modern evangelical isn't a God I could have much respect for.” (A. W. Tozer) And let’s end this with a quote from Robert Murray McCheyne “Self-righteousness is the largest idol of the human heart - the idol which man loves most and God hates most. Dearly beloved, you will always be going back to this idol. You are always trying to be something in yourself, to gain God's favour by thinking little of your sin, or by looking to your repentance, tears, prayers; or by looking to your religious exercises, your frames, etc.; or by looking to your graces, the Spirit's work in your heart. Beware of false Christ’s. Study sanctification to the utmost, but make not a Christ of it.”

The apostle Paul’s message was oneness in Christ, that each disciple of Christ has entered into one body and by participating in the Lord’s Supper represent a unified body that celebrates Christ death and His resurrection and our union in Christ.  The fellowship we share with other followers of Christ at the Lord’s Supper is a time to examine one's self and make sure you are not engaging in idol worship.

We looked at verse 22 yesterday, but this morning I ran across this insight by Kyle Idleman, from Gods at War; “You shall not make for yourself an [idol] in the form of anything... You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God.” (Exodus 20:4-5) These are some of Kyle’s thoughts from his book; “Besides, what reason would God have to be jealous? Doesn't everything already belong to Him? Is there anything that competes with His power or his greatness? Of course not — at least not in reality. But what about in your heart?

God is jealous for your heart, not because He is petty or insecure, but because He loves you. The reason why God has such a huge problem with idolatry is that His love for you is all-consuming. He loves you too much to share you...”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

To Busy with the important to Listen to the Best

1 Corinthians 10:14-22

I’ve known a few people that want to know how a book ends before they will read the book.  I’m not one of those, but as we look in 1 Corinthians 10:14-22, I going to break that rule and begin with verse 22.  In verse 22 Paul is asking two questions, the first requires an answer, but the second one is rhetorical, and yet in our culture people act as if God is not relevant.   

Before letting your thoughts go to the unchurched, or the Christmas and Easter churchgoer let’s examine ourselves; you know those who go by the title of disciples of Christ or followers of Christ.  Maybe, I should stick with me, for I do not have understanding of your walk with the Lord, but the rascal that looks back at me in the mirror each morning he has big problems.  Often, after asking Jesus to guide my thoughts and actions that day, I go about my busy day not asking for any more help, and at days end I wonder why it seemed nothing of value took place.

Do you ever stop and ask why did that person’s name come into my mind or do you dismiss it because it would interfere with your plans?  Often, I’m writing and a thought comes to my mind, why don’t you stop doing this and drop a note to a person who may need a kind word, and to my shame I often let the important get in the way of the best.  What about buying something you do not need but you want it at that moment, do you stop and ask Jesus are these desires coming from you or my flesh? 

Have you looked up 1 Corinthians 10:22, are you wondering will Bob ever share the questions the apostle Paul is asking?  Verse 22, “Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?”  Have you given thought to whom you are too busy to inquire about?  He is INFINITE GOD, having no bounds; He is SELF-EXISTENT, the only one in the universe that is uncreated; He is ETERNAL, His thoughts are never outdated; He is SELF-SUFFICIENT, He needs nothing outside of Himself.   And please remember this also for it is so important, He loves you, He knows all about you and He desires to have a relationship with you His creation, and to enter into fellowship with you! 

Is God Jealous?  The answer is yes; He values you too much to let you put anything before Him.  He has paid a high price for you, and Jesus is calling on His private line and wants to give you guidance.   Are you too busy, being busy to ask for direction?

Tomorrow we shall go back to verse 14 and examine the verses that proceeded verse 22.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Often we need the Wilderness

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

My dad would often state that a people who do not remember history had only one course and that was to repeat it.  The apostle Paul is reminding the churches at Corinth of the history of the Jewish people coming out of Egypt; “For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink.”

Turning back in your Bible to Exodus 13:21-22, “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.”

How much you and I can learn from what looks to us a waste of time, but God who is all knowing knew that His people were not ready to do battle so he put them into a wilderness, no people other than them, no cities to run to for help, they had only the cloud and the pillar of fire to lead them.  We also must not forget God is always teaching us and especially in the wilderness times of our life.  His purpose is to establish faith and to bring glory to Himself and awaken people to Him being the only God.  If you drop down to Exodus chapter 14, you will see God has hardened Pharaoh heart and it is a set-up and God has plans to destroy this evil man, rescue His people and do it all for them.  Are you in the wilderness at this time, are you looking to God, or are you looking to self? 

The apostle reminds the church of all the pride and sinfulness of the people and how they kept testing God’s love and the cost of sin in the lives of so many in God’s judgments.  It seemed their motto was “everything is permissible” but they did not keep going with what the apostles were teaching, look with me at 1 Corinthians 10:22-24, “Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial.  "Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying. No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.”  The church was about to repeat the acts of the chosen coming out of Egypt, and Paul reminds them in verses 11-13. “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he falls. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 

Have you ever wondered why you are called to study the word of God?  It is clear in Scripture that God allows us to be tempted, but it is very clear that God is never the tempter.  Turn in your Bible to James 1:12-14, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. When tempted no one should say, -“God” is tempting me. For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.”  Wilderness time is not fun, it will test your faith, but do you recall Jesus in the wilderness and His encounter with the devil, learn from Him, for He reminded the accuser, the tempter, the evil one of this truth; “It is written.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Freedom Surrenders its Rights

1 Corinthians 9:13-27

Father, allow this writer to grasp the freedom that is mine in Christ, to know that freedom does not demand it’s rights, it surrenders its rights.  The apostle Paul is very clear that one who serves or is employed in the temple has the right to eat and share in the sacrificial offerings and in the same way, the Lord commanded those who proclaim the gospel should get their living from the gospel.  But Paul is quick to proclaim that he has no desire to do so even though it is his right, for his driving desire is to broadcast the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Father, my prayer is that all followers of Your Son will have this heart to be a steward of the gospel like Paul, and this was the prize he was going for; “For though I am free from all I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.  “To the Jews, I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law, I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law, I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak, I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means, I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”

In verses 24-27, Paul tells us about going for the prize as a runner, and that many start the race, but only one comes away with the prize.   Paul’s instructions are needed in the time we are living, for it is a time of wanting to be entertained, to be a hearer of the Word, but not a doer.  These are the instructions: “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

Having watched runners race and especially in a 400-meter relay, to see your team start strong, and on the last leg to have one drop the baton and be disqualified, is heartbreaking.  This does not even compare to a believer in Christ who runs aimlessly, who is not equipped to finish the race.  Today put your rights on the shelf, and run with self-control, keeping your eyes on the prize!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Have you consider giving up your Rights?

1 Corinthians 9:1-12

Jan has often said, all you do is ask questions of people, and my reply is; it is the only way to learn, it is the only way to gain knowledge and to have relationships.  It is also a skill I learned in becoming a success in sales, and early on I learned to ask the first person you saw in a business for help; we called them receptionist or the gate keeps, the ones who had the power to allow or not allow you to see the boss.  I always began with a cold call, (a call on a business where you did not have an appointment) in this way; “Good morning, my name is Bob Rice, and I need help, will you please help me?”  The receptionist is often a mother, so she had pity on this young man and her mothering instinct kicked in and she went out of her way to help me.

Paul was not in sales, or maybe he was, for his trade was a tentmaker, and you will find this in Acts 18:1-3.  I’m sure that even tentmakers needed to market their products, so that may have been where he learned to ask questions.  First, Paul asked; “Am I not free?” and before it seems anyone could answer he ask; “Am I not an apostle?” and without a breath, it seems he ask; “Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?”  Now we want to tell Paul to take a breath, but he is not through with the questions, “Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?”

Paul is not expecting answers for these are rhetorical replies to those who questioned his authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ.  The rights Paul is addressing are compensation in the same way as the other apostles, the right to take a wife as those listed and that list include Peter.  The right to refrain from tent making and be full time in teaching and preaching, and as we examine Paul’s ministry he often did not choose to exercise his rights.

I wish that some of the godly men who minister in little Baptist churches had the courage to address their congregation and to stand and preach this Scripture with power and authority, for many a deacon believed it was their duty to make sure the preacher was the poorest one in the church.  Many of those great saints had little in this world but the great reward will come to them in eternity.   Paul is asking this question; if you have received spiritual things from your teacher, should he not receive material benefits, for they are temporal and the spiritual is eternal?  It is clear that Paul is willing to give up his rights so that in no way he hinders the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Today I hope we have learned the lesson the Father is trying to teach us in 1 Corinthians 9:1-12, and I also hope that our pastors never allow the temporal things such as salary or size of the church plant to hinder their ministry.  I’ve always wondered if salary and size of a church will have a bearing on a pastor hearing the call of the Lord?  It also happens in the business world, and I’ve watched it happen to a few men of faith, some never miss a step and others just drop out and quit.  I believe it tied to the fellowship and relationship a person has with the Father?  Giving up his rights Paul learned to depend on God’s provision. We can all learn from Paul’s example of being willing to give up his rights.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Protect and encourage

1 Corinthians 8: 1-12

“Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.”  (1 Corinthians 8:1-3)

I’ve never encountered food offered to an idol, but for the early church, this was a big problem in Corinth and other areas.  As one who was brought up in the Baptist church our biggie was not food, for if it had been someone might have brought up the sin of gluttony and that was the silent sin that never was preached on.  No, ours was not food, not to idols, nor at church suppers, it was that evil alcohol and dancing, those were the ones that would get one talked about and we were taught at home and at church to stay away from anyone who did such things.  As a young child it only made me wonder, what was I missing, and why did these two things become such big sins, and being a glutton was socially accepted?

All indications are that the apostle Paul is replying to a question much like this in chapter 5:9-11, “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.”   I read in the HCSB Study Bible on page 1971 that the people of Corinth often dined in pagan temples, for they were the center of civic activity, as a follower of Christ was it permissible to eat food offered to idols?

Now these followers of Christ had been taught they were no longer under bondage to rules and tradition, and that was a good teaching, but such knowledge did not give one the right to be arrogant, or to cause a weak brother to sin.  How true that is in our culture, but the problem is very different, it’s the inconsistent man who acts differently at church than at home with his family, with his neighbors and in the workplace.  But the problem is the same as it was in the churches of Corinth, people are watching, and as it was with the meat offered to idols it caused the weak in the faith to sin, so does the dad, husband, boss, co-worker of the weaker brother or sister, when they observe a different action at work, in the home, in the neighborhood than at the local church.

Knowledge of the Scripture without love for the Father, is much like the older brother in the story Jesus taught us about the prodigal son, he had a performance based perception of love, the Father was in his mind, to love him and have scorn for the younger brother, for his performance was good and the younger brothers were very bad.

As followers of Christ always be on guard to protect and encourage the younger, or weaker follower of Christ and remember love is patient and kind, it does not insist on its own way and it looks to the Creator, who is Love, for direction.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice