1 Corinthians 10:1-22 Idolatry Abounds

Описание: As we open 1 Corinthians 10 this morning, we will discuss the third of four important lessons that every Christian should understand and apply to their lives. The four lessons came from our church revitalization program, called Regenesis. They are lessons we learned from past events. When properly understood, these lessons are important, applicable and beneficial to every Christian.
Regenesis lessons from the past:
1. seek God’s guidance before making decisions
2. disobedience has consequences (God will prune the church)
3. personal idols are destructive to witness and ministry
4. without vision there is no advancement

This morning we will be looking at the third lesson learned: personal idols are destructive to witness and ministry. 1 John 5:21 is the end of 1st John and states: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols...”
Genesis 3:19 tells us: “...For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.”” We are born of the earth and were born with a sin nature into the kingdom of Satan. Without salvation from Jesus, we are under the wrath of God and doomed to destruction. If you do not have Jesus as your Savior, you operate with a corrupt mind, under Satan’s influence. Your motivation is probably, at best, doing what you think is good, but more likely serving your idols by trying to figure out how to have more wealth, influence and pleasure.

If you accept Jesus as savior and are adopted into his family, you have a new life in the Lord and are free from the bondage of sin. You are, however, not free from temptation and sin, as you have not yet been perfected. Christians are called to a holy life, but it is a difficult road without continuous focus on the Lord.

In either case, idolatry plays a large part in our lives as idolatry abounds! Idolatry isn’t just about praying to a carved rock or a stick or something man made. Anything that takes our focus off the one true God is an idol. If it is distracting us from God, it is impeding our mission and witness.
In First Corinthians 10, Paul explains the impact of idolatry using the nation of Israel as an example. He further explains that idolatry comes about from craving things which God has forbidden and things which God withholds.
Please be clear on this, there are two main sources of idolatry. The first is wanting what God has forbidden, generally because it is evil or will cause us harm. The second is wanting what God withholds. These are things that are not necessarily bad, but God is withholding because it does not accomplish His desire for us.