Do You Serve A Living God?
I am so glad that we have a living and loving Saviour and
not a lifeless, man-made image to worship.
Idolatry has been a common practice for the human race throughout
History. It amazes me how much people
have been willing to sacrifice to false idols, but how little inconvenience the
average “Christian” will tolerate for Christ, who sacrificed Himself for
us. Everything from Jezebel’s livestock
to the Phoenician’s young children have been burnt on altars in man’s attempts
to gain the favor and blessing of false, non-existent gods. Most of us have little first-hand knowledge
of burnt sacrifices, but we have all witnessed and practiced idolatry in some
form. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines idolatry as, “Excessive
attachment or veneration for anything, or that which borders on
adoration.” I submit to you that we have
all worshiped our own flesh in place of God on more than one occasion. There can be only one god in our lives. We must all answer this question: Will we allow the God of the universe, who
willingly died for our sins, to have His rightful place in our lives, or will
we continue to worship another god? According
to our text, if we choose to serve anyone or anything but the one and true God,
we will by default be allowing the devil to be the god of our lives.
I Corinthians 10:13-23:
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
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