Paul Warns Us Idolatry Is Everywhere and Truth Is More Important Than Appearances

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkVibFg6jQA

Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our combined written and live Sunday sermon, which is normally broadcast every Sunday. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. Our ministry was built on the truth of God’s love, sharing the Word of God, the Spirit of Yeshu Ha-Notzri or in English Jesus Christ of Nazareth in a way that we believe embraces the ways Jesus taught us to manage. We bring His Word to the many as opposed to the few, in order to continue the legacy created by the ministry of Jesus Christ.

You will find us in the following location: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com

Rev. Laura’s other sites: Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin & USAlife & YouTube & Twitch & TruthSocial & Instagram & Facebook

Wedding officiant page: Wedfolio & Wedding Chicks

Prayer List: We have many on our prayer list. Some wish to remain anonymous, and others only wish to have their first names mentioned. Our prayer list grows or changes every week. This is our current list.

-      We continue to pray for my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Sam and Allison, who were in a car wreck several weeks ago. They continue in their recovery but are not completely healed. Please keep them up in prayer. They thank everyone for their prayers.

-      We continue to pray for friends of ours in our bowling league, after they suffered devastating injuries, some of which required surgery and will require a long recovery time as well. They too appreciate the prayers and thank everyone who has lifted them up.

-      A cousin of ours is looking toward moving to be near where we are, but there are some hurdles they have to overcome to do so. This move would be for a new job. Please pray that this hurdle can be overcome to allow them a new horizon.

-      Evangelist Cal Jennings has had yet another rough week. He is currently in rehabilitation and is still working toward healing after his serious and severe injuries. Please pray for his health, it’s still very bad this time.

-      David Doyle, brother-in-law of Evangelist Cal Jennings, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. David is a preacher of the Word as well, and this is a new challenge for him and Cal’s sister and their family to experience this close to Christmas. Please keep all of them in prayer during this journey.

-      We continue to pray for JB & EB’s neighbor Jerry who is healing after completing his prostate cancer treatment.

-      We keep JB’s sister Debbie back into prayer as she has now been diagnosed with Lymphoma after conquering two rounds of breast cancer.

-      We continue to pray for my sister-in-law Fran who is still fighting cancer. Her doctor is going to keep a closer eye on her after each treatment for her cancer.

-      We continue our prayers for JB and EB as they are continually frustrated with all their medical issues that are ignored or overlooked. JB has been especially sick, losing weight way too fast and no complete solution in sight at the moment. She has gotten a tentative diagnosis for what is going on with her, but her doctor has scheduled her with a specialist to verify. JB has been seriously ill this past two weeks with a serious viral infection on top of everything else.

-      We continue to pray for a friend of ours, Alexis, who is in desperate need to improve her current situation and is seeking to sell things she owns to help her with this. If you want more information, send me a private message and I’ll pass on the information. 

-      We continue to pray for my Mama who has had a lot of anxiety issues lately after the loss of my sister four months ago. These anxiety issues are really devastating for her and for the family, so please keep all of them in prayer.  

-      We continue to pray for all sufferers and survivors of the various types of cancer, including several survivors of the disease, JB’s sister Debbie, our friend Alexis, my Aunt Donna, and my friend Kelly.

-      We pray for those who are in the path of dangerous weather, and other dangerous conditions, including wildfires, storms, flooding, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, worldwide.

-      We pray for the various outreach ministries we have joined with, with their leaders, Pastor Stephen Okoth, Pastor Simon Peter Javaji, Pastor Amir Aneel, Sister Santhi Swaroopa, Pastor Duke Moenga, and others in Kissee, Nairobi, and other places in Kenya, Pakistan, and India.

-      We pray also for our American outreach ministries, including Rev. Lisa Tyler on the other side of Georgia from where I am and Rabbi Karen L. Hertzog with her ministry, Way Maker Messianic Jewish and Christian Center – USA as well.

 

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we have so much and so many to pray for. We pray for those who have no shelter. We pray for those who have no food or water. We pray for those who are forced to do things against Your will. We pray for those who have been taken from this life and for their families, after professing their love for You. We pray that they receive the miracles of Your peace and comfort Lord. We continue to pray for all those in the bowling league that are still recovering. We continue to pray for our sisters and brothers who are recovering from injuries. We continue to pray for those who have been ill or injured including Evangelist Cal Jennings and JB as well as many others in our community. We pray for our Outreach Ministries, their members, their services, and their leadership. We pray for all this in Your Holy Name through our Savior Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.

Opening Song: This Is the Day

Sermon: Today we are returning to our study on the Scripture Scroll of First Corinthians in Chapter Ten. Paul is reiterating something that God and Jesus had already stated hundreds of times over the course of all Scripture through the words of kings, prophets, over and over again. Something we have to pay attention to is that we often forget the great sacrifice that Jesus made.

1 Corinthians 10:16 KJV –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?

NIV –Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?

 

Here are five Old Testament references that bring this into focus.

 

Leviticus 17:11 KJV – For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

NIV – For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.

 

Psalm 116:13 KJV – I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.

NIV – I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.

 

Isaiah 53:5 KJV – But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

NIV – But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

 

Jeremiah 31:31-34 KJV – Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
³² Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:
³³ But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
³⁴ And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

NIV – “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.
³² It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord.
³³ “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
³⁴ No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

 

Zechariah 9:11 KJV – As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.

NIV – As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.

 

Now we’re going to look at how Yeshua Ha Notzri Jesus Christ reacted to this thought of carrying the burden He held at the time while He was here on this earth. It’s a lot, a whole lot, to understand that He literally carried every single sin, on His back, through the nails in His hands and feet, the spear in His side, the scourging, and so much more. This is what He shares with His Apostles and Disciples.

 

Matthew 20:22-23 KJV – But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
²³ And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

NIV – “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”
“We can,” they answered.
²³ Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”

 

Matthew 26:26-28 KJV – And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
²⁷ And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
²⁸ For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

NIV – While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
²⁷ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

 

Luke 11:19-20 KJV – And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.
²⁰ But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

NIV – Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. ²⁰ But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

 

Here are three other New Testament references to consider as well.

 

Acts 2:42 KJV – And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

NIV – They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

 

Hebrews 9:20 KJV –  Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

NIV – He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”

 

Revelation 19:9 KJV – And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

NIV –Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

 

Paul now reminds us that we are all one through Yeshua Ha Notzri, Jesus Christ, ONE BODY, ONE BLOOD, ONE SPIRIT. That’s the very essence of the Christian Church. This is how Paul points toward this.

 

1 Corinthians 10:17 KJV –For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

NIV – Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.

 

Here are just two Old Testament references from Paul this time.

 

Psalm 133:1 KJV – Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

NIV – How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

 

Isaiah 65:8 KJV – Thus saith the Lord, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all.

NIV – This is what the Lord says: “As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes and people say, ‘Don’t destroy it, there is still a blessing in it,’ so will I do in behalf of my servants; I will not destroy them all.

 

Here are five New Testament references, including three from the gospel of John the Beloved, including one of my favorite segments in The Vine and Branches Parable.

 

 

John 6:53-56 KJV – Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁵⁵ For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. ⁵⁶ He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

NIV – Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁵⁵ For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. ⁵⁶ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.

John 15:5 KJV – I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

NIV – “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

 

John 17:21-23 KJV – That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.²² And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:²³ I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

NIV – that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— ²³ I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

 

Acts 2:42 KJV – And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

NIV – They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

 

Hebrews 10:24-25 KJV – And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: ²⁵ Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

NIV –And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

 

Again, Paul is focusing on the things that occurred in Ancient Egypt with the Israelites after they escaped from Pharaoh into the Promised Land. It is important to remind ourselves of the dangers of the many stumbling stones that occur in life as a whole. They are everywhere, every single day of our lives. We can choose to go around them, dig ourselves out from under them, or conquer them entirely. That’s the thing, we have the ability to choose truth or not. It’s one of the greatest gifts of unconditional love that God ever gave us, the right and privilege of “free will”.

 

1 Corinthians 10:18 KJV –Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

NIV – Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?

 

Here are three references to the Torah and one of the Prophetic Scrolls as well.

 

Leviticus 7:6 KJV – Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy place: it is most holy.

NIV – Any male in a priest’s family may eat it, but it must be eaten in the sanctuary area; it is most holy.

 

Deuteronomy 12:17-18 KJV – Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand:
¹⁸ But thou must eat them before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.

NIV – You must not eat in your own towns the tithe of your grain and new wine and olive oil, or the firstborn of your herds and flocks, or whatever you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts. ¹⁸ Instead, you are to eat them in the presence of the Lord your God at the place the Lord your God will choose—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites from your towns—and you are to rejoice before the Lord your God in everything you put your hand to.

 

Deuteronomy 14:23 KJV – And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always.

NIV – Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always.

 

Malachi 1:12 KJV – But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the Lord is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.

NIV – “But you profane it by saying, ‘The Lord’s table is defiled,’ and, ‘Its food is contemptible.’

 

Now we see where Yeshua Ha Notzri Jesus Christ and God the Father work to test the Apostles and Disciples both before and after the Resurrection.

 

Matthew 14:22-24 KJV – And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. ²³ And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.²⁴ But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

NIV – Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, ²⁴ and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

 

Acts 2:46 KJV – And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

NIV – Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

 

Acts 10:41 KJV – Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

NIV – He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

 

Hebrews 13:10 KJV – We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

NIV –We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.

 

It is important to reiterate that idolatry is a serious, serious, sin. Yet, we pursue it every single day. This is what Paul warns everyone in Corinth about, and all of us today as well. Yet, there’s something more to this. Not only idolatry but creating gods out of ANYTHING is a SIN. This can be a crucifix, a statue, television, movie stars, movies, fantasies, anything and everything. Yes, we can read, watch movies, television, play games of all sorts, for entertainment, not for obsessiveness, because again that leads us to the seven troubles, including vanity, envy, lust, enmity, wrath, shame, and doubt also seen as the seven deadly sins, including greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, gluttony and wrath. Notice how similar they are, yet they are plagues upon humanity. Here’s what Paul says in his first letter to Corinth.

 

1 Corinthians 10:19 KJV –What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?

NIV – Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?

 

Paul has over half a dozen Old Testament references from the Torah, Poetic, Prophetic and Historic Scrolls. It’s important to listen to them all and to understand what Paul’s specific aim is for these references.

 

Exodus 20:3-5 KJV – Thou shalt have no other gods before me.⁴ Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.⁵ Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

NIV – “You shall have no other gods before me. ⁴ “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. ⁵ You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,

 

Deuteronomy 32:21 KJV – They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

NIV –They made me jealous by what is no god and angered me with their worthless idols. I will make them envious by those who are not a people; I will make them angry by a nation that has no understanding.

 

2 Kings 17:15 KJV – And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them.

NIV – They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”

 

Psalm 115:4-8 KJV – Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. ⁵ They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:⁶ They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:⁷ They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.⁸ They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.

NIV – But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands.
⁵ They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see.
⁶ They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell.
⁷ They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
⁸ Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.

 

Psalm 135:15-18 KJV – The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.¹⁶ They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;¹⁷ They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.¹⁸ They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.

NIV – The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands.
¹⁶ They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see.
¹⁷ They have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths.
¹⁸ Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.

 

Isaiah 44:9-11 KJV – They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. ¹⁰ Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing? ¹¹ Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.

NIV – All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. ¹⁰ Who shapes a god and casts an idol, which can profit nothing? ¹¹ People who do that will be put to shame; such craftsmen are only human beings. Let them all come together and take their stand; they will be brought down to terror and shame. (But read through verse 20)

 

Jeremiah 10:3-5 KJV – For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. ⁴ They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.⁵ They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

NIV – For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. ⁴ They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter.
⁵ Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.”

 

Habakkuk 2:18-19 KJV – What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
¹⁹ Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.

NIV – “Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman? Or an image that teaches lies? For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.
¹⁹ Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’ Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’ Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it.”

 

Paul has two references from the New Testament that are not repetitive with the others that we’ve already shared today. These come from the writings of Luke in the Acts of the Apostles and John the Beloved’s Revelation.

 

Acts 17:29 KJV – Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

NIV – “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill.

 

Revelation 9:20 KJV – And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

NIV –The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk.

 

Again, Paul focuses on what NOT to do as Christians for the church there in Corinth. You have to understand the historical references that Paul is considering. Corinth, a city in northern Greece, was a city steeped in Greek gods and goddesses, a whole pantheon of deities that were the exact opposite of Yahweh God through Yeshua Ha Notzri Jesus Christ. It’s not easy to transition from one view of faith and religion to another. It’s not something that can be done instantly. That’s why it was a challenge for all the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus to work to transform people. Transformation takes a lot of work, because old ways tend to sneak through the cracks and crevices of belief and disbelief. This is what Paul shares next.

 

1 Corinthians 10:20 KJV –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.

NIV – No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.

 

Paul has five Old Testament references for this.

 

Leviticus 17:7 KJV – And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.

NIV – They must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat idols to whom they prostitute themselves. This is to be a lasting ordinance for them and for the generations to come.’

 

Deuteronomy 32:17 KJV – They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

NIV –They sacrificed to false gods, which are not God—gods they had not known, gods that recently appeared, gods your ancestors did not fear.

 

2 Chronicles 11:15 KJV – And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

NIV – when he appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat and calf idols he had made.

 

Psalm 106:37 KJV – Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,

NIV – They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to false gods.

 

Isaiah 65:11 KJV – But ye are they that forsake the Lord, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.

NIV – “But as for you who forsake the Lord and forget my holy mountain,
who spread a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny,

 

Paul adds some cautionary considerations, these from the gospel of Matthew, the Acts of the Apostles written by Luke, and also the first letter that John the Beloved wrote along with his Revelation.

 

Matthew 4:9-10 KJV – And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. ¹⁰ Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

NIV – “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

 

Acts 15:29 KJV – That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

NIV –You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

 

1 John 4:1-3 KJV –Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. ² Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:³ And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

NIV –Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

 

1 John 5:21 KJV –Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

NIV – Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

 

Revelation 18:2 KJV – And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

NIV –With a mighty voice he shouted: “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’ She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.

 

Our final verse for this chapter of 1 Corinthians today is this one.

 

1 Corinthians 10:21 KJV –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.

NIV – You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.

 

Faith and belief are a CHOICE we have to make and keep the line between them firmly drawn. We can choose between faith and belief or evil and wickedness. There’s a serious hard line between them. Sure, people allow them to bleed into each other more often than not. We know this from the study of ancient religions and more, the concepts of yin and yang and many more. There’s even a simple cartoon version with a series of monkeys or some other creature that says monkey see nothing, monkey hear nothing, monkey say nothing, and monkey do nothing. We cannot be blind, deaf, mute, or completely ignorant of the things that go on around us. If we do that, we are enabling wickedness and evil to flourish. This is the choice faith and belief present. We can choose to ignore the entirety, but that doesn’t stop it within us or even around us. We can choose to expand our faith to every part of us, and share it with those who will listen, this is what Paul is instructing us to do. Here are our last six references, two from the Old Testament Prophetic Scrolls and the rest from the Gospel writer Matthew, John the Beloved, and James the Just.

 

Jeremiah 7:18 KJV – The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.

NIV – The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven. They pour out drink offerings to other gods to arouse my anger.

 

Ezekiel 20:39 KJV – As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.

NIV – “‘As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you! But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name with your gifts and idols.

 

Matthew 6:24 KJV – No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

NIV – “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

 

James 4:4 KJV – Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

NIV –You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

 

1 John 2:15-16 KJV –Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

NIV –Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. ¹⁶ For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

 

1 John 5:21 KJV –Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

NIV –Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

 

Idolatry comes in so many forms we couldn’t possibly name them all. The seven troubles and seven deadly sins do as well. They can be found even in the ordinary, everyday, boring moments of life as we live each day. It is very, very important for us to study the WORD often and with heart, mind, spirit, and soul all at once. When we do, we can learn to recognize these instances and avoid them. It is also very important to keep engaging ourselves with the LORD through prayer, meditation, practice, and patience, every day, sometimes every hour, depending on what is going on around us. Nobody knows the day, the hour, the minute, or even the very second of when our Lord and Savior Yeshu Ha-Notzri Jesus Christ will return to this world to gather His faithful. No one, EXCEPT YHWH THE FATHER. Now, let’s show each other how faith and belief in God go hand in hand, and all of us have the opportunity to walk in the faithful steps of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The ability to do this requires us to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If you are willing to do so, please leave me a note in the comments and I’ll be in touch. Now, that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that Jesus taught us.

Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)

Closing Song: Amazing Grace

 

~ Shalom ~

Rev. Laura A. Neff

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Evangelist Calvin Jennings

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Covenant of Hope Ministries Main Site: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com

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Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © 1982: E. E. Gaddy and Associates, Inc.

Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright ©circa 1890-1910: International Bible Press, The John C. Winston Co.; Philadelphia, PA, USA

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