December 1: 1 Corinthians 9-11

December 1, 1 Corinthians 9-11

December 1, 1 Corinthians 9-11

1 Corinthians continued… for the intro on Corinthians, click here… Remember, Paul is writing to the Corinthian church about a bunch of things that he has heard about them, from the report from Chloe’s house… and is setting them straight. 

1 Corinthians 9 Paul Surrenders His Rights. The context here is freedom… Paul just got done in the last chapter surrendering his apostolic rights for the sake of the Kingdom and he is freely letting them go. He does have the right to have a wife and to get money from the churches he serves, but he does not so that he is no hindrance to the Body of Christ. Then Paul talks about how Moses said to not muzzle an ox while it is working - what that means is that the farmer is to let the ox eat some of the grain on the floor while it is working - the ox deserves to reap of its labor, so much more for the pastors. They need to be paid to do what God has called them to. Those that work should get paid… 

Paul didn't take money from many of the churches to not burden them but also to not be dependent on their financial support. Because of that, he would not be obligated to them or have to ‘please’ them. He was free to preach what God told him to preach. Paul literally wanted to become all things to all people to be able to win some of them for Christ. 

Run the race of life to win the prize - eternity with Jesus. Keep that in mind in all that you do, always honoring and glorifying God Almighty!

1 Corinthians 10 Warning Against Idolatry. Then Paul reminds them, and us, that our forefathers all saw the amazingness of God and how God literally took care of them and guided them, only for them to fall away and into idolatry. The rock that they drank from, spiritually represented that of Jesus Christ, and they went away from that. Why was this all written down for us? “Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.” We must flee from idolatry and sexual immorality at all times, as it is not the life that God wants for us to be living. The Corinthians, and us, need to take note that if we take our eyes off of Jesus, we too can fall into temptation and sexual sin. However, our God is faithful and in times of temptation, “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.” When we are placed in a spot of temptation - God will give us an escape. Therefore, we have no excuse for giving in. What does Paul then warn them about again? “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” Don’t fall into the trap that is set before you, FLEE! Paul goes on to talk about meat sacrificed to idols (see yesterdays writings for that) and drives home that we cannot share in the cup of demons - when you know it is demonic or wrong, have nothing to do with it. 

1 Corinthians 11 “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” Paul gave up fleshful desires and surrendered all to Christ, imitate that lifestyle… 

In this next section, there is a lot of history here and cultural context, that I will post about later. For now, suffice it to say that women were not to cut their hair or they would resemble the prostitutes of that day, as they cut their hair. We are not to use our freedoms in the wrong way but in the right way! Honestly, there is so much here & we will get to it later. My wife is actually working it into her blog and it is astounding. We are not to look the culture around us or imitate them. We are to stand apart for Christ and be known by Him and for Him. Bakers Commentary sums it up this way, “After praising the Corinthians for remembering him and his teachings, Paul discusses the authority of Christ, man, and God. From this discussion he draws some principles about proper conduct in worship. He mentions the impropriety of a man praying and prophesying with covered head and a woman with uncovered head. He teaches that a woman should have her head covered. Otherwise she should have her hair cut off, which would be a disgrace to her. He also teaches that man is the glory of God and woman is the glory of man. Woman is taken from man and man is born from woman, but all things are from God. Long hair is a disgrace to a man but it is a woman’s glory.

Paul does not praise the Corinthians for their meetings, which are detrimental rather than beneficial. He remarks that when they come together for the Lord’s Supper, some remain hungry but others are drunk. Their humiliation of the poor and deviation from the norms are blots on the church of God. Paul, therefore, teaches them the institution of Communion as he received it from the Lord. He instructs them to regularly eat the bread and drink the cup as a proclamation of the Lord’s death, in expectation of his return.

Indifferent observance of Communion is a sin against the Lord himself. Paul urges the Corinthians to examine themselves before they eat and drink from the Lord’s table. Lack of self-examination results in divine judgment, as is witnessed by sickness and death among the Corinthians. Self-examination that leads to repentance precludes God’s judgment.

Paul concludes his discourse with an admonition to satisfy hunger pangs at home, so that the Lord’s Supper can be observed properly. He informs his readers that he will give further instructions when he comes to visit them.”

To sum it all up: 

• Spiritual work is eternal and we should make sure that our pastors can do what God has called them to and also get paid for it. 
• Paul literally wanted to become all things to all people to be able to win some of them for Christ. We are to be like that. I am not saying be gay to reach the gay community or be a drunk to reach the alcoholics, rather find your common denominators and work from there. Know the cultures that you are trying to reach and be sensitive to that and work from that platform, instead of pushing your agendas and culture onto people. 
• 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.”  God will get you through it. The question is, are you able to rely on Him to help you? Do you hate sin enough to battle the temptation?
• Use your freedom in Christ for Christ, not for yourself...