Lessons from The Past

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Lessons from The Past

Who is Paul speaking to?  The Corinthians.

           How does the Bible describe the Corinthians?

1 Corinthians 1:2-9      NLT

2 I am writing to

  God’s church in Corinth, 

to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people.

He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
4 I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. 5 Through him,

God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. 6 This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. 7 Now

you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

8 He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 

9 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Today’s lesson:

Lessons From The Past

1 Corinthians 10:1-13 NLT
Lessons from Israel’s Idolatry
1 I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground. 2 In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses. 3 All of them ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
6 These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, 7 or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, “The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.” 8 And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day.
9 Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. 10 And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. 11 These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.
12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

Examine the scriptures:

1 Corinthians 10:1-13 NLT
Lessons from Israel’s Idolatry
1 I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters,

Paul is speaking to the Church at Corinth (and us).

 about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago.

Remember what happened to God’s chosen people.

  All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them,

  • God’s chosen people experienced:

Supernatural guidance (from God)

Supernatural protection 

and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground.  

  • God’s chosen people experienced:

Miraculous deliverance

2 In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses. 

  • God’s chosen people were:

Led by a servant of God, Moses

3 All of them ate the same spiritual food,

Food miraculously provided by God.

Exodus 16:4 (NLT)
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions.

John 6:31-33 (NLT)
31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. 33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

 4 and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and

  •  God’s chosen people all:

 Ate the same spiritual food

And drank the same spiritual water.

 that rock was Christ. 

Jesus traveled with His people.

5 Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 

  • God severely disciplines his chosen people.

Only two adults, Joshua and Caleb, who had left Egypt entered into the Promised Land.

All of the others were disqualified from entering the Land.

Moses and Aaron were among those who were disqualified from entering the Land.

Paul understood the principle of God’s chosen people being disqualified from the race.

1 Corinthians 9:27 (NLT)
I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

 6 These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, 7 or worship idols as some of them did.

 A warning to the Corinthians (and to us – multiple warnings in scripture)

  • These things happened as a warning to us.

This passage lists four of the behaviors that disqualified the children of Israel from entering the Promised Land.

As the Scriptures say, “The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.”

  Idolatry

Exodus 32 (NLT)
The Gold Calf
1 When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. “Come on,” they said, “make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.”
2 So Aaron said, “Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.”
3 All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!”
5 Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf. Then he announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the Lord!”
6 The people got up early the next morning to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. After this, they celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.
…
27 Moses told them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Each of you, take your swords and go back and forth from one end of the camp to the other. Kill everyone—even your brothers, friends, and neighbors.” 28 The Levites obeyed Moses’ command, and about 3,000 people died that day.
…
35 Then the Lord sent a great plague upon the people because they had worshiped the calf Aaron had made.

 8 And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day.

Numbers 25 (NLT)
Moab Seduces Israel
1 While the Israelites were camped at Acacia Grove, some of the men defiled themselves by having sexual relations with local Moabite women. 2 These women invited them to attend sacrifices to their gods, so the Israelites feasted with them and worshiped the gods of Moab. 3 In this way, Israel joined in the worship of Baal of Peor, causing the Lord’s anger to blaze against his people.

9 but not before 24,000 people had died.

9 Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. 

 Numbers 21:4-6 (NLT)
The Bronze Snake
4 Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey, 5 and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!”
6 So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died. 

10 And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death.

Numbers 16
41 But the very next morning the whole community of Israel began muttering again against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have killed the Lord’s people!” 42 As the community gathered to protest against Moses and Aaron, they turned toward the Tabernacle and saw that the cloud had covered it, and the glorious presence of the Lord appeared.
43 Moses and Aaron came and stood in front of the Tabernacle, 44 and the Lord said to Moses, 45 “Get away from all these people so that I can instantly destroy them!”
49 But 14,700 people died in that plague, 

  11 These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age. 

  • Four of the behaviors that disqualified the children of Israel from entering the Promised Land.
    • Idolatry
    • Sexual immorality
    • Putting Christ to the test
    • Grumbling

 12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 

 A warning to the Corinthians and to us. 

  • If you think you are standing strong, you may be “dead wrong”.

 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience.

 Expect and recognize temptations for what they are.

And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

  • Learn to depend on God when you are tempted to sin.

A Test That Defies Logic

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Abraham’s Faith Tested

Genesis 22:1-14 (NLT)
Abraham’s Faith Tested
1 Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called.
“Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.”
2 “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”
3 The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.”
6 So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together, 7 Isaac turned to Abraham and said, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?”
8 “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together.
9 When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. 10 And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. 11 At that moment the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!”
12 “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.”
13 Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 22:1-14 (NLT)
Abraham’s Faith Tested
1 Some time later,

  A number of commentaries (6) have Isaac between the ages of 18-37.

God tested Abraham’s faith.

God does not tempt us.

Tempt – do something wrong. Test – do something right.

A most difficult test.

A test that defies logic.

James 1:2-4 (NLT)
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect (mature) and complete, needing nothing.

  • The testing of our faith helps us to become fully mature, complete, and lacking in nothing.

“Abraham!” God called.
“Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.”
2 “Take your son, your only son—

Abraham had already sent Ishmael, a son he loved, away.

Genesis 21:9-14 (NLT)
9 But Sarah saw Ishmael—the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar—making fun of her son, Isaac. 10 So she turned to Abraham and demanded, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son. He is not going to share the inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won’t have it!”
11 This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was his son. 12 But God told Abraham, “Do not be upset over the boy and your servant. Do whatever Sarah tells you, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted. 13 But I will also make a nation of the descendants of Hagar’s son because he is your son, too.”14 So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar’s shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba.

 yes, Isaac, (a young adult) whom you love so much

Much like God the Father and God the Son.

Matthew 3:17 (NLT)
And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

 —and go to the land of Moriah.

Land of Moriah vs. Mount Moriah – Solomon’s temple (Jewish tradition – not certain)

Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

Unreasonable

Genesis 12:1-3 (NLT)
The Call of Abram
1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

Trust and obey.

  • God asks that we love Him enough to trust and obey

Proverbs 3:5 (NLT)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.

  • The burnt offering of children existed in ancient Canaan.

Are there any stories in scripture of parents offering up their children as a burnt offering?

Judges 11:29-40 (NLT)
Jephthah’s Vow
29 At that time the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he went throughout the land of Gilead and Manasseh, including Mizpah in Gilead, and from there he led an army against the Ammonites. 30 And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord. He said, “If you give me victory over the Ammonites, 31 I will give to the Lord whatever comes out of my house to meet me when I return in triumph. I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.”
32 So Jephthah led his army against the Ammonites, and the Lord gave him victory. 33 He crushed the Ammonites, devastating about twenty towns from Aroer to an area near Minnith and as far away as Abel-keramim. In this way Israel defeated the Ammonites.
34 When Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, his daughter came out to meet him, playing on a tambourine and dancing for joy. She was his one and only child; he had no other sons or daughters. 35 When he saw her, he tore his clothes in anguish. “Oh, my daughter!” he cried out. “You have completely destroyed me! You’ve brought disaster on me! For I have made a vow to the Lord, and I cannot take it back.”
36 And she said, “Father, if you have made a vow to the Lord, you must do to me what you have vowed, for the Lord has given you a great victory over your enemies, the Ammonites. 37 But first let me do this one thing: Let me go up and roam in the hills and weep with my friends for two months, because I will die a virgin.”
38 “You may go,” Jephthah said. And he sent her away for two months. She and her friends went into the hills and wept because she would never have children. 39 When she returned home, her father kept the vow he had made, and she died a virgin.
So it has become a custom in Israel 40 for young Israelite women to go away for four days each year to lament the fate of Jephthah’s daughter.

3 The next morning Abraham got up early.

 Obedience without hesitation.

 He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about. 

 Abraham was prepared to offer Isaac as a burnt offering.

Hebrews 11:17-19 (NLT)
17 It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, 18 even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.”  19 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

  • Abraham was prepared to offer Isaac as a burnt offering.

4 On the third day of their journey (50 miles),

 Not an easy task.

Obedience is not always easy.  (It was not always easy for Jesus.)

Luke 22:42-44 (NLT)
42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

  •  Obedience to God can and will be difficult.

Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther.

We will worship there, and then we will come right back.”

Worship

Paying honor to God.   The feeling and expression of adoration, reverence, trust, love, loyalty, and dependence directed to God.

Psalm 34:1 (NLT)
 I will praise the Lord at all times.
I will constantly speak his praises.

  • Worship helps us maintain a right relationship with God.

6 So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together, 7 Isaac turned to Abraham and said, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?”

 8 “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,”

Prophetic (dual meaning)

Mark 10:45 (NLT)
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Abraham answered. And they both walked on together.
9 When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. 10 And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. 11 At that moment the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!”

12 “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.”

 Abraham demonstrated the fact that he clearly feared God.

Abraham was willing to give God anything, even his only son.

Abraham passed the test.

13 Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 

Verse 8 – a sheep

John 1:29 (NLT)
Jesus, the Lamb of God
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

1 Thessalonians 5:10 (NLT)
Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.

14 Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

  •  The Lord will provide.

Run With Endurance The Race God Has Set Before You.

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Paul’s commitment to ministry.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NLT
24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Examine the scriptures:

Commitment

Personal discipline.

Self-control.

Just plain hard work.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NLT
24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize?

The Greeks enjoyed two great athletic events, the Olympic Games and the Isthmian games (isth mi an).  The Isthmian games were held in Corinth.

The believers would be quite familiar with this analogy of running to win.

 So run to win! 

Winning takes:

Commitment

Personal discipline

Self-control

“Just plain hard work”.

Goals and objectives.

            Know where the finish line is and know how to get there.

Know what you want to accomplish

  • Run to win.

Not all analogies are perfect.

In this race, the prize is not limited to one person.

2 Timothy 4:8 (NLT)
8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

James 1:12 (NLT)
God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

1 Peter 5:4 (NLT)
4 And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.

  •  You are not alone in this race.

Inspired by Godly people who have run the race before us.

Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

25 All athletes are disciplined in their training.

Training takes discipline.

Training is challenging.

Training takes commitment.

They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 

  •  We run the race that God has set before us for an eternal prize.

26 So I run with purpose in every step.

A reason for every exercise.

Every move is calculated.

1 Corinthians 9:19 (NLT)
19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:22 (NLT)
22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.

1 Corinthians 9:20-21 (NLT)
20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.

  • Run with purpose.

Pressing on

Philippians 3:12-14 (NLT)
Pressing toward the Goal12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

  I am not just shadowboxing. 

  •  Know your enemy.

The opponent is real

Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)
12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

 James 4:7 (NLT)
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. 

  • Know that your strength comes from the Lord.

Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

Psalm 121:2 (NLT)
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!

 Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

  • Avoid being disqualified from the race.

Galatians 5:7 (NLT)
You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth?

                Stay in your lane. (Galatians 5 refers to false teachers.)

Disqualified because of a lack of discipline.

1 Timothy 3:2 (NLT)
2 So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation.

Titus 1:6 (NLT)
6 An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious.

 Ephesians 6:11 (NLT)
Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

  • Don’t give up. Finish the race.

2 Timothy 4:7 (NLT)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.

Giving Up One’s Rights

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Giving Up One’s Rights

1 Corinthians 9:15-23 NLT
15 Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge. 16 Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!

17 If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. 18 What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.

19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.

22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

Examine the scriptures:

1 Corinthians 9:15-23 NLT
Giving Up One’s Rights
15 Yet I have never used any of these rights. (Paul deserved to get paid for his ministry.) And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now.

In the first 14 verses of this chapter, Paul gave 6 convincing reasons why he should be getting paid for his ministry.

  • Paul chose not to exercise his rights to receive financial support from the Corinthian community.

In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge. 

1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

 Paul knew that he was chosen by God.

 Hebrews 13:5-6 (NLT)
5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,
“I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.”6 So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper,
so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?”

 Psalm 121
1 I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

Paul knew that his help came from the Lord.

Boasting: express a sense of joy and fulfillment in what God was doing through him.

Paul was filled with joy for the privilege of serving the Lord and did not want material support to rob him of it in any way.

2 Corinthians 11:9-10 (NLT)
9 And when I was with you and didn’t have enough to live on, I did not become a financial burden to anyone. For the brothers who came from Macedonia brought me all that I needed. I have never been a burden to you, and I never will be. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, no one in all of Greece will ever stop me from boasting about this. 

  • Along with a paycheck can come a loss of freedoms.

A paycheck sometimes includes expections of specific behaviors which may not be consistent with the ministry God has for you.  (Serving man vs. serving God.)

2 Corinthians 2:17 (NLT)
17 You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.

  •  Teach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching you.

 Acts 5:29  (NLT)
But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.

  • We must obey God rather than any human authority.

16 Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it.

Paul’s boast was not personal.  It’s not about Paul.  It’s all about God.

Acts 22:6-10 (NLT)
6 “As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
8 “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked.
“And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, the one you are persecuting.’ 9 The people with me saw the light but didn’t understand the voice speaking to me.10 “I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’
“And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.’

  • Paul was not given the option of choosing his career.

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

 Hebrews 13:20-21 (NLT)
20 Now may the God of peace—
…
21 … equip you with all you need
for doing his will.
May he produce in you,
through the power of Jesus Christ,
every good thing that is pleasing to him.
All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.

  •  God has a plan for our lives and God equips us to do His will.

 How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!

  •  Living outside of God’s will has serious consequences.

 17 If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. 

Luke 17:10 (NLT)
In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’”

 It was God’s sovereign choice and call for Paul to be an apostle.

  • Being called by God to teach the Good News is a sacred trust given by God.

18 What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone.

The privilege of preaching the Gospel.

Seeing lives changed.

 That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.

 19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 

  •  Paul was totally committed to the ministry of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others.

 20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.

Within the limits of God’s Word and his Christian conscience.

22 When I am with those who are weak, (the Corinthians) I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone,

1 Corinthians 10:33 (NLT)
I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.

 doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

Abraham’s Covenant with Abimelech

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Abraham’s Covenant with Abimelech

This story takes place between the stories of Isaac and Ishmael and the sacrifice of Isaac.

Why is this passage included in the scriptures?

A glimpse of God working in the life of a man of faith.

Some of the details of God’s sovereign plan for Abraham.

Genesis 21:22-34 (NLT)

 Abraham’s Covenant with Abimelech

22 About this time, Abimelech came with Phicol, his army commander, to visit Abraham. “God is obviously with you, helping you in everything you do,” Abimelech said. 23 “Swear to me in God’s name that you will never deceive me, my children, or any of my descendants. I have been loyal to you, so now swear that you will be loyal to me and to this country where you are living as a foreigner.”

24 Abraham replied, “Yes, I swear to it!” 25 Then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelech’s servants had taken by force from Abraham’s servants.

26 “This is the first I’ve heard of it,” Abimelech answered. “I have no idea who is responsible. You have never complained about this before.”

27 Abraham then gave some of his sheep, goats, and cattle to Abimelech, and they made a treaty. 28 But Abraham also took seven additional female lambs and set them off by themselves. 29 Abimelech asked, “Why have you set these seven apart from the others?”

30 Abraham replied, “Please accept these seven lambs to show your agreement that I dug this well.” 31 Then he named the place Beersheba (which means “well of the oath”), because that was where they had sworn the oath.

32 After making their covenant at Beersheba, Abimelech left with Phicol, the commander of his army, and they returned home to the land of the Philistines. 33 Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he worshiped the Lord, the Eternal God. 34 And Abraham lived as a foreigner in Philistine country for a long time.

Examine the Scriptures

A quick look into the life of a man living by faith.

A New Testament description of Abraham.

Hebrews 11:8-10, 13-16

8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. 9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. 10 Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

 13 All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. 14 Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. 15 If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. 16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

  • It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance.

A glimpse of God working in the life of a man of faith.

 Genesis 21:22-34 (NLT)

 Abraham’s Covenant with Abimelech

22 About this time, Abimelech came with Phicol, his army commander, to visit Abraham.

 Abimelech came to Abraham.

 “God is obviously with you, helping you in everything you do,”

Abimelech recognized that God had blessed Abraham.

  • God was helping Abraham in everything he did.

Abimelech said. 23 “Swear to me in God’s name that you will never deceive me, my children, or any of my descendants.

  • Abimelech knew that Abraham was deceptive.

Genesis 20:1-10 (NLT)
Abraham Deceives Abimelech
1 Abraham moved south to the Negev and lived for a while between Kadesh and Shur, and then he moved on to Gerar. While living there as a foreigner, 2 Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, by saying, “She is my sister.” So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to him at his palace.

3 But that night God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are a dead man, for that woman you have taken is already married!”

4 But Abimelech had not slept with her yet, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? 5 Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘Yes, he is my brother.’ I acted in complete innocence! My hands are clean.”

6 In the dream God responded, “Yes, I know you are innocent. That’s why I kept you from sinning against me, and why I did not let you touch her. 7 Now return the woman to her husband, and he will pray for you, for he is a prophet. Then you will live. But if you don’t return her to him, you can be sure that you and all your people will die.”

8 Abimelech got up early the next morning and quickly called all his servants together. When he told them what had happened, his men were terrified. 9 Then Abimelech called for Abraham. “What have you done to us?” he demanded. “What crime have I committed that deserves treatment like this, making me and my kingdom guilty of this great sin? No one should ever do what you have done! 10 Whatever possessed you to do such a thing?”

Proverbs 20:11 (NLT)
Even children are known by the way they act,
whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.

Abraham was known by his actions.

  • We are known by our actions.

I have been loyal to you,

 Genesis 20:14-16 (NLT)
14 Then Abimelech took some of his sheep and goats, cattle, and male and female servants, and he presented them to Abraham. He also returned his wife, Sarah, to him. 15 Then Abimelech said, “Look over my land and choose any place where you would like to live.” 16 And he said to Sarah, “Look, I am giving your ‘brother’ 1,000 pieces of silver in the presence of all these witnesses. This is to compensate you for any wrong I may have done to you. This will settle any claim against me, and your reputation is cleared.”

 Abimelech had treated Abraham generously.

 so now swear that you will be loyal to me and to this country where you are living as a foreigner.”

Abraham was the outsider.

Technically, Abraham should have gone to Abimelech.

24 Abraham replied, “Yes, I swear to it!” 

  •  Abraham and Abimelech made an oath to be loyal to each other.

 A covenant Abraham made with the residents of the land allowing him to live there in peace.

  25 Then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelech’s servants had taken by force from Abraham’s servants.

Importance of wells.

The area had limited water resources.

26 “This is the first I’ve heard of it,” Abimelech answered. “I have no idea who is responsible. You have never complained about this before.”

27 Abraham then gave some of his sheep, goats, and cattle to Abimelech, and they made a treaty. 

 A covenant Abraham made with the residents of the land allowing him to live there in peace.

 

28 But Abraham also took seven additional female lambs and set them off by themselves. 29 Abimelech asked, “Why have you set these seven apart from the others?”

30 Abraham replied, “Please accept these seven lambs to show your agreement that I dug this well.” 

  • Abraham and Abimelech made a covenant giving ownership of the well to Abraham.

Abraham’s right to ownership of the well.

31 Then he named the place Beersheba (which means “well of the oath” or “well of seven”), because that was where they had sworn the oath.

 God was supplying Abraham’s needs.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

 Philippians 4:19  (NLT)
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

  •  God supplied Abraham’s needs.

 32 After making their covenant at Beersheba, Abimelech left with Phicol, the commander of his army, and they returned home to the land of the Philistines. 

 Abimelech can expect God’s blessing.

Genesis 12:1-3 (NLT)
The Call of Abram
1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

 33 Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba,

 A sign of peaceful security.

Zechariah 3:10 (NLT)
“And on that day, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, each of you will invite your neighbor to sit with you peacefully under your own grapevine and fig tree.”

The covenant Abraham made with the residents of the land allowed him to live there in peace.

 and there he worshiped the Lord, the Eternal God. 

 Abraham’s worship continues in chapter 22.

 Genesis 22:5 New Living Translation (NLT)
“Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.”

  •  Abraham worshiped the Lord, the Eternal God.

 34 And Abraham lived as a foreigner in Philistine country for a long time.

 Life applications:

  • Christians (like Abraham) are temporary residents living in a foreign land.

1 Peter 1:1 (NLT)
1 This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.
I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.

1 Peter 2:11 (NLT)
Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.

Hebrews 13:14 (NLT)
For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.

Philippians 3:20 (NLT)
But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

Live by faith.  Christians, like Abraham, live by believing and not by seeing.

  • Christians are called to live by faith.

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT)
For we live by believing and not by seeing.

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)
And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

 Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

 2 Timothy 4:7 (NLT)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.

Worship the Lord

Luke 4:8 (NLT)
Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say,
‘You must worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.’”

  •  The scriptures tell Christians to worship the Lord and serve Him only.

Hagar and Ishmael Are Sent Away

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Two titles for this lesson.

Hagar and Ishmael Are Sent Away

God Protects Hagar and Ishmael

Genesis 21:8-21 (NLT)
8 When Isaac grew up and was about to be weaned, Abraham prepared a huge feast to celebrate the occasion. 9 But Sarah saw Ishmael—the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar—making fun of her son, Isaac. 10 So she turned to Abraham and demanded, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son. He is not going to share the inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won’t have it!”

11 This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was his son. 12 But God told Abraham, “Do not be upset over the boy and your servant. Do whatever Sarah tells you, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted. 13 But I will also make a nation of the descendants of Hagar’s son because he is your son, too.”

14 So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar’s shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba.

15 When the water was gone, she put the boy in the shade of a bush.16 Then she went and sat down by herself about a hundred yards away. “I don’t want to watch the boy die,” she said, as she burst into tears.

17 But God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.”

19 Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.

20 And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness. He became a skillful archer, 21 and he settled in the wilderness of Paran. His mother arranged for him to marry a woman from the land of Egypt.

Examine the Scriptures

Hagar and Ishmael Are Sent Away

God Protects Hagar and Ishmael

Genesis 21:8-21 (NLT)
8 When Isaac grew up and was about to be weaned, (2-3 years old) Abraham prepared a huge feast to celebrate the occasion. 

 Celebrate Isaac’s passage from infancy to childhood.

 9 But Sarah saw Ishmael (now 16 or 17 years old)—the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar—making fun of her son, Isaac. 

 Genesis 21:9-10 (AMP)
Now [as time went on] Sarah saw [Ishmael] the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking [Isaac].

 Genesis 21:9-10 (NKJV)
And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing.

 Genesis 21:9-10 (ESV)
But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing.
Footnotes:
Possibly laughing in mockery

 The 16 or 17 year old son of Abraham making fun of Sarah’s son (little boy) Isaac.

Previously

Strained and broken relationships go back many years.

Genesis 16:4-10 (NLT)
4 So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she (Hagar) began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant she treats me with contempt. The Lord will show who’s wrong—you or me!”

6 Abram replied, “Look, she is your servant, so deal with her as you see fit.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away.

7 The angel of the Lord found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur. 8 The angel said to her, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?”

“I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai,” she replied.

9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.” 10 Then he added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.”

 10 So she turned to Abraham and demanded, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son. He is not going to share the inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won’t have it!”

  • Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Hagar, and Ishmael were living in a man-made social nightmare!

Consequences for living outside of God’s will.

Genesis 16:1-3 (NLT)
The Birth of Ishmael
1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal. 3 So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.)

Problems

Isaac was the rightful natural heir.

But:

According to the social law of the time, Abraham was not permitted to send Ishmael away.

Abraham loved Ishmael.

Genesis 16:12 (NLT)
12 This son of yours will be a wild man, as untamed as a wild donkey! He will raise his fist against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live in open hostility against all his relatives.”

Go to Galatians 4 in the New Testament.

Galatians 4:21-31 (NLT)

A good overview of all that had taken place.

Abraham’s Two Children

21 Tell me, you who want to live under the law, do you know what the law actually says? 22 The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife. 

 23 The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise.

 But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise.

24 These two women serve as an illustration of God’s two covenants. The first woman, Hagar, represents Mount Sinai where people received the law that enslaved them. 25 And now Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai in Arabia, because she and her children live in slavery to the law. 26 But the other woman, Sarah, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. She is the free woman, and she is our mother. 27 As Isaiah said,

“Rejoice, O childless woman,
you who have never given birth!
Break into a joyful shout,
you who have never been in labor!
For the desolate woman now has more children
than the woman who lives with her husband!”

28 And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac. 29 But you are now being persecuted by those who want you to keep the law, just as Ishmael, the child born by human effort, persecuted Isaac, the child born by the power of the Spirit.

 30 But what do the Scriptures say about that? “Get rid of the slave and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” 

 31 So, dear brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman; we are children of the free woman.

 This is a picture of the ongoing struggle between the flesh and the Spirit.

Man’s way vs. God’s way. 

  • Until Jesus returns, there will always be an ongoing struggle between the flesh and the Spirit.

11 This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was his son. 

Galatians 5:16-18 (NLT)
Living by the Spirit’s Power
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

12 But God told Abraham, “Do not be upset over the boy and your servant. Do whatever Sarah tells you, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted. 

Romans 9:7 (NLT)
Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,” though Abraham had other children, too.

 Genesis 25:1-2 (NLT)
1 Abraham married another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2 She gave birth to Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.

Hebrews 11:18 (NLT)
even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.”

13 But I will also make a nation of the descendants of Hagar’s son because he is your son, too.”

  • God is in control.

 14 So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar’s shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba.

 15 When the water was gone, she put the boy in the shade of a bush.16 Then she went and sat down by herself about a hundred yards away. “I don’t want to watch the boy die,” she said, as she burst into tears.

17 But God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.”

 Genesis 17:18-27 (NLT)
18 So Abraham said to God, “May Ishmael live under your special blessing!”

19 But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant. 20 As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But my covenant will be confirmed with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year.” 22 When God had finished speaking, he left Abraham.

23 On that very day Abraham took his son, Ishmael, and every male in his household, including those born there and those he had bought. Then he circumcised them, cutting off their foreskins, just as God had told him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, 25 and Ishmael, his son, was thirteen. 26 Both Abraham and his son, Ishmael, were circumcised on that same day, 27 along with all the other men and boys of the household, whether they were born there or bought as servants. All were circumcised with him.

  •  Ishmael was blessed by God.
  • God promised to make Ishmael extremely fruitful and make him a great nation.
  • God’s covenant was first made to Abraham(Genesis 15:18-21), then confirmed to his son Isaac (Genesis 26:3), and then to Isaac’s son Jacob (Genesis 28:13), Abraham’s

 19 Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.

 20 And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness. He became a skillful archer, 21 and he settled in the wilderness of Paran. His mother arranged for him to marry a woman from the land of Egypt.

  • God was with Ishmael as he grew up in the wilderness.
  • God kept the promise He had made with Abraham about Ishmael.
  • God always keeps His Word.  (A theme we have seen throughout the book of Genesis.)

Christian’s Rights

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1 Corinthians 9:1-14 NLT              

Paul deserved to get paid for his ministry.

1 Corinthians 9:1-14 (NLT)
1 Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes? Isn’t it because of my work that you belong to the Lord? 2 Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord’s apostle.

3 This is my answer to those who question my authority. 4 Don’t we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals? 5 Don’t we have the right to bring a believing wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers do, and as Peter does? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?

7 What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn’t have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn’t allowed to drink some of the milk? 8 Am I expressing merely a human opinion, or does the law say the same thing? 9 For the law of Moses says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this? 10 Wasn’t he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest.

11 Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink? 12 If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.

13 Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings. 14 In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.

Examine the scriptures:

1 Corinthians 9:1-14 (NLT)
1 Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes? Isn’t it because of my work that you belong to the Lord?

Some of Paul’s credentials.

Leading into his rights to be financially supported by those to whom he ministers.

 2 Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord’s apostle.

God used Paul to start the church in Corinth.

Paul’s arguments supporting his authenticity as an apostle.

3 This is my answer to those who question my authority. 

Paul sets out to defend his rights.

4 Don’t we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals? 5 Don’t we have the right to bring a believing wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers do, and as Peter does?  (At the expense of the church.)

  • Paul claims the right to be supported financially by the church.

President:

Matthew 10:10-11 (NLT) Jesus sending out the twelve disciples.
10 Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with a change of clothes and sandals or even a walking stick. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed.  11 “Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy person and stay in his home until you leave town.

 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?

Sarcasm

Six reasons why the church should support Paul.

 7 What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn’t have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn’t allowed to drink some of the milk? 

 1.  Custom: It was the custom of the time.

The soldier, farmer, and shepherd were all supported by their work.

 8 Am I expressing merely a human opinion, or does the law say the same thing? 9 For the law of Moses says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this? 10 Wasn’t he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest.

 1 Timothy 5:17-18 (NLT)
17 Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!”

 2.  The Old Testament supported the principle of just remuneration.

Deuteronomy 25:4 (NLT)
 “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.

Chapter 25 is talking about people, not animals.

Just remuneration

11 Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink? 

3.  Beneficial service should be rewarded

 12 If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported?

 4.  The church supported other spiritual leaders.

 But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.

 13 Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings. 

 5.  Both Old Testament Priests and Pagan Priests were supported for their service.

 14 In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.

 6.  Jesus said that those who share the Gospel with others deserve their pay.

The worker deserves his wages.

Luke 10:7 (NLT) (Jesus speaking)
Don’t move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay.

  •  Christians in full-time ministry deserve to be paid for their work.

 

Other scriptures relating to wages:

Be fair:

Colossians 4:1 (NLT)
Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.

Romans 4:4 (NLT)
When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned.

 Be generous:

Proverbs 11:24-25 (NLT)
24 Give freely and become more wealthy;
    be stingy and lose everything.
25 The generous will prosper;
    those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

 Luke 6:38 (NLT) (Context: relating to others)
38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NLT)
17 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. 19 By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

 Warnings to those who cheat workers of their wages:

Deuteronomy 24:14-15 (NLT)
14 “Never take advantage of poor and destitute laborers, whether they are fellow Israelites or foreigners living in your towns. 15 You must pay them their wages each day before sunset because they are poor and are counting on it. If you don’t, they might cry out to the Lord against you, and it would be counted against you as sin.

James 5:1-4 (NLT)
Warning to the Rich
1 Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. 2 Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This corroded treasure you have hoarded will testify against you on the day of judgment. 4 For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

Malachi 3:5 (NLT)
“At that time I will put you on trial. I am eager to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear me,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

 Jeremiah 22:13 (NLT)
A Message about Jehoiakim
And the Lord says, “What sorrow awaits Jehoiakim,
    who builds his palace with forced labor.
He builds injustice into its walls,
    for he makes his neighbors work for nothing.
    He does not pay them for their labor.

Live In Such A Way That No One Will Stumble Because Of You.

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Live in such a way that no one will stumble because of you.

1 Corinthians 8:8-13 (NLT)
8 It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do.

9 But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. 10 For if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”—eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? 11 So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. 12 And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ. 13 So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.

Examine the scriptures:
1 Corinthians 8:8-13 (NLT)
8 It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do.

 Food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat certain foods, and no better if we do eat certain foods.

  • Our relationship with God is not determined by what we eat.

 9 But  

 you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. 

Freedom to eat or drink something does not mean it’s always appropriate to do so.

What we eat, or don’t eat, may have a negative impact on others.

 10 For if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”   (spiritual maturity)

Or perceived “superior knowledge”.

We imitate the behaviors of those we perceive as spiritually mature.

 Teacher-student

Parent-child

Mature Christian – new Christian

Tell the story of how I determine how high I will lift my hands during a worship service. (This may be more tongue in cheek than not.)

 —eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? 

 The weaker believer is simply imitating your behavior, but they are not doing something they believe is o.k. to do.

They are feeling guilty.

They have difficulty knowing right from wrong.

Learning to compromise.

Confusion is setting in.

 11 So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. 

  • It is wrong to do something if it makes another person stumble.

Romans 14:15 (NLT)
And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died.

Spiritual growth devastated 

Distressed.

Ruined

Conscience is seared. 

Not able to distinguish right from wrong.

Fall back into old sins.

Set up for failure.

 12 And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ.  

  • It is a sin to encourage others to do something they believe is wrong. 

13 So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.

2 Corinthians 6:3 (NLT)
We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, … 

  • Live your life in such a way that no one will stumble because of

How should we live?

Ephesians 4:2 (NLT)
Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

1 Corinthians 10:31-32 (NIV)
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 

  •  Decide how you will live based on what brings glory to God.

 

 

Rejoice In The Lord Always

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Rejoice In The Lord Always

Genesis 21:1-7 (NLT)

The Birth of Isaac
1 The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. 2 She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would. 3 And Abraham named their son Isaac. 4 Eight days after Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded. 5 Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.
6 And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter.  All who hear about this will laugh with me. 7 Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!”

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 21:1-7 (NLT)
The Birth of Isaac
1 The Lord kept his word

What “word” did the Lord keep in this story?

When did God first make this promise to Abraham?

This promise to Abraham dates back 25 years.

Genesis 12 (NLT)
The Call of Abram
1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
4 So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. 5 He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth—his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran—and headed for the land of Canaan.

 and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised.  

  • God does not lie.

Numbers 23:19 (NLT)
19 God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?

 2 She became pregnant,

Sarah had been barren for 90 years.

Genesis 11:27-30 (NLT)

The Family of Terah
27 This is the account of Terah’s family. Terah was the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran was the father of Lot. 28 But Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, the land of his birth, while his father, Terah, was still living. 29 Meanwhile, Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah. (Milcah and her sister Iscah were daughters of Nahor’s brother Haran.) 30 But Sarai was unable to become pregnant and had no children.

 and she gave birth to a son (Sarah’s one and only child) for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would. 

Humanly speaking, this was impossible.

Review promises God had made to Abraham:

Promise general in nature

Genesis 12 (see above)

Genesis 13:14-17  (NLT)
14 After Lot had gone, the Lord said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west. 15 I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession. 16 And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted! 17 Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.”

 Genesis 15:5 (NLT)
5 Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”

Promise specific in nature

Genesis 17:16-21 (NLT)
16 And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.”
17 Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?” 18 So Abraham said to God, “May Ishmael live under your special blessing!”
19 But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant. 20 As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But my covenant will be confirmed with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year.”

 Genesis 18:10-14 (NLT)
10 Then one of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!”
Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent. 11 Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. 12 So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?”
13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

 3 And Abraham named their son Isaac. 

Obedience

Genesis 17:19  (NLT)
19 But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac,[a] and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant.

 Footnotes:
a. 17:19 Isaac means “he laughs.”   (rejoice)

4 Eight days after Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded. 

Obedience

Genesis 17:11-14 (NLT)
11 You must cut off the flesh of your foreskin as a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 From generation to generation, every male child must be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth. This applies not only to members of your family but also to the servants born in your household and the foreign-born servants whom you have purchased.13 All must be circumcised. Your bodies will bear the mark of my everlasting covenant. 14 Any male who fails to be circumcised will be cut off from the covenant family for breaking the covenant.”

 5 Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.

 God’s promise fulfilled.

 6 And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter.  

God has brought me Isaac.

Unbelief changed to rejoicing

All who hear about this will laugh with me. 

Rejoice with me.

We rejoice because God makes and keeps promises.

Romans 12:15 (NLT)
Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.

 Philippians 4:4-8 (NLT)
4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

  •  Rejoice in the Lord always.

7 Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!”

  • Nothing is too hard for God.

Jeremiah 32:27 (NLT)
“I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?

Jeremiah 32:17 (NLT)
 “O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!

 Job 42:2  (NLT)
 “I know that you can do anything,
and no one can stop you.

Matthew 19:26 (NLT)
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

Luke 18:27 (NLT)
He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”

John 10:18 (NLT)
No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”

2 Timothy 1:10 (NLT)
And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.

  • Remember that God makes promises and keeps His promises.

Numbers 23:19 (NLT)
God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?

Hebrews 6:18 (NLT)
So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.

Don’t Assume That Your Christian Friends Are Biblically Grounded

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Don’t assume that your Christian friends are Biblically grounded.

1 Corinthians 8:7 (NLT)
7 However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated. 

Examine the scriptures:

1 Corinthians 8:7 (NLT)
7 However, not all believers know this.

 (The truth about idols.)

  •  Don’t assume that your Christian friends are Biblically grounded.

WHY?  Why don’t they know the truth?

Some are accustomed to thinking (incorrectly)

through former association with idols (ESV)

Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god (NIV)

being accustomed [throughout their lives] to [thinking of] (AMP)

because they were used to idol worship until now (CEB)

 

Accustomed to thinking

Thinking what?

What are we  being exposed to?

Who is shaping our thinking?

 Acts 20:30 (NLT)
Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following.

2 Peter 2:1 (NLT)
But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies

Matthew 24:11 (NLT)
And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.

Matthew 24:24 (NLT)
For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.

 Colossians 2:8 (NLT)
Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

  •  We are constantly being exposed to false teachers who teach in a way that makes it hard for us to see that they are wrong.

 We think incorrectly because we are being taught wrong ideas.

Romans 12:2 (NLT)
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 (NLT)
33 Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.” 

 34 Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don’t know God at all.

 Luke 6:40 (NLT)
Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.

 We have multiple teachers including parents, school teachers, Sunday School teachers, pastors, the Holy Spirit, etc.  

    • Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world.
    • Bad company corrupts good character.

We think incorrectly because we are influenced by those who don’t know any better.

  • Think carefully about what is right.
  • The student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.

Be like the Bereans

Acts 17:11 (NLT)
And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.

 Study the scriptures daily.

  • It is important to study the scriptures daily.

of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated. (guilty, ashamed)

Conscience:

An inner feeling or voice viewed as acting as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of one’s behavior.

Our conscience is not the Holy Spirit.

We are able to adjust our consciences to fit the culture.

Find a penny.  Keep it, it’s only a penny.

Find a nickel.  Keep it, it’s only a nickel.

Find a dime.  Keep it, it’s only a dime.

Find a quarter. Keep it, it’s only a quarter.

Find a dollar.  Keep it, it’s only a

  • Our consciences can, and do, mislead us.

 Our consciences are not always consistent with Biblical principles.