Flee from Idolatry and Drink from the Rock 1 Corinthians 10:1-11, 14 Pastor Matt Zwitt November 13, 2011

What is idolatry?  Idolatry is ANYTHING that holds our affection, desire, thoughts, love, priorities, or joy over the Lord.  How do we gauge this?  What do we think about most? What do we talk about most? What do we spend our time on most? What do we spend our extra money on most? What makes us most excited/happy?  “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:21)  Where is your treasure?

 Idolatry is best defined in Jeremiah 2:11-13:  “Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the L ORD, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

How serious does God consider idolatry?  The nation of Israel in the wilderness was given to us to serve as a paradigm for our hearts. (vv. 6, 11)  I firmly believe no Christian will ever come to grips and understand the reality and gravity of his/her sin until they read the O/T.  God considered idolatry the worst form of sin.  The first and second commandments were given to guard against idolatry.  Idolatry warranted stoning in Israel. God considered it an abomination.  Jesus said, “For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:15)  Scripture is clear that idolaters will not inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9; Rev. 21:8).

 How were they idolaters?  They forgot God. (v. 7)  Idolatry at its core is a rejection of God, His character and His provision.  God killed 3000 by the Levites and more from a plague.  They chose lust of the flesh over their holiness. (v. 8)  The most predominate idolatry is idolatry of self.  God killed 23,000 for this sin.  They put God to the test. (v. 9)  This is making our will supreme over His.  God is forgiving but He is also jealous.  God killed 14,700.

 They complained against God. (v. 10)  Not one person who came out of Egypt, save Joshua and Caleb, saw the promise land because of their complaining.  God eventually killed all of the Israelites that came out of Egypt in the desert.  Complaining is rooted in idolatry. It is a desire to fashion God into our image.  When we complain, it is never against other people or our circumstances. It’s always against God (Exodus 16:8).

What does it mean to flee from idolatry & why? (v. 14)  Only two things in Scripture are we told to flee from:  Sexual immorality (youthful passions) and idolatry  Fleeing carries the connotation of flight in battle  We are running for our life.  Not putting ourselves in a place where we can fall.  Whatever is taking your affection from the Lord, flee from it.  I think the reason we are told to flee is the nature of these two sins.  Our sinful human nature is to love and follow anything and everything other than the Lord. It began in the Garden of Eden  We want to believe we can win this battle, but “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41).

What does it mean to eat and drink from Christ? (vv. 3-4)  The manna was given to teach that man does not live on bread alone (Deut. 8:3).  Nothing in this world will fill us up.  The manna and water from the rock were a foreshadowing to the provision that Christ would eventually provide.  Salvation is acknowledging that we are hungry and thirsty, and recognizing only Jesus can fill this craving (John 6:31- 35).  We do not come hungry and thirsty once. We come hungry and thirsty everyday of our life.

 How do we fight idolatry?  Overeat!!!  The more we eat spiritual food, the less we desire worldly food. The more we eat worldly food, the less we desire spiritual food.  Put it to death (Col. 3:5)  You may be saying, “I don’t desire Christ.”  Get rid of the junk food, so that you can be hungry.