In 1 Corinthians 10:1-22, Paul is writing a warning to the church in Corinth. He shares four different dangers along with four different examples in the Old Testament, and he says that these stories were recorded as warnings for believers in the last days. Verse 6 (ESV) says, “Now these things took place as EXAMPLES FOR US, that we might not desire evil as they did.” Also, verses 11 and 12 add, “Now these things happened to them as an EXAMPLE, but they were written down for OUR INSTRUCTION, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands TAKE HEED LEST HE FALL.”
You may think you’re standing strong in your faith, but pay attention! You may be dining with demons. Paul says (verse 21), “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.”
The Divine Menu
Jesus Christ is the Way. He is the one and only path of life and righteousness. As a path, Jesus leads straight to the wonderful presence of Yahweh. When Yahweh meets with those whom He calls to Himself, He always sets a wonderful table. When He called Moses, the priests, and 70 elders to join Him on the mountain, they “beheld God, and ate and drank” (Exodus 24:11). He prepared a banquet for them. Jesus says (Revelation 3:20 ESV), “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me.” He also says (Luke 12:37 ESV), “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.” God prepares a banquet for His Kingdom servants that are awake and ready.
What does this divine menu look like? Yahweh prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies. He anoints my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:5-6) I feast on the abundance of His house, and He gives me drink from the river of His delights. (Psalm 36:8) He makes known to me the path of life; in His presence there is fullness of joy; at His right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11) Sounds pretty amazing, doesn’t it? This is the incomparable pleasure of His presence!
But to the church at the end of the ages, take heed lest you fall. Take a look at your menu —your culture, your worship, your attitude. What’s on the menu?
Idolatry
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.”
— 1 Corinthians 10:7 ESV [reference to Exodus 32]
Notice that “idolatry” is often demonstrated by our eating, drinking, and playing. Eating, drinking, and playing are acts of worship, and what is at the center is the object of our worship. In Exodus 32, Israel set up their recreation and entertainment around a golden calf. They were right next to the mountain that was covered by the thunderous presence of Yahweh, the God who miraculously delivered them. Yet they made a golden cow and positioned it in the center of their eating, drinking, and playing.
As the church we can think we’re gathering in the presence of God; but instead of coming to Him and making Him central, we separate ourselves from Him and sit at a table prepared by demons. What is at the center of my eating, drinking, and playing? What is central in my worship?
Jesus says (Matthew 11:16-17 ESV), “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’” We create our playlist and then expect God to come sing and dance along with our tune. We think we’re like snake charmers and God should respond the way we want Him to, but He’s not playing our games. We don’t throw a party and hope He shows up in the party attire we made for Him. He is the one throwing the party and providing the necessary attire. We respond to His invitation to come up on the mountain and dine with Him. The Lord is central, and we eat, drink, and play for His glory!
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
— 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
Sexual Immorality
We must not indulge in SEXUAL IMMORALITY as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.
— 1 Corinthians 10:8 ESV [reference to Numbers 25]
“Sexual immorality” is directly related to self-indulgence and prioritizing lust over faithfulness and covenant. Even within a marriage, sex can become sin if it’s not rooted in God’s divine love for one another and holy covenant. According to Numbers 25, sex “yokes” a person, people, or culture to spiritual entities. Sex is a covenantal, binding action; and though we often emphasize the physical nature and the physical pleasure associated with sex, it actually links us to spirits.
Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor, and ate sacrifices offered to the dead; they provoked the Lord to anger with their deeds, and a plague broke out among them. Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stayed. And that was counted to him as righteousness from generation to generation forever.
— Psalm 106:28-31 ESV
The Numbers 25 incident was the moment that separated and marked the young priest, Phinehas. He refused to be sexually seduced into being yoked to other spirits and gods, and he took a stand against sexual immorality. In verse 11 of the New King James Version, God says Phinehas was “zealous with My zeal among them.” I see the Generation Z as “Gen Zeal”. There is a calling right now for Gen Zeal to arise as young priests in their holy zeal and take a stand against sexual immorality, especially in the church. It’s time to be zealous with His zeal. When Jesus’ disciples watched Jesus cleaning out the Temple, they remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” (John 2:17 ESV) The Father is zealous, Jesus is zealous, and His Kingdom agents must be zealous to break every yoke of sexual sin and be yoked to Christ alone.
“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?”
— Isaiah 58:6 ESV
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
— Matthew 11:29-30 ESV
Testing
We must not put Christ to the TEST, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents
— 1 Corinthians 10:9 ESV [referencing Numbers 21]
“Testing” is rooted in skepticism and unbelief. It ties back to the questions of Satan both in Eden with Adam and Eve and in the wilderness with Jesus. The questions of the serpent/Satan attack God’s words and intentions. It often involves subtle trespassing (crossing divinely set boundaries) and it’s rooted in rebellion.
In Numbers 21:4-5, the people became “impatient on the way”, and they questioned and accused the intentions and leadership of both God and Moses. Suddenly a swarm of poisonous snakes entered the camp. When we become impatient with God and start questioning Him, the accuser sees an opportunity. Testing opens your camp to the serpent, and he only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. It all starts with unmet expectations, followed by a little question: “Did God really say that?” This is followed by increasing nagging doubt in His love and good intentions for your life.
And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here.” And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
— Luke 4:9,12-13 ESV
In Numbers 21, God brought healing from the snake-bites by lifting up a serpent on a pole. This was an illustration of how Jesus would be lifted up on the cross, and through His crucifixion the serpent is overcome. If you sense an impatience, turn the fullness of your attention upon Jesus. He is the Conqueror who makes us more than conquerors! Don’t play with the serpent or give him ear, for he has already been overcome. Keep your eyes on Jesus! Resist the devil and he will depart.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
— James 4:7 ESV
Grumbling
nor GRUMBLE, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
— 1 Corinthians 10:10 ESV [referencing Numbers 14]
“Grumbling” is persistent unbelieving complaining, often tied to unmet expectations and/or envy. It begins in the heart, but like a smoldering fire, the smoke rolls out of the mouth as toxic words. If the smoldering isn’t quenched, it spreads like a wildfire within community and opens up the community to destruction.
Grumbling opens a community to the Destroyer, an spiritual executioner restrained only by covenant obedience. This is the same spiritual being that hovered over ancient Egypt killing every first born. And the only thing that brought protection was the blood of the Passover lamb. The blood marked those in covenant with God, and the Destroyer passed over. Jesus Christ is the perfect Passover Lamb of God. When we remain under His blood, the Destroyer must pass over.
In Numbers 14, Israel didn’t trust the Lord would give them the promised land and give them victory over the occupying giants. They missed their opportunity to enter the promise because grumbling swept through the camp. It escalated to the point of the grumblers wanting to stone their leadership and anyone else who would not partner with their complaints. This grumbling rejected the covering of covenant, and those who grumbled were “destroyed by the Destroyer”. Whoa…
Victorious Escape
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.
— 1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV
The Lord has prepared a table for His children in the midst of their enemies. These enemies prepare an opposing table of idolatry, sexual immorality, testing, and grumbling. This menu is prepared by deceiving, oppressing, accusing, and destroying demonic spirits. We each have an opportunity to choose the menu from which we’ll dine.
If you think you may have mistakenly sat at the wrong table, it’s not too late. In His faithfulness, God provides a victorious escape. Like Jesus, be zealous for your Father’s character and flip the tables of the enemy. Flip the table of idolatry and do all things for the glory of God. Flip the table of sexual immorality and be yoked to Christ alone. Flip the table of testing and patiently wait on the Lord, putting your faith in His Word. Flip the table of grumbling and quench every smoldering ember of discontent with the blood of Jesus. Be seated at His table and dine upon His perfect goodness through the Bread and through the Wine that has already been wonderfully served for you.
How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.
— Psalm 36:7-9 ESV
Seeking His presence!
Matt
Matt Neese
Wellspring.Live
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