WHAT THE DEVIL DOESN’T WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT MATERIALISM
1 Corinthians 10:14-22 Part 1 & 2
August 22 & 29, 2007
pastormike@lv.coxmail.com
Mike Matijevich

Intro:
Title… "Materialism"
Paul called it "Idolatry" same flaw of human nature.
- Eph 5:5; Col 3:5 identified a covetous man as idolater.
- The NT makes sense when we link materialism as idolatry.
* "Idolatry"= anything that comes between you & God. (we all wrestle with that… things that compete with God for our attention & devotion)
* See what God is saying to us…
Text 10:13 (last week focus & connected to tonight)
* Nothing in your life that is UNIQUE! (Same issues that we struggle with)
* God is faithful!
* Not to remove it but bear it & way of escape…
10:14 "Wherefore…" connects, find that WAY of escape & flee…
10:15-17 Here is where a "religious set of traditions" here
10:18-22
I. UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT- (10:14)
A. We can handle whatever comes & is ALWAYS a way out.
B. Always been a world system- (not the dirt)
1. The world system
Eph 2:1- 3 ("quickened" made alive)
The system has been in place since our youth "course of this world"
a. Three major enemies world, the flesh & the devil (a handful!)
b. OT - Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian, & at the time of Jesus Rome (systems)
To be like God without God…
- Last century fought Communism; today materialism (always has been @)
NOTE Problem with the world system, whatever & whenever… it has been energized by a supernatural being called the Devil!
Pro. 14:12
* You come to a fork in the road- & all my friends are going that way…
*Mat 7:13
* Need to look for that way. The narrow way
* Find the way that will let you ESCAPE- that WAY is in the WORD OF GOD!
10:14 "Flee from idolatry…"
??? How can I handle this thing called Materialism? - Find out what God says about it & get out.

* Don't confuse yourself- there is a time to STAND & a time to FLEE…
Eph 6:11-14 Put on the armor of God- when attacked STAND (when tempted FLEE) personal…
1 Cor 6:18 "Flee fornication…" How does a young person flee when there is SO much to see…

c. 2 Tim 2:15 "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
d. 1 Tim 6:10-11 Context contentment…
1. Some greatly blessed--- some struggling (both can be good)
- Advantages & disadvantages- learning how to trust God.
- Either extreme can be bad, one focuses what they have, the other what they don't have- either can be bad.
* The point contentment with what you have.
2. 6:11 "Flee & follow…" (times to stand & times to flee)

Learned: We live in a materialistic world.
We are tempted by advertisers that we MUST have their product- bombarded.
God teaches us that relationships & character are more important than things.
* So we are to flee idolatry…

II. UNDERSTAND THAT YOU & I HAVE A CHOICE OF PARTNERS - (10:15-19)
* Context communion. Why we do it.
A. Protecting us from all the pulling influences.
1. Everything you need to know about the bible learned in D-!.
2. D-1 the basic elements (6-12 months)
- Lesson 1? Two families, two fathers… (basic)
B. Paul is reviewing lesson #1 of our discipleship- as a believer you can revert to your OLD ways.
1. Born into God's family- but some of you don't like God's family, & go & hang out with your old friends.
C. "Communion"= (means more that grape juice & crackers) means we have entered into a partnership with Christ.
1. Greek word "Koinonia"- fellowship, (not a meal) partnership; or a contractual agreement
2. 10:16 see it- communion not to socialize, but we have entered a contract with God that is binding upon us.
Cp 10:19 (remember the idolatry in Paul's day the meat…)
Paul not afraid of the meat- but he was concerned about the CONTRATUAL (Koinonia) fellowship - relationship with the Devil that it implied.
* The meat is nothing but the SYSYTEM - fellowship with the Devil!
* We need to realize there is a sinister power behind "things". "Koinonia" with the Devil.
* What makes communion powerful?
The BIG DEAL is not about the grape juice & the crackers but the SOLID PARTNERSHIP WITH (POWER of GOD) that it represents.
* More is at STAKE with Materialism than THINGS, and the diversion of your attention…
* It is a WAY for the Devil to CONTROL our lives - EVEN when we have entered into a Partnership with God.

3. This contract we have with God is ALSO a contract with each other!
* Why the church is so important!
D. 10:17 In our church of great diversity- ethnically, economically is the "Koinonia" with Jesus Christ! 1 Cor 12:12-14 One body by baptism (Spirit)
1. The partnership we all have in Jesus Christ based on what He did on the cross.
2. The contract Not based on what you & I do, but what Jesus did for us.
E. 10:18 In the OT when Israel offered a sacrifice they were partakers of that sacrifice & we
also are partakers of Jesus Christ when He was sacrificed.
* We have a choice of partners- so we don't want to go back to a voluntary contract with
the Devil.
* Paul trying to make us aware of the hidden dangers of materialism. (can get away with
something for a time)
F. 10:20-21 You have a choice between two partners- You can't have one foot in the world &
one foot with God. (should be no choice because we have a binding contract)
1. Rome use to use sacrifices to idols to maintain loyalty from its servants.
a. Remember those days the air filled with evil spirits- so the spirits would enter into man
through the meat they ate. So to counteract that they would offer the meat to priests - surplus meat ended up on the market (a seal of the idol to which it was offered)
- Why meat was so hard to be eaten by new believers, but Paul contrasting the contract that the meat represented (the fellowship)
b. Eat whatever you want but don't be a part of that SYSTEM- down the road that leads
to destruction & hell.
c. Make sure you have a solid fellowship with other believers- because there is a SINSTER
character out there trying to create a fellowship with him & the world.
He uses THINGS to make that fellowship.

* Why do we celebrate Communion- to celebrate the supernatural power behind grape juice &
Crackers.
To celebrate our COMMUNION partnership with each other.