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Through the Bible with Les Feldick
LESSON 3 * PART 4 * BOOK 27
I CORINTHIANS 9:19 - 10:17 - PART 2

Let's begin in I Corinthians Chapter 10. Now to these Corinthians who are plagued with all these temptations, and problems, and testings, Paul says in verse 13:
I Corinthians 10:13
"There hath no temptation (or testing) taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
Let's look at Hebrews Chapter 4 for a moment. Remember, as believers we are going to face temptations everyday. Hebrews 4:14-16
"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, (remember when Christ presented His own blood as we studied back in John 20, fulfilling the priesthood of Melchisedec the High Priest of all.) Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Hebrews 4:16
God instituted it, The Lord has an open door policy. Well we need to start with I John Chapter 2, verse 15. Now verse 15:
I John 2:15-17
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. I have to tell people, "Look at the lives of some of our famous people - entertainers and such. They are living high on the hog, but for how long? Poor old Eve is going to be the first to face these areas of temptation that are common to all men. And as John listed them, the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life.
The guy was sinless, perfect. Genesis 3:6
It just appealed to the eye) and a tree to be desired to make one wise, (there's the pride aspect. She had everything else, but now if she could be just as wise as God, that appealed to her pride), so she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, (now she wouldn't have eaten if she was stuffed full like after a Thanksgiving meal, so what must she have been? Hungry! And so the natural appetite was in high gear.) The lust of the eye, the pride of life and the lust of the flesh. Matthew 4:3,4
thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.'" Well, if he's hungry, what does the thought of bread do? Look in verse 4.
"But he answered and said, `It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.'"
So many people mean well, but they've got their priorities upside down. So now, Jesus is saying, "Listen Satan, there is something more important than feeding the physical. Now in verse 5 Satan doesn't give up. Matthew 4:5,6
"Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on the pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, `If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.'"
We've already seen the first temptation, the lust of the flesh - hunger. A great showmanship event! Let's see what Jesus said:
Matthew 4:7
"Jesus said unto him, `It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.'"
Now I don't suppose anybody really can understand this next temptation except politicians, or maybe military commanders. Someone who can get to the place of controlling massive numbers of people. Power just literally grabs them. That is what true pride is all about - to get control over other people. Now let's look what Satan does to Jesus.
Matthew 4:8
Jesus and Satan are both spiritual. Quite a temptation wasn't it? There are still the three categories of temptation. But what's our hope? Here again, we become people of choice. I Corinthians 10:14
We don't worship idols today." Let's look at verse 15. As what kind of people? Wise men!
I Corinthians 10:15
One commentary I read said Paul doesn't write the book of Corinthians with a real continuity. I Corinthians 10:16
"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? (The Lord's table) The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?"
Where is the first instance of presenting the cup, the wine, the grape juice, or whatever your particular church uses, and the broken bread? The Lord's upper room experience! You see, what I've always stressed to people when you look at those verses back there in the Four Gospels, is that even though Jesus did those two things, did He give any explanation? Matthew 26:28
I Corinthians 10:17
You remember in Jesus' earthly ministry and He told them that unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you cannot partake with me?

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