1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,000 Thank you gentlemen. 2 00:00:05,520 --> 00:00:07,740 We had a little ad in the paper yesterday. 3 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:17,340 I want you to understand that we put the ad in the paper not because we feel that we're better than others. 4 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:21,360 Not because we have any attitude of superiority, not at all. 5 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:27,720 But we put it in there because we felt it as a church we wanted and needed to take a stand on 6 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:34,100 on the issue that is currently the greatest challenge that we face to our freedoms. 7 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:40,880 And so would you pray please that God would use that in a very positive way in our community? 8 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:48,400 Going to turn in our Bibles today to 1st Corinthians chapter 8. 9 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:52,960 I invite you to open your copy of the Bible that you brought with you this morning if you did. 10 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:56,960 To 1st Corinthians chapter 8. 11 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:02,640 Memorial Day is far more than the unofficial beginning of summer. 12 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:09,700 Originally it was called Decoration Day. Do any of you remember that? It was called Decoration Day. 13 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:13,120 It was originally an 14 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:19,880 observance of a day to honor the fallen Civil War soldiers. 15 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:23,160 It began in Waterloo, New York in 1866. 16 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:31,880 After World War I however, it became a day to remember all of those who have lost their lives defending our nation. 17 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:38,360 On July the 4th every year we celebrate our independence. 18 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:46,040 But on Memorial Day we remember what it costs to keep our freedom. 19 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:49,960 And we need to remember that. 20 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:55,120 Because freedom is not a novelty to be played with. 21 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:59,880 It is not a heritage to simply be taken for granted. 22 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,920 Freedom is a treasure to safeguard. 23 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:08,400 It is a legacy for us to pass on. 24 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:11,640 It is a tool to use. 25 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:14,320 It is a blessing to share. 26 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:20,480 Someone has said people who will not use their freedom to defend their freedom 27 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:23,280 do not deserve their freedom. 28 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:32,240 I agree with that. And in fact I believe that we will lose our freedom in this nation 29 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:37,360 if we do not rouse ourselves from the stupor that has come upon us 30 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:40,400 to challenge the enemies of our liberty. 31 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:46,720 Others have done so in past generations and we in our generation must do the same. 32 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:54,720 We are free to worship, to speak, and to gather here today because of those heroes 33 00:02:54,720 --> 00:03:04,240 proved in liberating strife who more than self their country loved and mercy more than life. 34 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:09,360 America is beautiful because of them. 35 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:13,520 It is the land of the free and the home of the brave. 36 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:22,720 And it will remain so if you and I in our day have courage like our forebears to face adversity. 37 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:32,160 From Valley Forge to Guadalcanal to Antietam and the Alamo Islands 38 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:39,440 to the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan, liberty has required a sacrifice. 39 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:48,080 We still enjoy this sweet land of liberty because of the patriotic sacrifice of America's sons and daughters 40 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:54,320 who are willing to put everything on the line for the sake of freedom. 41 00:03:54,320 --> 00:04:00,400 Political freedom is a wonderful heritage. 42 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:04,400 We too like them must jealously guard it and fervently do everything that we can to protect it. 43 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:09,360 The freedom of speech, the freedom to worship God as we choose, 44 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:14,400 the freedom to own property without the fear of the government seizing it, 45 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:18,400 all of these are threatened in America today. 46 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:24,480 Not because of Al-Qaeda, not because of foreign enemies, 47 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:36,480 but rather because of cultural political correctness and socialist politicians and big government. 48 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:44,480 You and I have a duty and a responsibility to protect and protect America. 49 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:54,480 You and I have a duty and a responsibility to protect the freedom that our forefathers died to pass on to us. 50 00:04:54,480 --> 00:05:00,480 That freedom includes political action according to our constitutional privileges. 51 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:04,480 One of those of course is voting and I hope we're all registered to vote. 52 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:10,480 If not, you need to get registered and we're going to give you an opportunity in the weeks to come. 53 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:14,480 Another privilege is that of supporting good candidates. 54 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:22,480 And another one is contacting our representatives to tell them how we feel about things. 55 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:32,480 How many letters do you suppose it takes to make a difference with your congressman? 56 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:38,480 How many of you would say, well, probably a thousand or more. Would you lift your hand? 57 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:40,480 That's what I would think. 58 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:43,480 More than that? 59 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:51,480 Congressman Mike Pence from the state of Indiana told us when we were in Washington recently 60 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:59,480 that if he gets ten letters from his constituents, handwritten or typed personal letters 61 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:07,480 regarding one single issue, it's enough for him to call a staff meeting to find out what's going on. 62 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:17,480 Do you realize that perhaps with our congressperson, you and nine friends could get their attention in Washington 63 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:22,480 if you just wrote a personal letter? 64 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:29,480 But what is even more precious than our political freedom is our spiritual freedom. 65 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:35,480 That is the privileged position of every child of God. 66 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:39,480 He has given us liberty from condemnation. 67 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:42,480 He has given us freedom from guilt. 68 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:46,480 He has given us freedom from legalistic religion. 69 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:51,480 Liberty from the expectations of perfection. 70 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:54,480 Freedom to say no to the power of sinful patterns in us. 71 00:06:54,480 --> 00:07:00,480 And all of this comes to us freely through the cross of Jesus Christ. 72 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:07,480 Paul wrote to the Galatians and he said it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. 73 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:16,480 Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again with the yoke of slavery. 74 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:22,480 Jesus Christ died that we might live in spiritual freedom. 75 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:25,480 But what is that freedom? 76 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:28,480 And how are we to use it? 77 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:32,480 This is what Paul is addressing in the text that we are looking at today. 78 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:33,480 Let me read it for you. 79 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:34,480 I am going to read the entire chapter. 80 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:35,480 It is short. 81 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:39,480 We will only be dealing with part of the chapter this morning. 82 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:44,480 He says, Now about food sacrificed to idols. 83 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:48,480 We know that we all possess knowledge. 84 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:51,480 Knowledge puffs up. 85 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:54,480 Is that true? 86 00:07:54,480 --> 00:08:02,480 I remember one person who attended a church that I pastored who thought we were all very lucky to have him in the congregation. 87 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,480 Because he knew so very much. 88 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:09,480 He was a seminary graduate. 89 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:14,480 And when he spoke it was the final word. 90 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:17,480 Knowledge puffs up. 91 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:19,480 But love builds up. 92 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:21,480 Notice the play on words there. 93 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:25,480 The English translation captures it very well. 94 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:31,480 The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 95 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:34,480 But the man who loves God is known by God. 96 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:37,480 So then about eating food sacrificed to idols. 97 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:41,480 We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world. 98 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:44,480 And that there is no God but one. 99 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:47,480 For even if there are so called gods. 100 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:53,480 Whether in heaven or on earth as indeed there are many gods and many lords. 101 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:56,480 Yet for us there is but one God. 102 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:58,480 The Father. 103 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:01,480 From whom all things came and for whom we live. 104 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:04,480 And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ. 105 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:08,480 Through whom all things came and through whom we live. 106 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:12,480 But not everyone knows this. 107 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:15,480 Some people are still so accustomed to idols. 108 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:21,480 That when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol. 109 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:24,480 And since their conscience is weak it is defiled. 110 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:27,480 But food does not bring us near to God. 111 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:29,480 We are no worse if we do not eat. 112 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:31,480 And no better if we do. 113 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:35,480 Be careful however that the exercise of your freedom. 114 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:39,480 Does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 115 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:43,480 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge. 116 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:46,480 Eating in an idol's temple. 117 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:50,480 Won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols. 118 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:54,480 And so this weak brother for whom Christ died is destroyed or is ruined. 119 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:56,480 By your knowledge. 120 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,480 When you sin against your brothers in this way. 121 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:01,480 And wound their weak conscience. 122 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:04,480 You sin against Christ. 123 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:08,480 Therefore if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin. 124 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:11,480 I will never eat meat again. 125 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:16,480 So that I will not cause him to fall. 126 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:20,480 Paul is saying in this chapter that your freedom in Christ. 127 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:23,480 Is based on truth. 128 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:29,480 And guided by love. 129 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:33,480 Based on truth what we know. 130 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:35,480 But guided by love. 131 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:38,480 Our concern for another person. 132 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:41,480 Just as we must use our political freedom. 133 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:44,480 We must exercise to our spiritual freedom. 134 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:50,480 And the Bible says to use that freedom to serve God's purposes. 135 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:55,480 Now as Paul points out here he is responding to a specific question. 136 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:57,480 That had been asked of him. 137 00:10:57,480 --> 00:10:59,480 It related to a cultural issue in Corinth. 138 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:00,480 And it was. 139 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:03,480 What about meat that has been offered to the idols. 140 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:06,480 Here in the city. 141 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:08,480 Now this problem arose in three ways. 142 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:09,480 First of all. 143 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:13,480 There were public sacrifices of meat to idols. 144 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:15,480 And after it had been offered to idols. 145 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:20,480 It was often sold on the market more cheaply. 146 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:23,480 And so people who wanted to buy an economic cut of meat. 147 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:28,480 Would go to the market and buy the meat that had already been offered to an idol. 148 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:31,480 There were others who were invited by unsaved friends. 149 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:34,480 To come to their homes. 150 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:37,480 And there they would offer food. 151 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:40,480 Meat that had been offered to idols. 152 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:42,480 Because they were idolaters. 153 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:47,480 Was a Christian to eat that meat or not? 154 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:49,480 And then there was a third way the question rose. 155 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:53,480 And that was that in many of the public and social gatherings. 156 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:54,480 Of Corinth. 157 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:58,480 Many of those were held in pagan temples. 158 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:04,480 And so the believers had a division among themselves. 159 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:07,480 Some felt that to participate. 160 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:08,480 To eat. 161 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:13,480 Might suggest that somehow they were also participating in idolatry. 162 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:16,480 Even though they had been saved out of that. 163 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:21,480 And so they were convinced that to participate by eating this kind of meat. 164 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:25,480 Was to compromise their faith. 165 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:28,480 But there were others. 166 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:30,480 Who felt that the idols were nothing. 167 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:33,480 This is what they knew to be true. 168 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:37,480 And therefore offering a meat that was offered to nothing. 169 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:39,480 Meant what? 170 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:40,480 Nothing. 171 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:44,480 And so they felt free to eat it. 172 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:52,480 Now I don't know if you've seen any of the meat offered to idols that Costco sells. 173 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:56,480 No, it's really not an issue today is it? 174 00:12:56,480 --> 00:12:57,480 This particular issue. 175 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:00,480 But we do have similar issues. 176 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:02,480 What about gaming? 177 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:05,480 What about gambling? 178 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:07,480 Going to Vegas for a weekend. 179 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:09,480 Or to Reno. 180 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:11,480 What about drinking? 181 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:13,480 Social drinking. 182 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:17,480 What about dancing? 183 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:21,480 What about smoking? 184 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:27,480 Where's a verse in the Bible that gives you absolute knowledge that one of these activities is wrong? 185 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:32,480 You see these are things that believers today debate. 186 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:38,480 And some issues are debated more in some areas than other issues. 187 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:43,480 Somebody says, well I know the Bible doesn't prohibit those things. 188 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:47,480 Paul points out the fact that when we know something. 189 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:48,480 We face a danger. 190 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:54,480 And that is our knowledge can make us self-focused. 191 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:56,480 It can puff us up. 192 00:13:56,480 --> 00:14:05,480 So we're thinking about ourselves and maybe even how superior we are because we understand the issues that others don't. 193 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:07,480 I enjoy this. 194 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:09,480 God doesn't tell me I can't do this. 195 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:11,480 Why can't I partake? 196 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:12,480 What's wrong with it? 197 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:16,480 I have the right to do it. 198 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:19,480 Paul says those who think they know something need to be careful. 199 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:24,480 They may not know as much as they think they do. 200 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:27,480 In light of that I want to give you a little quiz this morning. 201 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:30,480 This is a pop quiz. 202 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:31,480 I don't have time to give you the whole quiz. 203 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:32,480 I'm sorry. 204 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:33,480 But a quiz. 205 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:36,480 Number one, how long did the 100 years war last? 206 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:39,480 Can somebody tell me? 207 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:40,480 Right. 208 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:42,480 113 years. 209 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:44,480 Exactly. 210 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:48,480 What country makes Panama hats? 211 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:49,480 Right. 212 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:52,480 Ecuador. 213 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:56,480 From which animal do we get cat gut? 214 00:14:56,480 --> 00:14:57,480 Right. 215 00:14:57,480 --> 00:14:58,480 Sheep and horses. 216 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:00,480 Exactly. 217 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:05,480 In what month do the Russians celebrate the October Revolution? 218 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:11,480 It's in November because their calendar is 13 days behind ours. 219 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:13,480 What is a camel's hair brush made of? 220 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:15,480 You all know this. 221 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:16,480 Squirrel fur. 222 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:19,480 Exactly. 223 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:21,480 You see, sometimes we think we know things. 224 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:27,480 We may not know things as well as we think we do. 225 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:30,480 Now, it may be true that we have knowledge. 226 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:34,480 But Paul is saying to us here, is that all that matters? 227 00:15:34,480 --> 00:15:36,480 No. 228 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:38,480 He says it's not all that matters. 229 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:43,480 He says you need to let love take action in your life. 230 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:47,480 Because the action of love is to make you others focused. 231 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:49,480 Others focused. 232 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:55,480 Knowledge is balanced in our lives by love. 233 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:58,480 Now, today we're just going to take the first half of the chapter. 234 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:01,480 And next week, God willing, we'll finish it. 235 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:04,480 What I want to say to you in part one of this message is that your 236 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:09,480 spiritual freedom is based on what God says is true. 237 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:13,480 So we're going to deal with the knowledge aspect this morning. 238 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:17,480 As you know, liberty does not exist in a vacuum. 239 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:20,480 Liberty has to have some basis for it. 240 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:22,480 It has to have a legal standing. 241 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:27,480 Our freedom as Americans is based upon what document? 242 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:30,480 This is not part of the quiz, by the way. 243 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:32,480 Right, it's the Constitution. 244 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:37,480 It is based upon the Constitution, which has roots that go all the way 245 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:38,480 back to 1215. 246 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:40,480 And what amazing document? 247 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:41,480 Does anybody know? 248 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:43,480 The Magna Carta. 249 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:50,480 The majestic charter, which was actually forced upon King John by his subjects. 250 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:52,480 He was reluctant. 251 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:56,480 He did not want to give his subjects any rights. 252 00:16:56,480 --> 00:17:00,480 But he was forced to give up some of his rights as the king to his subjects. 253 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:08,480 And that whole process in English law led eventually to our Constitution today. 254 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:11,480 King John was so upset by it that when one of the leaders of the movement for 255 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:17,480 the Magna Carta died, a very noble person, he ordered him to be buried at the 256 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:19,480 Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. 257 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:22,480 Do you remember this? 258 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:28,480 And outside the main door to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, there is a plank 259 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:31,480 about four feet wide and six feet long. 260 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:35,480 For the first time in all the times I've been there three months ago, our guide 261 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:39,480 went over there and lifted that plank up and showed me what was under it. 262 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:43,480 It's the grave of that noble man who died 100 years ago. 263 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:46,480 King John wanted him buried there so that everybody who entered the Church of 264 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:51,480 the Holy Sepulcher could walk on his grave. 265 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:55,480 That's exactly why he's buried there. 266 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:58,480 If you're going to have freedom, there has to be some basis for it. 267 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:01,480 It doesn't just come automatically. 268 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:05,480 Political freedom is based upon legal documents and spiritual freedom is based 269 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:07,480 upon what God says. 270 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:10,480 Jesus said the truth shall what? 271 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:12,480 Shall make you free. 272 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:18,480 That's why the devil likes to blind people to the truth because he doesn't want us 273 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:20,480 to be free. 274 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:25,480 Of course, we learn the truth of God from His Word, the Bible. 275 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:33,480 We all have to admit that our insight into the Bible is partial and incomplete. 276 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:39,480 But there are some things that are clear, some things that are absolute, about 277 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:42,480 which we can say this is for certain. 278 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:46,480 Number one, idols are nothing. 279 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:52,480 Now be they ancient or modern, western or eastern idols, they have one thing in 280 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:56,480 common, they are all lifeless. 281 00:18:56,480 --> 00:19:02,480 They have absolutely no ability to change our lives or to affect us. 282 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:08,480 There is nothing in the world that is more futile than worshipping an idol. 283 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:11,480 You remember the story in the Old Testament of the Philistines who defeated 284 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:16,480 Israel in the days of the high priest Eli. 285 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:22,480 As a result of that, they took the Ark of the Covenant and they placed it in their 286 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:31,480 temple to Dagon, or we might pronounce it Dagon, in Ashdod. 287 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:35,480 I wrote for you the text from 1 Samuel when it says, the people of Ashdod rose 288 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:40,480 early the next day and there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before 289 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:42,480 the Ark of the Lord. 290 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:46,480 They took Dagon and put him back up in its place. 291 00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:50,480 The following morning when they rose there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the 292 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:52,480 ground before the Ark of the Lord. 293 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:55,480 His head and hands had been broken off and they were lying on the threshold, only 294 00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:57,480 his body remained. 295 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:01,480 Poor Dagon. 296 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:04,480 The futility of an idol. 297 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:07,480 Isaiah talks about this, Isaiah 44. 298 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:11,480 He says, the blacksmith takes a tool and works with it in the coals. 299 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:15,480 He shapes an iron with an idol, rather with hammers. 300 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:18,480 He forges it with the might of his arm. 301 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:20,480 He gets hungry and loses his strength. 302 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:22,480 He drinks no water and grows faint. 303 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:26,480 The carpenter measures with a line and makes an outline with a marker. 304 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:29,480 He roughs it out with chisels and marks it with compasses. 305 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:35,480 He shapes it in the form of a man, of man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a 306 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:37,480 shrine. 307 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:40,480 He cut down cedars or perhaps took a cypress or oak. 308 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:45,480 He let it grow among the trees of the forest and planted a pine and the rain made it 309 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:46,480 grow. 310 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:48,480 It is man's fuel for burning. 311 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:51,480 Some of it he takes and warms himself. 312 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:56,480 And he kindles a fire and bakes bread and he also fashions a god and worships it. 313 00:20:56,480 --> 00:20:59,480 He makes an idol and bows down to it. 314 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:02,480 Half of the wood he burns in the fire. 315 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:04,480 Over it he prepares his meal. 316 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:06,480 He roasts his meat and eats his fill. 317 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:08,480 He warms himself and says, ah, I'm warm. 318 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:10,480 I see the fire. 319 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:13,480 And from the rest he makes a god. 320 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:17,480 His idol, he bows down to it and worships. 321 00:21:17,480 --> 00:21:19,480 He prays to it and says, save me. 322 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:21,480 You are my god. 323 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:23,480 They know nothing. 324 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:25,480 They understand nothing. 325 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:29,480 Their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see and their minds closed so they 326 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:31,480 cannot understand. 327 00:21:31,480 --> 00:21:34,480 No one stops to think. 328 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:39,480 No one has the knowledge or understanding to say, half of it I use for fuel. 329 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:42,480 I even bake bread over its coals. 330 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:44,480 I roasted meat and I ate. 331 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:48,480 Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? 332 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:54,480 Shall I bow down to a block of wood? 333 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:58,480 The conclusion, he feeds himself on ashes. 334 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:01,480 A deluded heart misleads him. 335 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:09,480 He cannot save himself or say, is not this thing in my right hand a what? 336 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:14,480 He can't bring himself to say that. 337 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:16,480 Today we are more sophisticated. 338 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:22,480 We have idols not of wood but of ideas. 339 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:29,480 The greatest idol affecting our culture today perhaps is the idol of evolution. 340 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:35,480 Those who worship that idol cannot bring themselves to say, this is a what. 341 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:40,480 They cannot stand to do that. 342 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:43,480 Idols are nothing. 343 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:45,480 We know this. 344 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:51,480 The second thing we know is this, that there is only one god. 345 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:55,480 Now please understand this is not a fashionable notion. 346 00:22:55,480 --> 00:23:01,480 Our PC culture demands tolerance for all religions. 347 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:06,480 America is a pluralistic society and it has become so. 348 00:23:06,480 --> 00:23:08,480 That is true. 349 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:13,480 But our nation was not pluralistic when it was founded. 350 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:17,480 Can we repent? 351 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:22,480 Can we say this is a lie? 352 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:25,480 Only God knows. 353 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:33,480 But we the people of God in the midst of this nation are of a monotheistic faith. 354 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:41,480 The faith of the followers of Jesus Christ is rooted in the historic revelation of God the Creator 355 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:46,480 to the chosen family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 356 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:50,480 Remember Abraham was a polytheist. 357 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:52,480 He worshiped many gods. 358 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:56,480 He was an idolater at the time of his conversion. 359 00:23:56,480 --> 00:24:00,480 In the book of Joshua it says this is what the Lord, the God of Israel says, 360 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:06,480 long ago your forefathers including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor lived beyond the river 361 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:08,480 and worshiped other gods. 362 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:12,480 But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the river 363 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:17,480 and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. 364 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:23,480 God called this polytheist to himself and gave him the truth. 365 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:28,480 There is only one God and Abraham believed God. 366 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:33,480 He believed that. 367 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:38,480 And that became then the mark of the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 368 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:42,480 In the midst of a sea of polytheism and false worship, 369 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:49,480 they were the people who believed in one God who was invisible. 370 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:54,480 Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God. 371 00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:56,480 The Lord is what? 372 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:58,480 The Lord is one. 373 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:03,480 Or it can be said the Lord is alone. 374 00:25:03,480 --> 00:25:07,480 That's why he said have no other gods before me. 375 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:11,480 Paul says he, this one God is our father. 376 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:14,480 He is our father. 377 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:17,480 Wonderful term for God. 378 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:21,480 That means number one that he is personal. 379 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:25,480 That's why the God that we worship is not the same God of Buddhism, 380 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:28,480 which is really atheism, 381 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:32,480 or the God of Hinduism. 382 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:34,480 He's a personal God. 383 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:38,480 The gods of these other religions are not personal gods. 384 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:41,480 They're impersonal. 385 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:45,480 This God that we worship is father, that means he has all authority. 386 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:47,480 It is his. 387 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:50,480 He is the source of creation. 388 00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:52,480 It all came from him. 389 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:54,480 He is the one who caused it to all come to pass. 390 00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:59,480 God spoke and it was so. 391 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:07,480 He also says that this one God that we worship is the one Lord, Jesus Christ. 392 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:12,480 I love the fact he puts his whole name there, Lord Jesus Christ. 393 00:26:12,480 --> 00:26:15,480 It tells us he is the God-man. 394 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:18,480 He is unique. He is one of a kind. 395 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:22,480 We know this. 396 00:26:22,480 --> 00:26:26,480 It is absolutely certain. It is the basis of our faith. 397 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:31,480 He is deity and humanity in one person. 398 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:37,480 He is the Christ. He is the designated Savior who was to come into the world. 399 00:26:37,480 --> 00:26:41,480 The Lord Jesus Christ carries out God's purposes. 400 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:44,480 He is the agent of creation. 401 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:46,480 God is the source of creation. 402 00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:49,480 It is the Son of God who is the agent of creation. 403 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:53,480 He is the Word of God. 404 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:58,480 He is the one who sustains everything, gives everything its life. 405 00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:01,480 We know this, says Paul. 406 00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:03,480 We know it. 407 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:07,480 And because we know it, there is an implication I need to tell you. 408 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:12,480 The meat that is offered to idols is kosher. 409 00:27:12,480 --> 00:27:16,480 It is clean. 410 00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:23,480 Meat that is offered to nothing can be contaminated by nothing. 411 00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:28,480 Paul says in Romans 14, nothing is unclean of itself. 412 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:37,480 God created all things for us to enjoy rightly, including food. 413 00:27:37,480 --> 00:27:43,480 And so holding up a piece of meat before an idol neither defiles it nor harms its nutritional value. 414 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:45,480 Now I want to conclude with four quick statements. 415 00:27:45,480 --> 00:27:52,480 Number one, God's truth defines everything else. 416 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:55,480 Please know this. 417 00:27:55,480 --> 00:28:00,480 That's why we're taking a stand as we are on the issue of our day. 418 00:28:00,480 --> 00:28:05,480 God's truth defines everything else that there is. 419 00:28:05,480 --> 00:28:08,480 It defines who God is, number one. 420 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:12,480 Humans do not define God. 421 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:17,480 We dare not make God after our own image. 422 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:20,480 God reveals Himself to us. 423 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:22,480 He does it in creation. 424 00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:26,480 He does it through His spoken, His written Word. 425 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:32,480 Secondly, God defines for us what is morally right and wrong. 426 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:35,480 By the way, where does this whole idea originate? 427 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:40,480 That there are some things that are right and some things that are wrong. 428 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:42,480 Where does that come from? 429 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:44,480 Animals don't have that. 430 00:28:44,480 --> 00:28:47,480 I had to train my dog. 431 00:28:47,480 --> 00:28:53,480 He didn't know what was... he had no conscience at all. 432 00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:55,480 It comes from God. 433 00:28:55,480 --> 00:29:00,480 And it comes uniquely to human beings, this whole idea of right and wrong. 434 00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:08,480 The day in which you and I live, right and wrong is often thought of as a personal taste 435 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:11,480 rather than the truth of God. 436 00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:15,480 I like the taste of that or I don't like it. 437 00:29:15,480 --> 00:29:20,480 It works for me, maybe it doesn't work for you. 438 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:25,480 You can't impose your morality on me, that's not my taste. 439 00:29:25,480 --> 00:29:31,480 And then the king of all whoppers, you can't legislate morality. 440 00:29:31,480 --> 00:29:35,480 Baloney, that's all law is. 441 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:42,480 If somebody's morality codified, put into law, that's all it is. 442 00:29:42,480 --> 00:29:50,480 The question is whose morality is going to be put into the law? 443 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:54,480 Boy, I would love to talk more about that, but I need to go on and say 444 00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:58,480 the Bible defines number three, who you are. 445 00:29:58,480 --> 00:30:00,480 That you're a special creation. 446 00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:05,480 You're no accident, you are created in the image of God. 447 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:10,480 The Bible says that you're a member of a fallen race. 448 00:30:10,480 --> 00:30:13,480 A race that is in rebellion against the Creator. 449 00:30:13,480 --> 00:30:19,480 And therefore subject to evil and spiritual and moral darkness. 450 00:30:19,480 --> 00:30:24,480 The Bible says that you have incredible worth to God. 451 00:30:24,480 --> 00:30:31,480 And despite the fact you were fallen, He loves you desperately. 452 00:30:31,480 --> 00:30:37,480 The Bible tells us that you are made to exist forever. 453 00:30:37,480 --> 00:30:39,480 Forever. 454 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:41,480 That's who you are. 455 00:30:41,480 --> 00:30:44,480 Christ died for you. 456 00:30:44,480 --> 00:30:48,480 Finally the Bible tells us, God defines for us what our future is. 457 00:30:48,480 --> 00:30:50,480 What your future is. 458 00:30:50,480 --> 00:30:57,480 The Bible says that every person will spend eternity either in heaven or in hell. 459 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:02,480 Heaven or hell. 460 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:05,480 We make the choice. 461 00:31:05,480 --> 00:31:13,480 Number two, God's truth will set me free or God's truth will condemn me. 462 00:31:13,480 --> 00:31:16,480 That's the power of truth. 463 00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:22,480 To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, if you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples, 464 00:31:22,480 --> 00:31:26,480 then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. 465 00:31:26,480 --> 00:31:29,480 Those who believed Him. 466 00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:32,480 Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life. 467 00:31:32,480 --> 00:31:34,480 How do we get to the Father? 468 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:36,480 Through Him. 469 00:31:36,480 --> 00:31:38,480 He's the truth. 470 00:31:38,480 --> 00:31:42,480 The truth can free us. 471 00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:48,480 The fact of the truth is that every person who encounters the truth never leaves the same way. 472 00:31:48,480 --> 00:31:50,480 You can't. 473 00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:52,480 You can't. 474 00:31:52,480 --> 00:32:00,480 Because the truth demands a response and we either respond positively or negatively whenever we hear the truth. 475 00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:03,480 You cannot leave this room this morning the same way you came in. 476 00:32:03,480 --> 00:32:06,480 It's impossible. 477 00:32:06,480 --> 00:32:11,480 If anyone comes to the truth, Jesus says, if anyone believes on the truth, 478 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:15,480 that truth will save them. 479 00:32:15,480 --> 00:32:22,480 But if they neglect or reject it, it will come down hard on them. 480 00:32:22,480 --> 00:32:28,480 For the Bible says those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, 481 00:32:28,480 --> 00:32:33,480 there will be wrath and anger. 482 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:40,480 It goes on to say in Thessalonians, they perish because they refuse to love the truth 483 00:32:40,480 --> 00:32:46,480 and so to be saved. 484 00:32:46,480 --> 00:32:48,480 The basic principle is this. 485 00:32:48,480 --> 00:32:50,480 I practice. 486 00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:54,480 I practice what I believe. 487 00:32:54,480 --> 00:32:56,480 That's what Paul is saying in these verses. 488 00:32:56,480 --> 00:32:59,480 We have knowledge. 489 00:32:59,480 --> 00:33:01,480 We practice what we believe. 490 00:33:01,480 --> 00:33:09,480 Now there's a Lomorian who wants to say about that and I hope you'll be back next week to hear the rest of the story. 491 00:33:09,480 --> 00:33:12,480 What is the truth that dominates your life today? 492 00:33:12,480 --> 00:33:14,480 Are you living in the truth? 493 00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:18,480 You say, well, I believe the truth, but I'm not sure I practice the truth. 494 00:33:18,480 --> 00:33:25,480 Well, the fact is that we practice what we really believe. 495 00:33:25,480 --> 00:33:27,480 Do you understand what I'm saying there? 496 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:31,480 You and I practice what we really believe. 497 00:33:31,480 --> 00:33:35,480 Are we believing the truth and basing our lives on it? 498 00:33:35,480 --> 00:33:42,480 Because folks, eternity hangs in the balance to that question. 499 00:33:42,480 --> 00:33:53,480 Father, may we this morning be people who know the truth and are therefore set free. 500 00:33:53,480 --> 00:33:58,480 And out of that freedom, we practice what is true as well. 501 00:33:58,480 --> 00:34:05,480 In Jesus' name, amen.