Thirsting Souls Bible Teaching

(1Co 10:21) “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. (22)  Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?”  “Provoke the Lord to jealousy”: He deserves our wholehearted love and devotion, coming before self with all its lust and desires. How often do we without due consideration provoke Him to jealousy, paying a price we are not spiritual enough to perceive?

(1Co 10:19) “What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? (20)  But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.”  Just as when one partakes of the Lord’s Supper, they fellowship with God, so when one takes part in eating something offered to an idol, they are fellowshipping with devils. Context: speaks of  eating with the knowledge of why it had been prepared. They are not gods, but they are devils.

(1Co 10:18) “Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?”  The altar and its many sacrifices was given to them directly from God, just as the communion service was given directly through the Spirit of God. To eat is to acknowledge Him. We have lost in our day the fact that these are not simply rituals, but acts to honor Him. Glory to His Name!

(1Co 10:17) “For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.” The saved are part of not only the Lord in communion, but with each other in its fellowship. Although the context is building up to a conclusion, we must not overlook the application that we must be spiritually alive to have true communion with Christ. The same is true in order to have fellowship on a spiritual level with one another.

(1Co 10:15) “I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. (16)  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?”  Although the juice and the bread are nothing in themselves, in our hearts we are becoming one with Jesus (communion – fellowship). We feel we are pleasing God in what we do.We are to be in our hearts saying, “I dedicate myself once again in thankfulness to living for His glory.”

(1Co 10:13) “…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. (14)  Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.”  What pressure might a person feel to be a part of a false worship of God? Family pressure (“We have always been…”); social pressure; what comes down to a choice between God’s or man’s acceptance. Choose right. Choose God.

(1Co 10:13) “There hath no temptation 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.”  As we look at the demands of holy living, our hearts may say, “I cannot”. Here He Who faced our temptations and overcame says to you, “I understand and will help if you are willing.”

 (1Co 10:12) “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” Pride makes us think we are better, more spiritual, that what we are. Through the example of Paul in 2 Corinthians 12 we learn it not our strength, but the Lord’s strength through which we are to overcome. The Lord lifts up the humble, not the proud (James 4:6,10).