"Choose Your Battle"
TEXTS: 1 Tim. 6:11-12; 1 Cor. 11:29-32; ; Joshua 7:6; Acts 4:27-29; Acts 5; 1 Cor. 5:5
TRUTHS:
1. Early believers who resided in Corinth experienced unnecessary physical weakness and death as the local church gathered and grew. Why? Paul reveals that they were participating in communion in an unworthy manner. They overlooked their own selfishness, self-righteousness, and the divisions that were present among them. Communion–which is designed to bring life and hope–was instead bringing about pain and death. The presence of God should be taken seriously and we should examine our hearts and lives before we experience His presence alongside others at the communion table.
2. Joshua and the Israelites were perplexed concerning the death of 36 of their armed troops. Until this point the Israelites had been experiencing the provision and favor of God and had not lost a single member of their army! What changed? Achan had sinned and stolen some goods that were left from the aftermath of a battle. As a result, the protection from God’s hand that they had experienced so often in the past was now absent.
3. Ananias and Sapphira (in Acts 5) dropped dead in church after lying about how generous they had been. The Bible ties this account to the sin of Achan and reminds us that God’s presence is to be taken seriously and treated in a holy way. When God’s power and presence is manifested in a more full manner it is dangerous to experience it and go on to live an unrighteous and unrepentant life.
4. The local church provides an environment where we can learn how to meet with God and how to appropriately come into His presence. There are many important aspects of a worship service, but learning how to handle and view God’s presence could be considered the central reason the Lord calls us to gather together.
5. You don’t hide your sin from God, you talk to Him about it. When we are open and honest before the Lord He is willing and able to graciously cover our sin.
6. The early Church prayed that God’s miraculous power would continue to be poured out as they evangelized and advanced the Kingdom of God. But they knew God’s power flowing in and through them would bring about pain and persecution. They weren’t asking for miracles to make their lives more comfortable, they knew the opposite would take place. But they were willing to accept that situation if it meant the gospel would go forth in power.
TALK TO EACH OTHER:
1. What truths does the Corinthian communion situation communicate to all believers?
2. What does it mean to examine yourself? How do we do this? It is so easy to deceive and lie to ourselves, how do we make sure our self-examination is not us justifying and overlooking what we should be repenting of?
3. Is there a proper attitude or posture we should have as we experience God’s presence? Is there a right and wrong way to view and handle God’s presence during a corporate worship service? How would you describe both?
4. How does the Lord cover our sin? How does this process practically play out in our lives?
5. Why do you think the Lord behaves so seriously regarding communion? They are several other sacraments that don’t seem to carry as much weight. Why communion?
TALK TO GOD:
Pray as you feel led concerning the following areas:
- Self-examination
- That our personal and corporate sin would drive us towards Christ rather than away from Him