1 Corinthians 10 : 18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 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.

Paul is again telling these people that they ate from the temple when they used to sacrifice but now it is not  necessary and if they eat of that sacrifice now they worshiping an idol. He goes on to say that an idol can be anything and to worship that idol means you are worshiping nothing because an idol is nothing. When Paul mentions the gentiles here he is talking about the heathen world and they sacrifice or worship they are worshiping devils. They do this because they know not God. Christians should not have anything to do with demons or devils in any way because they belong to God. We really need to aware of the things and people we  keep company with that we do not give the devil a chance to lure us away from God.

1 Corinthians 10 : 14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

From what we have learned so far now Paul is saying to flea from idolatry and run the other way. This is also good advice for us today because there are so many things in our society today that we try to put before God and when we do this it becomes an idol. Paul continues by telling them that he already knows they know what to believe because  they were wise enough to line up with those who know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Plus he reminds them to take heed of what he teaches to remain in good standing with the Lord and to think carefully before joining with doing he things of this world that can carry you down the wrong. This still applies to us today with this teaching because it is even more convenient from us to fall into a worldly trap because of all things pulling at us today.

1 Corinthians 10 : 11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 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.

First here Paul is telling the people and us not to fall into trends and patterns that the children of Israel did but to learn them so we do not make the same mistakes. He continues by saying do not let pride keep you from learning from the mistakes of others but to examine yourself so the Lord will not have to and remember pride goes before a fall. Lastly is a good verse to remember and in simple terms it means that God will not let you be tempted above what you handle without giving you a way to get away from it. If you will allow God to be a part of your life these temptations, that come from Satan not God, will not only be easy to escape but God will help you to not put yourself in a position to have to face something you do not need to. We have to remember that when these temptations come, if we do not have God’s help we can not resist them and we will fall into sin and put our self in a position where Satan can do more damage. So we need o let God control our lives and not Satan.

1 Corinthians 10 : 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

Paul continues in these verse reminding the people of how the people took little time in set up a god they could see to worship. This was while Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments from God. Not only did they worship the false god they also began to party and get drunk and commit all kinds of sexual sins. This caused God to destroy three and twenty thousand in day because of there disobedience. They continued to test God and He sent serpents to destroy the people who were being disobedient Finally he reminds them of the time an entire Assyrian .was sent to destroy Jerusalem because the people were murmuring against God. A lot of these things Paul is reminding these people of is the same things we face today in our world of what is leading so many away from Christ. So we need to let people know when they  are doing wrong or what their consequences could be.

1 Corinthians 10 : 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

Paul wanted the people to know God was not pleased with the report brought back out of the promised land. When he said many died he meant all those that were over the age of 19 when they left Egypt died except for Joshua and Caleb. Paul was letting the people know they did not need to go back to those things that could pull them away from God. It seemed they were never satisfied and was always murmuring against God. They died in the wilderness because they could not learn from their mistakes.  This helps us to see that we need to stay in touch with God at all times to be able to receive what He has for us and not miss the opportunity to receive it.

1 Corinthians 10 : 1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Paul begins this chapter reminding these people of how God guided Israel for 40 years in the wilderness with a cloud in the daytime and a pillar of fire at night and how to begin with they passed through the Red Sea and  the ea closed down on the Egyptian army. All this helped the people to see that this made Moses their leader. That they were also all feed everyday by the manna that God provided and all drank from the Rock that provided the water for them which that Rock was Jesus Christ.  the water that was received from the rock was real water but it was spiritual in the sense that it was given through God’s direct intervention.This is intended to mean that the source of supply was Christ and not the rock and so this passage is an impressive affirmation of the preexistence of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 9 : 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Paul finishes this chapter by telling us that he he was not running the race just to be running but he ran to finish the race. Which means he was not preaching just to here himself preach but he expected to get results. This shows us that there must be a goal in ministering just as there is a goal in a race. The same is true when he speaks of beating the air in that he is just waving his arms in air at nothing but is expecting to make a connection with something. Finally he says he disciplines himself to the teachings of the Bible plus he practices what he preaches. He does not want to be seen as a hypocrite so that he would cast aside and not listened to. Paul lived the Christian life to all he ministered to because he wanted nothing but to do the will of God. This is setting us an example to live by and in this world we live in today we can almost expect some of the rejection Paul faced.

1 Corinthians 9 : 24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.  25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

In these verses Paul is relating to people in way they can understand by comparing the race we run as a Christian to an Olympic style race that was ran in their day.  Life is a race we are running and trying to make it to the finish line and as a Christian it is a race that is run on a narrow path. We must never stop, always look straight ahead to the Lord and know that our path is lite by Jesus Christ.  The race we run is for everlasting life with our Lord And Savior we must never turn back or wander off track but continue till the end is reached. We also see here that those who indulge in a worldly race receive only a crown that will fade away one day.  Christians should always make sure they stay on the right track and not mix worldly things in that could cause them to loose their crown that will be for eternity. The incorruptible crown is for those who Christ will reward at his return who have been faithful to His Testimony. Please attend church today to help you stay on the right track so you can win your race.

1 Corinthians 9 : 22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

Paul continues here showing us that he could even share the Gospel with those who had very little comprehension, or those with very little knowledge of the Gospel. Again he emphasizes that he did what ever it took to meet the needs of the people he was sharing with.   Finally we see that Paul is doing what he does to further the Gospel by doing whatever it takes and he knows if he shares it with everyone he can he will be able to receive his reward in seeing peopled saved. We see in Paul’s writing so many times he repeats  things in different ways which to me means it is important that we grasp what he is trying to tell us. It makes it seem who he was talking to might have been a little hardheaded, like maybe we are sometimes so it it takes hearing something more than once .

1 Corinthians 9 : 19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

Again Paul is letting us know that the made himself free from all men by not receiving any support from them. This caused him to be enslaved to self support but it was so he could win more to Christ. He continues to let us know that even brought the message to the Jews because he was a Jew and he did this by following all the Jewish traditions, and even keeping the law even though they are no longer under the law. He did this to make sure he had a chance to get the Gospel to them. Paul, as we should, did what ever it took to get the message to the people he was witnessing to at the time.