1 Corinthians 10:14-22

God is Creator. He created everything and gave it to man as a blessing. We live by it during our earthly lives. God is worthy to be worshiped. When humans were doomed to perish by sin, He sent His only Son to die, shedding His blood and saved us. We should worship the Lord forever.

The devil is the angel who against the Lord. He wants to be on the throne of the Lord to be worshiped. Worldly people worship the devil not knowing whom they should serve (Hebrews 2:14). God made humans to rule over everything as the Lord rules the whole world. However humans gave up their right to rule over and subdue everything. It is foolish that they lost the right given by the Lord. This is idolatry. It is forgetting the favor of the Lord. It will bring shame that humans lost their right.

 
The devil still deceives us. First, he makes us forget the favor of the Lord. Second, he deceives us to deprive us of our right given by the Lord. The devil even asked the Son of God to serve him, suggesting that He give Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. There is nothing glorious thing in all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. They are the things we have and use. Therefore those who regard all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor as glorious are deceived by the devil. They are those who worship all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.

During the holidays people worship natural things and worship ancestors. We should not worship our ancestors but should honor our parents (Ephesians 6:1-4). God gave everything to us to use (Genesis 1:28-30). When humans die, they will not be in the world anymore. Their flesh returns to the ground and their souls go to heaven or hell.

Though we give sacrifices to them, their flesh which became dust cannot receive it and the soul which is in heaven or hell cannot receive it. Think about the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16). If the parents who passed away really receive the sacrifice, why do they give sacrifices only once or twice a year? Shouldn't they give it at every meal? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God (1 Corinthians 10:19-22).

The devil might enjoy the holidays in Korea. If you are deceived by the devil, you will become His children (John 8:44). The Lord also resisted the devil (Matthew4:1-11). Humans ought to serve the Lord, but those who serve the devil, who tries to destroy man, will punish the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation (Deuteronomy 5:8-10). They will perish forever with the devil (Revelation 21:8). Dear congregation, do not perish deceived by the devil but serve the Lord only who restores the right for life forever.

2014.1.26