1 Cor. 10 :1-12  To Him who thinks He stands

 

Intro: Romy & Karen just recently returned from Virginia - visit Troy & Becky Warner - Church in Lynchburg .

A) Picture of Patrick Henry’s house -   Give me Liberty or give me death.

 

B) Apostle Paul would have said - Right on Patrick !  Paul was a man who understood - Liberty - moved in Liberty - free in his walk

1)  It was Paul who declared in chapter 6 All things are Lawful for me

 

C) Paul was a man who enjoyed & understood his liberty in the Lord. - Paul also could say Give me Liberty -

1)  I THINK Paul would have added a phrase - Give me liberty but make sure it doesn’t lead to death.

 

D) Death of the People around me - who might stumble because they see me exercising my Liberty

1)  or death in my own life by being slowed down in the race by things that are not good for me .

 

E) Things that would be holding me back or holding me down from experiencing all that the Lord has for me.

 

For the last several weeks we have been looking at this section that focuses on Christian Liberty - Ch. 8,9,10

A) You recall - Paul was addressing  this subject in response to a question that those in Corinth had written to him - meat offered to idols

 

B) TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT THAT WAS THE QUESTION.

 

C) We have seen that the Corinthians were divided into 2 groups / those who were strong & mature - saw it as NO PROBLEM. Idols are nothing

1)  But the weak & immature had a problem w/ it

PAUL’S SOLUTION?  The mature brothers/ sisters needed to show love & sensitivity to the weaker immature brothers/ making sure they gave them no cause to stumble.

 

A) And if need be Paul said they needed to forfeit their liberty for the sake of their - brother/ or sister.

1)  They needed to be willing to give up their liberty

 

13  Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. Focus of Ch. 8

 

B) Then in Ch. 9 Paul uses himself as an illustration of this principle as it relates to his provision & support in ministry .

1)  That as a minister he had the right & the liberty to be supported financially - Paul gives 6 very persuasive arguments

 

C) Paul explains that he forfeited that right, that liberty because he didn’t want anyone to stumble -

1)  didn’t want the PREACHING OF THE  gospel to be hindered Because his goal was TO see people come to Christ .

 

D) In our study last time Paul illustrated by using the analogy of a race that to cause someone else to stumble in the race would mean -That he himself would become disqualified 

 

E) That Paul would not get the Prize the reward that He was running after - longing for .

1)  Paul was running w/ eternities values in view & didn’t want anything to hinder him from that goal.

 

So in Ch. 9 Paul uses himself as a good example of one who was rightly handling his liberty 

A) but here in Ch. 10 he uses the nation of Israel as a bad example

Israel had been in bondage for 400 yrs in Egypt / then they were set free  by the power of the Lord - lead to PROMISED LAND

A) Yet tragically they blew it & became disqualified from entering into the

          Land of Promise because of their own stupidity  & sin !

 

B) Now we have been set free from the bondage that we were in but

          tragically some believers today ( don’t experience the blessings of this

          abundant life for the same reasons !)       Stupidity & Sin!

 

C) See what we can glean from Paul’s teaching / make sure experiencing all

          God has for us !

 

 

So Paul begins V. 1,2   Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea,  all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

 

A) Paul begins by getting them to think about their own history / our fathers

          when released from Egypt/  under cloud & baptized unto Moses !

 

B) When THEY were released their 1st encounter was Red Sea / that was their Baptism so to speak follow Moses as God’s appointed leader !

1)  It was a Baptism of sorts as the followed - Moses through the Red

     Sea.

 

C) Now Paul’s focus here is not to center on the ceremony of Baptism / but that of Spiritual identification   ( THEIR Baptism  Unto Moses )

1)  And the Corinthians like us were identified w/ Christ in their Christian  Baptism ! BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST

 

c)   BAPTISM SPEAKS of our old man being buried w/ Christ in death - RISEN TO WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE.

1) Paul’s focus IDENTIFICATION  Them unto Moses /Us  Into Jesus

So Paul says remember how they were set free / Led through the Red Sea & followed under the Cloud

A) Like this Neat Picture : Too often we picture this cloud off in the distance - there it goes - lets back up move out……….

 

B) But that is not an accurate picture at all - Actually - the cloud - was hovering over top of them. / cloud day  fire by night !

1)  Cloud would move they would move

 

C) But the cloud not only served as a guide but also as a shelter /  In that  hot desert the cloud covered them from the hot sun.

 

D) Now the reason I like this so much is I think this is a great illustration of what the Lord desires our life in Christ to be like.

1)  That life of walking in  the spirit - being led by the spirit -

 

 

We are under Christ - He is the Head of the body - The Head is where the brain is - gives directions - body responds

A) Yesterday Denise called - stop by Albertson’s on your way home - get some bread-  Hot french bread - 99c 

 

B) Brain takes the info - sends signal to my hands - guiding the steering wheel - to store . Parked

1)  Legs walked in led directly to the Rack-  grabbed 2 loaves - proceeded to get into the slowest line in the store. ( legs took over)

 

C) Like the cloud hovered over their heads & led them so too Jesus our head desires to lead us in that same way.

1)  I am finding more in more as I walk w/ the Lord that as I just abide w/ Him / keep in communion w/ Him - He begins to move / sense it

 

D) Sense the Lord wants me to go here or do this / read that -

E) I used to think that I had to pray several hrs for direction - for every decision & there are times where that is necessary

1)  But finding more & more that that leading comes as I am staying under the cloud - staying in communion- abiding .

 

 

But the cloud was not just used to lead them it was also used to shelter them from the  Hot sun. kept them cool in the desert

A) This too is also a great illustration of the Spirit led life - in our Journey

w/ the Lord / realize not to be a burden

 

a)  Jesus said :  My yoke easy burden is light !  - 

1)  OT  Ezk. 44:17 said of the Priest that they were to wear linen & not wool or anything that causes them to sweat .

 

b) Lord didn’t want his servants striving & sweating it out - but resting in HIM - being refreshed by HIM!

 

 

B) There are a lot of people who are always sweating over - what  is the will of God - what do I do where do I go  striving & struggling

    1)Instead of just following the cloud - instead of just staying under the 

       cloud - ( that is when I start sweating over things - not in communion)

 

C) But it is cool even in the mist of the hottest trial when I know that I am right under the cloud - just cruising along

1) Fellowshipping & following my head - JESUS

 

D) In our experience of being led by the Spirit / Gods desire that it would be

          a no sweat experience ( Cloud moved they moved - so too us)

 

 

 

So V - 3  all ate the same spiritual food,4  and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

A) Rock is not Petros / but Petra huge Mt. ( wasn’t a rock that followed them but Christ was actually w/ them to Provide for them!

 

B)They drank all of them of that same spiritual rock & that ROCK WAS Jesus WHO declared in John 7:37 "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."  But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive;

 

THIS IS ALSO THE LAST INVITATION FOUND IN THE BIBLE IN

Rev. 22:17 17  And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

 

C) So Paul takes them back to their history where They had been Delivered from Bondage / fed & led / they miraculous water provided  /

1)  All the privileges you could imagine / Yet they Blew it big time &

     forfeited the Promised Land!

 

5  But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 

A) ( Most of them is a major understatement -of the 3 million who came out of Egypt - only two went in Josh & Caleb )

 

B) A few Yrs ago - Houston Oilers were having a dreadful season - ( Usual)

     Coach BUM Phillips - reporter after game - loss

1)  What do you think about your teams execution -   I THINK IT IS A

    GOOD IDEA !!!!!!

 

C) That is what took place in the wilderness - long execution/ longest funeral

6  Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.

 

A) All this happened to them their wanderings etc . not just as historical

          incidences but as Practical illustrations for us !

1)  Personal Application So that we might learn from their mistakes & avoid the things that they didn’t !  

 

B) What are we to avoid Paul list 5 things

 

 

1st thing we are to avoid & watch out for  is that of lust !

A) Ref. Is to Num. 11complaining about their food - tired of manna / Manna hot cakes / banana bread/ manna cotti/    Give us meat they cried !

 

B) Even though the manna was supernaturally sent everyday - they began to long for some meat - they were unsatisfied w/ God’s provision.

 

C) Do you ever feel like that / really unsatisfied w/ where the Lord has you & how he is providing for you ! Dangerous place to be

1)  wanting something else or someone else ( not satisfied w/ where

    the Lord has you )

 

c) That is the nature of LUST -  always wanting SOMETHING ELSE .

 

D) So they were lusting after meat & God said OK we will give them meat !

         

d) Moses thought how ? ( Kill cattle - or go fishing )

1)  Moses made mistake  that I often find myself  making he looked

    at what he thought was his only 2 alternatives

 

E) He saw only these 2 options but God had a totally different plan in mind!

 

Here is what happened the people looked & saw a cloud off in the distance / not a normal cloud / cloud of Quail flying 2 cubits or about 3 ft.

A) Check this out 3 ft. is in the strike zone /  it was like baseball literally

    guys picked up bat like objects / each man gathered 10 homers!

 

B) Greg Vaughn -

 

C) They ate so much the word says they had Quail coming out of their

       noses!

 

D) Check this out the Psalmist recounting this story said Ps. 106 :14,15

          Gave request but sent leanness to their souls !

 

D) Heavy statement & vivid illustration of what lust does / doesn’t satisfy

          and it destroys

1)  Lust is like a fire the more you feed it the hotter it gets & the more

          it demands ! - Never satisfied .

 

d)  Howard the Candy man - Little yellow candies - can’t have one -

 

 

E) Tricky thing about lust is you take one just a little & you end up needing more & more ( physical needs met but leanness to your soul )

1)  Lust doesn’t satisfy it destroys ( so watch out for Lust)

 

 

The 2nd thing Paul tells us to watch out for is Idolatry !

7  And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."

 

A) Ref. Here is to Ex. 32 Moses is up before the Lord getting the 10

commandments  40 days

 

B) People down below were wondering about their Pastor / why gone so long

      what is he doing up there ?

1)  So they turned to his Asst. Aaron ( You become our Leader)

          gave Aaron their gold & made a golden cow !

 

C) Quoting Exodus 32:6 Paul continues, The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play.

1)  The eating and drinking refer to the excessive feasting that followed the sacrifices.

 

D) Play is a euphemism for sexual relations.  They weren’t playing tag - they were  engaging in sexual immorality .

1)  Moses reaction What are you doing?     Top of excuses/  

 

D)     Aaron’s response  gold in the fire & this golden calf came out ….

          take off our cloths & dance naked “

 

 

Now what is interesting is that their form of idolatry was not to replacing Yaweh by an image

A) See Although the calf was a representation of a popular Egyptian god, the Israelites planned to use it to worship Jehovah.

1)  Popular god of that culture - cow was gentle nursing its young / cow

      was strong but not threatening

 

B) They referred to the calf as the god who had brought them out of Egypt (32:4), and when Aaron built an altar to the idol he declared “a feast to the Lord,” that is Yahweh, the covenant name of Israel’s God.

 

C) Somehow they thought they could use a pagan idol to worship the true God.

1) They had for so long been around the pagan ceremonies of Egypt

          that it seemed almost natural to add a pagan practice to true worship.

Now Some of the believers in Corinth had also reverted to their old ways of worship.

A)Idols represent false gods, gods who are really demons, and Paul warns later in chapter 10 that “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons” (1 Cor. 10:20–21).

 

B)  The right God can only be worshiped in the right way.

 

C) When Christians worship anyone or anything besides God, that is idolatry. Worshiping the virgin Mary, saints, icons, or angels is idolatry.

1)  No matter how sincerely they are meant to honor to God, such practices are false worship and are strictly forbidden in Scripture.

 

 

All idols, of course, are not physical. They do not have to be made of wood, stone, or metal.

A) Any concept of God that is not biblical is false, and if believed and followed it becomes an idol.

 

B) Those who follow a man–made god may claim they worship the God of Scripture, just as the Israelites claimed their calf worship was to the Lord.  

     1) But no false god has anything in common with the God of the Bible.

 

C) Churches and philosophies have developed that virtually make gods of success, love, social service, self–image, you name it - been      Deified

1)  But Anything that takes our first loyalty and allegiance is an idol.

 

D) Many people who would not take a second glance at a carved idol will sacrifice health, time, family, moral standards,

1)  and anything else required in order to achieve the idol of success or recognition they want.

 

E) The sin of idolatry, like every other sin, is of the heart. As God told Ezk. about the elders of Israel, “These men have set up their idols in their hearts, and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity”

 

By making an idol of gold a calf the people were in essence saying that they wanted a God who was tangible - touch & see.

A) God answered that desire in sending His Son!!!!

 

 

3rd - area of sin we are to watch out for is sexual immorality - v.8

Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell;

A.) Ref. - here is to Numbers 25 when children of Israel committed harlotry w/ the daughters of Moab

1.) 24,000 died because of their sin!

 

B.) Now this has Caused some controversy! Paul says 23,000 in one day! Numbers 25 - 24,000 died

1.) Really simple - plague - 23,000 died in one day. Some died next day or shortly there- after -for a  total of 24,000

 

 

Point we need to catch is warning - avoid sexual immorality

A) Some one might say - Hey I can watch that movie or listen to that music - Paul would say REALLY -  BE CAREFUL

 

B) Consider -  Statistics would disagree w/ that mentality

 

 

 

 

 

So be careful about sexual immorality - Don’t start down that road that would lead to compromise in that area of Sexual immorality

A) Watch what you are doing - what you are listening to musically - what viewing on the T.V. & at the movies .

 

B) Affects you more than you think - sow to the Wind - Weep whirlwind

1)  PT. YOU REAP MORE THAN YOU SOW!!!!

 

 

4th area - v.9 -nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents;   -    Testing the Lord

A.) Ref - Numbers 21 - complaining about food and water

 

B.) Remember Egypt - Back to world - melons, onions/  ENEMY - DISTORTED VIEW - SLAVES IN EGPYT

1.) So the Lord sent serpents

 

C.) Same today - people test the Lord by trying to live w/ one foot in both worlds!

1.) Be not deceived God is not …

 

D.) Understand your flesh will prevail - why? Spirit will not force you to submit

 

 

5th  is linked to that  Complaining  V.10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

A) The Israelites were a complaining people - the ref. Here is to what began in Numbers in Numbers 14 - & carried over into ch. 16

 

B) Ch. 14 / 12 Spies /  grapes size of basketballs - land flowing w/ milk & honey - abundance    /

1)  PROBLEM  ( Giants in the Land )

C) Began to murmur & complain & threatened to kill - Moses & Aaron

 

D) That sentiment carried over into Ch. Numbers 16 - Korah  & his boys tried to come against Moses - RESULT            14,700

 

 

Murmuring is dissatisfaction w/ God’s sovereign will for our lives and the lives of others

A.) It is a sin He doesn’t take lightly even in view of His grace!

 

B.) Been said - complaining is language of hell - what doing

1.) Thanksgiving and praise is language of heaven

 

C.) When People are complaining why isn’t this happening - they are challenging His wisdom,  HIS grace, His goodness, His love,

1) His Righteousness

 

complaining - dishonors our heavenly Father & contentment glorifies Him!

 

SO 5 THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR - IN EXERCISING LIBERTY

Lust/ Idolatry / Sexual Immorality/ Tempting Christ / Complaining

 

 

Now in - story spies - learn a great lesson about dealing w/ trying circumstances

A.) Israel scared murmuring giants   Numbers Ch. 14 - v.6 - 9a 6  But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes;7  and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: "The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land.8  "If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, 'a land which flows with milk and honey.'9  "Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread;

B.) They are our bread!  What does that mean?

1.) Well circumstances that we find ourselves in can become our source of food and growth / nourishment  sustenance

 

D.) Other words - Lord will allow you and I to encounter giants not to defeat us but to grow us

1.) Build us up! / Help us See His grace is sufficient

 

E.) I believe the Lord really desires that we look at those situations in that way

1.) opportunities to grow and develop in our walks w/ Him. Embrace those trials - giants!

 

 

F.) See them as bread as food - help us grow in our life w/ the Lord

1.) Phil 4:11 - Paul 11  Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

 

Joshua 14 - Once in Dividing the land

Caleb at 85 - give me the portion - Mt. - strong as I was at 45

A.) Strength was in the Lord!

 

v.11,12

Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

 

V.11 - Admonition = exhortative instruction: Learn from  this

 

Don’t get prideful - I can stand !!!!!!!