August 3, 2008
Evening Service

I Cor. 10:5-13

 

Review:

1.      This morning we compared our walk with the Lord, with that of Israel’s coming out of Egypt. 

2.      This evening we want to look at verses 5-13. 

3.      Remember Paul is writing to the church at Corinth, in which there were those who had questioned his authority in the Lord.  There were both Jews, and Gentiles in this church, and Paul is dealing with different problems that were brought to him by a letter.

 

Let’s begin with verse 5.

 

1Co 10:5-13  But with many of them God was not well pleased:

·         Oh my!  You mean that these that had been delivered by the miraculous power of God, the ones who had seen all these miracles, the ones who had seen the red sea part, and they walked on dry ground to the other side, those that had been fed miraculously by God, the manna, God had supplied them water when they had none, you mean, somehow they displeased God?

·         We didn’t see here why they had to wander 40 years in the wilderness, but it is these same people that God delivered from bondage out of Egypt, that didn’t believe He could help them conquer the people where they were going.  THEY WERE AFRAID.

·         Well Paul, what happened to them?

for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 

·         I think you mean more than just died.  Overthrown indicates maybe You had a part in there destruction. 

·         Well Paul, why do you tell us about this, we know about it.

(6)  Now these things were our examples,

·         What things?  And do you mean we possibly could be overthrown on our journey to Heaven?

·         What things?

to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 

·         What was the evil thing that they lusted after?

·          Num 11:4  And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?

·         Num 11:31  And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth.  Num 11:32  And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp.  Num 11:33  And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.  Num 11:34  And he called the name of that place Kibroth-hattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.

·         More than likely Paul is referring to the Corinthians lusting after meat offered to idols.

·         Remember what John said;  1Jo 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

·         Jesus has told us that He would supply all our needs when He said, “seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”

·         Paul said in the Philippian letter;  Phi 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

·         If we don’t want overthrown in this wilderness that we are in, we need to learn not to lust after the things of the world.  The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes.

(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. 

·         What is referred to here is the time Moses came down off the mountain, and heard the people partying.  They had Aaron to make them a golden calf, and they offered sacrifice to it, and partied.

·         Paul is warning the Corinthians, and us, that this is the kind of thing that happens when we are at a celebration in which meat is offered to idols.  Or, simply a worldly party.  Where there is reveling, and drunkenness.

(8)  Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 

Paul is referring to Numbers 25;  Where the children of Israel committed sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab.

·         Num 25:1  And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.  And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.  And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baal-peor.  And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.

·         Same warning for the same reasons.  Don’t mess around with idols, and careless living.

·         REMEMBER THESE ARE OUR EXAMPLES, AS WELL AS THE CORINTHIANS.

(9)  Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 

·         The word “tempt,” when applied to man, means to present motives or inducements to sin; when used with reference to God, it means to try his patience, to provoke his anger, or to act in such a way as to see how much he will bear, and how long he will endure the wickedness and perverseness of people. The Israelites tempted him, or “tried his patience and forbearance,” by rebellion, complaining, impatience, and dissatisfaction with his dealings.

·         More than likely again, in reference to trying God’s patience on the idol problem.

(10)  Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 

·         Num 14:2  And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!

·         How soon we forget what our circumstances could be if it wasn’t for God. 

(11)  Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 

·         Isn’t that a remarkable statement?  EXAMPLES, OUR ADMONITION, THE END OF THE WORLD.

(12)  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 

·         Paul teaches us in another place to work out your own salvation with fear, and trembling.  My encouragement would be to work it out according to the Word of God.

(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.

·         Very encouraging words.

·         So this tells me, that if I am not escaping temptations, it’s because I don’t want too. 

 

OUR REACTION MIGHT BE:

BUT PAUL, WE ARE LIVING IN THE TIME OF GRACE, AND TRUTH. 

 

PAUL MIGHT REPLY:   YOU THINK I DON’T KNOW THIS, BUT I’M TELLING YOU TO WATCH YOUR STEP, AND DO YOUR BEST, AND DON’T DO ANYTHING THAT WILL CAUSE A WEAKER BROTHER TO STUMBLE, AND FALL.

 

REMEMBER WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION WITH FEAR,,,,,,,AND,,,,,, TREMBLING.

 

DOESN’T THAT SOUND LIKE YOU NEED TO DO YOUR BEST?