April 19, 2015
Morning Service

Has there been a time in your life where God has revealed Himself to you in such a manner that at that moment you had no doubt that He not only exists, but that He cares deeply for you?  At that moment we feel we will never forget or ever again stray away.

In chapter 9 Paul compares our journey with the Lord to competing in athletic events (verse 24).  “Run to win” was the title of Sunday night’s message.  Notice how he closed the chapter in 9:27.

1Co 9:27 But I discipline my body, and bring it under subjection, lest when I preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

·         Paul did not mean he would lose his salvation; he wants us to understand that   God has placed commands (rules) into our lives and we need to do our best to follow them.  We need to be aware of what pleases God and do our best to be obedient.  It is like getting to the end of that race and finding out you had run the wrong direction.  Your effort was great; you just lost your focus and went the wrong way.

 

Paul begins chapter 10 with an example of a people that God revealed Himself greatly to on several occasions, yet in the end they were disqualified.  They ran the wrong way.

 

1Co 10:1-4 And, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea.  (2)  And all were baptized to Moses in the cloud and in the sea, (3) and all ate the same spiritual food,  (4)  and all drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank of the spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

·         He is of course speaking of the children of Israel that Moses led out of captivity.  Think of the many ways God revealed Himself to them.  The ten plagues, the cloud by day and fire by night, the parting of the Red Sea, and the miraculous provision of food and water.

·         We all have our moment of revelation, but they all pale in comparison to what these people saw and experienced.  Even with all those miracles, only two above the age of twenty were allowed to enter the Promised Land. 

 

 1Co 10:5-6 But with many of them God was not well pleased, for they were scattered in the wilderness.  (6)  And these things were our examples, that we should not be lusters after evil, as they also lusted.

·         Despite experiencing God in such a powerful way, they did not live in such a way as to please God.  They all died in the wilderness not seeing the promise fulfilled.

·         Paul says these things happened for our examples, so we would not make the same mistakes they did.  We see God’s heart here.  He will not reward disobedience, He rewards those who diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6)

·         Are there areas in our lives that hinder God from using us?

 

1Co 10:6-11  And these things were our examples, that we should not be lusters after evil, as they also lusted.  (7)  Nor should we be idolaters, even as some of them, as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."  (8)  Nor let us commit fornication, as some of them fornicated, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.  (9)  Nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted Him and were destroyed by serpents.  (10)  Nor murmur as some of them also murmured and were destroyed by the destroyer.  (11)  And all these things happened to them as examples; and it is written for our warning on whom the ends of the world have come.

·         Look at the things he mentions here; lusting after evil, idolatry, sexual sins, tempting God and murmuring (grumbling).  God is not pleased with these things in our life.  Despite God’s presence among them, they still chose these wrong turns along their race and were disqualified.

·         Paul now gets to his point with a warning that we need to listen to.

 

1Co 10:12 So let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

·         Even with the children of Israel’s experience with God, they let their guard down and fell.  We may feel we are in such a close place with the Lord that we have nothing to worry about.  Let this be our example, it all starts simple enough with a slight bending of the rules.  We then begin to lose our focus and we take a wrong turn.  Stay focused on the One who died for You.

·         If the children of Israel fell, then is there no hope for us?  We indeed do have hope and a promise from God.

 

1Co 10:13  No temptation has taken you but what is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but with the temptation also will make a way to escape, so that you may be able to bear it.

·         God is faithful.  He will not place upon you more than you can bear.  He promises that there will always be a way to escape.  In our race of life there will be no hill we cannot climb.

·         Does that make some trials easier to bear?  Not really they still can be extremely difficult and we will be asked to endure some pain.

·         What this does is gives us hope.  We know God is in control and He will not overload us to the point we break.  Doubt yourself, but trust Him

 

Php. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

·         It is through Christ that we are able to overcome all obstacles in our way.  It becomes a matter of faith and trust on our part.  Do you really believe He is leading in the right direction? 

Pro 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding.  (6)  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

·         God is faithful but that is not something we should take for granted.  Every day we have is a miracle.  Keep your eyes focused upon Him and stay as close as you can to your Savior.  Follow His lead.  Don’t lose focus and run the wrong way and be disqualified.

 

Lord, may we stay focused upon You and trust You to lead us the right way.