June 5, 2022

Take Heed

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: 1 Corinthians 10:1-17
Service Type:

Introduction

  • The hardest verse - "Lest him who stands take heed lest he fall" (v12)
    • It is easy to become complacent as Christians
      • Do we come lightly to Communion?
      • Do we start to play with sin?
  • The apostle Paul never thought this way - he speaks of running a race (1 Cor 9:24-27)
    • Earthly people discipline themselves
    • Paul did not want to disqualify himself from the preaching ministry
      • Do we have this view of the Christian life?
      • We are to rest in Christ but also to strive and work out our salvation with fear and trembling
  • Looking at v1-17 – Paul is beginning to correct abuse of the Lord's table
    • Paul speaks of those involved in idol worship (v21ff)
    • Paul speaks of some people who were drunk in Church (Chapter 11)
  • Paul brings out some Old Testament examples - each group of people were punished by God and died in the wilderness
    • These were an example for us - that we would not be admonished by the Lord (cf Chapter 11)
  • The passage is not all severe
    • v13 - you will not suffer more than other Christians, but God is faithful
  • Overview
    • Privilege Available (v1-4)
    • Privilege Abused
    • Pitfalls Avoided

Privilege Available (v1-4)

  • Paul speaks of the Israelites and their exodus from Egypt - they were protected (v1)
    • God went as a cloud to protect the people from the Egyptians - Ps 105:39
    • All were protected (v1, 2, 3, 4) - not one was left behind
  • All were baptised into Moses (v2)
    • God created a covenant with His people
      • We are under the covenant of Jesus' blood
    • All were baptised in Moses
      • We are baptised into Jesus Christ
  • All ate the same spiritual food - v3
    • The manna from God that never ran out
    • Available to all
  • All drank the same spiritual drink - v4
    • They drank of the Spiritual Rock that was Christ
      • Christ was there meeting there every spiritual need
  • All ate, all drank - they all had the same privilege
    • God was blessing His people
  • What about us?
    • We have been delivered from bondage of sin
    • We have been baptised into Christ
    • We have the blessings of Christ
    • We have the Lord's Table
    • We have the presence of Christ
    • We have the complete word of God
    • We have the Holy Spirit
    • We have Christ praying for us
  • How much do we value our spiritual privilege?
    • Do we take advantage of these?
    • Are we appropriating these? - examples

Privilege Abused (v5-10)

  • First the Old Testament people and then ourselves
  • Num 11
    • Recap of incident
      • The people were not satisfied with God's provision - they lusted for Egyptian food
      • The people were not satisfied with God's presence
    • With most of them - the large company of people - God was "not well pleased" (v5)
    • Heb 3:17 - God was angry with His people
    • Heb 4:11 - let us not be like the Old Testament people but press on and take our Christianity seriously
  • Ex 32
    • Recap of incident
      • When Moses was atop Mount Sinai - the people rose up to play and worshiped a golden calf
      • Moses was dismayed, he ground down the golden calf and judgment fell upon the people - 3,000 were slain
    • "Do not become idolaters" - v7
      • What were the Corinthians thinking of - examples
      • Are you tempted to go back to your old ways?
      • Are you tempted to have one foot in the church and the world?
      • Are you tempted to other idols?
    • Paul warns and encourages the people to flee from idolatry - v14
      • As he had warned and encouraged them to feel sexual immorality - Chapter 6
  • Numbers 25 / v8
    • Recap of incident
      • The Israelite people played the harlot with the Moabite women
      • Around 23,000 died in judgment
    • These people tempted Christ
      • They were destroyed by serpents
      • Christ was lifted up - like the earlier bronze serpent
    • We are not to complain or murmur against God
      • We are not to be dissatisfied or disbelieve God
      • We are not to blame God
      • Example of those who complained against Moses and Aaron
  • v11 - these things are written for our admonition
    • Rom 15:4
    • We are to learn from the Old Testament
    • We have so much 'help' today - but are we neglecting God?

Pitfalls Avoided (v11-13)

  • We are to learn from Old Testament examples
    • Esau, King Saul, Uzzah, David
  • We are to take heed – v11-12
    • We are to take spiritual stock
    • Depend upon Christ
  • Hold onto v13
    • Temptations and desires are common to all Christians
    • Remember that Jesus Christ was tempted in all ways
    • God is faithful and will always provide a way of escape
    • His grace is sufficient for us

Closing Remarks

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