Take Heed
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