The Temptation and Tragedy of Tinkering with the World's Pleasures!
Our Blueprint for a New Testament Church • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Today, we are back to our study of 1 Corinthians. Remember, we started this so we could have “God’s Blueprint” for our church. The fantastic thing about God’s Word is how practical it is not just for our church corporately but also for each of us personally.
Our last message in this series ended with the Holy Spirit encouraging us to live each day for the Lord. Look at 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (PB Page 682)
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
As believers, God has a purpose for our lives. We glorify Him so that we might be effective witnesses for Him. If you go back and read chapter nine, you will realize that Paul’s life as a believer was focused on one thing. His focus was to win others to Christ. For that reason, Paul was determined to be all things to all people so that he might win them. We, as believers, are to have that exact purpose in mind. We are all striving together in a race for an incorruptible crown. By the way, it is a crown that only comes through hard work. Professional athletes work hard to be the best in their sport. They put in long hours of training and personal sacrifice. They do it to gain a corruptible crown.
On the other hand, we have something much more important we are striving to win. We are running that we might win the “crown of life.” It does not come on a silver platter. No, we must RUN to win the race. Thus, we must live disciplined lives filled with personal sacrifice controlling self for Christ’s sake. Any believer who does not so run becomes a castaway.
The word “castaway” ends chapter 9 and leads us to chapter 10. The term “castaway” means anything that does not stand the test or is rejected. The connotation in verse 27 is a believer who is disapproved and so rejected from present testimony causing them to lose their reward. They do not lose their salvation. However, they will stand before the Lord and will not receive His rewards in the end. The Holy Spirit enlarges this thought.
One of the things that we often overlook is God’s judgment. Scripture is quite clear that God judges His own. He not only judged the entire world for their sin and will judge all people based on their relationship with His Son, but He also judges those who believe and follow Him. He must judge because He is holy. God, however, is also full of mercy and kindness. We hold in our hands His Word. His Word is His gift of mercy and kindness. We learn God’s expectations for our lives and exhortation to live for Him through His Word. Such is the case at the beginning of chapter 10. Chapter 9 ended with the encouragement to run a good race and not be a castaway. Now comes a clear case of what it looks like to be cast away and a caution to us not to make the same mistake.
Look with me in your Bibles at 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 (PB Page 682)
1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
A Case in Point [Israel’s Failure]
A Case in Point [Israel’s Failure]
The Holy Spirit starts this chapter by taking us back to the Old Testament. He uses the children of Israel as a case study for believers today. Note the opening statement.
1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
The word “ignorant” simply means to lack information. Thus, the Holy Spirit says there is something you need to know. He doesn’t want us to miss this crucial information. He then leads us to Israel. What does He want us to know about Israel?
Well, first note the word “all.” He says, “ALL of our fathers…ALL passed…ALL baptized…ALL eat…ALLdrink...” We learn how God led all of Israel out of Egypt from the Old Testament. He rescued and redeemed all of them. Not a single Israelite stayed in Egypt. They ALL began the journey to the Canaan, the promised land. The promised land is often used as a type of heaven in Scripture.
Consequently, ALL began their walk through the wilderness. However, not ALL were genuine in their walk with the Lord. Yes, some truly believed in God’s promise of deliverance and a blessed future in the promised land. But, if you remember the story of Israel’s journey, it wasn’t long before the trials of the journey revealed the true heart of the Israelites. Immediately after leaving Egypt, they were challenged by the long, arduous journey ahead. Their first major challenge came when Pharoah had a change of heart as he gathered his great army to chase them down and bring them back to their captivity. With Pharaoh’s army bearing down and the great, impassable Red Sea in front of them, many doubted God and began complaining they would die. As we know, God miraculously delivered them. However, even God’s miracle at the Red Sea did not stop them from doubting God. There were many trials and temptations which constantly challenged them in the wilderness. Yet, despite those challenges and their doubt, God blessed them with five remarkable blessings and privileges. The Holy Spirit recounts all five of them in our text.
ALL WERE UNDER THE CLOUD
ALL WERE UNDER THE CLOUD
They all experienced God’s presence.
1 Corinthians 10:1 (KJV 1900)
1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud...
21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
ALL PASSED THROUGH THE RED SEA
ALL PASSED THROUGH THE RED SEA
1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
For the sake of time, I will not repeat the entire story. You can read about it in Exodus 14:13-31. However, the essence of the story is that God delivered them. They were caught between a rock and a hard place. The rock was the Pharaoh and his mighty army. The hard place was the Red Sea. Yet, God opened the Red Sea, enabling ALL of Israel to escape on dry land to the other side. Every one of them walked across that day with the Red Sea towering over them on their right hand and their left. Yet, not a single one of them died that day. Instead, they watched as the last one crossed over how God destroyed the entire Egyptian army.
ALL WERE BAPTIZED IN MOSES
ALL WERE BAPTIZED IN MOSES
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
Moses was God’s chosen leader as He delivered them out of Egypt. The sense here is Moses is a type of Christ. God gave Israel the leader it needed to reach Canaan. As God led Moses, so Moses led the people. Every person who listened to Moses’ message of deliverance and followed him through the Red Sea and under the cloud was baptized (immersed) in Moses’ mission. Their willingness to follow him was demonstrated as they walked into the wilderness and the Red Sea, following Moses and the cloud representing Jehovah God.
ALL ATE THE SAME FOOD AND WATER PROVIDED
ALL ATE THE SAME FOOD AND WATER PROVIDED
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Interestingly, the Holy Spirit qualified the meat and the drink with the word “spiritual.” The connotation is simple. It was “spiritual” because it was provided by God. In the New Testament, we often see a comparison between things that are “earthly” and that are “spiritual.” The comparison simply indicated what is of this world versus what is of God. Thus, the food and the water came directly from God. He provided it, not man. They would have starved or died of dehydration had God not provided. God literally cared for their day-to-day needs as they journeyed through the wilderness.
ALL ENJOYED THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST
ALL ENJOYED THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Here we find a reference to Christ being the Jehovah of the Old Testament. You see, Christ was the Rock. He was the Source, energy, and power behind their provision and protection. He was the One who...
Rolled the water back so they could cross the Red Sea
Guided them by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night
Caused the rock to spring forth water
Created manna for them to eat
Guided them to the land of Canaan, fulfilling His promise to them
He is the ROCK!
4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: For all his ways are judgment: A God of truth and without iniquity, Just and right is he.
30 As for God, his way is perfect: The word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in him. 31 For who is God save the Lord? Or who is a rock save our God?
2 And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
We could give many more verses that proclaim Christ as the Rock of the Old Testament. Suffice it to say, it was indeed the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who, as part of the Godhead, guided and provided for ALL of Israel as they made their way through the wilderness.
However, here is the tragedy of this case in point concerning Israel.
ALL DID NOT SEE THE PROMISED LAND
ALL DID NOT SEE THE PROMISED LAND
When ALL of Israel left Egypt and followed Moses, who followed God, there were over 600,000 men alone.
37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
46 Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.
600,000 men and their families were delivered from the bondage of Egypt and began the journey to the promised land. If you include women and children, you will come up with a number somewhere over two million who stepped out by faith seeking the promised land.
Here is the tragedy!
Over 600,000 started the journey; only two men with their families remained faithful and entered Canaan. Those two men were Joshua and Caleb. The rest perished in the wilderness.
If you take the Holy Spirit’s exhortation at the end of 1 Corinthians 9 and apply it to Israel, we find this. 599,998 men did not run their race well. They did not discipline their bodies, subject their desires, and keep their eyes and hearts on the promised land. Instead, they murmured, complained, and thought only of what they had left behind. Instead of faithfully keeping their eyes on the prize ahead, they desired the things this world had to offer. For this reason, God overthrew them.
5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
The Holy Spirit presents us with this case in point and then gives...
A Caution to Us as Believers [Don’t Make the Same Mistake]
A Caution to Us as Believers [Don’t Make the Same Mistake]
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 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. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
600,000 men and their families started the journey, but only two men finished well. All of them are our examples. It is a case that screams caution to us as believers today. Just as these men and their families faced trials and temptations in the wilderness, we also face trials and temptations on life’s journey. And, just like Israelites, all that happened to them can happen to us. We, too, can give in to trials and temptations. Our race can be cut short if we do not run well. Just as God was displeased with them, He can be displeased with us. And, just as God overthrew them in the wilderness, God can overthrow us at any moment. We must know what things destroyed the Israelis keeping them from finishing their race well. What derailed them? The Holy Spirit gives us the list.
Lust
Lust
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
If you go back and read the entire story of Israel’s journey from Egypt to Canaan, you will find that time, and again they lusted and craved the fine foods of Egypt.
4 And the mixt 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?
Their lust in this particular instance led to a plague God sent among them, killing many of them. In fact, so many died that it became known as the “grave of greediness or of lust.”
34 And he called the name of that place Kibroth-hattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.
God’s warning about lust is as relevant today as it was then.
22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 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.
Running a good race means “we should not lust after evil things.”
Next on the list is this.
Idolatry
Idolatry
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.
Soon after the miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea, God met Moses on Mount Sinai. God was giving Moses His Law for the people. However, they, the people of Israel, became restless and impatient as they waited on Moses. Their impatience led to them creating their own form of worship as they demanded Aaron make for them an idol of a golden calf. It is interesting that when you read the story of the golden calf, they actually dedicated it to God Himself.
5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the Lord.
The inherent sinfulness caused a need for some image to be created to help them to worship Jehovah. Along with it came eating, drinking, and playing (immorality). Idolatry always leads to immoral behavior. Idol worship is a worship of a self-made god created in a person’s own mind. In a nutshell, idolatry is anything we put before God. Anything we make more important than Him or replaces our devotion to Him is idolatry. The creation of the golden calf was their attempt to replace God. At the very least, it diverted their devotion from Him to a man-made image.
Folks, it still happens today. We may not make graven images to worship, but there are many things we often devote our time and energy to in place of God. When your family becomes more important to God, you have given in to idolatry. When the pleasures of this word are more important than God, you have given in to idolatry. Anything that comes before Him is idolatry. He demands first place. He is the Lord God, and there are to be no other gods in our life other than Him.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
8 I am the Lord: that is my name: And my glory will I not give to another, Neither my praise to graven images.
Here is the next one on the list.
Immorality
Immorality
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
You see the reference to 23,000 who died because of fornication (immorality). For the sake of time, I will not read the story. Again, you can find that story in Numbers 25. In a nutshell, these men committed immorality with their neighbors. As a result, God judged them with a plague that killed 23,000. God takes the sin of immorality seriously. It has no place in the lives of those who follow Him.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
Lust, idolatry, and immorality can derail a believer’s race. However, there is more. There is this.
The Trying the Lord’s Patience
The Trying the Lord’s Patience
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
The word “tempt” here means to try one’s patience. It has the idea of pushing a person to see how far they will go. If you are a parent, you completely understand this concept. Children often “tempt” their parents. Israel did the same to the Lord. They often publically expressed their dissent with Moses and God. They felt that God demanded and expected too much of them. They expressed their desire for all they had left behind in Egypt in the same breath. Their discontent and desire for Egypt caused them to perish in the wilderness, never seeing the promised land.
Is it not the same with many believers today? How many times do we feel that God EXPECTS too much from us? We think we will miss out on all the beautiful things the world offers if we commit 100% to follow Christ. Many believers believe God will forgive them if they look, taste, and touch the things of the world. They say, “Surely, God will forgive me if I slip a little in my relationship with Him. It’s okay if I hold back a little. God will understand if I don’t give EVERYTHING to Him.”
Such thoughts will surely lead you to fail in your race for an incorruptible crown.
Here is one last thing that will derail us.
Complaining
Complaining
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
One of the biggest sins early on in Israel was the sin of murmuring, complaining, and grumbling. It seems that they were constantly complaining against God and Moses.
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!
36 And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,
11 For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the Lord: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?
Their complaining led to God’s judgment.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
We do the same, do we not? We grumble and gripe over many things. Believers grumble and complain when the pastor is led by God to endeavor in a new ministry. Believers grumble and groan about how the pastor feeds them from God’s Word. Believers grumble and gripe about the direction the pastor is leading the church. How is this different from murmuring and complaining of Israel against God and Moses? It is not! God warns us not to murmur and complain, just as He warned Israel.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
Conclusion
Conclusion
Let me conclude the message with this. A spiritual race can only be run by someone who is spiritually alive. You can only receive spiritual life through the One Who is spiritual life, the Lord Jesus Christ. Any person here this morning who has not recieved Christ as their personal Savior is spiritually dead. If you want to run a successful race in this life, you must first run with Christ.
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Thus, your race can only begin when you acknowledge that:
You are INDEED a SINNER.
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
God’s Judgement Upon Your Sin
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Christ PAID the PENALTY for Your Sin
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
When you acknowledge these things, repent of your sin, and seek His forgiveness by believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth, God will save you, change you, and make you spiritually alive.
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
Only then can you run the race God has set before you.
As believers, we are running the race. The question before us this morning is, how are you running? Are you running with discipline? Or are you running with distractions? Don’t let lust, idolatry, immorality, the trying of God’s patience, and complaining be the things that derail you. Instead, commit to Him and the obedience of His Word. Keep your eyes on the prize that is before us. Don’t look back on the things of this world.