Beware of Distractions

Sermon text: I Corinthians 10:1-13

i.              Introduction:

a.       Have you been following what has been going on between Israel and the Palestinians lately?  I just feel so bad for all of the Israeli’s who had to walk away from their homes and become refugees in their own land.  How about all of us Christians here in the U.S. offer to switch places with them by giving them our homes, cars, jobs, etc. and we can go and live where they are.  Wouldn’t it be fun to trade places with them?  Some of you are shaking your heads, NO, and others are probably wondering if I hit my head on the way to church this morning!  We would never do that, would we?  The nation of Israel as we know it has a history of political, social, and economic difficulties.  God’s people of Israel have a long history of problems stemming out of their disobedience and rebellion toward God even before they became a nation.  What does this have to do us this morning?

b.      As the people of God in the twenty-first century, we need to heed Israel’s sin stained history and the plagues God’s unleashed on them as our warning to obey Him, and refrain from the immorality and idolatry that permeates our culture.

ii.             Historical Cultural Background

a.     The city of Corinth had a history of idolatry and sexual immorality.  In one of his works Plato used the expression “Corinthian girl” to refer to a prostitute.

b.    The city of Corinth had long been famous for the temple of Aphrodite and it’s 1000 prostitute priestesses

c.     Many of the temples also had dining rooms where meals were served using the meat that was sacrificed to idols

d.    Some of the Christians still struggled with turning away from their old immoral lifestyle which dominated their society

e.     Others held that Christ had liberated them from their bondage to sin and they could therefore eat the meat from these temples with a clear conscience

iii.            Review the Context

a.     In I Cor. 5 Paul writes to the Corinthian about the problem of sexual immorality within their church body, and then the importance of maintaining sexual purity in the second half of chapter 6.

b.    In chapter 7 he primarily speaks of Marriage obligations, and in chapter 8 he discusses their Christian liberty in the area of pagan worship.

c.     Chapter 9 focuses on the apostle’s use of liberty and then ends up speaking about rewards for exercising discipline and self-restraint in verses 24-27.

d.    Chapter 10 extends the discussion of Christian liberty by moving from the subject of rewards for practicing restraint to a warning of discipline for engaging in sin

e.     Read the passage, I Cor. 10:1-13. 

f.     Pray that we might hear what God has to say in this passage.

I.              Paul’s Exhortation

a.     I do not want you to be unaware!  = I really want you to know this!!

b.    10:1 “Our forefathers” – As God’s people in the twenty-first century we have something in common with people of God in the OT, Israel….What is that?

II.             Israel had Spiritual Advantages (1 – 4)

a.     V.1b – The Advantage of God’s Presence:  “They were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea” – Paul is speaking of the cloud that represented God’s presence in Ex. 13:21, 22. 

                                          i.    They had the assurance of God’s presence

1.     In the cloud that lead them by day and a pillar of fire by night

                                         ii.    They had awed at God’s power

1.     He made a way for them to escape the Egyptians by parting the Red Sea and leading them through it

                                        iii.    We have the Holy Spirit within assuring us of God’s presence (Rom. 8:16).  We know how He performs miracles by His daily provisions for us and His answers to prayer (Matt. 7:7, 8; John 16:23).

b.    V.2 – The Advantage of God’s Promise: “all were baptized into Moses…”

                                          i.    Baptized trans. (from Gk. baptizo – to immerse or submerge) refers not to a physical baptism but that they were initiated and established under God with Moses as his chosen leader.

1.     How were they established? 

2.     By following God in the cloud and Moses as he lead them out of the land of Egypt through the Red Sea

3.     God made a covenant with Israel through Moses

                                         ii.    We have been baptized physically through immersion to demonstrate our identification with Jesus Christ.  He has also baptized us spiritually by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ the moment we trusted Him as Savior (1 Cor. 12:13)

c.     V.3, 4 – The Advantage of God’s Provisions: The food and drink that they ate and drank are called “spiritual”, but we know that they actually had real food and real water to eat and drink.  So what is Paul talking about?

                                          i.    Paul is explaining that the food and drink God miraculously supplied his people with served not only as a means to nourish them physically, but were a picture of something spiritual that was to come – namely Christ.

                                         ii.    He explains this in the second part of v.4, “For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.”

                                        iii.    In John chapter 6 Jesus speaks of His body and blood as true food and true drink (John 6:30-65). 

                                        iv.    At the last supper He instructed His disciples to remember Him using the bread and the wine reflect their redemption paid by His broken body and blood that would be shed. (Matt. 26:26-29).  We carry out this memorial whenever we come to the Lord’s Table and have communion together.

III.            Israel Failed because of Sin (5 – 10)

a.     V.5 – Starts with “But…” – Paul points out that despite the advantages from the previous verses Israel failed to please God.

                                          i.    V.5 “But…” (Gk. alla – a strong negative)

                                         ii.    But God is used to being disappointed, and since he is such a loving and forgiving God they just got a smack on the wrist, right? 

                                        iii.    NO.  What does it say was the consequence of their failure to please Him?  “…Their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.”

                                        iv.    Lesson 1: The great privileges of God’s people come with a significant responsibility

1.     But Israel must have really upset God by committing some horrible sin for that to happen, right?

2.     Such a severe discipline could be given to us, could it?

b.    V.6 - 7a “These things became our examples…”

                                          i.    What is the purpose of these examples?

1.     That we should not lust after evil things (6-10)

2.     That we do not become idolaters (v.7)

3.     That we do not commit sexual immorality (v.8)

4.     That we do not try God’s mercy (v.9)

5.     That we do not grumble or complain (v.10)

                                         ii.    V.6 - 10 - An Example of Lust: The entire section shows Israel’s problem with lust for evil things that God had forbid

1.     Do Christians really have a problem with lust?

a.     Forty-seven percent (47%) of Christians admit that pornography is a major problem in their homes. (Internet Filter Review, “Pornography Statistics 2003”)

b.    1 in 5 born-again Christians believe that viewing magazines with nudity and sexually explicit pictures is morally acceptable. (Barna Research Group, “Morality Continues to Decay,” 11/3/2003)

c.     Lust occurs outside of sexual desire.  One definition of lust is “an intense longing.” In this case for anything that is outside of God’s will for us.

                                        iii.    V.7b - An Example of Idolatry:  Paul recounts Exodus 32:1-6, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”

1.     After Moses had gone up to Mt. Sinai the people had grown impatient and seduced Aaron to make a golden calf.  The following day they “sat down to eat” a sacrificial meal and “rose up to play” or dance in ceremonial revelry before the idol god they had made.

2.     Do Christians really practice idolatry today?

a.     What is idolatry?  Today we do not worship golden images.  But what is it that consumes all our time, thoughts, affections, and energy? 

b.    These things take our allegiance away from the true and living God and become our idols.  In many cases this is the work or our own hands.

                                        iv.    V.8 - An Example of Immorality: Paul warns that we not commit sexual immorality as some of them did

1.     “sexual immorality” is translated from the Gk. porenuo which means “to practice immorality, commit fornication, or live without sexual restraint.”  We get our word pornography from it.

2.     Paul remembers how in the wilderness the men of Israel committed fornication with the woman of Moab and worshipped their Baal.

3.     God ordered them to be hung for their sexual immorality and idolatry and approx. 23,000 died in one day

4.     Do many Christians commit sexual-immorality?

a.     In the 1990’s three separate surveys of single Christians showed only one-third of unmarried Christians are virgins.  (Two thirds are NOT!)

b.    Thirty-six percent (36%) of Christians say co-habitation is morally acceptable, and 39% define sexual fantasies as morally acceptable. (Barna Research Group, “Morality Continues to Decay,” 11/3/2003)

c.     Christ is the same today as he was in Israel’s time (Heb. 13:8) – He still hates sexual immorality!

                                         v.    V.9 – An Example of Testing God:  Paul warns that we not tempt Christ…as some…and were destroyed.

1.     The Gk. word ekpirazo is trans. “tempt” in the KJV it actually means “to test thoroughly” or “to put to proof God’s character”

2.     The Israelites did this on their journey in the wilderness when they became impatient and began to speak out against God because there weren’t enough choices on their menu (Num. 21:4, 5).

3.     God sent poisonous “fiery” serpents to bite them and many died (10:9b; Num. 21:6).

4.     How do you test the Lord?

a.     Do you speak against him in your heart because He didn’t answer your prayer the way you wanted Him to?

b.    Do the things you say about others cause division instead of building up the body of Christ?

c.     Paul says to consider what happened to Israel and DON’T DO IT!

                                        vi.    V.10 – An Example of Complaining against God: Paul refers to Israel’s complaints against the Moses, Aaron, and Lord at Kadesh-barnea after the twelve spies returned from spying out the land.

1.     “The destroyer” refers to the Angel of the Lord (Ex. 12:23) whom was sent to bring the plague described in (Num. 14:37).

2.     What Complaints have come out of your mouth recently?

a.     About your job or ministry, church, husband or wife?

b.    Do you realize these are complaints against God?

c.     Are you thankful for what Jesus Christ has saved you from? 

d.    Do you trust His plans for you?

                                                                                          i.    Jer. 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV)

e.     Paul warns us NOT to complain!

IV.           A Summary of Israel’s Failure: Hebrews 3:17-19

a.     Israel’s Sin

                                          i.    Angered God

                                         ii.    Brought discipline from God

b.     Israel’s Disobedience

                                          i.    Kept them from enjoying spiritual fulfillment from God

                                         ii.    Caused by their unbelief

V.            Israel’s History Warns Us Today (11 – 13)

a.     V. 11 - Instruction to the Church: Paul says these things have been recorded for instruction and as warning to us

                                          i.     Admonition trans. Gk. noutheteo – means to warn, admonish, or instruct.

                                         ii.    “…upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (NKJV) Better trans. by the NIV “…on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.” Speaking of Paul’s time into the indefinite future rather than after Christ’s second coming.

b.    V.12 –  Do Not be Over Confident:  As Christians Paul says we must be vigilant to avoid these sins

c.     V. 13 – Overcome Temptation in Christ: “Temptation” (Gk. Peirasmos) can also can be trans. “trial”

                                          i.    As Christians we must understand that temptation is “common”, i.e. it a part of everyone’s life – including Jesus’ (Heb. 2:18).  Temptation alone is not sin.

                                         ii.    We should not try to completely avoid temptations as God may use them to purify us (James. 1:12). 

                                        iii.    “Temptation yielded to is lust deified…” (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest 9/17)

                                        iv.    God does bring the temptation but He makes sure to we are never overwhelmed by them (James 1:13). 

                                         v.    God will provide a way out of the temptation rather than keeping you from it.  If you turn to Him in faith he will give you the victory over the most difficult temptations! (2 Pet. 2:9; Rom. 13:14)

VI.           Conclusion:

a.     Are you guilty of lusting after evil things?

b.    Have you been putting other things in God’s place?

c.     Are you maintaining sexual purity?

d.    Have you been testing God or complaining about things?

e.     We should not assume that we are exempt from the types of earthly suffering that we see throughout the early years of Israel’s history.  Instead of taking for granted the blessings and privileges we have in Christ, and abusing God’s gracious gift of eternal forgiveness in Christ by living carelessly close to sin, we should be focused on how to continually be pleasing Him.  This is impossible without first trusting in Jesus Christ as your Savior, however, once we are born again we must exercise faith, obedience, and self-control.  If we fail to do this, we are liable to be guilty of same sins as our forefathers which lead to severe consequences.

f.     What Should We Do?

                                          i.    Learn from Israel’s history of sin

                                         ii.    Be Alert to our Inclination to sin

                                        iii.    Overcome temptation the to sin