Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
Have Joseph and Everett hold up the time line.
Go through some of what we can learn from the chart.
Who all would have known Adam, Abraham, Moses, etc.
How long China has existed.
We can learn a lot from history, if we are willing to.
There are two requirements to learn from history.
First, we must be students of history.
You can’t learn from something you are ignorant of.
Second, we must understand what history teaches.
Knowing that events took place is different than knowing why those events took place.
It is the “why” that Paul is interested in here.
As Paul deals with the topic of Christian liberty, or freedom in Christ, he understands that exercising our freedom brings with it a temptation to abuse that freedom.
To help deal with that temptation Paul is going to teach some lessons from the history of Israel.
Principle:
Temptation can be endured.
Guidance:
To endure temptation we must learn three lessons.
Outcome:
Enduring temptation frees us to live in bold obedience.
Bold obedience creates gospel opportunities.
3 lessons from the history of Israel.
Lesson #1…
1. Spiritual Experience Doesn’t Make You Spiritual vv.
1-5
I once spoke with someone who built their hope of heaven on an experience they had.
That person is not alone.
Far too many people are trusting in an experience.
They are not trusting in Jesus.
If someone is trusting in a vision of Jesus to save them, and not in His death, burial, and resurrection, they are not saved.
Experience can be very beneficial, but it can also be dangerous.
And so, we must learn that spiritual experience doesn’t make you spiritual.
Why not?
Two reasons.
Reason #1…
a. Experiences fade vv.
1-4
There are four experiences that we find here.
First is the experience of…
Physical deliverance
The experience Paul references is when the nation of Israel was delivered from Egypt.
Let’s look at two passages in Exodus.
Exodus 13:21
God led the Israelites with a cloud during the day.
Now look at Exodus 14:22.
Exodus 14:22
A couple verses later we are told how God used the pillar of cloud to trouble the Egyptians.
All the Israelites were under the cloud and passed through the sea.
What an experience!
What incredible protection from God!
We too may experience the physical deliverance of God.
The problem with physical deliverance is that it is temporary.
Eventually, we will need to be delivered again.
This experience did not make the Israelites spiritual.
Physical deliverance doesn’t make us spiritual.
Let’s look at the next experience.
A spiritual high
The Israelite nation got to be led by the one to whom God revealed His Law!
Baptism implies a change and a commitment.
This baptism was through the cloud as they followed it and through the sea as they walked on dry land.
They became different people.
What an incredible Spiritual experience!
The problem with a spiritual high is this.
You always come crashing back down.
That’s exactly what Israel did.
When we trust in experience over Scripture our spiritual journey becomes a roller coaster.
The third experience was
Miraculous provision
vv.
3-4a
Paul seems to be referencing the manna and the water from the rock.
Exodus 16:14-15
God gave them water from a rock twice.
First at the beginning of their journey.
Exodus 17:5-6
God also gave them water from a rock at the end.
Numbers 20:7-8
God miraculously provided for the nation of Israel as they journeyed through the wilderness.
Yet, this experience did not make them spiritual.
They ate a food no one else has ever enjoyed!
They watched water come out of a rock!
After they ate and drank, they forgot.
God’s provision for us can be easily forgotten we find ourselves in need again.
The final experience is
The presence of Christ
Here Paul gives us a new perspective.
The rock from which the water flowed was Christ!
He is the source of all provision!
This is the ultimate picture of God’s final provision for all mankind.
Our greatest need is fulfilled only in Christ.
And yet, even the presence of Christ can be turned away from.
Experiences fade.
Physical deliverance must be repeated.
Food and water must be sought again.
The presence of Christ may be felt strongly one day and not the next.
Experience is not the source of our confidence!
Experience is a supplement to what Scripture reveals.
Experience can reinforce Scripture.
However, experience must never be allowed to replace Scripture.
A spiritual experience does not make you spiritual for two reasons.
Reason #1.
experiences fade.
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