Back Pocket 1 Cor 10:1-14

Back Pocket Sermon

1 Cor 10:1-14

Now I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the

cloud, all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the

cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the

same spiritual drink. For they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them,

and that rock was Christ.

But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck

down in the desert. Now these things became examples for us, so that we

will not desire evil as they did.

Don’t become idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The

people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to play”(Exodus 32:4,6,19).

Let us not commit sexual immorality as some of them did, and in a single

day 23,000 people fell dead.(Num 25:1-9) Let us not tempt Christ as some

of them did, and were destroyed by snakes.(Num 21:5-6) Nor should we

complain as some of them did and were killed by the

destroyer(Num 16:41,49,Ex12:23). Now these things happened to them as

examples, and they were written as a warning to us.

Therefore, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall! No

temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is

faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able ,

but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you

are able to bear it. Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.

Idolatry hidden vv1-4

Ancestors all under same cloud and sea as Moses

- Cloud protected them from sun(ex 12) and guided them at night

- Passing through the waters, Israelites identified with Moses just as we pass through

water for baptism today (Rom 6:3,4)

- Spiritual food - mana

- Spiritual drink like Lord’s table(1 cor 11)

- Baptism and Lord’s Supper on display

-

All drank from rock - is Christ

- Whether rock followed or water from rock followed, God provided sustained everywhere

they went

Point 2 Idolatry exposed vv 5-6

God not pleased with most of them

They took place so that we would not desire evil things

Point 3

Idolatry convicted vv7-11

Don’t become idolators Num 25:1-9

Don’t sexual immoralityNum 21:5-6

They were killed by the destroyerNum 16:41,49,Ex12:23

Point 4 Idolatry combated vv 12-14

- God’s commands call for action in response

- Just like great commission

Watch and pray (Matt) enter not temptation- spirit willing flesh s weak

P. Washer - you are NOT weak, you are selfish

Whoever thinks he stands be careful not to fall

Tempt cookies buying vs kitchen counter

God does not tempt(Pet or James)

**Start**

1 Cor 10:1-14

M.I.M.

(Introduction)

Idolatry hidden vv 1-4

(Explain)

As we dive into the first four verses here, we see a picture of a

happy people. All the ancestors were under the cloud, meaning under

God’s protection. They all passed through the sea, they were baptized

into Moses in the cloud and the sea. They all ate spiritual food, and

drank spiritual drink from the rock.

Wow! What a picture! Under God’s protection, God making a

way for you to avoid peril, baptisms, eating spiritual food, and drinking

spiritual drink. It’s like a picture perfect example of a 4th of July picnic.

But God looks at the heart, not outward appearances.

Let’s take a deeper look into what Paul is referring to here, and

we’ll come back to that thought.

Under the cloud…. what does Paul mean by this? Paul is

referring to the pillar of cloud that guided the Israelites out of Egypt

that we read about in Exodus 13:21-22. This cloud was God directing

their paths, guiding them, and protecting them from the sun’s harmful

rays in the desert. And it burned with fire by night. It also moved

between the Israelites and the Egyptian army to protect them from an

attack.

But all the while they grumbled about their current situation.

With Pharaoh closing in on them, they said to Moses: “Is it because

there are no graves in Egypt that you took us to die in the wilderness?

What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? It would have

been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the

wilderness.”(Ex 14:11&12b)

And the passing through the sea…. was, as you would expect,

the parting of the Red Sea. God makes a way for the Israelites to

escape from the Egyptians from what appeared to be undeniable

capture and death. And this passing through the sea, as Paul

mentions, this was a precursor to the baptism that we observe today.

But after the passing through the sea, Scripture tells us that the

Israelites, after three days, grumbled that they couldn’t find any water.

We see this in Exodus 15:24. So, God commanded Moses to throw a

tree in the water, and the water was no longer bitter. But then they

complained about being hungry in Exodus 16:3 saying: “If only we had

died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by pots of

meat and ate all the bread we wanted. Instead, you brought us into

this wilderness to make this whole assembly die of hunger!” So, then

God provides “Spiritual Food”, Paul writes. Which is the mana, right?!

God rains down bread from heaven.

And then they complain about not having any water again in

Exodus 17:2-3. They said: Why did you ever bring us out of Egypt to

kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” So God

commanded Moses to hit a rock with his staff, and water came out,

and the people drank. Now, when Paul says that: “they drank from a

spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ”, scholars

debate on whether or not the rock followed them, or the water that

sprang from the rock followed them. Either way, what we need to take

away from this is that Jesus was present with the Israelites, providing

them with what they needed, the whole time. This “Spiritual Food” and

“Spiritual Drink” has also been said to be a pre-figuring of the

Communion elements we take when we come to the Lord’s Table.

When we look into what Paul is mentioning in these 1st four

verses of this chapter, what appears to be that “Happy, perfect, 4th of

July picnic family” is really broken, selfish, people. People who,

possibly without even realizing it, are building idols in their lives. God

provides for them… time and time and time again….. and they

complain, grumble, and criticize….. time and time and time again.

(Illustrate)

You guys have probably heard the phrase: “don’t bite the hand that

feeds you”. This is what is going on here. It’s like going out of your

way to make Christmas morning special, only to have someone reject

what you did for someone or gave them.

(Apply)

So what idols could you possibly be building in your lives. I

mean, we are ALL selfish by nature. Given the chance, our flesh will

always choose ourselves. Now, that’s not to say that through the

direction, conviction, and obedience of the Holy Spirit we won’t do

otherwise. But I am talking about our sin nature.

What in your life has God done for you, made a way for you,

saved you from, provided for you….. and we in turn said: “I want

more” or “I didn’t want that.”

Do you guys ever write down what God has done for you in your

life? Do you keep a record? I am bad at this. I am pointing at myself

here. I can absolutely do better at that myself. But do we give glory to

God for what He has done through us? A lot of times, we as

Christians, “look the part” on Sunday morning…. but at home… or at

work…. we are far from it. And what about when we are surrounded

by people who start complaining. You know…. you’re at work…. and it

comes time for your yearly review and raise. How many co-workers do

you hear say: “Man, I am thankful for that raise.” “I didn’t think I

deserved anything this year, I am happy and ecstatic that they think so

highly of me, that they noticed me, and took an interest in my well

being.” I don’t think I've ever heard that at review time!!.... From

anyone!!

But that is because performance reviews are supposed to show

you where you can improve…. areas that you need to work at… they

“expose” any bad habits you display…..

Which brings us to our 2nd point…. Idolatry Exposed

Idolatry exposed vv 5-6

(Explain)

Paul is telling the church of Corinth that the Israelites had

spiritual blessings ……but they still perished because of their idolatry.

They ate mana, drank from water, were baptized into Moses….but yet

they perished. The church of Corinth was probably thinking that

because they were baptized and they took part in the Lord’s supper,

they were right with God…..but Paul is telling them that this is not the

case. And that Moses recorded the Exodus account so that we would

not forget what happened! That we would be reminded NOT to desire

evil as our ancestors did. This word “desire” means to lust after. In the

Greek it is to mean: the active and individual desire resulting from the

diseased condition of the soul. Or “Pathos”.

Throughout this letter Paul has been explaining to them the idols

that they have in their lives. He explained that they were immature in

chapter 3. And talked about sexual immoral congregates in chapters 5

and 6, food offered to idols in chapter 8, and how one should set a

good example in chapter 9. Here in chapter 10 he lets them know that

God sees all. Nothing is hidden from His sight.

(Illustrate)

(Apply)

But when they, or maybe you, do get a bad review…. It’s almost never

that person's fault, according to that person. But those performance

reviews are supposed to show you where you can become better.

They are supposed to show you areas you can do

God gave us His Word so that we might learn from it with the help

from the Holy Spirit, and that we might apply it to our lives through

conviction from the Holy Spirit….. Which brings us to our third point…

Idolatry convicted vv7-11

(Explain)

These 5 verses, 7-11, remind us of times when the people of

God did not follow God’s commands. These reminders are there, as

Paul says in verse 11, for warnings for us…..because we are just as

prone to fall into temptation. We are just as sinful. When we read and

study God’s Word, we need to constantly be thinking about how to

apply what we are reading to our own lives. We should welcome

conviction and allow the Holy Spirit to perform the work of

sanctification in us. Paul is reminding the church of Corinth of Israel's

history as a warning to them…. and we should be mindful of what he

has to say because we share the same history as the church of

Corinth.

The first thing Paul says is that: “The people sat down to eat and

drink, and got up to play” or rose up to dance or got up to indulge in revelry.

In the Greek it means to play like a child especially with singing and

dancing or joking. In the Hebrew it means to laugh or to mock. Paul is

referring to Exodus 32 here. Specifically verses 6 and 19. The account that

Paul is referring to in Exodus 32 is what happens right after the Idol of the

golden calf was made. Verses 6 and 19 say: “Early the next morning the

arose, offered burnt offerings, and presented fellowship offerings. The

people sat down to eat and drink, then got up to revel. Or laugh, or mock.

And verse 19: “When he, Moses, approached the camp and saw the calf

and dancing, Moses became enraged and threw the tablets out of his

hands, smashing them at the base of the mountain.”

The next Scripture Paul references is the time that the Israelites

began to have sexual relations with the women of Moab in Numbers 25,

and the Israelites started to eat food sacrificed to idols and bow in worship

to the gods of the Moabites. A plague took the lives of 24,000 because of

this.

The next Scripture that is referenced is the snakes. This is from

Numbers 21, where just after the Israelites cry out to God for help

destroying the Canaanites, and He does, the people become impatient and

unbelieving… and they spoke out against God and Moses about the lack of

bread and water and how they DETEST this WRETCHED FOOD! They are

talking about the mana the God so graciously provides for them each and

every day. They call it Wretched and say they Detest it. So God sent

poisonous snakes into the camp and many Israelites died.

The 4th and final Scripture mentioned here in this set of verses is the

grumbling and being killed by the destroyer. This is from Numbers. Starting

in verse 41: “The next day the entire Israelite community complained about

Moses and Arron, saying You have killed the LORD’s people. When the

community assembled against them, Moses and Aaron turned toward the

tent of meeting, and the LORD said to Moses, “Get away from this

community so that I may consume them instantly.”

Now an atonement was made for the people but not before 14,700 people

died from a plague because of this incident.

Exodus 32:4,6,19

Num 25:1-9

Num 21:5-6

Num 16:41,49,Ex12:23

(Illustrate)

(Apply)

The golden calf and misdirected worship.

Sexual relation with those whom God had warned against. Not

because someone is of another ethnicity, but because God knew that

they would steer them into worshiping false gods, or not worshiping

the One true God.

Impatience and unbelief that causes you to DETEST what God

has provided for you. Now we are all impatient people. Just ask my

family. I like to be early. Maybe too early. And when the people in my

house are not ready when I am, I am very impatient. We all have

times of doubt or question what God is doing in our lives or why. I am

not talking about those. I am talking about speaking out against God

and loathing what God has done for you.

Where are you this morning? Is there any misdirected worship in

your life? Are you in a relationship contrary to God’s plan for us? One

man, one woman, married to be joined together to make one flesh, not

unequally yoked. Are you not just ignorant to what God has done for

you, but so upset about what He has done for you that you DETEST

it?

These are forms of idolatry and idols cause a spiritual battle in

our lives. We need to confront our idols. Paul Washer once said,

particularly about sexual immorality, but he said: “We look at Israel

going into the land of Canaan and they were told have no mercy what

so ever on these Pagan tribes that will lead you astray to another god.

Have no mercy AT ALL!” and he says how that was written for us, not

that we are ever to harm anyone for any reason, ever. But how it is

talking about the Pagans in our own heart. He continues: “When you

see anything, any Pagan walking, trespassing your heart, any Pagan

thought, any Pagan idea, then have no mercy!! Kill it!! Grind it to

powder!! Drive a steak straight through its heart. Don’t tolerate it.”

We confront our idols, and we combat them…. Which is our 4th

and final point…..

Idolatry combated vv12-14

Therefore, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall! No

temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is

faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able ,

but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you

are able to bear it. Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.

(Explain)

Starting in verse 12 there are two words to take note of. Highlight

them if you want. They are the words “therefore” and “think”. I have

said this before in sermons, and I'll say it again. Anytime you see the

word ‘therefore’ ask yourself what it’s there for. It is tying together all

we have just read to what is about to be said. We have Israelites

grumbling over God’s provisions. God exposing their idolatry, they

bow down to false idols again and again and again. And Paul says

BECAUSE of this pattern that we see throughout Scripture…..

Whoever THINKS he stands……. Be careful not to fall.

According to the Greek definitions, this original verse would

read…. Because of all the idolatry we see with your ancestors

throughout history….If you think you are standing firm, keep a

watchful eye out that you do not fall into temptation.

As we move on Paul is saying, if you are going to fall into

temptation….it’s not going to be something new. Something

unexpected that you didn’t see coming. No temptation has overtaken

you except what is common to humanity. It’s going to be the same

temptations that has plagued humanity for centuries. It’s going to be the

same temptations that you already face every day. So if you think you are

going to be able to stand firm on your own and not fall. You are lying to

yourself. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond

what you are able , but with the temptation He will also provide a way of

escape, so that you are able to bear it. God will not allow you to be tempted

to the point that you are not able to stand firm. And God will provide a way

of escape. But we need to take action. Flee from Idolatry. Don’t just stand

there and think you can bear it. Take action! Flee! Run from it!

(Illustrate)

(Apply)

I am often tempted to sin. Are you tempted to sin? Yes! You are.

I often fall into temptation. Do you? …. Why do you suppose that is?

Is it because we don’t read the Bible enough? Is it because some

unexpected temptation came upon us that we had no clue existed?

Scripture says…. God will provide a way of escape. Do you

believe that? I HOPE so! That’s God Word! That is a promise

INSPIRED from God WRITTEN by Paul TO the church of Corinth and

FOR us… to hold on to. So why do we often fall? No before I go on,

…by no way am I declaring that we can ever become a person that

will never fall… I am not saying that. We will….daily!

But because we know we will fall into temptation, does not give

us an excuse to justify our actions. Paul writes to the Romans: “What

should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may

multiply? ABSOLUTELY not! How can we who died to sin still live in

it?” I think it’s because we know that there is a spiritual war out there.

We believe it. But because it is something that we cannot see, we

think it is not our fight to fight. By no means do I mean that we fight

this fight alone. We can’t do anything on our own. We will always

choose ourselves because of our selfish sinful nature. But God’s Word

says: He will hold at bay the temptation that comes before us. God will

provide a way of escape. But WE have to flee!!

It takes action on our part. Yes! It is a spiritual war. Yes! We need

the help of the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us. But when we see

temptation coming our way. We are to flee.

Maybe it is when your friend invites you to the bar for a couple

drinks, don’t think I’ll be OK. I won’t drink. Or I won’t drink that much.

FLEE! Say NO!

Maybe it’s when your boyfriend or girlfriend invites you over to

watch a movie, just the two of you. Don’t enter into temptation. FLEE!

Don’t think for a moment that you will be able to stand in the midst of

that temptation. Maybe you will, maybe you have…good. But look at

the historic accounts all through the Bible. You don’t think that every

person you read about THOUGHT they would be able to overcome

the temptation that lie before them?

Ever since the Garden of Eden…with Adam and Eve…It’s just a

bite. Noah and Lot with the wine.

David and Bathsheba….I just want to get to know her better.

Judah and Tamar.

The list goes on and on and on. And all with the same

temptations that plague us all today.

Take action! Don’t stand for it! As Paul Washer says, and I am

paraphrasing here, “When you see anything, any Pagan walking

across, trespassing your heart, any Pagan thought, any Pagan idea,

then HAVE NO MERCY! Kill it! Grind it to powder. Drive a steak

straight through its heart. Don’t tolerate it! Be severe with yourself.

Deal with it”

(Closing