“The Wilderness Warnings.”

Good morning, turn in your Bibles with me to 1 Corinthians chapter 10.

We have just finished chapter 9 of 1 Corinthians. Paul left us with a helpful example of an athlete competing or racing to win the prize. But, what is the prize that we are ultimately after? Well an unbelieving world is chasing after money, fame, and pleasures. This should be a warning for every believer today. But for those of us who truly love Christ every believers is running the race for souls. Paul took time at the close of chapter 9 to explain why the gospel was so important, and to warn them to be disciplined. Of course the gospel isimportant because it is the best news ever about Christ and we must do everything possible to help others hear the good news about our risen Savior.

Now keep in mind that Paul is again writing this letter to the believers there in Corinth. Paul had heard reports from the household of Chloe that there were problems like division, adultery, Christians taking one another to court and the misuse of Christian liberty. Over the past few chapters Paul is addressing this matter of being self-controlled by not eating meat that has been offered to idols. This would have been offensive and idolatrous. So, Paul sees the need to address these problems and warn the believers to keep their lives focussed on Christ rather than on the foolish ways of the Corinthian culture and the subtle attacks from Satan. The title of our message this morning is, “The Wilderness Warnings.”

Throughout Scripture God gives us many warnings.

-God through his prophets warned Israel of the coming judgment and exile that would happen if they did not return to the Lord.

-God warns us to turn or repent of our sin and trust in Christ.

English Standard Version Chapter 4

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

-Acts 3:19.

-Luke 13:3.

-God warns us to be wise and discerning so that we can know truth from the errors and lies of the false teachers.

-And God warns us to not be conformed to the ways of this world and follow him.

English Standard Version Chapter 12

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Church, wether we realize it or not we need the warnings of God to guide us and lead us through this life. If you have ever driven through the deserts or extreme barren places in our own country there are many warning signs to help guide you.

-Warning no gas stations for the next 100 miles.

-Warning excessive heat.

-Warning rattle snakes.

-Warning dangerous curves ahead.

These warning signs are there for our safety, so that we don’t hurt our selves.

Here in chapter 10 God uses the past example of the Israelites to warn us not to be overcome by the temptations and trials of this life, but to run to your faithful God and trust in the goodness of His word so that we can endure and escape the struggles that will come our way.

1 Corinthians chapter 10 and let’s begin in verse 1.

English Standard Version Chapter 10

Warning Against Idolatry

1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,

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2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

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3 and all ate the same spiritual food,

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4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.

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5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

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6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.

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7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”

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8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.

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9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,

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10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.

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11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

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12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

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13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Today I want to point out to you the 3 warning signs as we dive into this Wilderness of Warnings.

Title of Message: “Desert Warnings!”

1.Notice the warning of being ignorant.

As Paul begins his address here he tells the Corinthians that he does not want them to be unaware. Don’t be ignorant. Paul has already taken the time to help the church at Corinth see the importance of being disciplined and now he points them back to the history of Israel. The nation of Israel experienced God’s deliverance and wonderful blessings in the wilderness, however this did not mean that God was pleased with His people. Paul is very quick to to say don’t be ignorant brothers and sisters. I don’t want you to be unaware about this important truth. The truth here is that sinful behavior has terrible consequences for us. So, Paul goes back to the Old Testament Example of Israel’s evil desire and disobedience.

I find it very interesting here that Paul stresses to these Corinthians the fact that the Israelites were miraculously delivered when God raised up the waters and allowed His people to pass through. When Paul talks here about being under the cloud he shows us that this is a picture of God’s presence in that of the rock who was Christ. God guided, and delivered his people. God was constantly with his people and guided them by fire at night and a cloud of smoke by day.

Paul also takes time through an analogy in verse 2 to explain to us that Israel was baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. Moses who was Israel’s leader delivered the people from slavery and they followed him. In this analogy or typology we see that these people were baptized or identified into Moses just as believers are identified with Christ. Moses was Israel’s earthly deliver, so Christ is theirs. The members of the Corinthian church that had been baptized into Christ would have seen and understood the importance of this because they would have been reminded of their deliverance from sin and union with Christ.

We also see that the Israelites in the wilderness all ate the same spiritual food and the same spiritual drink. In other words God provided all that they needed in the wilderness. Again this is a picture or analogy of the Lord’s Supper. Paul calls these provisions spiritual because they were truly a means of grace that God provided. These all point forward to Christ being our spiritual nourishment and the fact that Jesus alone is the true bread and drink. Over and over again God provided for His people and yet in spite of all of God’ provisions and blessings God was not pleased with most of His people. But why was this???

God saw in them that they had a heart of unbelief. They never fully surrendered to God and trusted in His good plans. Look with me at Hebrews chapter 3 and verses 16-19.

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16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses?

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17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?

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18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?

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19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

As they came to the Promise Land they all doubted that God had given them the land to go into and take accept for Caleb and Joshua. Only these men and those who were 20 years and younger were allowed to enter into the Promised Land. All the rest of the Hebrew people did not find salvation and rest in God. They all died in the wilderness. The sad reality here church is that God delivered these people out of slavery, He guided them daily, and He even met their every need. So, how did they respond? They responded by unbelief. They were given over to idolatry, sexual sin and complaining.

Church, we must see these examples today in our own lives. Just as God did not tolerate Israel’s idolatry, He can’t look past the Corinthians as well. We would deceive ourselves if we think God would tolerate ours. Yes, God has been so gracious to each of us. We all have much to give thanks to our God for, however, we must not displease God by lusting and chasing the things that can so easily sidetrack us in this world. We must turn from our sin and believe through faith in Christ alone. There are so many Christians who start off well, but they don’t finish well. They have made a ship wreck of their faith or we find out that they were never truly saved to begin with, and therefore if they don’t repent and turn to God they will spend an eternity in hell.

2. Notice the warning against specific sins.

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6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.

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7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play

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8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.

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9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,

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10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer

Paul continues here to warn the Corinthian believers who through their present idolatry were in danger of God’s judgment. Paul explains this by showing us what happened with Israel as they journeyed in the wilderness. Paul shares with us some very sad incidents of what lusting and evil desires that Israel became involved in. Paul shares these examples with us so that we would be warned to watch out for these sinful behaviors in our own lives. Notice here in these several verses that each of the warnings come with a form of “Do not,” or “we must not.” The point here is that Paul does not want what happened to Israel to be repeated with the Corinthians. Paul now gives us 4 examples or warnings.

-The first sin Paul warns us about is the sin of idolatry. Paul shares this with us so that we will not set our hearts to other idols beside the one true God. Paul is speaking here about the incident that took place in Exodus chapter 32. After the Hebrew people were delivered from their slavery by their great and mighty “I Am” God they forgot all that God had in fact delivered them from. So what did they do? They went and made a golden calf and declared that this false idol was the one who helped them with their freedom.

So let me just clarify exactly what an idol is. An idol is anything that takes God’s rightful place in our hearts and lives. Your idol maybe money, your sports team, or a musician. There are many people today that don’t have little idols in their homes, but they have placed people and things in God’s place and that is idolatry.

Paul warns the Corinthians here not to become idolaters as some of these people were. The people sat down to eat and drink or have a party. They were indulging in sin and God was displeased with their behavior.

Thomas Schreiner comments here, “The warning to the Corinthians was very clear. They too would be guilty of idolatry if they ate and drank in an idol’s temple. The sin of idolatry was such a serious sin because it showed that the people had forgotten about the one true God.

-The next sin Paul addresses is Sexual sin. The Corinthian culture was immersed with many perversions just like our culture today. In fact there are many churches today who have condoned and excepted the gay and lesbian lifestyle as if it were now ok, when it was never ok, and in the Old Testament punished by death. Our culture today has glamorized sex and many couples today think that living together or sleeping together before they get married is ok. God’s Word tells us that sexual sin is wrong in every way. In Numbers 25 we learn that Israel was given over to spiritual and sexual unfaithfulness when they joined together with the people of Moab. The sad reality of this sin is that 23,000 people died that day because of their sexual sin. Indulging in the lust of the flesh cannot be ignored by a holy and righteous God and always brings with it great consequences.

-Testing God. Paul also addresses the sin of testing God. There were many times that we see Israel testing God. This happened in Exodus 17 and in Deuteronomy 6. But here Paul is speaking about Numbers 21 where the people of Isreal were so impatient with God that they spoke against Him and their leader Moses. God was so angry with them that he punished them by sending West Texas rattle snakes to bite them. The result was that many people died. How do people test God today? By ignoring His commands. By dishonoring God. By rebelling or living how you want. There are many Christians today who test God by continuing to live selfishly and you are inviting swift and severe punishment if you do not turn from your sin.

-The last warning Paul lists here is complaining or grumbling. The Hebrew people were constantly complaining about their lives. They complained about a lack of food or water. They complained and wanted to go back to Egypt. They complained about their leaders like Aaron and Moses. They complained about the Lord’s promise to bring them into the Promise Land. After all of this complaining God killed over 14,000 people with one plague. What are some of the ways you complain against God? May we learn to be content with the great things that the Lord has given us.

3. Notice the warning of falling.

English Standard Version Chapter 10

12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

Paul now takes time to give us a final example through warning us not to be so overly confident in our stand for Christ lest we fall. He doesn’t want us to repeat the same mistakes that the Hebrew people did, so this warning is very personal and serious as we battle temptations each and every day. It can be very easy today for believers to feel confident in their walk with Christ and especially if you have walked with the Lord for many years. You may think how in the world would I give into certain sinful behaviors. Be on guard Christian, be alert because Satan and his demons are so sneaky. I think this is why we see so many pastors fail.

-It might be pride that can cause people to fall.

-It might be because you have not spent time with God and in His Word and you have forgotten that you are always under attack.

-It can also be because we are over confident. So, the warning here is be careful lest you fall. Fall from what or into what??? That you fall into sinful behavior like the Hebrew people did. How do we keep from falling into idolatry or sexual sin? How can we Endure and Escape Temptation?

A. Be reminded that the temptation you are facing is common to man. Look at verse 13. In other words, the temptation you are facing is no different than what others are facing. Now you may say yeah but how does that still help me because this temptation is so hard to overcome? Be reminded that temptations are common things that we all face, and they are not unique only to you. Millions of other people have gone through them and have overcome them. Get some godly brothers and sisters around you that can encourage you and pray for you in your fight against sin. Be reminded that you are not alone. In fact, that is exactly what the enemy wants you to think and that is why he will try to isolate you. This was one of the most terrible things about Covid lockdown and restrictions. Many believers sat all alone falling deeper and deeper into sin and depression. God is with you and other believers are there as well.

B. Be reminded church that God is faithful. Be reminded that Christ himself went through a difficult time in the wilderness when Satan came after Him with many temptations, and yet Christ remained faithful and never gave into these sinful things. Jesus was tested and tempted and yet never gave into sin. We can praise God for that, and be reminded that because of our Lord’s faithfulness, we have His help to resist temptation every time it comes our way. Run to the Lord in prayer and ask Him for help and wisdom. Don’t try and defeat Satan in your own strength. Let me remind you of what we see in James chapter 4.

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7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

C. Be reminded church, that God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able. But, what does that mean??? I hear a lot of Christians today who make the claim that because the temptation was so hard they gave in. They say, “Satan made me do it.” They are blaming Satan for their sin. This is the same blame game that Adam and Eve played back in the Garden of Eden. They did not want to be personally accountable for their own sin so they were quick to put the blame on someone else. Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent. John MacArthur says here, “People sin because they willingly choose sin.” Church be reminded today that God is faithful and He will help you or deliver you from that temptation. How is He faithful? He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to go through. He places limits on how far the temptation can go. God will help you to stand strong and not fall. He will also provide you or give you a way of escape. God will help you to bear or endure the temptation you are struggling with.

Leon Morris comments here, “that the illustration of this verse can be found of an army that was trapped in a mountainous country. They were trying to escape from the enemy and were up against an impossible situation. However they were able to escape through a mountain pass. The assurance of this verse provides each and every believer comfort and strength in a mighty and faithful God. God will never fail us, God has never failed us, and He never will.” Be reminded of what Paul tells us at the end of Romans chapter 13.

English Standard Version Chapter 13

12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

(Close in Prayer)

Closing Benediction:

A Doxology = A doxology in the Bible is a short hymn or prayer of praise to God, often expressing glory and honor to the Triune God.

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24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,

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25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.