Overcoming Temptation
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
Intro:
AG:
TS: Paul calls us to righteousness and promises victory over temptation. In 1 Cor 10, he uses ancient Israel as an example. Their sin against God and subsequent judgment remind us of the seriousness of sin.
RS:
Freedom without Self-Control
Freedom without Self-Control
For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,
and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
and all ate the same spiritual food,
and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.
Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
Israel becomes the focus for Paul. to make his point about being disqualified of which he spoke of in 1 Cor 9:27
But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Israel’s advantages
Israel’s advantages
Israel had been enslaved in Egypt. When the book of Exodus opens, we see God moving to reverse that condition.
He noticed
He sent a deliverer, Moses and his spokesman/brother, Aaron
He judged Egypt through plagues
He led them to liberty.
He gave them the Law
The first few verses describe the scene
Under the cloud- God led them with a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night
He sent them where He willed and guided them along the way
Through the sea- God led them to the shores of the Red Sea and delivered them Pharoah’s army.
He parted the water and allowed them to cross on dry ground.
He drowned Pharaoh’s army when they pursued.
Paul says they were baptized… into Moses
through the sea and cloud
They were unified and made one body
Food and Drink- God supplied their needs
Purified bitter water
Sent manna and quail
Caused a rock to give water (2 different times recorded)
Real provisions given by the power of God.
Spiritual rock-
The rock which followed them
Israel has a tradition which says the rock Moses struck, rolled with them as a water source.
Here, Paul makes clear the rock he speaks of is Jesus, the one who supplies all of their needs
Israel’s Disqualification
Israel’s Disqualification
Once free, the trouble began.
Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
Only 2 men over 19 who left Egypt (Joshua and Caleb) were allowed to enter the promised land.
Israel’s sin led to a whole generation, including Moses and Aaron, being disqualified.
They all died in the wilderness.
They serve as a cautionary tale or us.
Examples for Us
Examples for Us
Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.
Paul says that ancient Israel serves as an example
Their story is to warn us against desiring Evil
The seriousness of sin is on full display as we consider the disqualification of a generation.
Paul lists 4 examples of Israel’s rebellion which cover many of the common sins which lead us away.
Idolatry
Idolatry
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.”
Even though they say the amazing deliverance of God, Israel quickly fell into idolatry.
More shocking to me is the fact that God defeated Egypt’s idols in the plagues.
He had shown He was superior to their so called gods.
The Golden calf:
Moses is on the mountain being given the Law from God, and they make an idol to worship.
Their worship, referenced here by quoting ex 32:6.
They rose up to play:
They “worshipped” by throwing a party.
They were feasting, drinking, and committing sexual acts. (Just like the Egyptians taught them)
They cast off all restraint and used the “idol” as an excuse.
Sexual Immorality
Sexual Immorality
We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.
In Ex 32, 3000 were killed by Levites and 20,000 died in a plague God sent in judgment.
Their sexual immorality is specifically highlighted here.
Remember, this is on of the problems the church at Corinth had.
They were committing acts of immorality and tolerating it in the church.
Sexual immorality is a constant temptation and problem for people
The world says if it fells good do it!
The joy and pleasure must mean it is a good thing
The WORD says it is only good in the context of marriage.
Any indulgence outside of one man and one woman married as one is sin!
Testing God
Testing God
We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,
Numbers 21 records a time they tested God and suffered or it.
They questioned God’s plan.
From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way.
And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.”
Remember the provisions had come from God, and now they call it worthless!
They got bored.
They doubted God’s plan and the leadership of Moses.
God sent snakes to punish them.
Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.
SIN is serious!
Re-read Exudus and Numbers
Watch the judgment of God
Complaining
Complaining
nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
In Numbers 16, they complained the Destroyer (death angel of the last plague) was sent to kill. The same Destroyer also killed 70,000 men because of David’s census (2 Sam 24:15-16, and an Assyrian army who were laying seige to Jerusalem (2 Ch32:21)
Korah led a group of grumblers and complainers.
He questioned Moses and Aaron’s right to lead Israel.
He complained that the journey was taking too long.
In the end, the ground opened and swallowed them.
Overcoming Temptation
Overcoming Temptation
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.
Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
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.
Take Head
Take Head
To be forewarned is to be prepared
You know the hazard is there.
You know you will be tempted
Be ready!
Seek the Way of Escape
Seek the Way of Escape
A. God limits the temptation
None of us will face an overwhelming temptation which cannot be resisted!
God won’t allow that to happen
So no, the Devil CANT’T make us “do it”.
We can say no!
B. God provides a way of escape
There is a way out of temptation without sinning
Christ helps us
For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Resist the Devil
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Flee temptation and pursue righteousness
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Conclusion:
Conclusion: