Learning to Preach in the Light of the Past 1 Corinthians 10:6-11

These past days have provided some Great lessons, Good examples:

1 Cor 10:6-11 “Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 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.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 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.”

Context:

In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul is working to strengthen the testimony of the Church. They should be setting the example of what victory in Christ looks like! The problems in Corinth have drained Gospel proclamation of its power. There is a race to run, a fight to win, and if you dont learn from the examples that have been given to you, you will end up losing... or you will be disqualified, and guarantee the ineffectiveness in proclaiming the Gospel - and others will lose. Winning those who have come out of idolatry, and sexual immorality calls for a deep look into the scriptures… Look at the examples that have gone before us. Good and bad, look and to learn from them.

Last Week: The assumptions of the privileged… 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 They all:

Great leadership is no guarantee you will be blessed in the work of the gospel

Great Guidance is no guarantee

great experience is no guarantee

great provision is no guarantee

The great presence of Christ is no guarantee

The examples teach us a lesson

Learning from examples

10:6 Examples: τύπος, ου, ὁ - a mark made as the result of a blow or pressure, mark, trace - an archetype serving as a model, type, pattern, model, design, pattern, an example.

10:11 example, instruction. - counsel about avoidance or cessation of an improper course of conduct, admonition, instruction. Of historical incidents used as an example or warning to discourage improper conduct γράφειν πρὸ—Of quiet reproof about repetition of an improper course of conduct admonition, rebuke Tit 3:10

10:12 anyone who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

Paul said what happened to them was instruction, so we could learn from their examples...“Example” is a word that you are going to see over and again in the NT.

“that you may not desire evil as they did” The words describe the direct impulse towards food, sexual satisfaction etc., and also desire in general.

George Whitfield:“OTHER MEN MAY PREACH A BETTER GOSPEL THAN I, BUT NO MAN CAN PREACH A BETTER GOSPEL.”

The goal of this is so that as a believer, you will be effective, and not disqualified for service. Its so you will be effective in winning others to Christ. The question today is what does the Gospel taste like when served with your life?

The examples describe some common fault lines.

Example 1: v7 Not to be idolaters: Learn the power of separation to the Lord

Paul is dealing with the eating of offerings in idols temples. WE know an idol isnt anything… yet, as a follower of Christ, you have the lost, or the weak to think about. Besides that, what fellowship do you have with idols? Have we learned nothing?

exodus 32:6 “And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”

Ill: ERLC even racial reconciliation can become an idol.

No, I’m not going to use the ERLC Racial Reconciliation SUNDAY - Bulletin Insert - https://erlc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/RacialReconciliationlnsertColor_012722.pdf

“Racism—and slavery along with it— is our nation’s original sin.”

Previous Quotes from the Author: The White Supremacy Within Us (https://cfc.sebts.edu/faith-and-culture/white-supremacy-within-us/) (Written for Southeastern Seminary)

“We have undetected white supremacy. It’s hindering our mission.”

“Although this phenomenon occurs unconsciously, it naturally leads to a specific race imposing a racial norm on a different people group. For our purposes, an ignorance of white consciousness can lead to whites imposing a white norm on other races — in America, specifically the black race. What follows then is the prevalent and undetected disease of white supremacy.”

“…most instances of white supremacy occur unconsciously and thus result in subconscious attitudes, ideas and policies that diminish minority groups — all while never overtly suggesting a biological inferiority.”

“There has yet to be a moment where we intentionally and boldly dismantle the emblems of white supremacy that remain.”

Gal 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Eph 2:14-18 “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.”

Want to kill the hostility? Lay it down at the foot of the cross!

Example 2: v8 Not to be sexual immoral: Learn the power of Holiness

Some seem to have gone to the pagan temples out of a desire to be near the immorality… It may be the excuse to go was really just a cover for the secret desire that was burning under the surface. The practices associated in the pagan temples is also characteristic of the past of many of these believers… Have you forgotten what you were saved out of? 1 Cor 6:11 “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

Referencing the pattern of falling we see in the Old testament...

Numbers 25:1-4 “... the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. ...””

Numbers 25:9 “Nevertheless, those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.”

Psalm 106:29 “they provoked the Lord to anger with their deeds, and a plague broke out among them.”

1 Pet 1:13-16 “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”” 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Example 3: v9 Learn to not to test the Lord: Learn the power of Contentment

If you assume your sin is okay whether attitude toward the weak, or your faulty assumption that your sin is easily dismissed, you are insulting the grace that has been offered to you.

Num 21:5 “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.””

They were destroyed by the destroyer: the angel of death… just as described in the destruction of the body. and the death of those at the lords table.

Ex. 12:23; 2 Sam. 24:16; 1 Chr. 21:15; Ps. 78:49

Romans 6:1 “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?”

You are insulting grace every-time you presumptuously sin. Learn from the past.

Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Example 4: v10 Learn not to Grumble: Learn the power of perseverance

Num 14:2 “And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!”

“Paul, you are making life so complicated…” Complaining against God is clear… but they were also complaining against Paul…

Be careful grumbling against God or spiritual leadership...

Philippians 2:14 “Do all things without grumbling or disputing,”

James 5:9 “Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.”

Heb 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

These examples exist so that you will learn not to desire what is evil, and you wont end up disqualified in the fight. God wants to use you to impact the lives of others for his name sake. He wants the weak to be strengthened by you. He wants the lost to come to faith because of what they hear from you, and see in you.

A holy, sanctified, content, endurance that says… Christ is enough! They will get such a taste of Christ from your life, that they will be drawn to Him.

Conclusion:

They are known as the forty martyrs of Sebaste. (The Holy 40) Roman soldiers in the Legio XII Fulminata (Armed with Lightning) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forty_Martyrs_of_Sebaste

Heb 12:1-4 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. ...”

If we learn…we will be used, and some will be saved.