Lesson Learned • 1 Cor 10:5-13

Review & Overview

1. Previous Study’s Review

We’re still dealing with the 2nd question asked of Paul involving:    

Our Christian Freedom or our Liberty:  chp.8-10.    

chp.8: Paul talked about our Christian Freedom as it pertains to things offered to idols:    

He mentioned that Knowledge, Idols, & Food were nothing.      &     that Love was everything…   

And that we should put aside our liberties & freedoms so we don’t Stumble Others…

chp.9: Paul gave an illustration regarding his own Christian Freedom that he put aside.

Paul had the Right to be Support Monetarily, Physically, Financially but he didn’t.

2. Current Study’s Overview

So Paul was a Great Example of how he set his freedoms aside to serve the Lord (Reference 9:24-27).

Now in chp.10: Paul gives another illustration regarding the Israelites who were a Bad Example because they handled their freedom inappropriately:

Last week, in Verses 1 through 4 Paul noted that God had freed the Israelites from bondage under Egypt, God...

Gave the Israelites Direction

Gave the Israelites protection

There was Identification - The Israelites identified w/ Moses & God.

Gave the Israelites Provision

In other words they were saved.

And in spite of all of that the Israelites were a Bad Example because they abused their freedom. Read...

The Title of Today’s Message is: A Lesson Learned

Because we see the Israelites handling their freedom inappropriately and as a result they were disqualified - And that should be a lesson we should learn.

If your are taking notes we want to look at two things:

1. The Misuse of Freedom Vs. 5-10

2. The Warning Regarding Freedom Vs. 11-13

1. The Misuse of Freedom Vs. 5-10

We see their misuse of freedom in 6 ways.

1.1 They Misused their Freedom Because they Lacked Faith Vs. 5

Notice, it says that God was not well pleased with the nation of Israel.

“Well Pleased” Definition - To take delight in, to have a mental satisfaction in something or someone. It speaks of having a desire to indulge in something; To treasure something.

And this is interesting to me because we learned from the previous section that they were out of the world.

They chose to follow Moses & God, they made the choice to leave everything behind.

They were being directed by God under the pillar of cloud.

They were protected by God - They were being provided for by God.

but here we read that God was not well pleased with them.

WHY? Why was God not pleased with them? Because they lacked faith.

Even though God gave them direction, protection, and provision they still lacked faith.

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) 6But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

APPLICATION: Do you want to please the Lord? Walk by faith and not by sight.

In other words, are you placing your faith & trust in God in every aspect of your life?

Are you trusting the Lord regarding your family circumstances, regarding finances, regarding guidance & direction, regarding personal dilemmas.

Do you have your faith in God regarding everything pertaining to your life?

This is what the Lord desires, that is what the Lord takes pleasure in - Us placing our trust in Him and not in anything or someone else.

Question: How do we please the Lord?

And look, Paul is being gracious here when he says God was not pleased with most of them.

because out of the 2 million some people who came out of Egypt only 2 entered the Promised Land.      Joshua & Caleb.

Everyone else wandered aimlessly, suffered terribly, & died horribly there in the wilderness.

And that is such an accurate picture of those who will be entering heaven.

Matthew 7:13–14 NKJV

13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

APPLICATION: Understand that this Christian life is a life of faith & trust in God.

The majority of people choose to live their lives trusting in themselves, in politics, in anything other than God.

So because of that they take the wide gate because it is easy.

It’s easy to trust what you see, it’s easier to trust in yourself, it’s easy to trust in the things of the world.

But it takes faith to trust in God.

Question: Why is it easier to enter by the wide gate?

1.2 They Misused their Freedom Because they Lusted Vs. 6  

The Children of Israel had everything they needed in the wilderness. They had manna and water, they had food & drink.   

Deuteronomy 29:5 NKJV

5 And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet.

But the problem was that they weren’t satisfied, the manna wasn’t enough - What God gave them was not sufficient for them.

Numbers 11:4 NKJV

4 Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: “Who will give us meat to eat?

so what does God do? God gave them quail He gave them meat…

Psalm 78:25–32 (NKJV)

25 Men ate angels’ food; He sent them food to the full.

26 He caused an east wind to blow in the heavens; And by His power He brought in the south wind.

27 He also rained meat on them like the dust, Feathered fowl like the sand of the seas;

28 And He let them fall in the midst of their camp, All around their dwellings.

29 So they ate and were well filled, For He gave them their own desire.

30 They were not deprived of their craving; But while their food was still in their mouths,

31 The wrath of God came against them, And slew the stoutest of them, And struck down the choice men of Israel.

32 In spite of this they still sinned, And did not believe in His wondrous works.

So they lusted after what they did not have…  &   what they did not need…  listen to Psalm.106:13-15.

Psalm 106:13–15 NKJV

13 They soon forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel, 14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tested God in the desert. 15 And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul.

APPLICATION: Look, we need to be content with what we have and with who we are…  

Philippians 4:11 NKJV

11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

1.1 …Because of their Lack of Faith Vs. 5 1.2 …Because they Lusted Vs. 6

1.3 They Misused their Freedom for Idolatry Vs. 7

In Ex.32 when Moses went up the Mountain to get the Law, he came down & the people were worshipping the golden calf that Aaron made.

Exodus 32:6 NKJV

6 Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

Interesting that when the Law came down 3,000 people died…  but  in Acts 2:41 when the H.S. came down 3,000 people saved.

APPLICATION: Point deals with idolatry…   so  whatever we put first in our life is what we idolize…

1.1 …Because of their Lack of Faith Vs. 5 1.2 …Because they Lusted Vs. 6 1.3 …For idolatry Vs. 8

1.4 They Misused their Freedom for Sexual Immorality Vs. 8

in Num.22-25 Balak son of Zippor king of Moab sent for Balaam son of Beor to curse the Israelites, but instead Balaam gave 4 prophetic blessings…   so Balak was furious…

So Balaam told Balak how to defeat the Israelites, through Sexual Immorality.

He said to bring out your pretty young women & your idols and show them how you worship…  

It resulted is death, 23,000 fell or died in one day…   &    Num.25:9 24,000 died, in total by a plague that the Lord brought…

APPLICATION: The Greek word for Sexual Immorality is porneuo, it’s where we get our english word porn or pornography.

Which speaks of any kind of sex outside of marriage. Whether it is homosexuality, lesbianism, Adultery, Bestiality, Incest, Prostitution, watching porn.

Understand that living sexually immoral lives will always lead to disqualification and spiritual death.

If you are a Christian here today and you are doing things you shouldn’t be doing w/ your boy friend, and girl friend, or even just a friend, you need to stop.

If you are watching things you shouldn’t be watching, you need to stop.

Because the same way that the enemy used sexual immorality to cause the Israelites to be disqualified & die, the same goes towards Christians who live a sexually immoral life, they too will be disqualified and spiritually die.

And I don’t want anyone here to be disqualified, so repent and live a life of purity.

1.1 …Because of their Lack of Faith Vs. 5 1.2 …Because they Lusted Vs. 6 1.3 …For idolatry Vs. 8

1.4 …For Sexual Immorality

1.5 They Misused their Freedom Because they Temped Christ Vs. 9

This word tempt means to test, they tested Christ, they put God to the test…

In Num.21 they were delivered from Egypt, they had food & water, yet they weren’t thankful but complained about what they did not have and spoke against God.

Thus they,    tempted…    or  tested God…

As a result God sent serpents to bite them & people began to die, so they came to moses & repented. 

God then tells Moses to make a bronze serpent on a pole and all who looked upon the pole lived…        

in John 3:14 Jesus tells us this is a type or a picture of Himself …

John 3:14 NKJV

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

APPLICATION: When someone puts God to the test, it means they they are putting themselves above God.

They are telling God how things should be. Like who are we to test God, God already knows everything!

Who are we to question the Lord? Understand, putting God to the test is a work of the devil.

Matthew 4:5–7 NKJV

5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”

1.1 …Because of their Lack of Faith Vs. 5 1.2 …Because they Lusted Vs. 6 1.3 …For idolatry Vs. 8

1.4 …For Sexual Immorality 1.5 …Because they Tempted Christ

1.6 They Misused their Freedom because they Complained Vs. 10

Num.13-14: Moses sent 12 spies into the land…  God told them to take the land… 10 came back with a bad report & the people murmured…           Only Joshua & Caleb gave a good report… 

They got their eyes off the promises of the Lord & on to their situation…   they only saw the giants in the land & not the promise of the land & they complained and it resulted in their destruction…  

2 Cor.4:17-18 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

ILLUSTRATION: About complaining.

2. The Warning Regarding Freedom Vs. 11-13

2.1 Take Heed Vs. 11-12

One reason we study the O.T. on Wed nights is to see examples for lives… of what to do & not to do… 

2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

APPLICATION: And here is the point, in our Christian lives when we think we’ve got it all together… that some how this sin or that sin won’t effect me… 

that it won’t touch me…  watch out…  be careful… take heed lest we fall… 

2.2 Take Heart Vs. 13

Vs.13a take heart - others have gone through what you’re going through… 

1 Peter 4:12 NKJV

12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

Don’t lose heart…   why…     2 reasons: 

God’s Faithfulness Vs. 13b - whatever test comes our way the Lord will enable us to go thru it…

God’s Faithfulness is not dependent on our faithfulness…    

2 Tim.2:13 - if we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

God’s Deliverance Vs. 13c - God will enable us to bear up under the testing until He delivers us…

APPLICATION: All we need to do is believe it…    rest in it…   knowing that the Lord will do what He said…

USE THIS FREEDOM OF OURS TO LIVE OUR LIVES FOR THE LORD

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