Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:5-13
Take Heed Lest You Fall
Intro.
1. Possibility of falling away is a real threat to every child of God.
2. To think otherwise is a great danger, 1 Cor. 10:12.
3. Israel is a warning to Christians to remain faithful and true.
I. ISRAEL IS OUR EXAMPLE, 1 Cor. 10:1-10.
A. Of Our Relationship with God, 1 Cor. 10:2; Gal. 3:27.
-Baptized into relationship with God’s prophet / Relationship with God’s Son.
B. As God’s Chosen People, Exo. 19:5-6; Psa. 135:4; 1 Pet. 2:9-10.
C. Israel’s Unbelief, Heb. 3:15-19.
1. Eyes fixed on Egypt instead of God and land of promise, Num. 11:4-6.
2. Fell in wilderness due to their sins of disobedient unbelief.
3. Our warning: 1 Cor. 10:6-10. Confidence of salvation rests on obedient faith (not wishful thinking).
D. Therefore, Take Heed Lest You Fall, 10:12.
-Look carefully and discern the warning that is given to us.
1. Israel thought she stood with God (chosen, saved, protected).
-Thinking we stand with God not same as actually standing with God, Matt. 3:8-9.
2. Israel did not take heed to herself. Mixed and mingled with worldly idolaters while complaining against God’s care and provisions, 1 Cor. 10:6-10; Psa. 106:13-15, 19-22, 24-25.
3. Israel fell. Consumed in wilderness, Psa. 106:26-27; Num. 14:26-35.
-What About Christians today? What about Us?
-Discern signs of a faltering faith, 2 Cor. 13:5; Heb. 3:12-13 (4:12).
II. SIGNS OF A FALTERING FAITH (READY TO FALL), Gal. 6:3.
-We can Deceive Ourselves that our Faith is Stronger than it is...
A. By Equating Men’s Estimation of our Faithfulness with God’s Approval of Us, Lk. 6:26.
1. Reputation of faithfulness not equivalent to proof of it, Rev. 3:1
2. Instead of trusting what others say about your faithfulness, trust what God says about it (2 Cor. 13:5).
3. Take heed: It is God’s evaluation that matters.
B. By Minimizing the Corrupting Effect of Evil Companions, 1 Cor. 15:33.
1. Evidently Israel did this, Exo. 23:2; Num. 25:1-2; 31:16.
2. Don’t be deceived, 1 Pet. 4:1-2 (1 Jno. 2:15-16). At work, tempted to steal (Tit. 2:10); At school, tempted to cheat (Eph. 4:25); at home, media bombards your senses with sensuality (Col. 3:5), etc.
3. In the world but not of it (sanctified), 1 Cor. 5:9-10; Jno. 17:15-17.
4. Take heed: God’s enemy if you befriend the world (Jas. 4:4).
C. By becoming Spiritually Complacent, Neglectful and Apathetic, Rev. 3:17.
1. Lukewarm Christian rarely acknowledges his real condition.
2. Take heed: Avoid downward spiral of apathy, Rom. 12:11 (Jas. 4:17).
D. By Thinking we are Above Temptation and Sin, Jas. 1:12-16.
1. By not recognizing the dangers of temptation and sin, 1:16.
2. Exactly where Satan wants you to be, 1 Pet. 5:8.
3. Take heed: Pride goes before a fall, Prov. 16:18.
E. By Relying on our Past Faithfulness.
1. As long as we live we are in a battle, 1 Tim. 6:12 (Eph. 6:10-13).
2. Only near death did Paul say he had “fought” the good fight (2 Tim. 4:7).
a. Just a few years earlier, Paul had not yet attained or been perfected, He was pressing onward and upward, Phil. 3:12-14.
b. Imitate his forward-pressing faithfulness (Phil. 3:17).
3. Take heed: We cannot rest on past victories when present battles and opportunities exist (Gal. 6:10; Jno. 4:35).
F. By Equating Believing with Obeying, Lk. 6:46.
1. Description of faith without obedience in Jas. 2:14-20.
2. Only “faith working through love” has the power to produce genuine hope of righteousness, Gal. 5:5-6.
3. Take heed: Affirming faith but not obeying Christ is not real faith.
Conclusion
1. Israel’s fall is our warning: We can also fall.
2. Constantly check your faith using God’s word of truth, and walk by faith, 2 Cor. 5:7-9 … this pleases God.
By: Joe R. Price
Posted: December 27, 2013