Warning Against These 5 Sins
1- Learning from Israel’s Failures
1 Corinthians 10 TPT
1 My dear fellow believers, you need to understand that all of our Jewish ancestors who walked through a wilderness long ago were under the glory cloud and passed through the waters of the sea on both sides.
2 They were all baptised into the cloud of glory, into the fellowship of Moses, and into the sea.
3 They all ate the same heavenly manna
4 and drank water from the same spiritual rock that traveled with them—and that Rock was Christ himself.
5 Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their dead bodies were scattered around the wilderness.
6 Now, all these things serve as types and pictures for us—lessons that teach us not to fail in the same way by callously craving worthless things
POINTS TO LEARN:
In this passage Paul writes to the Corinthians the need to understand the parallel between the dealings of the Israelites in the desert to them now in Christ, which means, it also applies to us today. For instance, the cloud of glory is a picture of the Holy Spirit’s presence. Crossing the sea represent going through the water of baptism, leaving the sins (the Egyptians) in those waters and rising up to a new life in Christ. Every morning the Israelites were given manna by God, in the New Testament Christ is our Bread of Life (See John 6:26-33 where Jesus refers to Himself as the Bread of Life) and He is also the Rock in which we stand. Just like the Water flowed from the rock in the desert, Christ is the baptiser of the Holy Spirit and as we drink of Him rivers of living waters flow out from Him to us.
Now that we can see the parallel between the Israelites and us we can learn many lessons from them.
John 6
26 Jesus replied, “Let me make this very clear, you came looking for me because I fed you by a miracle, not because you believe in me.
27 Why would you strive for food that is perishable and not be passionate to seek the food of eternal life, which never spoils? I, the Son of Man, am ready to give you what matters most, for God the Father has destined me for this purpose.”
28 They replied, “So what should we do if we want to do God’s work?”
29 Jesus answered, “The work you can do for God starts with believing in the One he has sent.”
30–31 They replied, “Show us a miracle so we can see it, and then we’ll believe in you. Moses took care of our ancestors who were fed by the miracle of manna every day in the desert, just like the Scripture says, ‘He fed them with bread from heaven.’ What sign will you perform for us?”
32 “The truth is,” Jesus said, “Moses didn’t give you the bread of heaven. It’s my Father who offers bread that comes as a dramatic sign from heaven.
33 The bread of God is the One who came out of heaven to give his life to feed the world.”
34 “Then please, sir, give us this bread every day,” they replied.
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life. Come every day to me and you will never be hungry. Believe in me and you will never be thirsty.
36 Yet I’ve told you that even though you’ve seen me, you still don’t believe in me.
POINTS TO DISCUSS:
The Old Testament is still relevant for us today, and we can learn so much from it, not only the good things in there but also from the mistakes people made. Of course we must read it in the light of the New Covenant we are now in, and through the revelation of the Holy Spirit we can understand the things foretold and the wonderful grace for salvation given to us through Jesus Christ.
People tend to go from one extreme to another, it’s very hard to find the balance, although balance for the sake of balance is not right, the Holy Spirit can bring us to the right Biblical one. It’s very important to find that balance according to the whole counsel of God’s Word. As Pastor always says: “Never take a verse from the Bible out of context or you will have a pretext.” There is always going to be various references in the Bible about the same concept that will confirm it. There isn’t new revelations to be found, everything has been given to the Church already, the revelation can be new to you but it’s not new to the Body of Christ, since the Holy Spirit came to the early Christians it was revealed to them the mystery of salvation to the Jews and non-Jews alike in Christ. A salvation so precious and so wonderful.
In John 6:27 in the New King James Version says: “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life…” you can think, “God doesn’t want me to work anymore,” but that’s not what He is saying. He is saying people make it their priority to work and get money to eat yet they neglect to feed themselves with the spiritual food that Christ gives. In 2 Thessalonians 3:10 NKJV says, “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” So it’s clear that we need to work to feed our bodies but most importantly we must seek first the Kingdom of God and it’s righteousness and everything else will be added unto us. (Matthew 6:33)
QUESTIONS:
A- In verse 5 of 1 Corinthians 10 says that God was not pleased with most of Israelites in the dessert. Can we safely assume that if the Lord was not please with many of them, He is not please with many believers today as well?
B- If Jesus is the Bread of Life, how do we eat Him?
ANSWERS:
A- Yes, but we don’t need to assume it, in verse 6 it’s clear that the lesson we need to learn it’s not to do the same things as they did. We can learn from their mistakes. Thank goodness for that!
B- Fastening ourselves to His words and putting them in practice empowered by the Holy Spirit.
2- The Israelites Displeased God In The Desert
1 Corinthians 10 NKJV
6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
POINTS TO LEARN:
The lessons that teach us not to fail in the same way the Israelites did according to Corinthians 10 are the following:
We should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. They callously craved worthless things.
We should not become idolaters as were some of them. Anything you give your passion, time and talent has the potential to become an idol. Things or persons that give you identity, self-esteem, value, comfort, security, confidence and satisfaction has the potential to be your idol. I remember being convicted about having my “me time,” every time I felt sad or stressed, which was every night I’ll watch a movie with my cup of tea and that will relax me. The problem was that I went through each day looking forward to my “me time” struggling through the day with my small children and when I couldn’t have it I was very upset and even angry. How silly of me! When I can go to the Heavenly Father and find comfort in Him, I don’t need to be afraid or get stressed in the first place, but I can bring my worries and burdens to Him. And the God all of comfort, comforts me. How precious! The idol of movies and “me time,” had to go. It doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy a good movie every so often but my comfort is found in my God. I don’t need to escape reality, I trust the Lord and believe His Word.
We should not commit sexual immorality. Anything outside the morals set by the Lord is immorality. God set the perfect model in the Beginning, a man and a woman in covenant with God and each other can enjoy sexual intimacy, this is beautiful and holy. Outside this safety boundaries it is wrong and sinful. God has the right and authority to set the boundaries, because He created us and He knows what is best for us.
We should not tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted God, they were asking for outrageous tests for God to prove Himself even though they were witnesses of the powerful way He set them free from the Egyptians. How many believers do the same today? God proved His love by sending Jesus to die for us, yet many times we test God by saying things like, “If you love me you would do this or that.” This is tempting Christ.
We should not complain, as some of them also complained grumbling with discontent. Complaining is one of those “acceptable sins” for us, we think God’s understands us because what we are going through is too much, even the Psalmists complained but the truth is God hates it, because when we complain we are not trusting God that He will work miracles. The Psalmist could have complained a bit but was always convicted to trust the Lord. Today we have no reason to complain, we have Christ and He overcome the world, rejoice and be thankful.
POINTS TO DISCUSS:
All of these 5 sins keep us out of the Promised Land, many times we think immorality is very bad but we are constantly complaining. In the Pentateuch (Torah, first 5 books of the Bible) there are at least sixteen occasions of the people of Israel murmuring. Believers today have even more spiritual blessings than Israel experienced in the wilderness, which would make our complaining even more odious. According to this passage both idolatry and complaining are as bad, as well as idolatry, testing God and lusting after worldly things. We must value God’s amazing gift of salvation and walk in the fear of God. Jesus paid such a great price for us, let’s be thankful and don’t give place to the flesh.
QUESTIONS:
A- What are the opposites of these 5 sins we must walk in as we depend of God’s grace?
ANSWERS:
A- We should love instead of lust.
We should put God first and not have idols.
We should walk in purity and not commit sexual immorality.
We should trust the Lord and do His will instead of tempting Christ,
We should be thankful and not complain,
3- Take Heed Lest We Fall
1 Corinthians 10 NKJV
11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
POINTS TO LEARN:
The Passion Translation says it like this: (Verse 11)”All the tests they endured on their way through the wilderness are a symbolic picture, an example that provides us with a warning so that we can learn through what they experienced. For we live in a time when the purpose of all the ages past is now completing its goal within us.”
Wow, What a privilege to be alive today and experience the fulness of the Spirit. Many times we think it would had been so great to have been alive at the time of the parting of the sea or in the time of Jesus, etc. but the reality is that we are the truly blessed one, experiencing God’s grace and infilling of the Holy Spirit. We have been given authority in Christ and freedom from sin and death. And the best of all we may be witnesses of the second coming of Christ in great power and glory.
POINT TO DISCUSS
We must help each other in this walk of holiness and don’t get proud about the way the Lord has changed us, we didn’t do it, He did it. Stay humble and show mercy to others.
Verse 12 tells us that we must beware if we think it could never happen to us, lest your pride becomes your downfall. We all have still a flesh to deal with. See what Paul said in I Corinthians 15:31, “I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.”
We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it and prevent you from being tested beyond your ability to cope.
Unlimited grace is available for every believer who faces hardship, temptations, and seasons of difficulty. God’s faithfulness gives us both a way of escape and the power to endure.
Trust in God’s faithfulness is the way of escape that empowers us to overcome every difficulty we may experience.
QUESTIONS
A- Are we told that every difficulty will be removed from our lives after we come to Christ?
ANSWERS
B- We are not told that every difficulty will be removed from our lives, but that God’s grace provides an exit path that will bring you out of it victoriously.
Conclusion:
1- . Today we learn we can all fall short of God’s grace when we take our eyes from Jesus and give in into the desires of the flesh, the warning from the Lord is to be careful and learn from Israel’s mistakes. It is God’s grace that keeps us holy and we need to continue trusting in Him.
2- Each one of us must have someone over us as a godly authority, someone that can speak to us strongly if necessary to help us stay in the narrow path, if we keep humble and in the fear of God, His grace is sufficient for us.
3- When we judge a brother or sister in Christ for their failures, we can open the door for the enemy to play with us. As Born again believers we love the sinner (the person) but we hate the sin. Let the authority over them deal with them and bring the right discipline, it’s not helpful when we announce it to the world , it does not benefit the Body of Christ nor bring the lost to Christ. Should we rejoice that someone falls? Absolutely not, we too can fail miserably without God’s grace.
If someone’s fall makes you feel good about yourself thinking you are better than them, you already fell! You fell into pride and God resists you now.
Lord have mercy on us and help us to live for your glory and purposes. Thank you for your grace and the Holy Spirit. Thank you for the Name and Blood of Jesus that makes us overcomes.
Karina Maile