Faithfulness Is Diligence, Not Indulgence Series

FAITHFULNESS IS DILIGENCE, NOT INDULGENCE

1 CORINTHIANS 10:1-13

INTRODUCTION: The passage before us this morning is one to ponder. It is a passage that challenges the reality of our Christian faith, the diligence of our walk with Christ, and the error we may harbor in our minds concerning our security in Christ, and His blessings towards us.

Two of the greatest problems facing the church today are false security and over confidence. Both are related to our standing in Christ. Many in the church have a false sense of security in Christ. They base this on many things; they said the sinners pray, and therefore think they are saved. But saying and thinking are not the evidence of salvation. They may be baptized and a member of a church. Yet, once again, baptism and membership are not the evidence of salvation. Finally, they may have participated in communion, or sense a supreme being, or are highly gifted and as such, are active in the church. Once again, these things do not provide the security in Christ that is necessary for salvation.

The problem with the church is that we feel safe and secure, but we really are not. In this passage, Paul says that the nation of Israel was to be an example to us of how not to be in the church. What not to trust in, how not to act, and what attitude not to have. The people of Israel flaunted their relationship with their God, and it was their downfall and doom.

TRANSITION: It is important for us all to understand that when the Lord said the road is narrow and tough, or many are called but few are chosen, or when we put our hands to the plow and look back we are not fit for heaven, HE MEANT IT

I SOME FOUNDATIONAL THOUGHTS ¡V 9:27 ¡V 10:1

A Paul was concerned that he would be disqualified himself, EVEN after EVERYTHING he had done.

1 That should be a sobering thought to us

2 As godly a man as Paul was he was in concerned about his life in Christ.

3 Paul understood that in order to win the race he had to be diligent, not indulgent.

B All of Israel had the privileges of God

1 Not one was left out

2 All the people were blessed

3 Most did not respond well

a The people of Israel believed the report of the ten spies and would not enter the land

b The people of Israel did not believe the report of the two spies ¡V Joshua and Caleb

4 Moses led the people of Israel for 40years in the wilderness

a In the end only two entered the land 40 years later

b Even Moses was disqualified

C Now Paul says to the church at Corinth, and the church at Pemberton ¡V ¡§I do not want you to be ignorant about this, ¡Kthese thing happened as an example to us, and a warning for us¡¨!

II GOD¡¦S FIVE BLESSING TO ALL ISRAEL ¡V 10:1-4

Notice that the word, ¡§ALL¡¨ is emphasized! God wanted to make sure that we knew that what He did He did for everybody. No one could cry fowl!

A All Israel had the supernatural guidance and presence of God

1 Pillar of cloud by day

2 Pillar of Fire by night

3 God presence and guidance provided

a Comfort

b Protection

c Security

4 Today the believer in Christ experiences the presence of God

a We are indwelt by the Spirit of God

b We are filled with the Spirit of God

c We are sealed with the Spirit of God

d We are illuminated by the Spirit of God

e We are comforted by the Spirit of God

f We are protected by the Spirit of God

No Israelite could ever say that did not have the presence of God. God¡¦s supernatural presence was visible for some 40 years of their lives!

No believer today can say that they were ever without the presence of God, are without the presence of God, or ever will be without the presence of God

B All Israel experienced the supernatural deliverance by God

1 Israel stood by and God parted the Red Sea.

2 Israel walked away from the Egyptians on dry land

3 God swallowed the whole Egyptian army up, leaving no one in His wake!

4 The believer in Jesus Christ has experienced a miraculous deliverance

a Greater than that of Israel

b Israel was delivered from a physical foe capable of killing the body

c We have been delivered from one capable of killing the soul

1) Came through the shed blood of Christ

2) Came through the satisfaction of God¡¦s justice

No Israelite could ever say that they did not experience God¡¦s divine and miraculous deliverance. They witnessed it directly, and they had a monument to remember it by.