Paul's Emphasis On Spiritual Freedom Series

Sermon Brief

Date Written: July 29, 2014

Date Preached: August 03, 2014

Where Preached: OPBC (AM)

Sermon Details:

Series Title: A Series in 1 Corinthians

Sermon Title: Paul’s Emphasis on Spiritual Freedom

Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 [NLT] – read now

1For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3and all ate the same spiritual food, 4and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7Do 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.” 8We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11Now 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. 12Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. [clear screen after finish]

Essence of the Text: Paul used these verses as an illustration to explain spiritual freedom!

Essence of the Sermon: These verses give us a direction to follow regarding our spiritual freedom in Christ!

Main Question(s) of the Sermon: What is your attitude toward your spiritual freedom today?

Applicable Objective of the Sermon: You will hear the:

WORD PROCLAIMED: Paul gives examples of freedom & how it was abused by the Children of Israel.

WORD EXPLAINED: These illustrations are here to ‘teach’ us to avoid the same pitfalls the Children of Israel made…

WORD MADE PERSONAL: How can I avoid the pitfalls of spritiual freedom? Am I using my spiritual freedom to maximize the kingdom OR for my own desire?

Introduction

So where are we in our journey thru this letter from Paul? We have just learned that Paul called the Corinthian believers to discipline their lives to do ANYTHING they could to share the Gospel so that some would come to know Christ.

We know that Paul had illustrated how HE had disciplined himself to sell out… to give his ALL… so that Christ was proclaimed and souls were won! We also know that Paul loved this fellowship and did NOT believe it had yet lost its presence to witness for Christ…

BUT in v10 we find Paul giving the fellowship a warning. He believed God still WOULD use them if they were willing to sell out and discipline themselves to God’s plan… He knew that the false teachers could be disqualified and overcome if the people would discipline themselves to Scripture and sound teaching.

Paul had shared with many of them about their freedom in Christ, but here he warns them to NOT become complacent in that freedom. You see Paul had just told them to be willing to do ANYTHING for the Gospel… to go ANYWHERE to share Christ… BUT here he lays out a warning!

His warning is found in v12…[show v12 here] “12Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. Paul does NOT want the believers to feel so free that they begin to get careless in their actions.

Last week I told you we are free to GO anywhere, to DO anything (within the law of Christ) to share the Gospel and to see souls won… BUT there is a warning that goes with that!

The warning is don’t get careless in your freedom. My brothers and sisters we ALL know our weaknesses… we ALL know where we struggle… so we must guard our hearts and minds from those things where we most likely will stumble.

If you struggle with alcohol and drinking, it is best that you do NOT go into the lion’s den… into a bar to witness to a friend or co-worker. It’s best that you find another way… look for another opportunity.

With our spiritual freedom comes some spiritual responsibilities that we must put into place in our lives! God gives us a brain to use and we KNOW where we struggle, so why would you place yourself in the line of fire, if there was another way?