Sunday, August 9, 2020
1 Corinthians 10:1-12 TLB
“For we must never forget, dear brothers, what happened to our people in the wilderness long ago. God guided them by sending a cloud that moved along ahead of them; and he brought them all safely through the waters of the Red Sea. 2 This might be called their ‘baptism’—baptized both in sea and cloud!—as followers of Moses—their commitment to him as their leader. 3-4 And by a miracle God sent them food to eat and water to drink there in the desert; they drank the water that Christ gave them. He was there with them as a mighty Rock of spiritual refreshment. 5 Yet after all this most of them did not obey God, and he destroyed them in the wilderness.
6 From this lesson we are warned that we must not desire evil things as they did, 7 nor worship idols as they did. (The Scriptures tell us, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink and then got up to dance’ in worship of the golden calf.)
8 Another lesson for us is what happened when some of them sinned with other men’s wives, and 23,000 fell dead in one day. 9 And don’t try the Lord’s patience—they did and died from snake bites. 10 And don’t murmur against God and his dealings with you as some of them did, for that is why God sent his Angel to destroy them.
11 All these things happened to them as examples—as object lessons to us—to warn us against doing the same things; they were written down so that we could read about them and learn from them in these last days as the world nears its end.
12 So be careful. If you are thinking, ‘Oh, I would never behave like that’—let this be a warning to you. For you too may fall into sin.”
1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV
“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.”
So, in the first twelve verses of 1 Corinthians 10, Paul hits on 4 sins the children of Israel fell into:
- They lusted after evil things.
- They committed idolatry by bowing down to the golden calf Aaron had made rather than worshiping God.
- They committed sexual sin.
- They tested the Lord’s patience by endless complaining.
Notes
I. You’re not alone in what you’re going through
1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV
“No temptation [including test, trial, calamity, or affliction] has overtaken (laid hold of) you that is not common to man. …”
1 Peter 4:12 NIV
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”
1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
Notes
II. God has his hand on the dial of your trial
1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV
“… God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted [… tried, or tested) beyond what you are able [to stand], …”
“… when we have been brought very low and helped, sorely wounded and healed, cast down and raised again, have given up all hope—and been suddenly snatched from danger, and placed in safety; and when these things have been repeated to us and in us a thousand times over, we begin to learn to trust simply to the word and power of God …”
—John Newton, author of Amazing Grace
Notes
“Your struggles and tears will never be wasted but will be transformed into a healing balm after your victory, … You’ve won already. Hold on just a little while longer. Everything will be alright. We serve a God whose Name is faithful.”
—Theresa Pecku-Laryea
Romans 5: 3-4
“… tribulation produces patience, and patience, character; and character hope!”
Notes
III. He will provide an exit door that you may be able to bear it
1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV
“… but with the temptation [trial, or test, God] will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
The word for escape is ek’-ba-sis, meaning not just out from but to or toward something else.
Illustration
When I got saved, I had been immersed in the drug culture and God saved me out of it. But I was still surrounded by old friends and old places of sin.
So God provided for me a wonderful church home that became a place of safety where I was fed and nurtured and discipled.
He provided a way out of the old and a way into the new!
Colossians 1:13 NHEB
“… delivered us out of the power of darkness, and transferred us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love;”
Notes
Now, there are times it’s not a temptation to sin but a trial of your faith—like a sickness, or a painful relationship, or something deeply trying your patience.
But we must understand it’s not necessarily out of the trial that God makes a way, but He provides a way of escape while still in the trial. He does this by sending the “peace that passes all understanding.”
The way of escape is peace instead of fears, worries, stress, and anxiety brought on by the trial.
Philippians 4:6-7 TLB
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. 7 If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.”
Notes