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7 Dec:  

Learning From Other’s Mistakes!

1 Cor 10:6,11     “Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.”   “Now these things happened to them   as an example,   and they were written for our instruction”.

 

Last week we looked at three instances where our Lord became troubled during His life here on earth. We also noted how in each instance His response was to turn to God for resolution. Today I want to look at the teachings that we find in the Word of God in order to help us avoid making similar mistakes = thus bringing grief and pain into our lives. This passage in Corinthians validates this idea of learning from other people’s mistakes.

According to that idea the following Scripture should have something to say to us –

1 Cor 10:1-5 “For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and they all passed through the sea; and they all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and sea; they all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased - for they were laid low in the wilderness.”

 

1 Cor 10:1-5 “For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that      our fathers were all under the cloud and they all passed through the sea; and they all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and sea; they all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless,     with most of them God was not well-pleased - for they were laid low in the wilderness.”   As you look at this passage – what might be the lesson we could learn from this? First you see that they   ALL   passed through the same situation yet  ‘some’ of them were displeasing to God and their dead bodies were left in the wilderness as a result. Sadly, the scripture says:  ‘most of them, not ‘some’.  But that still falls short of all of them. So they all went through the same circumstances but there were different results in some of the people’s lives. 

If some of them could avoid being punished then we too can also avoid such punishment. The question is, what can we do to avoid making the same mistakes and receiving the same punishment?

1 Cor 10:6-10     “Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they indeed craved them. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were . . . Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and 23,000 fell in one day. Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them, and were destroyed by the serpents. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.”

  • A) Do Not Crave Evil Things (v. 6)
  • This was the fundamental problem that led to the other sins
  • We will never overcome sin if we   desire  it.    James 1:14-15 “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”   In Romans we read of God giving man over to their evil desires.  Rom 1:21,28 “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. ….  And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, Gad gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper…”  In Matthew Jesus tells us that our heart is going to follow what we decide to treasure in our lives:   Mtt 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”    Ezekiel records for us what God desires for and from us:           Ezek 11:19 “And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh”.                                   
  • So we do have a choice. We can choose the things of this world or we can choose those things from God’s world/kingdom.                Colossians 3:1-2 “Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”

 

1 Cor 10:6-10     “Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they indeed craved them. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were . . . Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and 23,000 fell in one day. Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them, and were destroyed by the serpents. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.”

  • B) Do Not Be Idolaters (v. 7)
  • Example: golden calf (Exodus 32:1-6)
  • But something of importance that we need to realize is that there does not need to be a physical statue to be guilty of idolatry. An idol is anything that replaces God as the primary object of our devotion/allegiance.
  • This is probably why the very First Commandment in the Top Ten tells us:  Have no other gods before Me.  
  • Idolatry violates / supersedes the Greatest Commandment to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

 

1 Cor 10:6-10     “Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they indeed craved them. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were . . . Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and 23,000 fell in one day. Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them, and were destroyed by the serpents. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.”

  • C) Do Not Act Immorally (v. 8)
  • Example: the sin of Achan (greed/stealing)        Judges 7:1”But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard to the things under the ban, for Achan took some of the things under the ban, therefore the anger of the Lord burned against the sons of Israel.”
  • Sexual immorality includes anything contrary to God’s plan for marriage Hebrews 13:4 – fornication, adultery, homosexuality, bestiality, pornography
  • How to overcome this – self-control   Rom 12:2 “and do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your  mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is”.   Phil 4:8 “Finally brethren, whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”  Col 3:1,2 “set your minds on things above”.  

 

1 Cor 10:6-10     “Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they indeed craved them. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were . . . Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and 23,000 fell in one day. Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them, and were destroyed by the serpents. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.”

 

  • D) Do Not Try the Lord (v. 9) nor Grumble (v. 10)
  • Ex 17:1-7 In one of the camps Israel grumbled against Moses and accused him of bringing them out to die. Moses instructed the people they were grumbling, not against Moses, but against the Lord.  V. 7 God named the place Massa because they tested the Lord, saying, ‘Is the Lord among us, or not?”                 Numbers 21:3-5 God gave Israel complete victory over the Canaanites who were fighting them. The Lord then led them around the country of Edom which prompted Israel to become impatient and to grumble and to accuse God of bringing them out to die.          
  • The issue appears to be that it is not their needing something but their way of going about bringing their needs to God. Rather than asking with the expectation of receiving they proceeded on the expectation that God was NOT going to provide. Heb 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
  • How to overcome this – show gratitude and trust:       Prov 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”              1 Peter 5:7 “  “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”        
  •  
  • CONCLUSION:  If we are going to faithfully serve the Lord, it will have to be done by guarding and preparing against what can cause us to fall!!!

 

  •  Eph 5:3-12 “But immortality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; . . .  Therefore do not be partakers with them since you are children Light; . . . . trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them.”

 

  • Rom 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.:
  • 1 Peter 2:2 “ Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.”

 

 

 

 

 

30 Nov: Troublesome Times are Here!  What Do We Do With Them???

     Last week I shared Scriptures which pointed us toward making a commitment to Christ, second to none. We are to try as best we can to fully fulfill the commandment to love God first and foremost, before all others. With that encouragement I want to remind us that we must be always wary of our adversary:  1 Peter 5:6 “Be sober of spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring line, seeking some to devour.”     Eph 6:11 “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”    When you go back in the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry you will see even Jesus Himself was approached by the devil and given three temptations. One of the temptations was over Jesus’ suffering hunger and the other was the enjoyment of this world’s pleasures.  It should not, therefore, surprise us when Satan’s works enter into our lives and make things extremely difficult.

Today I want to consider some situations when Jesus Himself went into and through some difficult situations. The first one is found in     John 11:33,35,36-38 “When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled…. Jesus wept. So the Jews were saying, ‘See how He loved him.’ But some of them said, ‘Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?’ So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb.”  

As you can see here, even Jesus found occasion to suffer grief. There are two possible interpretations of this moment. One is that Jesus was empathizing with the friends and family members gathered and I sort of figure this is probably closer to the truth. But a second possibility which has been suggested is that Jesus’ spirit is troubled because of His disappointment with Lazarus’ family and friends who still do not have an understanding of what He was capable of. He was troubled by their lack of faith. This does seem like a real possibility considering the response of the people around them. But either way, Jesus allowed His emotions to embrace sorrow and pain. But then, what Jesus’ response to this situation?

John 11:41-43 “So they removed the stone.  Then Jesus raised His eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.’ When He had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth.’” Which is what exactly happens. But the point I want us to acknowledge is Jesus’ response to the situation. When Jesus become troubled, He turned to the Father for help and the solution. Granted God’s response was more instantaneous with Jesus than what we might expect – but we should still expect God to hear and respond. Consider this:     Luke 18:1-8 “Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up saying in a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and there was also a woman in that city who kept coming to him for justice. For while he was (initially) unwilling, he did eventually concede and give her justice to stop her from coming. 6 And the Lord said, “Consider what the unjust judge did. 7 And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly.”

So, in response to our difficulties and trials we need to remember what our first response ought to be – crying out to the Lord with faith.

Another situation where Jesus is troubled is found in John 13:21,27,30,31 “When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.’ … After (Judas took) the morsal, Satan then entered into him. Therefore, Jesus said to him, ‘What you do, do quickly.’ … So, after receiving the morsal he went out immediately; and it was night. Therefore, when he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him”.   Once again, there are two options with which this sorrow of Christ could be considered. One, the option might be Jesus is troubled because one of His disciples is going to betray Him and thus His concern for Judas causes His sorrow. This isn't unreasonable because I remember another time when Christ was concerned about one of His apostles:      Luke 22:31,32 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”     And again, in Jesus’ priestly prayer:   John 17:14-16 “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world, I do not ask You to take them our of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” What is Jesus’ response to His concern about Has followers – to go the Father on their behalf.

The second option to Jesus’ sorrow is that He might be troubled because His suffering is rapidly approaching. In the Garden we certainly see His concern being evident. But what is Jesus’ response to His sorrow? He turns the moment into a  moment with His heavenly Father:                  John 13:21,27,30,31 “When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.’ … After (Judas took) the morsal, Satan then entered into him. Therefore, Jesus said to him, ‘What you do, do quickly.’ … So, after receiving the morsal he went out immediately; and it was night. Therefore, when he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him”.   

While Jesus is certainly disturbed by the coming events, He also sees the grand purpose behind them – the glorification of His Father in Heaven. If you remember, there was a situation earlier in which Jesus also declared that something had happened and the reason for this was also to bring glory to God:        John 9:1, 3 “As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth.  . . . . . Jesus answered, ‘It was neither that this man sinned or his parents – but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”           And in John 17 we also see a clarification for Christ’s purpose in His death, aside from redeeming mankind of their sins: John 17:1,4,5 “Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You . . . . I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”

 

A final occasion, which we have alluded to, is Jesus in the Garden and the grief over which He is struggling:    Mark 14:32ff “They came to a place named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, ‘Sit here until I have prayed.’ And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. And He said to them, ‘My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.’ And He went a little beyond them and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. (And two more times He withdrew to pray to the Father).  In this passage I am reminded of Paul’s words in Heb 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin.”    This is to say that Jesus, even though He was the Messiah and the Son of God, He also had to struggle with normal human events that happen to all of us. His successfully surviving  these events is to give us encouragement and an example as to how they ought to be handled.

And how did He handle them? By going to His heavenly Father.  Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Prov 3:5,6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

1 Peter 5:7 “7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

Philistines 4:6 “ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Rom 8:28 “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

1 John 5:14 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”

     I pray that you are willing and able to obey the words of Joshua:

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”