WEBVTT 00:00:03.310 --> 00:00:05.349 We come again to the reading and the preaching 00:00:05.349 --> 00:00:08.609 of the Word of God in this Lord's Day. It is 00:00:08.609 --> 00:00:11.810 a blessing to be here again and look at this 00:00:11.810 --> 00:00:17.350 next passage. The title is Finish Well, Running 00:00:17.350 --> 00:00:21.410 the Race Set Before Us. We're going to look today 00:00:21.410 --> 00:00:27.109 at chapter 9, verse 24, through chapter 10 and 00:00:27.109 --> 00:00:33.159 verse 13. We're going to read that at this time, 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:38.039 so let us hear the word of God. Verse 24. Do 00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:41.020 you not know that those who run in a race all 00:00:41.020 --> 00:00:44.920 run, but one receives the prize? Run in such 00:00:44.920 --> 00:00:48.020 a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who 00:00:48.020 --> 00:00:51.340 competes for the prize is temperate in all things. 00:00:51.579 --> 00:00:54.060 Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, 00:00:54.320 --> 00:00:58.740 but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I 00:00:58.740 --> 00:01:02.399 run thus. not with uncertainty. Thus I fight, 00:01:02.539 --> 00:01:05.340 not as one who beats the air, but I discipline 00:01:05.340 --> 00:01:08.939 my body and bring it into subjection, lest when 00:01:08.939 --> 00:01:11.819 I had preached to others, I myself should become 00:01:11.819 --> 00:01:15.920 disqualified. Moreover, brethren, I do not want 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:18.200 you to be unaware that all our fathers were under 00:01:18.200 --> 00:01:20.840 the cloud. All passed through the sea. All were 00:01:20.840 --> 00:01:23.459 baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 00:01:23.620 --> 00:01:27.099 All ate the same spiritual food. And all drank 00:01:27.099 --> 00:01:29.620 the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that 00:01:29.620 --> 00:01:32.280 spiritual rock that followed them. And that rock 00:01:32.280 --> 00:01:37.719 was Christ. But with most of them, God was not 00:01:37.719 --> 00:01:41.599 well pleased. For their bodies were scattered 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:46.040 in the wilderness. Now these things became our 00:01:46.040 --> 00:01:50.540 examples to the intent that we should not lust 00:01:50.540 --> 00:01:55.159 after evil things as they also lusted. And do 00:01:55.159 --> 00:01:58.760 not become idolaters as were some of them. As 00:01:58.760 --> 00:02:01.140 it is written, the people sat down to eat and 00:02:01.140 --> 00:02:03.659 drink and rose up to play. Nor let us commit 00:02:03.659 --> 00:02:06.859 sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in 00:02:06.859 --> 00:02:10.419 one day 23 ,000 fell. Nor let us tempt Christ, 00:02:10.740 --> 00:02:13.439 as some of them also tempted and were destroyed 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:16.759 by serpents. Nor complain, as some of them also 00:02:16.759 --> 00:02:19.759 complained and were destroyed by the destroyer. 00:02:20.819 --> 00:02:23.620 Now all these things happened to them as examples. 00:02:24.409 --> 00:02:28.110 And they were written for our admonition upon 00:02:28.110 --> 00:02:30.889 whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore, 00:02:31.030 --> 00:02:35.210 let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he 00:02:35.210 --> 00:02:39.110 fall. No temptation has overtaken you except 00:02:39.110 --> 00:02:42.349 such as is common to man. But God is faithful 00:02:42.349 --> 00:02:45.530 who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what 00:02:45.530 --> 00:02:49.870 you are able. But with the temptation will also 00:02:49.870 --> 00:02:53.610 make the way of escape that you may be able. 00:02:54.120 --> 00:02:58.780 To bear it. Let's pray. Father, we come before 00:02:58.780 --> 00:03:01.259 you this morning with this incredible passage 00:03:01.259 --> 00:03:05.159 before us. And Lord, we need your wisdom to properly 00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:08.580 understand it. So guide our understanding, Lord. 00:03:08.740 --> 00:03:11.139 Guide the words that I say that they might be 00:03:11.139 --> 00:03:13.500 pleasing to you, Lord. And that they would be 00:03:13.500 --> 00:03:16.240 in accord with your word. And I pray that you 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:19.460 would give the congregation here a heart after 00:03:19.460 --> 00:03:22.520 you. That they would hear your word as it is 00:03:22.520 --> 00:03:26.520 preached. Lord, I pray, Father, that all would 00:03:26.520 --> 00:03:29.199 be done for your honor and glory. And I ask this 00:03:29.199 --> 00:03:37.340 in Jesus' name. Amen. In last week's passage, 00:03:37.580 --> 00:03:41.139 Paul wrote about his compelling and urgent passion 00:03:41.139 --> 00:03:44.659 for the gospel of Jesus to be made known to all 00:03:44.659 --> 00:03:47.659 so that many would be won to the kingdom of Christ 00:03:47.659 --> 00:03:50.819 and brought into his church. He gave up some 00:03:50.819 --> 00:03:53.560 of his liberties in order to win the war, even 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:56.400 presenting the gospel without charge so that 00:03:56.400 --> 00:03:58.919 he would not abuse his authority in the gospel. 00:03:59.120 --> 00:04:02.479 He became a servant to all and carefully sought 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:05.560 out to win the Jews, the Gentiles, that is those 00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:09.360 without law, and the weak. He summed this up 00:04:09.360 --> 00:04:12.520 in verse 22. I have become all things to all 00:04:12.520 --> 00:04:16.100 men that I might by all means save some. Now 00:04:16.100 --> 00:04:19.160 I do this for the gospel's sake. that I may be 00:04:19.160 --> 00:04:24.139 partaker of it with you. What more noble cause 00:04:24.139 --> 00:04:26.920 can we think of that is greater than this? This 00:04:26.920 --> 00:04:30.720 great passion and this service to Christ and 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:35.639 for eternal life. Indeed, many will expend themselves 00:04:35.639 --> 00:04:39.000 for much lesser things, such as the winning of 00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:42.759 a perishable crown, in the case of the Isthmian 00:04:42.759 --> 00:04:45.879 Games held every other year in Corinth, or to 00:04:45.879 --> 00:04:48.779 medal. at the olympics or for a large business 00:04:48.779 --> 00:04:51.759 or to gain great wealth or achieve some great 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:57.939 renown in various gifts as a civil leader movie 00:04:57.939 --> 00:05:01.759 star or many other things now many of these of 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:04.540 course are not wrong and god does give us gifts 00:05:04.540 --> 00:05:07.540 to excel in all sorts of the spheres of life 00:05:07.540 --> 00:05:10.019 and we should pursue excellence in those gifts 00:05:10.019 --> 00:05:14.420 nevertheless The overarching passion of all should 00:05:14.420 --> 00:05:18.639 be the glory of God and the expansion of Christ's 00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:21.560 kingdom and the spread of his church over all 00:05:21.560 --> 00:05:26.040 the earth. And in this pursuit and passion, we 00:05:26.040 --> 00:05:29.060 labor long and hard and through great difficulties, 00:05:29.160 --> 00:05:32.360 that is, trials and temptations that beset us, 00:05:32.459 --> 00:05:36.660 sins that tug at our hearts or threaten our loyalty 00:05:36.660 --> 00:05:41.120 to Christ. Pride that takes away the glory from 00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:45.199 God or laziness that saps our energy and weakens 00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:48.800 our efforts. This one thing I do, says Paul to 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:53.040 the Philippians, I press on that I may lay hold 00:05:53.040 --> 00:05:57.639 of that which Christ Jesus has also laid hold 00:05:57.639 --> 00:06:03.339 of me. Christ has called us, each of us. to press 00:06:03.339 --> 00:06:07.600 on, to reach the goal, to reach and win the prize 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:11.800 of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. And 00:06:11.800 --> 00:06:15.920 this call, this goal stirs in our hearts so that 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:20.339 we may be found in him, that we may know him 00:06:20.339 --> 00:06:24.579 and the power of his resurrection and might attain 00:06:24.579 --> 00:06:29.149 to the resurrection of the dead. To this end, 00:06:29.230 --> 00:06:31.850 Paul commends self -discipline. But the self 00:06:31.850 --> 00:06:34.910 -discipline he commends is not just a mere self 00:06:34.910 --> 00:06:39.730 -improvement. No, he is motivated not only to 00:06:39.730 --> 00:06:44.230 see people saved, but to see them discipled. 00:06:44.230 --> 00:06:47.709 He gives up liberty so that others may share 00:06:47.709 --> 00:06:50.410 in the new liberty in Christ. And the same must 00:06:50.410 --> 00:06:53.420 govern us. Therefore I endure all things for 00:06:53.420 --> 00:06:56.360 the sake of the elect, he says, so that they 00:06:56.360 --> 00:06:59.500 also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ 00:06:59.500 --> 00:07:04.160 Jesus with eternal glory. 2 Timothy 2 and verse 00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:07.300 10. He also tells Timothy in chapter 4 verse 00:07:07.300 --> 00:07:11.100 7 of 1 Timothy, but reject profane and old wives 00:07:11.100 --> 00:07:16.420 fables and exercise yourself toward godliness. 00:07:17.860 --> 00:07:20.879 Perseverance. It's not only for our salvation, 00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:26.319 but we are also motivated to promote the advance 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:29.540 of the gospel and the kingdom of Jesus Christ 00:07:29.540 --> 00:07:32.600 for his glory. This should be the overarching 00:07:32.600 --> 00:07:36.439 purpose of life. The title of this sermon is 00:07:36.439 --> 00:07:39.360 Finishing Well, Running the Race Set Before Us. 00:07:39.480 --> 00:07:42.300 And the scriptures here lay out the need for 00:07:42.300 --> 00:07:46.339 us to run the race of life well. That is pulling 00:07:46.339 --> 00:07:49.300 examples from athletes who are self -disciplined 00:07:49.300 --> 00:07:52.819 in verses 24 and 25, and then from Paul's own 00:07:52.819 --> 00:07:56.620 manner of running and fighting in chapter 9, 00:07:56.680 --> 00:08:00.740 verse 26 and 27. Paul now presses the same urgency 00:08:00.740 --> 00:08:04.180 on the Corinthians. Liberty without self -discipline 00:08:04.180 --> 00:08:07.139 and without heeding Israel's history may lead 00:08:07.139 --> 00:08:10.899 to disqualification. Therefore, this is written 00:08:10.899 --> 00:08:16.439 not to unbelievers, but to us as believers, that 00:08:16.439 --> 00:08:19.639 is, to the covenant community. In chapter 10, 00:08:19.699 --> 00:08:22.920 verses 1 through 10, Paul demonstrates from the 00:08:22.920 --> 00:08:25.839 example of the Israelites in their history how 00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:30.920 they did not finish well. For out of the entire 00:08:30.920 --> 00:08:35.299 adult population that began the wilderness journey 00:08:35.299 --> 00:08:40.480 when they left Egypt, Only two men entered the 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:46.100 promised land. Only two men, Joshua and Caleb. 00:08:47.960 --> 00:08:52.259 He shows how they did not please God. And though 00:08:52.259 --> 00:08:54.559 they received the blessings of the covenant of 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:57.879 grace, they sinned in a most grievous manner 00:08:57.879 --> 00:09:01.720 and fell in the wilderness, losing out on the 00:09:01.720 --> 00:09:05.159 promise of the inheritance of the land. He then 00:09:05.159 --> 00:09:08.600 closes out this section in verses 11 to 13 of 00:09:08.600 --> 00:09:12.000 chapter 10 with a warning against presumption 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:16.259 on our part. But he finishes, as I want to finish 00:09:16.259 --> 00:09:19.779 today, with the promise of God's faithfulness 00:09:19.779 --> 00:09:24.779 and of God's provision to help his people through 00:09:24.779 --> 00:09:28.100 all the trials and temptations. With that now, 00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:31.320 let's take a closer look at the passage. The 00:09:31.320 --> 00:09:34.929 first portion. is to run to win. That is the 00:09:34.929 --> 00:09:38.330 athlete's discipline in verses 24 through 27. 00:09:38.750 --> 00:09:41.970 The race is real, and there is a prize to win. 00:09:42.289 --> 00:09:46.509 Paul says in verse 24, do you not know that those 00:09:46.509 --> 00:09:51.070 who run in a race all run, but one receives the 00:09:51.070 --> 00:09:55.970 prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain 00:09:55.970 --> 00:09:59.250 it. He begins this section with an example from 00:09:59.250 --> 00:10:01.950 their common knowledge for Greek and Roman culture 00:10:01.950 --> 00:10:06.149 prized athleticism and games. The Isthmian Games 00:10:06.149 --> 00:10:09.090 were held every other year at Corinth. The program 00:10:09.090 --> 00:10:12.789 included mixed athletics. equestrian events, 00:10:13.049 --> 00:10:16.009 and then later music and poetry. There were foot 00:10:16.009 --> 00:10:18.570 races, including a distinctive four -lap race. 00:10:18.730 --> 00:10:21.990 There was wrestling and boxing and pancration, 00:10:22.289 --> 00:10:25.029 which is a brutal mixed combat event that combined 00:10:25.029 --> 00:10:28.470 wrestling and boxing with very few restrictions. 00:10:29.129 --> 00:10:32.230 There were horse and chariot races, music and 00:10:32.230 --> 00:10:36.649 poetic contests. The victor's prize was a wreath, 00:10:36.789 --> 00:10:40.730 originally pine, and then became wild celery. 00:10:41.340 --> 00:10:43.559 in the classical period, and then pine again 00:10:43.559 --> 00:10:46.399 in Roman times. It was a perishable crown. It 00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:49.240 was not gold. It was one that was perishable. 00:10:49.440 --> 00:10:52.539 And Paul draws from this, as he does in other 00:10:52.539 --> 00:10:55.720 places, to illustrate the race that we as Christians 00:10:55.720 --> 00:10:59.580 are running. For we are, as Hebrews says, to 00:10:59.580 --> 00:11:03.580 lay aside every weight and the sin which does 00:11:03.580 --> 00:11:07.559 so easily beset us or ensnare us, and to run 00:11:07.559 --> 00:11:11.940 with endurance the race of life, That is before 00:11:11.940 --> 00:11:16.840 us, looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher 00:11:16.840 --> 00:11:20.200 of our faith. For the athletes in the Isthmian 00:11:20.200 --> 00:11:23.460 Games, only one person received the prize in 00:11:23.460 --> 00:11:28.120 each game. But for us, all who finish the race 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:32.700 win and receive the prize. The command is simply 00:11:32.700 --> 00:11:36.220 this. Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:40.639 The Christian life is not... casual participation. 00:11:41.299 --> 00:11:46.659 It is not resting on your morals. It is not saying, 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:50.639 I trust in Christ. He will take care of me and 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:53.600 therefore I do nothing. No, there is nothing 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:56.539 in the scriptures that speak of that. Now, while 00:11:56.539 --> 00:12:00.419 it is true that we cannot save ourselves, yet 00:12:00.419 --> 00:12:03.399 we are called through the salvation of Christ 00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:09.139 unto the good works and to run that race. Indeed, 00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:13.320 as Paul says in Romans 2, verse 5, 11, that this 00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:16.620 aimed, the Christian life is aimed at striving 00:12:16.620 --> 00:12:21.200 for glory, honor, and immortality. He says, God 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:25.519 will render to each one according to his deeds. 00:12:25.799 --> 00:12:30.679 Eternal life to those who by patient continuance 00:12:30.679 --> 00:12:36.460 in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality. 00:12:36.970 --> 00:12:39.789 but to those who are self -seeking and do not 00:12:39.789 --> 00:12:43.909 obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation 00:12:43.909 --> 00:12:47.830 and wrath, tribulation and anguish on every soul 00:12:47.830 --> 00:12:50.450 of man who does evil of the Jew first and also 00:12:50.450 --> 00:12:53.610 of the good, but glory, honor, and peace to everyone 00:12:53.610 --> 00:12:56.690 who works what is good to the Jew first and also 00:12:56.690 --> 00:12:59.950 the Greek, for there is no partiality with God. 00:13:00.590 --> 00:13:03.570 All of our efforts and striving are made possible 00:13:03.570 --> 00:13:07.570 by God who works in us and all praise goes to 00:13:07.570 --> 00:13:11.190 the glory of Jesus Christ. So let us run that 00:13:11.190 --> 00:13:14.669 race. This is the word of Paul as he gives it 00:13:14.669 --> 00:13:17.370 right here. The apostle, the inspired word of 00:13:17.370 --> 00:13:21.049 God is to run the race. That is, finish well 00:13:21.049 --> 00:13:23.809 so that at the end of your life, you can also 00:13:23.809 --> 00:13:26.830 say, I have fought the good fight. I have finished 00:13:26.830 --> 00:13:31.429 the race. I have kept the faith. Now, verse 25, 00:13:31.529 --> 00:13:34.950 he shows the self -control is required of everyone 00:13:34.950 --> 00:13:39.070 who seeks the prize. And everyone who competes 00:13:39.070 --> 00:13:42.870 for the prize is temperate in all things. Now, 00:13:42.929 --> 00:13:47.049 they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but 00:13:47.049 --> 00:13:52.159 we for an imperishable crown. Keeping the metaphor 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:55.139 of athletes, Paul shows how temperance is required 00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:57.820 in order to strive for the mastery and win the 00:13:57.820 --> 00:14:01.539 prize. Temperance means self -control or continence. 00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:06.039 It involves the governing of oneself, watching 00:14:06.039 --> 00:14:09.600 out for behavior and conduct and other hindrances 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:14.139 to win the race. And this comes from an inner 00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:18.190 compulsion. This illustrates actually the overarching 00:14:18.190 --> 00:14:22.370 theme of liberty in this whole section of scripture 00:14:22.370 --> 00:14:27.110 from chapter 8 through the end of chapter 10. 00:14:27.350 --> 00:14:30.909 And Paul later says near the end of chapter 10, 00:14:31.129 --> 00:14:34.190 all things are lawful for me, but not all things 00:14:34.190 --> 00:14:36.970 are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but 00:14:36.970 --> 00:14:40.590 not all things edify. Therefore, if we lose sight 00:14:40.590 --> 00:14:44.490 of the fact that with liberty comes responsibility, 00:14:45.210 --> 00:14:48.470 We can easily turn our liberty into license and 00:14:48.470 --> 00:14:50.870 then we're greatly hindered in the race of life 00:14:50.870 --> 00:14:53.889 or even start entertaining thoughts of giving 00:14:53.889 --> 00:14:57.330 up altogether because we're just focused on the 00:14:57.330 --> 00:15:00.070 enjoyment of privileges rather than the liberty 00:15:00.070 --> 00:15:03.269 that is in Christ. Self -control is required 00:15:03.269 --> 00:15:07.110 of everyone who seeks to win the prize. An athlete 00:15:07.110 --> 00:15:10.110 gives up many things in order to win the prize. 00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:13.460 brings his body into subjection. In preparing 00:15:13.460 --> 00:15:18.120 for the games back here in Corinth, they would 00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:21.419 abstain from unwholesome food, wine, and sexual 00:15:21.419 --> 00:15:24.620 indulgence, all for the sake of winning the game. 00:15:24.820 --> 00:15:28.460 So also our temperance must be governed both 00:15:28.460 --> 00:15:31.840 by the law of God and by that which is helpful. 00:15:32.440 --> 00:15:35.600 Now the crown of the athletes then were perishable. 00:15:36.090 --> 00:15:37.830 Now, of course, there was the renown, there was 00:15:37.830 --> 00:15:40.389 the fame and recognition that came with winning. 00:15:40.490 --> 00:15:43.850 Much like an Olympic winner today, they received 00:15:43.850 --> 00:15:46.590 the medal, but much greater even than just the 00:15:46.590 --> 00:15:48.970 medal was all the fame and attention and acclamation 00:15:48.970 --> 00:15:51.389 that comes with it. And they would have received 00:15:51.389 --> 00:15:55.830 that. It was a valued prize, but nevertheless, 00:15:55.950 --> 00:15:59.129 it is one that was perishable, corruptible, vanishing, 00:15:59.409 --> 00:16:03.750 fleeting, and it withered away. Ours, however. 00:16:04.409 --> 00:16:08.549 Paul contrasts, says, is imperishable. It is 00:16:08.549 --> 00:16:12.990 incorruptible. We run for glory and for honor 00:16:12.990 --> 00:16:16.590 and immortality through our self -discipline 00:16:16.590 --> 00:16:21.330 and striving for the glory of God. As I read 00:16:21.330 --> 00:16:24.509 in Romans 2, verse 7, eternal life to those who 00:16:24.509 --> 00:16:27.730 by patient continuance in doing good seek for 00:16:27.730 --> 00:16:31.750 glory, honor, and immortality. seeking glory 00:16:31.750 --> 00:16:35.470 honor and immortality is commended when it is 00:16:35.470 --> 00:16:37.649 thought through patient continuance in doing 00:16:37.649 --> 00:16:40.830 good and serving christ it is not commended when 00:16:40.830 --> 00:16:44.210 it is for our own self -aggrandizement for puffing 00:16:44.210 --> 00:16:48.159 our own selves up Believers rightly desire honor 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:51.720 in Christ, and yet we read in Revelation 4 .10 00:16:51.720 --> 00:16:56.740 that the 24 elders fall down before him who sits 00:16:56.740 --> 00:17:00.120 on the throne and worship him who lives forever 00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:05.359 and ever and cast their crowns before his feet. 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:09.319 They cast their crowns. Yes, they received the 00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:12.140 crown of glory, and then yet they cast their 00:17:12.140 --> 00:17:16.960 crowns before him. Thus they acknowledge his 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:23.480 supreme worthiness, that it was him, it was God, 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:28.579 who enabled them to run the race well. Nevertheless, 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:31.359 the crowns, the rewards, the joy of the Lord 00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:37.329 over us, it is all ours. We do not run for eternal 00:17:37.329 --> 00:17:41.109 reward alone. Not only do we strive for eternal 00:17:41.109 --> 00:17:45.529 life, for glory in the hereafter, but we also 00:17:45.529 --> 00:17:51.009 long and pray and labor and work for the kingdom 00:17:51.009 --> 00:17:55.769 of God to come on earth as it is in heaven. What 00:17:55.769 --> 00:17:57.849 does the scriptures teach us in the Lord's prayer? 00:17:58.380 --> 00:18:01.500 We pray and we labor for that which Jesus taught 00:18:01.500 --> 00:18:05.000 us to pray. That God's name would be hallowed 00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:10.160 here on earth. That it would be revered throughout 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:13.140 all the earth and exalted by all mankind. We 00:18:13.140 --> 00:18:15.759 pray and work faithfully that his kingdom would 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:20.140 come and his will would be done on earth as it 00:18:20.140 --> 00:18:24.309 is in heaven. We confess our sins and we grant 00:18:24.309 --> 00:18:27.250 or receive forgiveness. We desire not to be led 00:18:27.250 --> 00:18:30.210 into or succumb to temptation and to be delivered 00:18:30.210 --> 00:18:33.329 from the evil one. And yes, we strive to see 00:18:33.329 --> 00:18:36.130 the kingdom and the glory and the power that 00:18:36.130 --> 00:18:40.609 belongs to God be revealed here on the earth, 00:18:40.809 --> 00:18:47.740 even as it is in heaven. We strive for the glory 00:18:47.740 --> 00:18:50.220 of God to be revealed in the kings and the rulers 00:18:50.220 --> 00:18:52.240 of the earth and that they would kiss the sun 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:56.059 and bow before him in reverence and in awe. Isaac 00:18:56.059 --> 00:19:00.019 Watts put this to verse so wonderfully in the 00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:03.680 hymn, How Sweet and Awful is the Place. Verse 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:08.720 5 and 6 read, Pity the nations, O our God. Constrain 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:12.059 the earth to come. Send thy victorious word abroad 00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:15.339 and bring the strangers home. We long to see 00:19:15.339 --> 00:19:18.720 thy churches full, that all the chosen race may 00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:22.519 with one voice and heart and soul sing thy redeeming 00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:26.380 grace. What I'm simply saying here is that yes, 00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:28.880 we long and look forward to our eternal reward 00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:32.210 and to be with Christ when we die. But we also 00:19:32.210 --> 00:19:35.490 long to see the kingdom of God worked out right 00:19:35.490 --> 00:19:40.369 here, right now. Right here, right now. Paul 00:19:40.369 --> 00:19:42.690 then moves on to describe his own manner of running 00:19:42.690 --> 00:19:47.009 and fighting in verse 26 and 27. He says, therefore, 00:19:47.069 --> 00:19:51.670 I run thus. I run in this way, not with uncertainty. 00:19:52.029 --> 00:19:55.910 Thus I fight, not as one who beats the air. but 00:19:55.910 --> 00:19:58.869 I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, 00:19:58.890 --> 00:20:01.049 lest when I have preached to others, I myself 00:20:01.049 --> 00:20:05.430 should be disqualified. Because of the imperishable 00:20:05.430 --> 00:20:08.990 crown, Paul says, I run, I run like this, not 00:20:08.990 --> 00:20:12.369 in a tentative or half -hearted way and not with 00:20:12.369 --> 00:20:15.250 uncertainty. He does not fight against an imaginary 00:20:15.250 --> 00:20:18.349 opponent, not shadow boxing, not beating the 00:20:18.349 --> 00:20:21.349 air. He takes the offense, fighting for Christ, 00:20:21.470 --> 00:20:24.730 not merely being against something. Offense. 00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:28.859 not only defense. And in this race or in this 00:20:28.859 --> 00:20:31.720 fight, he uses two metaphors here. Paul says 00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:35.259 that he disciplines and keeps under his body 00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:40.019 and brings it into subjection. The word discipline 00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:43.420 here is actually, discipline is actually a bit 00:20:43.420 --> 00:20:45.980 of a weak word in this. The word actually means 00:20:45.980 --> 00:20:50.500 to beat up black and blue. It's to smite like 00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:53.380 a boxer buffets his body and disciplines it by 00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:58.220 hardship. He brings it to subjection, to subjection 00:20:58.220 --> 00:21:01.880 and submission to this great will and call of 00:21:01.880 --> 00:21:07.880 God. Why does he do this? He says, lest when 00:21:07.880 --> 00:21:13.279 I have preached to others, I myself should become 00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:16.880 disqualified. The word disqualified is the Greek 00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:20.859 word adikomos. It means to fail the test or be 00:21:20.859 --> 00:21:26.420 unfit and not approved. Paul desires to finish 00:21:26.420 --> 00:21:29.200 the race of faithful ministry and perseverance. 00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:35.140 But even he himself treats himself as needing 00:21:35.140 --> 00:21:39.079 watchfulness. And that his liberty does not turn 00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:45.680 into license. So he disciplines his body. Now 00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:48.200 what must be kept under? What is Paul referring 00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:51.779 to here? What specifically regarding the body 00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:55.519 does Paul need to keep under or to bruise? Now 00:21:55.519 --> 00:21:59.039 he could be speaking about sins of the mind and 00:21:59.039 --> 00:22:04.279 the spirit. That is true. But he uses the word 00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:08.099 body. And this is not like fleshly lust. It's 00:22:08.099 --> 00:22:13.940 referring to his body. His actual body. He keeps 00:22:13.940 --> 00:22:17.240 his body under so that he does not sin against 00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:21.019 God and be disqualified. The focus, therefore, 00:22:21.299 --> 00:22:23.660 especially as we look at the following verses, 00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:28.299 appears to be sins of the flesh that would disqualify 00:22:28.299 --> 00:22:31.400 him from ministry in Christ's church or from 00:22:31.400 --> 00:22:34.740 standing approved before the judge. While sins 00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:37.640 of the mind are not excluded from this, it seems 00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:40.529 like that is what... That's what he is driving 00:22:40.529 --> 00:22:44.009 at. Now what could these sins be? Well, what 00:22:44.009 --> 00:22:46.210 were the sins he was warning the Corinthians 00:22:46.210 --> 00:22:51.990 about? What were they doing? Number one, sexual 00:22:51.990 --> 00:22:56.329 immorality. Sexual immorality, that powerful 00:22:56.329 --> 00:23:01.650 urge that can be so easily led into sin through 00:23:01.650 --> 00:23:08.849 seduction and through lust and pride. Sexual 00:23:08.849 --> 00:23:12.009 immorality. Paul speaks of that a number of times 00:23:12.009 --> 00:23:15.130 throughout the book of Corinthians. It is a strong 00:23:15.130 --> 00:23:18.390 emphasis. This is something that is not done 00:23:18.390 --> 00:23:21.450 without the body. It's done by the body, as he 00:23:21.450 --> 00:23:26.029 had pointed out just a few chapters back. Sexual 00:23:26.029 --> 00:23:31.910 immorality. I mention also, though, that this 00:23:31.910 --> 00:23:35.470 is obviously action, but it also can be led into 00:23:35.470 --> 00:23:39.960 through seduction. Proverbs 23 brings this out 00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:44.680 so clearly. Verse 27 and 28, and I can point 00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:46.720 it out later, but it just speaks about how the 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:51.299 seducer draws the man in, in this way and sets 00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:56.700 a trap. How many mighty men, even that you might 00:23:56.700 --> 00:24:01.559 know about in our day, have fallen through this 00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:03.920 sin? There are a number of them in scripture. 00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:09.680 Samson. David, the man after God's own heart, 00:24:09.880 --> 00:24:15.740 was led astray into this sin. Solomon, the wisest 00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:19.579 man who ever lived, was led away through this 00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:23.859 sin or fell into this sin. And there are many 00:24:23.859 --> 00:24:29.759 more. This is an important one. And Paul is on 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:35.559 guard about this one. And so also must we. Other 00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:39.359 sins of the body, laziness, sloth, or apathy, 00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:43.319 gluttony, drunkenness, or intemperance in lawful 00:24:43.319 --> 00:24:47.619 things. Idolatry, again, idolatry was an act 00:24:47.619 --> 00:24:52.160 of the body in bowing before false gods. Or using 00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:55.279 our mouth, complaining and murmuring against 00:24:55.279 --> 00:24:59.660 God. What's interesting is that every one of 00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:02.160 the ones that I just listed here, everyone except 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:07.759 one, is mentioned in some way as Israel being 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:10.740 guilty of. And he brings that out. And that's 00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:13.640 why I think there's a link here to what Paul 00:25:13.640 --> 00:25:16.279 is referring to. And that's what I'm extrapolating 00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:19.619 from that. As one who has preached to others, 00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:23.460 Paul is especially concerned that he disciplines 00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:29.039 his body and does not become disqualified. Vigilance 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:33.670 is required. In both highs and lows, temptations 00:25:33.670 --> 00:25:37.849 persist, even in old age and in varied emotional 00:25:37.849 --> 00:25:42.009 states. And so, dear brothers and sisters, let 00:25:42.009 --> 00:25:47.269 us run for the prize that is before us and watch 00:25:47.269 --> 00:25:51.650 out for the sins of the body as well as the mind. 00:25:53.650 --> 00:25:56.549 Let's move on then to our second point, and that 00:25:56.549 --> 00:26:02.670 is Israel's privileges. did not prevent their 00:26:02.670 --> 00:26:05.190 fall. And for this, now we're going to move on 00:26:05.190 --> 00:26:08.150 into chapter 10. Keeping in mind this whole theme 00:26:08.150 --> 00:26:11.630 here of running faithfully, now he's going to 00:26:11.630 --> 00:26:15.109 illustrate very clearly about those who did not 00:26:15.109 --> 00:26:21.190 run faithfully. Verses one to five, he shows 00:26:21.190 --> 00:26:26.289 that all of our fathers shared in the same covenant 00:26:26.289 --> 00:26:31.829 signs. They were greatly blessed by God and they 00:26:31.829 --> 00:26:36.089 received the covenant signs from God. He says, 00:26:36.269 --> 00:26:39.829 moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware 00:26:39.829 --> 00:26:43.970 that all our fathers were under the cloud, all 00:26:43.970 --> 00:26:46.589 passed through the sea, all were baptized into 00:26:46.589 --> 00:26:49.410 Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the 00:26:49.410 --> 00:26:52.210 same spiritual food, all drank the same spiritual 00:26:52.210 --> 00:26:55.170 drink, for they drank of the spiritual rock that 00:26:55.170 --> 00:27:00.089 followed them. And that rock, was christ god 00:27:00.089 --> 00:27:05.250 gave israel many covenant signs and seals as 00:27:05.250 --> 00:27:07.670 the people of god they had many privileges and 00:27:07.670 --> 00:27:10.829 blessings and some of them are listed and summarized 00:27:10.829 --> 00:27:12.950 here in these first four verses they were under 00:27:12.950 --> 00:27:15.849 the cloud that refers to the cloud that led them 00:27:15.849 --> 00:27:18.569 by day and was a pillar of fire by night that 00:27:18.569 --> 00:27:21.430 cloud indicated to them that god was with them 00:27:21.430 --> 00:27:26.740 that the presence of god was there They experienced 00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:32.720 the visible presence of God and the protection 00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:37.799 of God. They passed through the sea. They were 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:41.680 mightily delivered out of Egypt through a miraculous 00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:44.920 thing where the sea opened up and there was dry 00:27:44.920 --> 00:27:48.140 land and they went through the sea and all crossed 00:27:48.140 --> 00:27:51.619 to the other side, thus escaping the trap that 00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:56.670 the Egyptians had set before them. They passed 00:27:56.670 --> 00:27:58.809 through the sea. They were delivered from the 00:27:58.809 --> 00:28:02.009 Egyptians. Now, both the cloud and the sea correspond 00:28:02.009 --> 00:28:05.849 with baptism, which Paul refers to next. They 00:28:05.849 --> 00:28:09.329 were all baptized into Moses. I will note that 00:28:09.329 --> 00:28:13.329 is all of them, men, women, and children. In 00:28:13.329 --> 00:28:16.289 the Jewish understanding, baptism, yes, there 00:28:16.289 --> 00:28:20.430 was other baptisms before baptism is read of 00:28:20.430 --> 00:28:22.920 in the book of Acts. The Jewish understanding 00:28:22.920 --> 00:28:25.900 of baptism is that it was a rite of initiation 00:28:25.900 --> 00:28:30.039 of tremendous religious significance. The baptism 00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:34.619 of the cloud and the sea identified them with 00:28:34.619 --> 00:28:40.200 Moses and the God of Moses as the people of God, 00:28:40.420 --> 00:28:45.500 as the covenant people of God. We see this even 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:48.789 in our own baptism. baptisms of which I may speak 00:28:48.789 --> 00:28:51.670 more at another time as we are baptized into 00:28:51.670 --> 00:28:54.710 Christ that is the right of initiation into Christ's 00:28:54.710 --> 00:28:58.150 church and we are identified with Jesus Christ 00:28:58.150 --> 00:29:01.470 they were baptized into Moses in other words 00:29:01.470 --> 00:29:04.339 they were numbered with the covenant people. 00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:07.099 Furthermore, they ate the same spiritual food, 00:29:07.099 --> 00:29:09.559 that was manna, and the same spiritual drink, 00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:12.019 which was water. Now spiritual food, don't get 00:29:12.019 --> 00:29:13.900 led astray here by this. It wasn't some kind 00:29:13.900 --> 00:29:16.660 of ethereal thing. Spiritual food and drink here 00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:19.880 simply mean foods that came supernaturally to 00:29:19.880 --> 00:29:23.819 them. Manna came out of the sky. It fell down. 00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:26.099 God created it every morning while they were 00:29:26.099 --> 00:29:29.240 in the wilderness and they ate of it. It was 00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:32.690 real food. The water, was real water. It refers 00:29:32.690 --> 00:29:35.750 to the supernatural giving of water that came 00:29:35.750 --> 00:29:39.029 when Moses struck the rock and water gushed out 00:29:39.029 --> 00:29:44.910 and it satisfied their thirst. But he goes even 00:29:44.910 --> 00:29:47.490 further than that though. They drank of that 00:29:47.490 --> 00:29:50.569 spiritual rock that followed them and that rock 00:29:50.569 --> 00:29:57.430 was Christ. This is why we call this the church 00:29:57.430 --> 00:30:01.799 in the wilderness. They had Christ. There with 00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:07.819 them, the rock was Christ and they drank of this 00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:11.440 water. Now all of these signs and wonders were 00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:13.559 done to show them their identity and to give 00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:16.359 them life as the people of God. And there are 00:30:16.359 --> 00:30:18.839 many applications to this that point to our own 00:30:18.839 --> 00:30:21.339 corporate and sacramental and Christ -centered 00:30:21.339 --> 00:30:24.880 privileges that correspond to baptism and the 00:30:24.880 --> 00:30:29.299 Lord's table. i'm not as i had told some of you 00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:32.000 this chapter is really layered there's all sorts 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:34.420 we have just the account here of this but then 00:30:34.420 --> 00:30:37.039 there's layers and depths of understanding even 00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:39.559 beyond it and i haven't fully decided yet if 00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:41.339 i'm going to do that next sunday or at another 00:30:41.339 --> 00:30:44.619 time but i want to get into some of those deeper 00:30:44.619 --> 00:30:47.640 issues that are here but we learned from this 00:30:47.640 --> 00:30:53.390 this was the children of israel and yet In verse 00:30:53.390 --> 00:30:56.609 5, Paul says, With most of them God was not well 00:30:56.609 --> 00:31:00.170 pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the 00:31:00.170 --> 00:31:04.970 wilderness. Why was this? Disobedience and unbelief. 00:31:05.730 --> 00:31:08.829 Disobedience and unbelief. Now the word scattered 00:31:08.829 --> 00:31:15.990 here means to strew over the ground. To scatter 00:31:15.990 --> 00:31:20.069 over the ground. Their disobedience and unbelief. 00:31:20.359 --> 00:31:23.220 particularly when they came to the promised land 00:31:23.220 --> 00:31:26.500 the first time and they did not go in and possess 00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:30.299 it. Rather, they had unbelief. They were afraid. 00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:32.619 They did not trust the Lord to go with them. 00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:35.960 And what happened? They wandered in the wilderness 00:31:35.960 --> 00:31:41.660 for 40 years. 40 years until every one of the 00:31:41.660 --> 00:31:45.319 bodies of the adults were strewn over the ground, 00:31:45.359 --> 00:31:51.039 so to speak, except for two men. 20 years and 00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:56.319 older. This is very sobering. Paul really brings 00:31:56.319 --> 00:31:59.200 this out and he's driving this point home. And 00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:02.480 now he's going to take it, this example of Israel, 00:32:02.599 --> 00:32:05.119 and he's going to drive it home to the Corinthians 00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:09.180 in verses 6 through 11. He says, now these things 00:32:09.180 --> 00:32:14.940 became our examples to the intent that we should 00:32:14.940 --> 00:32:17.920 not lust after the evil things as they also lusted. 00:32:18.299 --> 00:32:21.359 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. 00:32:21.420 --> 00:32:23.960 As it is written, the people sat down to eat 00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:26.900 and drink and rose up to play. Nor let us commit 00:32:26.900 --> 00:32:29.839 sexual immorality as some of them did. And in 00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:34.039 one day 23 ,000 fell. Nor let us tempt Christ 00:32:34.039 --> 00:32:37.039 as some of them also tempted and were destroyed 00:32:37.039 --> 00:32:40.880 by serpents. Nor complain as some of them also 00:32:40.880 --> 00:32:43.980 complained and were destroyed by the destroyer. 00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:47.799 Now all these things happened to them as examples. 00:32:48.019 --> 00:32:54.380 And they were written for our admonition. Upon 00:32:54.380 --> 00:32:58.180 whom the ends of the ages have come. They are 00:32:58.180 --> 00:33:02.599 written for us. The example is for us. As the 00:33:02.599 --> 00:33:06.440 people of God. Yes, we look at them and we learn. 00:33:06.599 --> 00:33:09.480 We don't just dismiss. That's just Old Testament. 00:33:09.880 --> 00:33:13.359 No, no, no. No, they're examples for us. And 00:33:13.359 --> 00:33:16.700 Paul takes it and drives it home very, very well. 00:33:16.839 --> 00:33:19.920 This is the purpose of the history. He says, 00:33:20.079 --> 00:33:23.319 this became our examples. Verse 6, again in verse 00:33:23.319 --> 00:33:26.079 11. Now all these things happen to them as examples. 00:33:26.259 --> 00:33:28.980 And they're written for our admonition. This 00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:32.480 is why, brothers and sisters, we must study the 00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:35.339 Old Testament. They are not a bygone era with 00:33:35.339 --> 00:33:37.579 which we have nothing to do. No, they are our 00:33:37.579 --> 00:33:39.420 forebears. They are our forefathers. They are 00:33:39.420 --> 00:33:42.339 our examples. And we receive warnings because 00:33:42.339 --> 00:33:46.279 of them. Israel's story is the church's warning. 00:33:47.119 --> 00:33:51.960 And we must. Read and understand. Paul gives 00:33:51.960 --> 00:33:54.940 four examples of disqualifying sins here, all 00:33:54.940 --> 00:33:57.720 of which were very pertinent, by the way, to 00:33:57.720 --> 00:34:00.660 the Corinthians. Very pertinent. And they correspond 00:34:00.660 --> 00:34:04.089 to our dangers as well. I think that Paul has 00:34:04.089 --> 00:34:06.190 these sins in mind when he talks about keeping 00:34:06.190 --> 00:34:09.110 his body under as he fights. The first that is 00:34:09.110 --> 00:34:12.329 listed is idolatry. The people sat down to eat 00:34:12.329 --> 00:34:15.449 and drink and rose up to play. This is from Exodus 00:34:15.449 --> 00:34:19.349 32. It's when they raised the golden calf and 00:34:19.349 --> 00:34:22.969 had the pagan feast. After their great deliverance, 00:34:22.989 --> 00:34:25.650 while Moses was in the mount with God and they 00:34:25.650 --> 00:34:28.929 received God's laws and God's words, what were 00:34:28.929 --> 00:34:31.869 they doing? They were worshiping an idol saying, 00:34:32.460 --> 00:34:35.159 We bow to you. This idol has led us out of Egypt. 00:34:35.639 --> 00:34:41.800 What an affront against God. Idolatry. They worshipped 00:34:41.800 --> 00:34:46.420 a golden calf. Our modern correlations are misplaced 00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:49.619 loves. Or in the Corinthians day of eating temple 00:34:49.619 --> 00:34:52.679 meals as part of the idolatrous worship was a 00:34:52.679 --> 00:34:56.380 problem. And they and we must still watch that 00:34:56.380 --> 00:35:00.369 our allegiances are not divided. The scripture 00:35:00.369 --> 00:35:03.909 also says this in Colossians 3 verse 5, that 00:35:03.909 --> 00:35:08.630 covetousness is idolatry. In other words, whenever 00:35:08.630 --> 00:35:12.789 we fall into covetousness, we are participating 00:35:12.789 --> 00:35:18.389 in a form of idolatry. Covetousness is idolatry. 00:35:18.510 --> 00:35:22.650 The second thing was sexual immorality. 23 ,000 00:35:22.650 --> 00:35:28.230 men died in one day. In one day. Imagine that. 00:35:28.329 --> 00:35:31.110 We talk about even in our wars. Oh it's really 00:35:31.110 --> 00:35:34.090 bad. 10 died here or 20 died here. And indeed 00:35:34.090 --> 00:35:39.530 it is. But here. One day. 23 ,000 men. This is 00:35:39.530 --> 00:35:43.010 in Numbers 25. As they worshipped Baal of Peor. 00:35:43.829 --> 00:35:47.090 Encouraged by the counsel of Balaam. The Moabites 00:35:47.090 --> 00:35:50.630 sent their women and girls. To seduce the men 00:35:50.630 --> 00:35:54.170 of Israel. And lead them into sin. This is in 00:35:54.170 --> 00:35:59.539 Numbers 31. This is referred to in Numbers 31. 00:36:00.300 --> 00:36:02.900 It says, look, these women caused the children 00:36:02.900 --> 00:36:05.960 of Israel through the counsel of Balaam to trespass 00:36:05.960 --> 00:36:08.559 against the Lord in the incident of Peor. And 00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:10.940 there was a plague among the congregation of 00:36:10.940 --> 00:36:13.460 the Lord. This additional detail is given here. 00:36:13.480 --> 00:36:16.320 That's not in Numbers 25. But later when Moses 00:36:16.320 --> 00:36:19.300 recounts it, he gives greater detail as that 00:36:19.300 --> 00:36:22.059 this actually was because of Balaam who could 00:36:22.059 --> 00:36:26.159 not help but prophesy good, gave counsel to the 00:36:26.159 --> 00:36:28.539 king of Moab saying, here's the way you get at 00:36:28.539 --> 00:36:30.369 Israel. Here's the way. you bring them down. 00:36:30.449 --> 00:36:33.449 You send your women out and you seduce them and 00:36:33.449 --> 00:36:35.949 bring them into the pagan feast. And they did 00:36:35.949 --> 00:36:40.230 that and 23 ,000 fell. Israel remained in Acacia 00:36:40.230 --> 00:36:42.909 Grove and the people began to commit harlotry 00:36:42.909 --> 00:36:45.610 with the women of Moab. They invited the people 00:36:45.610 --> 00:36:47.849 to the sacrifices of their God and the people 00:36:47.849 --> 00:36:51.469 ate and bowed down to their gods. This was always 00:36:51.469 --> 00:36:57.769 a prominent danger to both young and old. I mentioned 00:36:57.769 --> 00:37:01.619 this before. But I want to note here that these 00:37:01.619 --> 00:37:05.099 men were responsible for their actions, but they 00:37:05.099 --> 00:37:09.280 were also seduced by the women who came after 00:37:09.280 --> 00:37:12.960 them. And both were guilty. Proverbs warns about 00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:15.500 this, saying, My son, give me your heart and 00:37:15.500 --> 00:37:18.840 let your eyes observe my ways. For a harlot is 00:37:18.840 --> 00:37:21.780 a deep pit and a seductress is a narrow well. 00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:25.579 She also lies in wait as for a victim and increases 00:37:25.579 --> 00:37:30.230 the unfaithful among men. Our world is filled 00:37:30.230 --> 00:37:34.250 with adultery and fornication, with seduction 00:37:34.250 --> 00:37:37.730 and willing participation. It is everywhere and 00:37:37.730 --> 00:37:41.489 many are slain by it. And therefore, we take 00:37:41.489 --> 00:37:47.130 heed to that and we are watchful about it. The 00:37:47.130 --> 00:37:51.530 third is that of tempting Christ. tempting or 00:37:51.530 --> 00:37:54.429 testing Christ. And they were destroyed by serpents. 00:37:54.429 --> 00:37:57.550 This account is Numbers 21. Israel spoke out 00:37:57.550 --> 00:38:00.469 against God. Why have you brought us out? We 00:38:00.469 --> 00:38:03.809 hate this bread. They were discouraged by the 00:38:03.809 --> 00:38:06.190 detour around Edom and life in the wilderness. 00:38:06.969 --> 00:38:09.510 and therefore they turned against Christ. And 00:38:09.510 --> 00:38:12.389 Paul labels this, even though this terminology 00:38:12.389 --> 00:38:15.010 is not in the Old Testament account, but Paul 00:38:15.010 --> 00:38:18.809 says they were tempting Christ in this. By their 00:38:18.809 --> 00:38:22.530 complaining, by their testing him, by their crying 00:38:22.530 --> 00:38:26.250 out against him, they were tempting Christ. And 00:38:26.250 --> 00:38:28.909 number four, they were complaining and grumbling 00:38:28.909 --> 00:38:31.869 and thus were destroyed by the destroyer. This 00:38:31.869 --> 00:38:35.429 is in Numbers 14 and 16. Complaining reveals 00:38:35.429 --> 00:38:39.050 the despising of God's provision and murmuring 00:38:39.050 --> 00:38:42.610 against God's order. And this is what the children 00:38:42.610 --> 00:38:45.869 of Israel did. Again, these were all written 00:38:45.869 --> 00:38:49.349 for our admonition, those upon whom the end of 00:38:49.349 --> 00:38:52.320 the ages have come. We are inheritors of the 00:38:52.320 --> 00:38:54.980 promises and the covenants of God, but Israel 00:38:54.980 --> 00:38:57.940 also serves us as an example, lest we make the 00:38:57.940 --> 00:39:02.300 same mistakes and do the same sins. Therefore, 00:39:02.420 --> 00:39:06.599 number four, let us take heed and trust our faithful 00:39:06.599 --> 00:39:11.500 God. Let us take heed and trust in God. In verse 00:39:11.500 --> 00:39:15.739 12 and 13. Therefore, let him who thinks he stands 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:19.320 take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken 00:39:19.320 --> 00:39:22.320 you except such as is common to man. But God 00:39:22.320 --> 00:39:25.980 is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted 00:39:25.980 --> 00:39:29.480 beyond what you are able. But with the temptation 00:39:29.480 --> 00:39:35.519 will also make the way of escape so that you 00:39:35.519 --> 00:39:39.760 may be able to bear it. The first part of this 00:39:39.760 --> 00:39:42.840 is a warning against presumption. He says, let 00:39:42.840 --> 00:39:47.340 him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 00:39:47.880 --> 00:39:52.659 Covenant signs, biblical knowledge, and liberty 00:39:52.659 --> 00:39:58.599 in Christ does not make one immune to these temptations. 00:39:59.480 --> 00:40:03.539 Failures often arise from lack of watchfulness 00:40:03.539 --> 00:40:10.179 driven by pride, complacency, or self -satisfaction. 00:40:10.780 --> 00:40:13.179 I think I'm in a real good place right now. I 00:40:13.179 --> 00:40:18.340 can let down my guard. Or this is really good. 00:40:18.460 --> 00:40:21.099 And we start becoming puffed up in ourselves. 00:40:21.380 --> 00:40:24.219 Or we just become complacent. Oh, it's just a 00:40:24.219 --> 00:40:27.239 little sin. It doesn't matter. I can indulge 00:40:27.239 --> 00:40:30.519 in this. I can just let this one go. It's really 00:40:30.519 --> 00:40:33.000 not going to affect anything else. But it sets 00:40:33.000 --> 00:40:37.659 the stage for greater sins to follow. This is 00:40:37.659 --> 00:40:41.010 a warning against presumption. We have the presence 00:40:41.010 --> 00:40:44.150 of Christ with us. We have the power of the indwelling 00:40:44.150 --> 00:40:46.829 Spirit. We have been baptized. We have the Lord's 00:40:46.829 --> 00:40:49.869 Supper, spiritual food and drink that is grace. 00:40:50.690 --> 00:40:57.510 And yet, we can experience the blessings that 00:40:57.510 --> 00:41:00.789 come with being associated with the people of 00:41:00.789 --> 00:41:05.309 God and still not have living faith. This is 00:41:05.309 --> 00:41:09.650 what it means to apostatize. Yes. We believe 00:41:09.650 --> 00:41:12.389 in the perseverance of the saints, that all who 00:41:12.389 --> 00:41:15.150 are in Christ are kept by Christ as he has promised. 00:41:15.550 --> 00:41:18.590 Yet a great amount of benefits can be received 00:41:18.590 --> 00:41:22.889 by someone whose heart is not right and who will 00:41:22.889 --> 00:41:26.920 die that way. It is possible for someone to receive 00:41:26.920 --> 00:41:30.099 many privileges and blessings by being counted 00:41:30.099 --> 00:41:33.860 and associated with the people of God and not 00:41:33.860 --> 00:41:36.519 actually be regenerate and possess eternal life. 00:41:36.860 --> 00:41:40.539 Privilege plus unbelief equals judgment. Beginning 00:41:40.539 --> 00:41:43.539 well does not equal finishing well, as Jesus 00:41:43.539 --> 00:41:46.440 spoke in the parable of the sower. For some hear 00:41:46.440 --> 00:41:48.920 the word and they receive it with gladness, but 00:41:48.920 --> 00:41:51.860 they have no root in themselves. Others hear 00:41:51.860 --> 00:41:54.659 the word and the cares of this world and the 00:41:54.659 --> 00:41:57.360 deceitfulness of riches and other desires choke 00:41:57.360 --> 00:42:02.190 the word and they become unfruitful. For this 00:42:02.190 --> 00:42:05.349 reason, there are a number of warnings in the 00:42:05.349 --> 00:42:08.909 New Testament that apply to this. I'm not, for 00:42:08.909 --> 00:42:11.670 the sake of time, going to go through them all, 00:42:11.789 --> 00:42:14.809 but they're in John 15, where Jesus warns about 00:42:14.809 --> 00:42:17.710 the dead branches attached to the vine that need 00:42:17.710 --> 00:42:19.849 to be broken off. That is, they were participants 00:42:19.849 --> 00:42:22.909 in many covenant blessings, but they were dead, 00:42:23.050 --> 00:42:26.369 and they were broken off the vine, off of the 00:42:26.369 --> 00:42:29.579 covenant body. There's warnings in Hebrews 2 00:42:29.579 --> 00:42:33.699 and 3 and 4 and 6 and 10, all about this kind 00:42:33.699 --> 00:42:36.480 of thing, and also 2 Peter chapter 2. Therefore, 00:42:36.619 --> 00:42:40.000 let us not be presumptuous. Let us take heed 00:42:40.000 --> 00:42:43.760 to ourselves, lest we fall. Paul tells Timothy 00:42:43.760 --> 00:42:47.139 in 1 Timothy 4, 16, Take heed to yourself and 00:42:47.139 --> 00:42:50.099 to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing 00:42:50.099 --> 00:42:52.639 this you will save both yourself and those who 00:42:52.639 --> 00:42:56.280 hear you. Do not... be presumptuous that is the 00:42:56.280 --> 00:42:59.860 big lesson that Paul draws out here let him who 00:42:59.860 --> 00:43:04.880 thinks he stands take heed lest he fall but lastly 00:43:04.880 --> 00:43:07.960 then and I'm going to close with this hear the 00:43:07.960 --> 00:43:10.579 great promise of God's faithfulness in the time 00:43:10.579 --> 00:43:14.579 of temptation Paul by the spirit of God did not 00:43:14.579 --> 00:43:16.539 let the Corinthians hanging with this warning 00:43:16.539 --> 00:43:20.940 and neither will I with the warnings come also 00:43:20.940 --> 00:43:26.019 hope and promises What are these promises? First 00:43:26.019 --> 00:43:29.960 of all, your temptation is not unusual. There 00:43:29.960 --> 00:43:33.179 are clouds of witnesses before you who have overcome 00:43:33.179 --> 00:43:35.320 those temptations with the help of the Spirit 00:43:35.320 --> 00:43:38.320 of the Lord, and this is available to you also. 00:43:38.480 --> 00:43:42.559 He says these temptations are common to man. 00:43:43.039 --> 00:43:48.320 They're common, but God is faithful. He will 00:43:48.320 --> 00:43:50.980 not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are 00:43:50.980 --> 00:43:55.099 able. What blessed words are these? Your temptation 00:43:55.099 --> 00:44:00.320 will not be so overwhelming that you have to 00:44:00.320 --> 00:44:05.960 fall. No, no. God monitors the amount that you 00:44:05.960 --> 00:44:08.280 can take in some way. And we don't know how all 00:44:08.280 --> 00:44:11.219 of this. He just says here, God is faithful. 00:44:11.420 --> 00:44:15.280 He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what 00:44:15.280 --> 00:44:20.059 you are able. He knows our frame. Remember the 00:44:20.059 --> 00:44:23.460 reassuring words from Psalm 103. As a father 00:44:23.460 --> 00:44:27.119 pities his children, so the Lord pities those 00:44:27.119 --> 00:44:31.699 who fear him, for he knows our frame. He remembers 00:44:31.699 --> 00:44:37.019 that we are dust. God cares for us. And thus, 00:44:37.079 --> 00:44:40.900 with the temptation, God provides the way of 00:44:40.900 --> 00:44:46.250 escape so that you may be able to bear it. God 00:44:46.250 --> 00:44:48.909 watches over these trials and temptations. He 00:44:48.909 --> 00:44:52.769 provides his word, his people, his spirit, and 00:44:52.769 --> 00:44:55.829 works in many ways, even through providential 00:44:55.829 --> 00:45:00.130 circumstances, to help us through the temptation. 00:45:01.130 --> 00:45:04.570 The escape is not always removal. It's the immediate 00:45:04.570 --> 00:45:07.289 removal of the trial, but it's the provision 00:45:07.289 --> 00:45:09.969 to endure without falling into the sins that 00:45:09.969 --> 00:45:13.329 are listed above. The way of escape is most often 00:45:13.329 --> 00:45:16.989 the ordinary means of grace. Prayer, the written 00:45:16.989 --> 00:45:20.110 word, the gathered church, the confession of 00:45:20.110 --> 00:45:23.170 sins and receiving pardon, fleeing the sins of 00:45:23.170 --> 00:45:26.070 the flesh and idolatry and setting your heart 00:45:26.070 --> 00:45:30.909 to refuse to test the Lord and putting away grumbling. 00:45:31.449 --> 00:45:35.630 What then marks those who finish well? Humility. 00:45:36.590 --> 00:45:40.250 humbling ourself before god acknowledging our 00:45:40.250 --> 00:45:44.070 need of him saying lord we need you i cannot 00:45:44.070 --> 00:45:47.809 get through this myself it is that of faithfulness 00:45:47.809 --> 00:45:51.050 faithfulness in doing what god has asked you 00:45:51.050 --> 00:45:55.449 to do and obeying him obedience it is endurance 00:45:55.449 --> 00:45:58.769 as we are exhorted many times to endure these 00:45:58.769 --> 00:46:02.909 things and it is also experiencing the chastening 00:46:02.909 --> 00:46:07.369 of the lord which helps us and purifies us. Humility, 00:46:07.369 --> 00:46:10.429 faithfulness, obedience, endurance, discipline, 00:46:10.570 --> 00:46:14.969 and faith in the God who said, I will not suffer 00:46:14.969 --> 00:46:19.389 more than what you can take. All of this is summed 00:46:19.389 --> 00:46:23.170 up well in Colossians chapter 3. And so I encourage 00:46:23.170 --> 00:46:25.989 you with this word. Make a conscious choice. 00:46:26.449 --> 00:46:30.800 Make a conscious choice to do this. to seek these 00:46:30.800 --> 00:46:33.860 things with the help of God and the power of 00:46:33.860 --> 00:46:39.699 the Holy Spirit and finish well. He says, therefore, 00:46:39.699 --> 00:46:45.619 as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on 00:46:45.619 --> 00:46:50.179 tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, 00:46:50.239 --> 00:46:53.760 long -suffering, bearing with one another and 00:46:53.760 --> 00:46:56.400 forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint 00:46:56.400 --> 00:46:59.730 against another. Even as Christ forgave you, 00:46:59.809 --> 00:47:03.429 so also you must do. But above all these things 00:47:03.429 --> 00:47:06.730 put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 00:47:07.110 --> 00:47:09.550 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, 00:47:09.670 --> 00:47:12.989 to which also you were called in one body. And 00:47:12.989 --> 00:47:16.500 be thankful. Let the word of God dwell. in you 00:47:16.500 --> 00:47:19.239 richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing 00:47:19.239 --> 00:47:21.539 one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual 00:47:21.539 --> 00:47:24.500 songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the 00:47:24.500 --> 00:47:27.460 Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do 00:47:27.460 --> 00:47:30.059 all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks 00:47:30.059 --> 00:47:34.059 to God the Father through him. We are a body. 00:47:34.539 --> 00:47:37.280 We are to share one another's burdens, to come 00:47:37.280 --> 00:47:40.380 alongside of one another, to shore each other 00:47:40.380 --> 00:47:43.239 up. Yes, to hear the preaching, but also the 00:47:43.239 --> 00:47:46.320 quiet encouragement of an older sister to a younger 00:47:46.320 --> 00:47:48.800 who sees perhaps she's going through a difficult 00:47:48.800 --> 00:47:52.500 time or of another brother to one from one man 00:47:52.500 --> 00:47:55.739 to another or woman to one or just simply in 00:47:55.739 --> 00:47:59.559 being open and transparent with each other, loving 00:47:59.559 --> 00:48:03.079 one another. That is the church of God in the 00:48:03.079 --> 00:48:06.400 way that it ought to be. May it be so here. May 00:48:06.400 --> 00:48:11.820 we then together live life this way and pursue 00:48:11.820 --> 00:48:15.079 God with all of our hearts and to fight well 00:48:15.079 --> 00:48:17.380 and finish well. Let's pray.