Textual Sermons Power Point Show
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
TAKE HEED LEST YOU FALL
Intro.
1. Possibility of falling away is a real threat to every child of God.
2. To think otherwise is a great danger! – 1 Cor. 10:12
3. Israel is a warning to Christians to remain faithful & true.
I. ISRAEL: OUR EXAMPLE – 1 Cor. 10:1-10.
A. Of Relationship With God – 1 Cor. 10:2; Gal. 3:27.
-Baptized into relationship with God’s prophet / Relationship with God’s Son.
B. As God’s Chosen People – Exo. 19:5-6; Psa. 135:4; 1 Pet. 2:9-10.
C. Israel’s Unbelief – Heb. 3:15-19.
1. Eyes fixed on Egypt instead of God & land of promise – Num. 11:4-6.
2. Fell in the wilderness due to their sinful & disobedient unbelief.
3. Our warning: 1 Cor. 10:6-10.
-Confidence of salvation must rest upon obedient faith, not wishful thinking!
D. Therefore, Take Heed Lest You Fall! – 10:12
-Look carefully & discern the warning that is given to us.
1. Israel thought she stood with God (chosen, saved, protected). Cf. Matt. 3:8-9 – Thinking we stand w/ God not same as actually standing with Him!
2. Israel did not take heed to herself. Mixed & mingled with worldly idolaters while complaining against God’s care & provisions - 1 Cor. 10:6-10; Psa. 106:13-15, 19-22, 24-25.
3. Israel fell. Consumed in wilderness – Psa. 106:26-27; Num. 14:26-35.
-What About Us?!-
II. WE MUST EXAMINE OUR FAITH & TAKE HEED LEST WE FALL.
A. Discern the Signs of a Faltering Faith – Heb. 3:12-13; 2 Cor. 13:5.
1. Use God’s word – Heb. 4:12-13; Jas. 1:25.
2. Apply God’s remedy for every sin we find – Acts 8:20-24; 26:20.
III. SIGNS OF A FALTERING FAITH WHICH IS READY TO FALL – Gal. 6:3.
-We can Deceive Ourselves that our Faith is Stronger than it is By…
A. Equating Men’s Estimation of our Faithfulness with God’s Approval of Us – cf. Lk. 6:26.
1. Reputation of faithfulness is not equivalent to proof of it! – Rev. 3:1
2. Instead of trusting what others say about your faithfulness – trust what God says about it! (2 Cor. 13:5)
3. Take heed: It is God’s evaluation that matters!
B. Minimizing the Corrupting Effect of Evil Companions – 1 Cor. 15:33.
1. Evidently Israel did this – Exo. 23:2; Num. 25:1-2; 31:16.
2. 1 Pet. 4:1-2 (1 Jno. 2:15-16) – Don’t be deceived! (At work, tempted to steal, Tit. 2:10; At school, tempted to cheat, Eph. 4:25; at home, media bombards our senses with sensuality, Col. 3:5).
3. In the world but not of it (sanctified) – 1 Cor. 5:9-10; Jno. 17:15-17.
4. Take heed: If you befriend the world you are God’s enemy! (Jas. 4:4)
C. Becoming Spiritually Complacent, Neglectful, Apathetic – Rev. 3:17.
1. Lukewarm Christian rarely acknowledges their real condition!
2. Take heed: Avoid downward spiral of apathy. Rom. 12:11 (Jas. 4:17)
D. Thinking We Are Above Temptation & Sin – Jas. 1:12-16.
1. By not recognizing the dangers of sin &/or temptation – 1:16.
2. Exactly where Satan wants you to be! – 1 Pet. 5:8
3. Take heed: Pride goes before a fall – Prov. 16:18.
E. Relying on our Past Faithfulness.
1. As long as we are alive we have a battle before us! – 1 Tim. 6:12 (Eph. 6:10-13).
2. Only when near death did Paul say he had “fought” the good fight (2 Tim. 4:7).
a. Just a few years earlier Paul had not yet attained or been perfected – He was pressing onward & upward! – Phil. 3:12-14
b. Imitate his forward-pressing faithfulness (Phil. 3:17).
3. Take heed: We cannot rest on past victories when present battles & opportunities exist! (Gal. 6:10; Jno. 4:35)
F. Equating Believing with Obeying – Lk. 6:46.
1. Faith without obedience: Incomplete, profitless, dead, unseen, demonic & barren (Jas. 2:14-20).
2. Only “faith working through love” has the power to produce a genuine hope of righteousness – Gal. 5:5-6.
3. Take heed: Affirming your faith but not obeying Christ is not real faith!
Conclusion
1. Israel’s fall is our warning: We can also fall!
2. Constantly check your faith in the light of divine truth & walk by faith – 2 Cor. 5:7-9…this will please God!