August 3, 2008
Morning Service

I Cor. 10:1-4

 

Review:

 

As our VBS teachers explained to our children, “Life is full of choices.”  As we continue in our study of I Corinthians let’s see what kind of choices the Apostle would encourage us to make.

 

1.      In chapter nine the Apostle told us of his rights to be an Apostle, and also that he had the right to expect the people he ministered too to supply his physical needs.

2.      Paul also explained how that he did not use this, but worked to supply to his own needs.

3.      Toward the end of chapter 9 Paul said this:  1Co 9:24-27 KJVR  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.  (25)  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.  (26)  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:  (27)  But I keepunder my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 

4.      This is the thought that we want to carry into our study this morning, RUNNING THE RACE SO THAT WE PLEASE GOD.                   Let’s begin. 

 

1Co 10:1-13 KJVR  Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud,

·         This happened when the children of Israel left Egypt:  Exo 13:21  And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

and all passed through the sea; 

·         Exo 14:21  And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.  Exo 14:22  And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

 (2)  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 

·         Baptized unto Moses;  or unto his leadership.

 (3)  And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 

·         Exo 16:15  And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they knew not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.

 (4)  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 

·         God speaking;  Exo 17:6  Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

 

SO WE CAN SEE THAT GOD FAVORED THESE PEOPLE VERY HIGHLY.  HE SUPPLIED THEIR EVERY NEED, WHILE HE GAVE THEM GOOD LEADERSHIP TO THEIR DESTINATION, THE PROMISED LAND.

 

THEY WERE GOING TO BE ON THIS JOURNEY FOR 40 YEARS, THEY DIDN’T KNOW THIS YET, BUT THIS IS WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.  GOD HIMSELF WOULD GUIDE THEM, AND SUPPLY THEIR EVERY NEED FOR THE NEXT 40 YEARS.

 

IT WAS AMAZING, AND A MIRACLE HOW GOD LED ISRAEL ON THEIR 40 YEAR JOURNEY, BUT I WANT US TO RECOGNIZE THAT THOSE WHO WERE NOT WILLING TO OBEY, AND BE LED BY GOD DID NOT MAKE IT TO THE PROMISED LAND.   

 

MOSES WAS GOD’S MAN TO LEAD ISRAEL, AND MOSES DIED.  JESUS IS OUR LEADER TO LEAD US TO THE PROMISED LAND,  AND HE IS STILL ALIVE, AND GUIDING, AND TEACHING, AND LIVES FOREVER MORE.

 

NOW LET’S NOTICE:

From what is taught us in the New Testament, we can easily see the comparison of our walk with God.

 

1Co 10:1-2 KJVR  Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;  (2)  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

·         Just as Christians are baptized unto Jesus, and unto the receiving of the Holy Ghost, for His guidance, and leadership.  Act 19:2-3 KJVR  He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.  (3)  And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

 

1Co 10:3-4 KJVR  And did all eat the same spiritual meat;  (4)  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

·         We know, and are taught by Jesus Himself, what our spiritual food is;  Joh 6:32-33 KJVR  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.  (33)  For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

·         Joh 6:48-51 KJVR  I am that bread of life.  (49)  Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.  (50)  This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.  (51)  I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

·         Joh 6:53-56 KJVR  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.  (54)  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.  (55)  For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.  (56)  He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. (57) As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.  (58)  This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live forever.

·         Then this was said:  Joh 6:66  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

·         Had these disciples stayed to the end, and to have had the Passover meal with Jesus, they would have been able to have said amen to Peter’s next statement:

(67)  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?  (68)  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.  (69)  And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

 

OF COURSE, THE KEY, TO OUR WALK WITH GOD IS THIS:

Joh 6:44 KJVR  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

·         WE MUST BE DRAWN, BY THE HOLY GHOST, TO THE LOVE THAT WAS EXPRESSED FROM CALVARY.  WE HAVE GOT TO SEE, AND FEEL WITH OUR HEARTS, THE LOVE THAT GOD HAS FOR MANKIND.

·         REPENT OF OUR SINS, BE BAPTIZED UNTO JESUS CHRIST, RECEIVING THE HOLY GHOST TO HELP US LIVE A LIFE THAT IS PLEASING TO GOD, AND TO MAN.

·         THEN WE WILL BE LED BY THE LIGHT THAT WAS TO COME INTO THE WORLD, AND THAT LIGHT WAS JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH. 

Joh 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

 

WILL YOU STAY TILL THE END?  WILL YOU FOLLOW THIS MARVELOUS LIGHT?  WILL YOU BE THERE AT THE LAMBS MARRIAGE SUPPER?  CAN YOU SAY TO JESUS THIS MORNING THAT “I BELIEVE, AND AM SURE THAT YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.”

 

IF WE ARE WILLING TO DO THESE THINGS, WE WILL RUN THE RACE IN A MANNER THAT WILL PLEASE GOD, AND OUR FELLOW MAN.