Take heed lest you fall 1 Corinthians 10

Take heed lest you fall! 1 Corinthians 10: 1 -13

ISRAEL: Our Example 1 Cor. 10: 1 -11 • Relationship with God (v. 2; Gal. 3: 27) • Chosen people (Exo. 19: 5 -6; Psa. 135: 4; 1 Pet. 2: 9 • 10) Unbelief (Heb. 3: 15 -19) 2

Take Heed Lest You Fall! 1 Corinthians 10: 12 • Israel thought she stood with God (Matt. 3: 8 -9) • Israel did not take heed to herself (1 Cor. 10: 6 -11; Psa. 106: 13 -15, 19 -22, 24 -25) • Israel fell (Psa. 106: 26 -27; Num. 14: 26 -35) What about us? ! 3

Examine Your Faith 1 Corinthians 10: 12 • Know the signs of a faltering faith (Heb. 3: 12 -13; 2 Cor. 13: 5) – Use God’s word – Heb. 4: 12 -13; Jas. 1: 25 – Apply God’s remedy – Acts 8: 20 -24; 26: 20 4

Signs of a Faltering Faith (Gal. 6: 3) (TAKE HEED LEST YOU FALL!) • We can deceive ourselves that our faith is stronger than it is by… – Equating men’s estimation of our faithfulness with God’s approval of us – Lk. 6: 26; Rev. 3: 1 5

Signs of a Faltering Faith (Gal. 6: 3) (TAKE HEED LEST YOU FALL!) • We can deceive ourselves that our faith is stronger than it is by… – Minimizing the corrupting effect of evil companions – 1 Cor. 15: 33 • Israel - Exo. 23: 2; Num. 25: 1 -3; 31: 16 • In, but not of, the world – 1 Pet. 4: 1 -2; Jno. 17: 15 -17 6

Signs of a Faltering Faith (Gal. 6: 3) (TAKE HEED LEST YOU FALL!) • We can deceive ourselves that our faith is stronger than it is by… – Becoming spiritually complacent, neglectful & apathetic – Rev. 3: 1617 • Lukewarm have trouble acknowledging their real spiritual condition! • Fervent in spirit – Rom. 12: 11 (Jas. 4: 17) 7

Signs of a Faltering Faith (Gal. 6: 3) (TAKE HEED LEST YOU FALL!) • We can deceive ourselves that our faith is stronger than it is by… – Thinking we are above temptation & sin – Jas. 1: 12 -16 • Failing to recognize the dangers (1: 16) • Pride goes before a fall (Prov. 16: 18) 8

Signs of a Faltering Faith (Gal. 6: 3) (TAKE HEED LEST YOU FALL!) • We can deceive ourselves that our faith is stronger than it is by… – Relying on our past faithfulness – 1 Tim. 6: 12 (2 Tim. 4: 6 -7) • Press onward & upward (Phil. 3: 12 -14) • Present opportunities (Gal. 6: 10; Jno. 4: 35) 9

Signs of a Faltering Faith (Gal. 6: 3) (TAKE HEED LEST YOU FALL!) • We can deceive ourselves that our faith is stronger than it is by… – Equating believing with obeying – Lk. 6: 46 (Matt. 7: 21) • Faith without obedience is vain (Jas. 2: 14 -20) • Faith working through love produces genuine hope of righteousness (Gal. 5: 5 -6) 10

Israel’s Fall is Our Warning! 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 2 Corinthians 5: 7 -9 11