1 Corinthians 10:1-13 – Before We Sin – Bible study

1Corinthians 10:1-13 Before We Sin Paul uses the people of Israel in Moses day to illustrate the danger of sin. \#1-4\ Paul points out that all of the people had opportunities to draw close to God. \#5\ He says of many of them that God was not pleased! Although they had opportunities, they choose sin! \#6-10\ He warns present day believers not to succumb to such temptations. \#7\ Do not succumb to the temptation of idolatry. \#8\ Do not succumb to the temptation of fornication. \#9\ Do not succumb to the temptation of tempting Christ. \#10\ Do not succumb to the temptation of murmuring. \#11-12\ Paul gives counsel and warning. 1. The counsel is lets learn from those who have gone before. 2. The warning is dont let pride cause us to repeat their sins. \#13\ Three Great Truths 1. We are all tempted. 2. God will be faithful. 3. God will make a way of escape and endurance. These are the promises of God. Every child of God should memorize these verses and trust God in their days of temptation. For a few moments, I would like to share with some thoughts about enduring the temptation. I. Let me add to those Biblical truths, two truths that I have learned. A. Temptation is like a spiders web – its easier to avoid than to get out of once you are entangled in it. B. We can only think one thing at a time. Because the brain can do so many things at once, it appears that we can think several thoughts at a time, but we can not. II. Based on these truths, I have learned that the more spiritual activity we are involved in, the less temptation can pull at us. A. Why do I say that we need to become spiritually active to overcome temptation? 1. The promise of 1Co 10:13 is not to deliver us from sin but from the temptation before sin. a. Temptation is the lure to commit sin. b. Everyone is lured toward sin the Bible says; however, being lured is not sinning. c. Sinning is yielding to the temptation and doing wrong. d. We can learn to overcome every temptation – drugs, liquor, cigarettes, worry, lusts, anger, gossip, laziness, foul language, and all the rest! 2. We are tempted when we are drawn away from God. Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. a. If temptation gets strong when we are drawn away from God, it makes sense that it gets weak when we are drawn to God. b. Spiritual activity is drawing nearer to God. 3. Here is what I have found out. a. Most Christians do not know either the power of the purpose for what they are taught to do. (1) We know we are supposed to read the Bible, go to church, and so forth, but why? (2) Not knowing the why makes these activities work without reward. (3) These are the activities that draw us closer to God. (4) When we are closer to God, temptation has less pull over us. b. The power to stay clean, to stay revived, to stay right with God is in drawing closer to God. B. Lets note that spiritual activity itself is no end, but it is the means. 1. We dont want to do spiritual things as an end to themselves. 2. I am about to mention several acts of "worship." 3. Do these things is of themselves little if they do not get you to end. 4. What is the end? The presence of God. 5. It is getting into Gods presence that revives us, encourages us, comforts us, energizes us, convicts usand does for us what we need to have done that we might walk around temptations instead of being pulled into them. C. Even though the end is to get into the presence of God, we may not always accomplish that goal. 1. I do not know why, but sometimes it seems that God is difficult to find. (a) Perhaps that is a sign that we ourselves are becoming cold toward Him. (b) Perhaps it is just Gods way from time to time. 2. However, it has been experience, that when one act of worship does not get me into Gods presence, another just might. 3. For that reason, I will give you several suggestions of worship that you might attempt. 4. However, even if we do not get into Gods presence, there is a power that comes even by our trying. (a) Now, I do not think that power will last for long without Gods presence. (b) We NEED to get into Gods presence. (c) Gods presence is what feeds our soul, not just the attempt. (d) It is my belief that the desire and the attempt will eventually carry us into the presence of God. D. What kind of spiritual activities should we engage in? 1. Love and worship God. Deuteronomy 11:1 Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway. Deuteronomy 11:13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, Deuteronomy 11:22 For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him; a. As I have said, sometimes, it is difficult for us to sense the presence of God. (1) However, whether God shows us or not, we can love on God. (2) Loving on God is not dependent upon you feeling anything from Him. (3) It is dependent upon you loving Him. (4) I wonder if the reason God does not always make His presence know to us might be because He wants to see what we will give Him when we get nothing in return. (5) Sit down and tell God you love, tell Him why you love, brag on Him, just love on God. b. At the same time, worship is not dependent upon God showing up. (1) I dont enjoy worship unless God shows up, but worship is not JUST what I get out of it. It is what God gets out of it. (2) So what is worship? (a) Worship is us praising Him. (b) Worship is us adoring Him. (c) Worship is us exalting Him. 2. Praise and sing spiritual songs Psalms 81:1 Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. Psalm 89:15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. a. Again, these are things that far more enjoyable when God is with us and I believe most of the time, He will come be with as we do these things. b. However, I sing and praise Gods name whether I ever feel any- thing or not. c. And just me engaging in these activities, helps to focus my mind and spirit on God. d. It will help me resist temptation. 3. Pray James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. a. Prayer lists are to help you pray not to hinder you. (1) I have a prayer list. (2) To me, it gives me things to talk to God about. (3) I am not a big talker. Even to talk with my children, I pretty much have to work at things to say. b. I would encourage everyone to have a prayer list to remind you of things to talk to God about, but when praying through your list gets to be the objective, it is time to set it aside for awhile. c. The objective is not to get through a prayer list. The list is a means to get into Gods presence! (1) I am not big at conversation; but typically, once you start talking to someone, the conversation just flows. (2) Prayer time is like that. (a) Maybe you need something to get the ball rolling (b) Maybe you need a reminder of things you want to talk to God abouta burdern that draws you into conversation with Him. (c) But when you get into Gods presence, let God direct the conversation. 4. Study and obey the Word 2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 1 Timothy 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. a. Typically, one of my most enjoyable activities is studying the Bible. b. I feel like God shows things when I start studying it. c. However, sometimes I have to force myself to get started. d. However, if you can get past the "having to read" or the "having to get a lesson" or the "having to study" part of getting started, once God starts showing you things, it gets really good. 5. Bible Memorization Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. a. Bible memorization is another thing that we usually dread. b. One of the reasons I struggle with it is because my brain does not keep them for long after I quit reviewing them. (1) Get what I am about to tell you. (2) That is all right. (3) If you will put the verses into your brain and spirit, it is up to God to keep them there. (4) What I have learned is that when I need them, God will help me to remember at least part of them. c. Bible memorization is good for every element of you being. (1) Bible memorization is a mental exercise that will help fend off Alzheimers and dementia. (2) Bible memorization is a spiritual exercise that will bring you into Gods presence and fend off temptation. (3) Bible memorization is an inner man exercise that will make you a stronger Christian as you hide Gods Word in your heart. 6. Christian Fellowship Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than oneand a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 1John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. a. John says that fellowship with one another keeps us in the light. b. Light in the Bible is a direct reference to the powerful, clean Christian life. c. Maybe every service is not a bang, boom blast; but if you will work at worshipping during the worship hour, you will enter into Gods presence far more than you will not and it will aid you in being victorious over temptation. 7. Get involved in ministry. 2Cor 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every mans conscience in the sight of God. Ephesians 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. a. I have shared my testimony many times. b. Getting involved is what it took for me to learn faithfulness. c. Learning to be faithful was required for me to learn Gods will for my life. d. Learning Gods will for my life was required for me to desire victory over sin and temptation. e. Desiring victory over sin and temptation was required for me to start getting victory over sin and temptation. 8. Set high standards for yourself. 2 Corinthians 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. a. A great part in the battle of overcoming temptation is to keep yourself out of temptations snares. b. That is where you convictions and standards come in. c. The harder you make it for Satan to get to you and for your flesh to lead you astray, the more apt you are to stay on the straight and narrow. III. What if I still fail? What if I still yield to temptation? A. Humble yourself. James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 1. When you fail, dont let pride and anger drive you away from God. 2. Satan will use your flesh to compound your mistake if you let him. B. Remember Gods love! John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 1. If you fail a thousand times, God will still love you! 2. You are His child for all eternity and one day, He will perfect you. 3. You keep letting Him try today and one tomorrow, you will have the victory. C. Seek Gods forgiveness. 1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1. Forgiveness is only a request away. 2. Ask for it. D. Resist to blood. Hebrews 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 1. Let every failure fortify you intensity to overcome sin. 2. Get help. Find a partner that you can confide in and who will hold you accountable. There is victory for the Christian not just after sin but before sin. To have it, we must stay close to God. I believe we can. Lets purpose to do so.