WEBVTT 01:30.600 --> 01:36.400 Alright and now at this time please take your Bibles and open up to 1 Corinthians chapter 01:36.400 --> 01:39.220 9 verse 27. 01:39.220 --> 01:42.780 That is 1 Corinthians 9.27. 01:42.780 --> 01:48.480 And follow along silently as we start in 1 Corinthians 9.27 and read all the way through 01:48.480 --> 01:51.560 to the end of chapter 10. 01:51.560 --> 01:56.680 1 Corinthians 9, 27, the Bible reads. 01:57.500 --> 02:03.020 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I 02:03.020 --> 02:06.900 have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 02:06.900 --> 02:12.820 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were 02:12.820 --> 02:18.420 under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and were all baptized unto Moses in the 02:18.420 --> 02:19.540 cloud and in the sea. 02:19.900 --> 02:24.840 Did all eat the same spiritual meat and did all drink the same spiritual drink? 02:25.060 --> 02:30.100 For they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them and that rock was Christ 02:30.300 --> 02:34.940 But with many of them God was not well pleased for they were overthrown in the wilderness 02:35.600 --> 02:41.580 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, 02:41.580 --> 02:43.580 as they also lusted. 02:43.580 --> 02:46.960 Neither be idolaters, as were some of them. 02:46.960 --> 02:52.060 As it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 02:52.060 --> 02:57.120 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three 02:57.120 --> 02:59.520 and twenty thousand. 02:59.520 --> 03:03.520 let us tempt Christ as some of them also tempted and were destroyed. 03:03.600 --> 03:09.920 of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmurred, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 03:10.880 --> 03:14.720 Now all these things happened unto them for in samples, 03:14.720 --> 03:19.900 and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 03:20.000 --> 03:25.500 Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 03:25.500 --> 03:29.760 There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man. 03:29.760 --> 03:35.400 But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but 03:35.400 --> 03:40.560 will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 03:41.500 --> 03:45.220 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 03:45.220 --> 03:47.700 I speak as to wise men. 03:47.700 --> 03:49.340 Judge ye what I say. 03:49.340 --> 03:54.740 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? 03:54.740 --> 03:59.260 The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 03:59.500 --> 04:06.620 For we being many are one bread and one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread. 04:06.620 --> 04:11.860 Behold Israel after the flesh, are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the 04:11.860 --> 04:13.140 altar? 04:13.140 --> 04:18.660 What say I then, that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols 04:18.660 --> 04:20.180 is any thing? 04:20.180 --> 04:26.080 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils and not 04:26.080 --> 04:27.320 to God. 04:27.500 --> 04:32.700 would not that ye should have fellowship with devils? Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord 04:32.700 --> 04:39.480 and the cup of devils. Ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table and of the table of devils. 04:39.480 --> 04:44.860 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? All things are lawful for 04:44.860 --> 04:50.540 me, but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful for me, but all things edify 04:50.540 --> 04:51.040 Why not? 04:51.500 --> 04:55.340 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. 04:55.340 --> 05:01.580 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience' sake. 05:01.580 --> 05:04.840 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof. 05:04.840 --> 05:09.900 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go, whatsoever 05:09.900 --> 05:14.660 is seen before you, eat, asking no question for conscience' sake. 05:14.660 --> 05:19.360 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his own 05:19.500 --> 05:23.100 his sake that showed it, and for conscience' sake. 05:23.100 --> 05:26.300 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof. 05:26.300 --> 05:31.660 Conscience, I say, is not, I say, not thine own, but of the other. 05:31.660 --> 05:35.300 For why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? 05:35.300 --> 05:37.860 For I, by grace, be a partaker. 05:37.860 --> 05:41.340 Why am I evil spoken of, for that which I give thanks? 05:41.340 --> 05:46.820 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 05:47.200 --> 05:53.360 Give none offense neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God. 05:53.360 --> 05:59.360 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking my non-profit, but the profit of many, 05:59.360 --> 06:01.360 that they may be saved. 06:01.360 --> 06:03.760 Brother Bill, would you pray for the service? 06:19.400 --> 06:26.480 Thank you all for coming out tonight and thank pastor for encouraging men to preach. 06:26.480 --> 06:32.480 As brother Jesse said, when you write a sermon, it really gives you a chance to focus and 06:32.480 --> 06:36.700 read the Bible and line upon line, hear a little, there a little, and kind of put it 06:36.700 --> 06:40.360 all together and really learn more about that subject. 06:40.900 --> 06:48.340 And so it's definitely a blessing to have our church here where men are encouraged to preach. 06:48.340 --> 06:58.420 And so look at verse 27 in 1 Corinthians chapter 9, verse 27. 06:58.420 --> 07:00.880 The second part of that says, 07:00.880 --> 07:05.840 lest by any means when I have preached to others I myself should be a castaway. 07:06.200 --> 07:11.560 Okay, and now look at chapter 10 verse 12 where it ends in, 07:11.560 --> 07:14.520 take heed lest he fall. 07:14.520 --> 07:19.720 And so when we sin, that's falling in this context, I think. 07:19.720 --> 07:23.080 And sin breaks fellowship with God. 07:23.080 --> 07:27.880 And I'll read for you from 1 John chapter 1. 07:28.300 --> 07:31.200 verse 5, the end of verse 5, it says, 07:41.900 --> 07:46.500 And so I think the word darkness in these two verses is talking about sin. 07:46.500 --> 07:52.300 God is light and in Him is no darkness at all or in Him is no sin at all. 07:52.300 --> 07:56.600 And then when it talks about believers, it says if we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, 07:56.600 --> 07:59.500 if we walk in sin, then we lie. 07:59.500 --> 08:05.500 It's saying that we do not have fellowship and we do not the truth. 08:05.500 --> 08:06.500 And uh... 08:07.100 --> 08:15.060 And so we all sin, of course, but then the issue becomes that when we continue to sin 08:15.060 --> 08:21.460 and we stay on that path and we don't ask for forgiveness and we don't try to turn from 08:21.460 --> 08:25.580 that sin, you know, then we're on the path of the castaway. 08:25.580 --> 08:31.980 And that's the term that Paul used in verse 27. 08:32.700 --> 08:34.900 And of course, believers will always fall. 08:34.900 --> 08:37.260 But if we get up again, then we won't be a castaway. 08:37.260 --> 08:40.740 So a castaway kind of implies that this is a permanent or, 08:40.740 --> 08:41.820 I shouldn't say permanent. 08:41.820 --> 08:45.620 It's an ongoing and a continuing situation. 08:45.620 --> 08:50.180 People get in that fallen condition for a long time, 08:50.180 --> 08:52.300 and they become a castaway. 08:53.800 --> 09:00.620 And so, if we take heed lest ye fall and combine it with lest I myself should be a castaway, 09:00.620 --> 09:03.880 we get, take heed lest you be a castaway. 09:03.880 --> 09:10.460 And that's the sermon's title, take heed lest you be a castaway. 09:10.460 --> 09:11.460 And so I want to pray again. 09:11.460 --> 09:18.040 Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your word and all the truth and wisdom that it has in 09:18.040 --> 09:19.040 it. 09:19.040 --> 09:21.240 I ask you, fill me with the Holy Spirit to preach what's right. 09:21.600 --> 09:27.120 and fill the people with the Holy Spirit too, and so they can take this to heart. 09:27.120 --> 09:28.400 In Jesus' name, Amen. 09:30.700 --> 09:36.700 And so the word cast away in this context means not standing to test, not approved, 09:37.820 --> 09:43.820 or that which does not prove itself as it ought. 09:44.600 --> 09:51.000 And so I think the Holy Spirit through Paul is saying that believers can do great works for God like Paul did, 09:51.000 --> 09:57.160 but if believers also have a great sin in their life that's ongoing and they're walking in that sin, 09:57.160 --> 10:01.200 then God does not approve of that believer. 10:01.200 --> 10:03.640 That believer could be called a castaway. 10:03.640 --> 10:09.120 And believers in major ongoing sin, even though they're doing good works, 10:09.120 --> 10:11.400 haven't proven themselves. 10:11.500 --> 10:13.500 as they ought. 10:13.500 --> 10:17.300 Because you notice when Paul says in verse 27, 10:17.300 --> 10:19.300 when I have preached to others, 10:19.300 --> 10:21.300 so Paul's doing the works, 10:21.300 --> 10:25.200 that I myself should be a castaway. 10:26.200 --> 10:34.200 And so even though believers are doing great works, if they're also in ongoing sin, then they're cast away and they're not approved of God. 10:34.200 --> 10:45.700 And some examples of that in the Bible, great men that were potentially like Solomon and Saul 10:45.900 --> 10:52.780 that later in their life they fell into great sin and the Bible never really records them 10:52.780 --> 11:00.940 recovering from it and Saul didn't recover, he just died, God killed him. And so 11:03.260 --> 11:08.620 they didn't rise back from that sin and that's when they became castaways. 11:09.100 --> 11:15.460 But today, you know, it's not a permanent condition for Saul or Solomon and also not 11:15.460 --> 11:16.740 believers today. 11:16.740 --> 11:24.180 You know, we can become castaways, but we can rise from that sin and stop being a castaway. 11:24.180 --> 11:27.540 Now, in this verse 27... 11:28.000 --> 11:35.280 Castaway does not imply or mean that the Bible is talking about a person who can lose their 11:35.280 --> 11:38.240 spiritual salvation. 11:38.240 --> 11:44.160 Because there's more than 50 verses in the Bible that are just clear-cut about eternal 11:44.160 --> 11:49.880 life, shall never perish, shall never hunger, and no eyes will I cast out, shall not see 11:49.880 --> 11:55.040 death and there is... 11:56.100 --> 11:59.460 And it's not like the Calvinists believe in perseverance of the saints, 11:59.460 --> 12:01.060 because if you ask a Calvinist, they'll say, 12:01.060 --> 12:02.740 oh yeah, you can't lose your salvation. 12:02.740 --> 12:05.620 But if they're believing in the perseverance of the saints, 12:05.620 --> 12:09.140 they're saying that God will keep them in doing those good works. 12:09.140 --> 12:12.900 And that's how they think they can't lose their salvation. 12:12.900 --> 12:16.180 But they'll also say that, well, if a person didn't have the good works, 12:16.180 --> 12:19.220 later on in life, then he was never saved in the first place. 12:19.220 --> 12:22.180 So in the end, it still comes back to trusting in their works. 12:23.600 --> 12:28.600 And I'm sure plenty, in this verse 927, the term castaway, 12:28.800 --> 12:32.120 you know, I'll guess plenty of false prophets has preached 12:32.120 --> 12:34.440 that this means that a person can lose 12:34.440 --> 12:36.760 their spiritual salvation, you know. 12:36.760 --> 12:39.960 And a lot of times these guys like to go back to the Greek, 12:39.960 --> 12:41.720 you know, so they might say something like, 12:41.720 --> 12:44.140 well, if you go back to the Greek, 12:44.140 --> 12:49.140 the word adokima most means rejected from salvation. 12:50.240 --> 12:51.560 And it's like, hey. 12:51.600 --> 12:53.600 You false prophet, reprobate. 12:53.600 --> 12:58.000 You know, once you tell that to Jesus at the white throne judgment 12:58.000 --> 13:02.240 and ask that you be thrown in the Greek speaking part of the lake of fire, 13:02.600 --> 13:11.600 And then you can discuss with your other false prophets, even things like the word believe in the Greek means, 13:11.600 --> 13:20.600 oh, well, this is an active form of this verb, to believe means to have an obedient works kind of faith. 13:20.600 --> 13:28.600 And so even the most simple scripture like John 3.16, they can twist that to somehow say that this means works. 13:32.300 --> 13:39.020 And so now with that kind of in mind, we'll go through the passage. 13:39.020 --> 13:41.540 And so look at 1 Corinthians 9.24. 13:41.540 --> 13:43.660 1 Corinthians 9.24. 13:43.660 --> 13:45.660 know ye not that 13:45.900 --> 13:50.580 They which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize. 13:50.580 --> 13:52.700 So run that ye may obtain. 13:52.700 --> 13:57.140 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. 13:57.140 --> 14:02.380 Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible." 14:02.380 --> 14:13.300 And so in these two verses, Paul is making an illustration that believers serving the Lord is like runners in a race. 14:14.400 --> 14:20.320 And it talks about they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, 14:20.320 --> 14:23.120 but we an incorruptible crown. 14:23.120 --> 14:26.160 And so I think this is talking about rewards, 14:26.160 --> 14:30.200 incorruptible crowns, rewards includes crowns. 14:30.200 --> 14:35.960 And so Paul is saying, run, that ye may obtain these rewards. 14:38.300 --> 14:46.300 And the Bible tells us that the works that we do that have eternal value will be rewarded at the judgment seat of Christ. 14:46.300 --> 14:48.000 Okay, now look at the part of the verse that says, 14:48.000 --> 14:50.700 Every man that striveth for the mastery. 14:50.700 --> 14:55.700 And so striving is working diligently to or working hard for something. 14:55.700 --> 14:58.100 You're striving for mastery. You're striving to be the best. 14:58.100 --> 15:05.700 So Paul is exhorting believers at the Church of Corinth to strive to be the best Christians you can. 15:06.000 --> 15:09.840 And of course, I think, you know, he's telling us that too right now. 15:09.840 --> 15:13.120 He's up in heaven and he's telling us, strive for the mastery. 15:14.120 --> 15:20.040 And as if we were doing everything that we could to finish this race in first place, 15:20.040 --> 15:21.520 because that's the illustration, right? 15:21.520 --> 15:22.760 Strive for the mastery. 15:23.040 --> 15:24.520 Do the best job you can. 15:24.680 --> 15:26.320 Like you're trying to win that race. 15:26.320 --> 15:28.760 You're trying to be the person that comes in first. 15:30.500 --> 15:35.500 And then also there's the phrase temperate in all things. 15:35.500 --> 15:38.500 And the word temperate means to be self-controlled. 15:38.500 --> 15:44.500 And Paul's illustration of an athlete preparing to run a race, for example, 15:44.500 --> 15:48.500 an athlete wouldn't eat like a huge meal the morning of the race. 15:48.700 --> 15:56.200 Because otherwise you wouldn't be able to run as fast, and also you wouldn't do something 15:56.200 --> 16:00.360 like overtrain the day before the race. 16:00.360 --> 16:04.560 And so temperate in all things means self-controlled. 16:04.560 --> 16:10.240 And so likewise believers then should keep themselves away from sin or anything that 16:10.240 --> 16:12.280 hinders our work for the Lord. 16:12.280 --> 16:14.800 And that's what he's saying, temperate in all things. 16:16.600 --> 16:19.640 And so, in temperance in all things, 16:19.640 --> 16:23.280 it's important to be able to run the race as best as we can. 16:23.280 --> 16:25.960 Paul writes in Hebrews 12.1, I'll read it for you. 16:25.960 --> 16:30.040 Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which 16:30.040 --> 16:31.680 doth so easily beset us. 16:31.680 --> 16:35.440 And let us run the race with patience, the race that 16:35.440 --> 16:36.900 is set before us. 16:37.300 --> 16:42.100 and run with patience, sorry, the race that is set before us. 16:42.100 --> 16:45.700 And so here, sin is being compared to like a weight. 16:45.700 --> 16:47.700 And so imagine if you're a runner, 16:47.700 --> 16:50.540 and then you've got an extra 50 pounds of weight 16:50.540 --> 16:52.140 that you're carrying, you're not going to be able to run 16:52.140 --> 16:54.040 very fast or very long. 16:54.040 --> 16:58.440 And so sin is like a metaphor for that weight. 16:58.440 --> 17:02.540 And notice it says, which doth so easily beset us. 17:03.000 --> 17:06.760 And certainly, it's easy to fall into sins. 17:06.760 --> 17:09.240 We still have the old man, and that old man 17:09.240 --> 17:11.920 is ever present with us. 17:11.920 --> 17:14.600 And the word patience is kind of like endurance. 17:14.600 --> 17:18.560 And so run with endurance the race that is set before us. 17:18.560 --> 17:25.400 And it's kind of interesting in this illustration 17:25.400 --> 17:29.680 where Paul talks about to win the race. 17:30.500 --> 17:36.260 And, you know, if you think about it, there's going to be some believer that's going to 17:36.260 --> 17:41.380 have the most rewards, that spent the most hours or did the most work. 17:41.380 --> 17:46.660 And so if you think about it, out of the hundreds of millions of saved people, there's going 17:46.660 --> 17:49.860 to be one guy that got the most rewards. 17:49.860 --> 17:54.060 And in a way, you could say that he won that race. 17:55.000 --> 18:00.080 I'll guess Paul is in the top 20. 18:00.080 --> 18:05.120 He said that I worked more than they all. 18:05.120 --> 18:13.520 He went on three missions trip and then the trip to Rome. 18:13.520 --> 18:17.420 For years and years and years and years, he was out planting churches and getting people 18:17.420 --> 18:22.820 saved and making disciples and ordaining ministers and... 18:24.000 --> 18:33.440 And so somebody, he tells us to strive as if we should try to win that race. 18:35.100 --> 18:43.600 And of course, you know, we earn rewards for the works that we do, but that shouldn't be our main reason for doing the works. 18:43.600 --> 18:50.600 You know, we love God, we want to keep His commandments, we love our brothers and sisters, we love unsaved people. 18:50.600 --> 18:54.100 And so we do the works for that sake. 18:54.200 --> 18:59.640 But the reward is like the cherry on top of the ice cream sundae. 18:59.640 --> 19:04.720 When a pastor preached that one time, you know, we don't, we eat ice cream sundae because 19:04.720 --> 19:10.380 it's a good thing and the cherry is just the thing on top that just makes it that much 19:10.380 --> 19:11.240 better. 19:12.200 --> 19:14.300 Okay, now look at verse 26. 19:14.300 --> 19:20.460 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly so fight I, not as one that beateth the air. 19:20.460 --> 19:23.960 So here's another illustration Paul's using about boxing. 19:23.960 --> 19:27.600 So when we serve the Lord, we fight a spiritual battle. 19:27.600 --> 19:32.120 And Paul is saying that we should be landing punches with effect as opposed to like a jab 19:32.120 --> 19:35.000 and then you miss the opponent. 19:35.000 --> 19:36.000 as he's saying. 19:37.300 --> 19:41.300 not as uncertainly so I fight." 19:41.300 --> 19:45.300 And so the Bible tells us how to fight that spiritual battle with certainty. 19:45.800 --> 19:49.800 And with certainty that we're not wasting our time, that we're being effective. 19:49.800 --> 19:53.760 You know, for example, we should strive to be effective soul winners, you know, have 19:53.760 --> 20:01.240 our presentation thought out and have the verses in the order and be practiced in how 20:01.240 --> 20:04.000 we're going to preach those verses. 20:04.000 --> 20:09.960 But then also we should be prepared emotionally and spiritually to be meek and to be bold 20:09.960 --> 20:12.760 and to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit. 20:14.400 --> 20:25.280 And Paul, you know, today we've got the complete Bible and all the words that we preach at 20:25.280 --> 20:30.160 the door, it's kind of interesting if you think about it, Paul probably preached a lot 20:30.160 --> 20:33.800 of those same words, you know, almost 2,000 years ago. 20:34.200 --> 20:43.960 And Paul wrote those into the epistles for us to use today, right? Romans 3 10, 3 23, 6 23. 20:43.960 --> 20:51.060 A lot of so many great soul-winning verses that we use, Paul probably spoke those same words way back then. 20:54.500 --> 20:59.140 And so as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel, 20:59.140 --> 21:01.860 and our feet should be shod with the preparation 21:01.860 --> 21:04.500 of the gospel of peace. 21:04.500 --> 21:06.540 And by the way, if you haven't already, 21:06.540 --> 21:09.140 watch Pastor Thompson's three sermons, 21:09.140 --> 21:10.740 Soul Winning, Do's and Don'ts. 21:10.740 --> 21:12.700 They're on YouTube. 21:12.700 --> 21:15.980 And the other day, I broke one of pastor's rules. 21:17.700 --> 21:23.940 And the rule is, you know, if we see any fagadence, don't knock that door. 21:23.940 --> 21:31.300 And Drew and I were out knocking and there was this little plastic toy skunk sitting on the inside of the window. 21:31.300 --> 21:38.340 And we walked past it. And on the top of the skunk's head, it just had like the rainbow colors, the stripes. 21:38.500 --> 21:41.700 And just this tiny little thing of rainbow, right? 21:41.700 --> 21:44.300 And I thought, ah, it's probably okay. 21:44.300 --> 21:45.300 It's just a kid's toy. 21:45.300 --> 21:47.300 So I didn't say anything to Drew. 21:47.300 --> 21:50.900 And so Drew knocks the door, and sure enough, 21:50.900 --> 21:55.600 a squealing swamp sow came to the door and is like, 21:55.600 --> 22:03.300 ah, my nape ears, don't you ever knock my door again. 22:03.700 --> 22:10.820 And so that was sad, but you know the Bible does use the illustration or the analogy of 22:10.820 --> 22:18.520 a sow for female sodomites and reprobates, whereas the dog is like the analogy for the 22:18.520 --> 22:21.840 faggots. 22:21.840 --> 22:28.800 And so yeah, so Pastor Thompson's rule is if you see any faggottence, just turn around 22:28.800 --> 22:30.400 and take it as a sign. 22:30.400 --> 22:31.400 Don't waste your time. 22:31.400 --> 22:31.500 you 22:32.100 --> 22:38.740 Okay, now look at verse 27, but I keep under my body and bring it unto subjection, lest 22:38.740 --> 22:45.580 that by any means when I have preached unto others, I myself should be a castaway. 22:45.580 --> 22:50.300 And so he says, I keep my body under subjection, I keep under my body and bring it. 22:50.600 --> 22:55.400 into subjection. So Paul is saying he keeps his body under subjection, under control. 22:55.400 --> 23:01.860 You know, Paul knows that his flesh, his old man, is sinful and it's easy to fall into sins, right? 23:01.860 --> 23:04.440 The sins that do so easily beset us. 23:04.440 --> 23:12.240 And the sins are the works of the flesh if that body is not kept under subjection, if that old man is not kept under subjection. 23:12.520 --> 23:14.700 And to do that we must walk in the new man. 23:15.800 --> 23:21.560 And the Bible says, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 23:21.560 --> 23:27.220 And Paul also said, in my flesh dwelleth no good thing, no good thing like zero. 23:27.220 --> 23:31.080 Nothing in our flesh was redeemed and we got saved. 23:31.080 --> 23:38.400 Our flesh in a believer's old man is just as sinful as an unsaved person. 23:38.400 --> 23:40.560 And so therefore we walk in the new man. 23:40.800 --> 23:45.400 and keep that old man in the background if we can. 23:46.300 --> 23:49.800 And so, and then Paul says in that verse, he says, 23:49.800 --> 23:53.180 when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 23:53.180 --> 23:56.060 And so I think this is again saying what Paul thinks is possible 23:56.060 --> 23:59.520 and preach and serve to the Lord and still also be a castaway. 23:59.520 --> 24:01.860 You know, a believer can be doing many great works, 24:01.860 --> 24:04.440 but also have much sin in the rest of their life. 24:04.440 --> 24:08.800 And I think that's kind of a key point to understand of this whole sermon 24:08.800 --> 24:11.280 is that you could be doing all kinds of great works, 24:11.280 --> 24:14.040 but if there's some sort of major sin in your life, 24:14.040 --> 24:14.300 the 24:14.300 --> 24:16.900 You're not approved of God. 24:16.900 --> 24:18.600 You're a castaway. 24:18.600 --> 24:28.460 And so, Paul, one of the greatest Christians ever, 24:28.460 --> 24:30.540 is saying that he could be a castaway. 24:30.540 --> 24:33.820 So how much more each one of us in this room? 24:33.820 --> 24:35.020 So Paul is exhorting, 24:35.020 --> 24:36.460 don't be a castaway. 24:36.460 --> 24:39.860 Keep your old man in subjection. 24:39.860 --> 24:41.380 And Paul's warning all believers, 24:42.400 --> 24:44.520 Examine your own life, you know. 24:44.520 --> 24:46.520 Are you on that path? 24:46.520 --> 24:49.600 Are you living in some sort of a sin that you're not overcoming 24:49.600 --> 24:52.400 and it's just a continuing ongoing thing? 24:52.400 --> 24:55.480 Well, that's going to continue to snowball. 24:55.480 --> 24:58.400 And you're on the path of becoming a castaway. 24:59.200 --> 25:07.900 So don't think that just because you go to church three times a week and you read your Bible every day and you pray and you go soul winning, that you can't be a castaway. 25:07.900 --> 25:10.900 Take heed lest you be a castaway. 25:12.100 --> 25:19.180 Okay, now back to 1 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 1 starts with the word moreover, which 25:19.180 --> 25:24.340 is a conjunction, meaning beyond that which has been already said. 25:24.340 --> 25:29.800 And so chapter 10 is a continuation of the subject from chapter 9. 25:29.800 --> 25:33.980 And you know, obviously there has to be chapter breaks somewhere, but just pay attention when 25:33.980 --> 25:40.040 you're studying the Bible that the chapter break may come in the middle of a 25:40.100 --> 25:44.900 topic or a discussion or the two are linked together. And I think that's what's going 25:44.900 --> 25:48.900 on here and that's why I had Brother Mikey read the last part of chapter 9. 25:50.300 --> 25:53.880 So, verse 1 in chapter 10, 25:53.880 --> 25:57.120 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, 25:57.120 --> 25:59.880 how that all of our fathers were under the cloud, 25:59.880 --> 26:02.520 and all passed through the sea. 26:02.520 --> 26:05.360 So remember, Paul is writing to the church at Corinth, 26:05.360 --> 26:08.440 which was mostly Gent's and maybe a few Jews. 26:08.440 --> 26:11.380 And so when Paul says all our fathers, 26:11.380 --> 26:14.320 I think he's referring to the spiritual fathers 26:14.320 --> 26:16.360 of all believers at Corinth. 26:16.900 --> 26:19.300 And who are our spiritual fathers? 26:19.300 --> 26:24.500 Well, all the believers that come before us. 26:24.500 --> 26:31.820 In Romans 4, 16, Paul said, to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father 26:31.820 --> 26:33.140 of us all. 26:33.140 --> 26:40.340 And so likewise, in the Old Testament times, Moses and Aaron, they are our spiritual fathers 26:40.340 --> 26:41.340 also. 26:41.340 --> 26:44.700 They are the spiritual fathers of all the believers that were Gentiles at Corinth. 26:44.900 --> 26:53.020 Okay, now look at verse 2, and we're all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 26:53.020 --> 26:59.060 And so the sea here is the Red Sea, and remember God part of that, and the Israelites walked 26:59.060 --> 27:00.580 across on dry ground. 27:01.100 --> 27:07.620 And it's interesting that the word baptism is used here that and we're all baptized unto Moses and 27:08.180 --> 27:14.580 Today one one of our purposes of baptism is to identify a believer as part of the church 27:15.020 --> 27:17.580 it's a public profession of faith and 27:18.340 --> 27:19.460 and 27:19.460 --> 27:26.460 And so that I think that's also true in Paul's day because if you read Acts 2 41, I'll read it for you 27:26.860 --> 27:28.400 then they 27:28.800 --> 27:35.540 that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about 27:36.160 --> 27:38.900 3,000 souls and so I think it kind of implies that 27:39.980 --> 27:45.740 You know the obviously the 3,000 people got saved and then when they were baptized and they were added on to them 27:45.740 --> 27:49.360 They were added on to that group of believers. The body is the church 27:50.700 --> 28:00.380 And so I think in verse 2 of 1 Corinthians 10, verse 2 is an allegory that the Israelites 28:00.380 --> 28:02.560 were baptized unto Moses. 28:02.560 --> 28:07.940 They were added to the church that Moses was pastoring, right, the church in the wilderness. 28:08.800 --> 28:12.800 And it also says they were baptized in the cloud. 28:12.800 --> 28:14.800 Now this one I'm not sure about. 28:14.800 --> 28:19.800 I think that could be the pillar of the cloud that led the Israelites by day. 28:19.800 --> 28:23.800 And remember at the Red Sea when Pharaoh and his army were chasing after him, 28:23.800 --> 28:29.800 then they got to the sea, and then the pillar of cloud that was before them 28:29.800 --> 28:33.800 went behind them and became darkness to Pharaoh's army. 28:34.400 --> 28:35.740 And then the Bible says, 28:35.740 --> 28:41.140 So that the one came not near the other all night. 28:41.140 --> 28:45.080 So like this cloud of darkness kept away Pharaoh's army. 28:45.080 --> 28:50.120 And that cloud could be a metaphor for being in a church 28:50.120 --> 28:56.280 and having that protection. 28:56.280 --> 28:59.820 And so now look at chapter 10 verse 3. 29:00.100 --> 29:07.900 And did all eat the same spiritual meat and did all drink the same spiritual drink for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them 29:07.900 --> 29:10.740 And that rock was Christ and so I think this verse 29:11.020 --> 29:15.540 Is saying that people that were saved in the Old Testament the same way were saved today 29:15.860 --> 29:19.060 they all did eat of the same spiritual meat and 29:20.100 --> 29:26.460 And so we're saved faith in Christ and that faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God 29:27.500 --> 29:32.500 And I think that's referring to the spiritual drink. 29:32.500 --> 29:36.500 The rock was Christ. That's the Word of God. 29:36.500 --> 29:40.500 And so that Word of God gets us saved. 29:40.500 --> 29:43.500 But then also after we're saved, the Word of God, the Words of Christ, 29:43.500 --> 29:46.500 gives us our daily nourishment. 29:47.000 --> 29:53.400 They all did, because it says, and did all eat of the same spiritual meat. 29:53.400 --> 30:02.800 And that could also be referring to the manna, but the manna is also a picture of the Word of God, our daily bread, the manna from heaven. 30:02.800 --> 30:06.100 Okay, now look at verse 5. 30:06.100 --> 30:11.620 But with many of them God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness." 30:12.100 --> 30:21.340 And then in verses 7 through 10, then the Bible lists the sins, why God was not well 30:21.340 --> 30:23.100 pleased with them. 30:23.100 --> 30:30.540 And in the reading, you can see that the Israelites were murmuring and fornicating and complaining 30:30.540 --> 30:34.160 and idolatrous and tempting Christ. 30:34.160 --> 30:38.020 And what tempting Christ means, well, I'll show you that later, but it's challenging 30:38.020 --> 30:39.460 the God-given authority. 30:39.460 --> 30:40.100 were challenging. 30:40.100 --> 30:47.860 Moses' authority which had his authority from God, from the Lord. 30:47.860 --> 30:53.460 Okay, so the word overthrown in this context means to throw down, to lay low, to slay. 30:53.460 --> 30:58.380 And so God overthrew that generation that wandered in the wilderness, right? 30:58.380 --> 31:02.220 They wandered for 40 years until that generation died off. 31:02.220 --> 31:05.300 And so that generation was slain because God was not... 31:05.700 --> 31:09.600 pleased with many of them, especially the leaders. 31:09.600 --> 31:14.900 Remember, for example, the ten princes that gave an evil report 31:14.900 --> 31:19.340 when they spied out the land and they didn't have faith in God 31:19.340 --> 31:24.020 that they would be able to defeat their enemies. 31:24.020 --> 31:26.920 And then the people kind of followed those princes. 31:28.200 --> 31:33.800 And so, you know, so even though the nation of Israel had this bad leadership, 31:34.600 --> 31:39.640 take note, you know, each individual was still accountable in that nation. 31:40.200 --> 31:46.600 And so, you know, today, take heed, each one of you, lest you don't please our Lord Jesus. 31:48.120 --> 31:49.800 Now look at verse six. 31:50.300 --> 31:58.700 Now these things were our examples to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 31:58.700 --> 32:09.300 And so verses 6 through 10 are written, are examples from the Old Testament Scriptures written for our learning. 32:09.300 --> 32:12.300 These are our examples. 32:12.300 --> 32:13.600 And so... 32:13.700 --> 32:17.500 We're to learn from those, so pay attention and learn. 32:17.500 --> 32:20.620 Put yourself in the place of the Israelites, perhaps. 32:20.620 --> 32:24.660 And ask yourself, do you have any of these kinds of thoughts 32:24.660 --> 32:28.020 or feelings or characteristics or falling into some 32:28.020 --> 32:29.780 of these kinds of sins? 32:29.780 --> 32:31.860 That's what's an example for us. 32:32.400 --> 32:37.600 to the intent that we should not lust after the evil things that they also lusted. 32:37.600 --> 32:43.280 If you find yourself lusting after the same things, this is the example. Pay attention, don't do that. 32:43.280 --> 32:46.000 You know, take heed lest you be a castaway. 32:48.560 --> 32:53.520 Get your old man under control. Don't lust after the same evil things as the Israelites did. 32:54.400 --> 32:59.200 Okay, now please keep a marker in 1 Corinthians 10 and turn to Numbers 11 for... 33:00.000 --> 33:03.040 Numbers 11-4? 33:03.040 --> 33:13.480 And so in verse 6 in Corinthians it talked about the evil things as they also lusted. 33:13.480 --> 33:19.700 And I think this Numbers 11-4 is the corresponding scripture that's being referenced. 33:19.700 --> 33:22.360 And so Numbers 11-4, the Bible reads, 33:22.360 --> 33:26.000 And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a-lusting. 33:26.000 --> 33:27.000 Uh-oh! 33:27.200 --> 33:31.760 fellow lusting, and the children of Israel also wept again and said, 33:31.760 --> 33:35.040 Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish 33:35.040 --> 33:39.440 which we did eat in Egypt freely, and the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, 33:39.440 --> 33:44.800 and the onions, and the garlic. But now our soul is dried away, 33:44.800 --> 33:48.560 and there is nothing at all besides this manna before our eyes. 33:49.100 --> 33:55.100 And so the setting, this is about two years after the Israelites came out of Egypt, 33:55.100 --> 33:58.100 and so they're already in the wilderness, they're wandering. 33:58.100 --> 34:02.600 And so they've been eating two years of manna, and they were a lusting. 34:02.600 --> 34:08.600 Why? Because they weren't content with the food that God had given them. 34:08.600 --> 34:14.600 And so they complained and complained, and God said, 34:14.600 --> 34:16.200 Okay, I'll send you quail to eat. 34:17.200 --> 34:24.040 Now, skip down to verse 33, Numbers 11, 33. 34:24.040 --> 34:27.280 And so this is after the quail came and the people gathered them up and they were eating 34:27.280 --> 34:28.280 it. 34:28.280 --> 34:34.520 And it says, And while the flesh was yet beneath their teeth, between their teeth, ere it was 34:34.520 --> 34:39.120 chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people and the Lord smote the 34:39.120 --> 34:41.440 people with very great plague. 34:41.440 --> 34:42.280 So, uh. 34:43.500 --> 34:46.080 Manna was God's miracle food. 34:46.080 --> 34:49.540 And it's a picture of our daily bread, the Word of God. 34:49.540 --> 34:52.200 And so in a way that Manna represents Christ. 34:52.200 --> 34:55.200 And Jesus himself even kind of referenced to that. 34:55.200 --> 34:56.820 And I'll read for you that verse. 34:56.820 --> 34:58.740 It's John 6.32. 34:58.740 --> 35:01.800 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, 35:01.800 --> 35:04.740 Moses gave you not that bread from heaven, 35:04.740 --> 35:08.620 but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 35:08.620 --> 35:11.420 And then later on he goes on in chapter 6 to say, 35:11.500 --> 35:14.620 He's, I am the bread of heaven. 35:14.620 --> 35:17.440 And so kind of building on that metaphor, 35:17.440 --> 35:21.920 where the Israelites were not content with the manna they 35:21.920 --> 35:26.580 were getting, then the question maybe then, 35:26.580 --> 35:30.260 are you becoming complacent about God's word today, 35:30.260 --> 35:32.980 us believers today? 35:32.980 --> 35:33.480 And 35:34.200 --> 35:37.700 You know, we should be thankful we have a preserved Bible. 35:37.700 --> 35:43.500 And I think sometimes we might get kind of complacent about that 35:43.500 --> 35:48.500 and not understand what a true miracle the Bible is, 35:48.500 --> 35:54.900 that God is... it was inspired and it was preserved all these years. 35:54.900 --> 35:58.700 And it's completely everything that we need. It's completely trustworthy. 35:58.700 --> 36:02.200 So be thankful for that miracle. And just like that manna was a miracle. 36:02.200 --> 36:07.360 the Bible is also a miracle. And so take heed, you know, don't lose your 36:07.360 --> 36:12.160 contentment with all the blessings God has given you, the Bible, the blessings of 36:12.160 --> 36:15.400 being in a good church, the blessings of brothers and sisters. 36:16.600 --> 36:18.800 Be thankful and be content. 36:18.800 --> 36:22.600 And notice and watch for your heart when it starts to get discontent. 36:22.600 --> 36:27.800 That's a warning sign that you could be getting ready to fall soon. 36:27.800 --> 36:32.600 Because you no longer enjoy the things that God has given you. 36:32.600 --> 36:37.400 And so take heed lest you fall and be a castaway. 36:37.400 --> 36:39.800 And so here's the homework. 36:39.800 --> 36:41.400 Count your blessings. 36:41.400 --> 36:43.000 Name them one by one. 36:43.100 --> 36:45.660 You know, thank the Lord for each one of those. 36:45.660 --> 36:47.900 You know, here's an example. 36:47.900 --> 36:49.660 Home cooking, right? 36:49.660 --> 36:53.420 It's tasty, it's nutritious, it's economical. 36:53.700 --> 37:02.340 And it's kind of in a way, it's sort of like the manna too, because remember in Numbers, 37:02.340 --> 37:09.120 in that same passage in Numbers 11 in verse 8, it says, And the people went about and 37:09.120 --> 37:13.240 gathered it and ground it in mills or beat it into mortar and baked it in pans and made 37:13.240 --> 37:14.360 cakes of it. 37:14.360 --> 37:18.080 And the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil. 37:18.080 --> 37:20.480 And so I can imagine that. 37:21.000 --> 37:26.000 They had many recipes of manna. You could do lots of different things with manna. 37:26.000 --> 37:32.000 And so they really didn't have anything to complain about. 37:32.000 --> 37:37.000 And it was probably all the nutrients that they needed, right? 37:37.000 --> 37:42.000 I mean, if God's going to give you food, it's not going to be lacking in anything like protein or vitamins. 37:42.000 --> 37:48.900 And so count that blessing that we can have tasty, nutritious meals today. 37:50.000 --> 37:54.400 Okay, now go back to 1 Corinthians 10 verse 7. 37:54.400 --> 37:58.880 Neither be idolaters as were some of them, as it is written. 37:58.880 --> 38:02.160 The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. 38:02.160 --> 38:08.320 And so this verse is referring back to when Aaron made the golden calf in Exodus 32. 38:08.320 --> 38:14.480 So now please turn to Exodus 32 verse 1. Exodus 32 verse 1. 38:16.600 --> 38:22.800 And so remember the setting is Moses has been up on the mountain on Mount Sinai for 40 days 38:22.800 --> 38:24.360 receiving God's commandments. 38:25.000 --> 38:29.160 And so Exodus 32.1 says, 38:29.160 --> 38:32.080 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down, 38:32.080 --> 38:34.120 right, he's been up there for 40 days, 38:34.120 --> 38:39.400 and out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together 38:39.400 --> 38:41.520 unto Aaron and said unto him, 38:41.520 --> 38:45.640 Up, make us gods, which shall go before us. 38:45.640 --> 38:50.200 For as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, 38:50.200 --> 38:52.560 we want not what is become of him. 38:52.560 --> 38:53.000 So why? 38:53.000 --> 39:02.520 not means we know not what has become of them. And so what caused the people to desire another 39:02.520 --> 39:09.480 God? They said, make us gods which shall go before us. Well, seemingly because they lost 39:09.480 --> 39:15.960 patience with Moses, the ordained man of God. This says, when Moses had delayed to come down, 39:15.960 --> 39:17.480 they gathered themselves together. 39:18.800 --> 39:23.100 And so the Israelites are saying in their minds maybe, you know, like, 39:23.100 --> 39:27.400 oh, we don't like this God. We want other gods. 39:27.400 --> 39:32.200 And I think we see that today even in true believers, in real believers, 39:32.200 --> 39:33.800 truly saved people. 39:33.800 --> 39:38.100 Sometimes they don't like everything about the God of the Bible. 39:38.400 --> 39:43.660 And especially believers that are babes in Christ or maybe they've been under bad preaching 39:43.660 --> 39:50.260 because they've been going to bogus Baptist church or compromised community church. 39:50.260 --> 39:56.880 And so these believers will imagine a God that's different than the God of the Bible. 39:56.880 --> 39:59.680 It's different than what the Bible says. 39:59.680 --> 40:02.440 And here's some examples. 40:02.440 --> 40:05.360 There are believers today that think God's okay with fornication. 40:05.900 --> 40:10.300 And there's believers that think God's okay with divorce, you know? 40:10.300 --> 40:14.700 And they think that it's okay to skip church. 40:14.700 --> 40:16.000 And... 40:16.300 --> 40:21.300 Believers today think, oh, God's okay with a little bit of drinking as long as you're not drunk. 40:21.300 --> 40:24.900 Or they think God's okay with women wearing pants. 40:24.900 --> 40:30.300 Or they think that God's okay with sodomites. 40:30.300 --> 40:35.200 And they think that God loves everybody and that sodomites can be saved. 40:35.200 --> 40:38.100 And this is just not the God of the Bible. 40:38.700 --> 40:45.260 And I can understand babes in Christ being ignorant of those truths for a while. 40:45.260 --> 40:52.100 Even Paul said that some of the believers were in need of the milk of the Word, 40:52.100 --> 40:57.000 the basic fundamentals, and they were not ready for the meat of the Word 40:57.000 --> 40:59.600 until they had really understood the milk of the Word. 41:01.300 --> 41:04.020 But, you know, this should just be a temporary condition, right? 41:04.020 --> 41:11.300 I mean, God expects us to read and study His Word and grow and learn His truths. 41:11.300 --> 41:15.500 And so the Bible is the preserved Word, Jesus is the Word, Jesus is God. 41:15.500 --> 41:19.500 So if there's something in the Bible that you don't agree with, then you're disagreeing 41:19.500 --> 41:21.340 with God. 41:21.340 --> 41:24.380 And if there's something in the Bible you don't agree with, then you should read it 41:24.380 --> 41:25.660 and study it and pray. 41:26.000 --> 41:29.680 and ask that God show you that truth. 41:29.680 --> 41:33.400 Right? You don't, I don't understand this right now. 41:33.400 --> 41:37.960 I'm going to trust it in faith. You know, Lord help me with the Holy Spirit to 41:37.960 --> 41:38.880 understand 41:38.880 --> 41:43.800 your Bible and who you are. And 41:43.800 --> 41:48.400 because I know when, before I came to Sure Foundation Baptist Church, I mean there was... 41:48.700 --> 41:53.660 Pretty much everything on that list, I wouldn't have really known about it. 41:53.660 --> 41:58.940 I mean, it's something that most churches don't preach, unfortunately. 42:00.060 --> 42:04.140 And I can kind of give a buy on the babes in Christ, 42:04.140 --> 42:07.180 but the pastors that run those churches, shame on them. 42:10.300 --> 42:16.680 Okay, so in here and here's something that people aren't okay with the God of the Bible either for example 42:16.680 --> 42:21.940 God killed those 24,000 Israelites because they were fornicating and they joined the bailpior, you know 42:22.080 --> 42:26.480 some believers when they initially read that they might be surprised or even taken aback and 42:28.120 --> 42:31.380 And and so the question is, you know, does the God of the Bible 42:32.260 --> 42:36.720 Make you uncomfortable, you know, do you love the God of the Bible? 42:37.600 --> 42:47.240 And because that's really the commandment is love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul. 42:47.240 --> 42:51.340 Well, to really love Him you've got to know what the Bible says about Him. 42:51.340 --> 42:55.240 And you have to believe what the Bible says about Him. 42:55.240 --> 42:58.340 Okay, so now a little bit on idolatry. 42:58.340 --> 43:05.340 So back in the days of the Israelites, you know, they had idols like Baal-Pior and Molech. 43:05.600 --> 43:12.800 And so, you know, believers typically don't have problems with idols like that today. 43:13.200 --> 43:19.520 But, you know, there is other kinds of idolatry that believers can fall in today. 43:19.520 --> 43:25.640 And I think in a broader sense, idolatry is prioritizing anything higher than God. 43:25.640 --> 43:29.040 You know, your business, your career, your wife, your kids. 43:29.040 --> 43:34.400 You know, for example, if you're just so preoccupied with seeking wealth. 43:34.600 --> 43:39.500 and to the extent where it's hurting your service to God. 43:39.500 --> 43:42.420 Jesus said you cannot serve God in mammon. 43:42.420 --> 43:46.920 And mammon is a personification of wealth and riches. 43:46.920 --> 43:51.720 So you can't be seeking wealth as your top priority and make God your top priority. 43:51.720 --> 43:56.460 Only one thing can have top priority. 43:56.460 --> 43:58.100 And so here 43:58.200 --> 44:01.000 Here's another homework, check yourself. 44:01.000 --> 44:04.140 Think about your priorities that you use in your decisions 44:04.140 --> 44:06.000 and how you go about your daily life. 44:08.000 --> 44:10.260 And search yourself, examine yourself. 44:10.260 --> 44:12.760 Is there anything even remotely approaching 44:12.760 --> 44:14.200 an idol in your life? 44:15.480 --> 44:18.560 Okay, now go back to 1 Corinthians 10, eight. 44:18.560 --> 44:20.280 Neither let us commit fornication 44:20.280 --> 44:23.200 as some of them committed and fell in one day 20. 44:23.500 --> 44:27.440 I'm sorry, fell in one day three and 20,000. 44:27.440 --> 44:32.680 So 23,000 fell in one day, but in the passage in numbers 25-1, 44:32.680 --> 44:35.800 please turn to numbers 25-1. 44:35.800 --> 44:38.000 It talks about 24,000. 44:38.000 --> 44:41.380 So that just tells me that 23,000 were killed on one day 44:41.380 --> 44:45.520 and 1,000 were killed on some other time outside that one day. 44:45.520 --> 44:47.520 So turn to numbers 25-1. 44:49.600 --> 44:51.620 Numbers 25-1, the Bible reads, 44:51.620 --> 44:54.800 "'And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit 44:54.800 --> 44:57.440 whoredom with the daughters of Moab. 44:57.440 --> 45:01.360 And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods.'" 45:01.360 --> 45:05.040 And so now the daughters of Moab, the Moabites, are calling 45:05.040 --> 45:08.840 Israelites into the sacrifices of the gods of the Moabites. 45:09.300 --> 45:14.100 And the people, the Israelites, did eat and bowed down to their gods. 45:14.100 --> 45:18.600 And so now the Israelites are bowing, they're worshiping to the gods of the Mobites. 45:18.600 --> 45:24.500 And Israel joined himself unto Baal-Piorah, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. 45:24.500 --> 45:30.900 And the Lord said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people and hang them up before the Lord, 45:30.900 --> 45:36.200 against the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel. 45:37.300 --> 45:45.620 And so the 24,000, they had fornication and then that also led to the worship of Baal-Pior. 45:45.620 --> 45:52.300 And God's instruction to Moses was kill them all, hang up their heads, and that's the God of the Bible. 45:52.300 --> 45:58.220 You know, do you believe that? That's the God of the Bible? Do you love that God of the Bible? 45:59.200 --> 46:06.200 And it kind of raises an interesting question too, you know, does God kill fornicators and idolaters today? 46:06.200 --> 46:09.700 Well, I don't think we can really be sure that he doesn't. 46:09.700 --> 46:13.700 You know, the Lord said, I change not. 46:13.700 --> 46:16.700 And so this story is an example for us today. 46:16.700 --> 46:20.700 Take heed, fornication is a major sin that leads to other sins, 46:20.700 --> 46:25.200 like in the case of the Israelites, it led to worshiping their gods. 46:26.000 --> 46:29.680 And the same thing today. 46:29.680 --> 46:35.800 And not only does, there's also natural consequences of fornication are harmful. 46:35.800 --> 46:41.640 And you know, Pastor Thompson has preached many verses about it. 46:41.640 --> 46:44.480 And so go and watch those. 46:44.480 --> 46:49.200 And there's many, many verses in the Bible against fornication. 46:49.200 --> 46:49.700 And uh... 46:50.800 --> 46:53.840 Okay, so now go back to 1 Corinthians 10, 9. 46:53.840 --> 46:59.140 "...Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of the 46:59.140 --> 47:00.140 serpents." 47:00.140 --> 47:03.200 Okay, now turn to Numbers 21, 5. 47:03.200 --> 47:11.020 This is the passage that verse 9 in Corinthians is referring to, destroyed of the serpents. 47:11.020 --> 47:12.700 So number is 21-5. 47:13.300 --> 47:22.340 And the people spake against God and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? 47:22.340 --> 47:29.860 For there is no bread, neither is there any water, and our soul loatheth this light bread." 47:29.860 --> 47:34.340 And so again, they're despising God's miracle manna. 47:34.340 --> 47:40.180 And so they're loathing God's word by a metaphor. 47:40.500 --> 47:44.980 And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, and much 47:44.980 --> 47:47.700 people of Israel died." 47:47.700 --> 47:51.860 And then of course later on in that passage Moses prayed for the people, that God would 47:51.860 --> 47:53.940 have mercy on them. 47:53.940 --> 47:58.020 And then God told Moses to make a brazen serpent to look upon. 47:58.020 --> 48:02.540 And when the people looked upon that brazen serpent, then they were healed from the poison 48:02.540 --> 48:03.580 venom and they lived. 48:04.100 --> 48:12.260 And so that brazen serpent represents Christ on the cross, and that sin is that venom, 48:12.260 --> 48:21.040 that poison that causes all of us to have a dead spirit until we're saved and believe 48:21.040 --> 48:22.540 in Christ. 48:22.540 --> 48:27.500 And He will heal us from that dead spirit through the regeneration and the washing of 48:27.500 --> 48:28.340 the Holy Spirit. 48:29.900 --> 48:35.300 Okay, now in 1 Corinthians 10, 9, Paul says the Israelites tempted Christ. 48:35.300 --> 48:37.060 So in which way did he tempt Christ? 48:37.060 --> 48:41.040 Okay, well verse 5 in Numbers 21 gives us the answer. 48:41.040 --> 48:45.120 It says, and the people spake against God and against Moses. 48:45.120 --> 48:50.300 So speaking against Moses, they're challenging Moses' authority. 48:50.300 --> 48:55.900 You know, they're complaining against Moses and thereby complaining against God because 48:55.900 --> 48:57.900 Moses is the leadership that God gave to the world. 48:57.900 --> 49:00.000 Obey them. 49:00.000 --> 49:03.500 The Bible has many verses about respecting authorities over you. 49:03.500 --> 49:05.560 Children respect mom and dad. 49:05.560 --> 49:06.560 Dad respects Christ. 49:06.560 --> 49:09.940 And when we're at church, we all respect Pastor Thompson. 49:09.940 --> 49:12.860 I'll read for you Hebrews 13, 7. 49:12.860 --> 49:17.780 Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves, for they watch for your 49:17.780 --> 49:19.380 souls as they... 49:19.800 --> 49:28.380 that must give account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you." 49:28.380 --> 49:33.380 So I think this verse is talking about pastors, obey them to have rule over you, 49:33.380 --> 49:35.880 for they watch for your souls. 49:35.880 --> 49:41.180 And it's also interesting is that they, that must give account, 49:41.180 --> 49:44.680 so pastors are accountable for all the church members. 49:46.700 --> 49:50.500 And so don't make problems for Pastor Thompson. 49:50.500 --> 49:55.700 Don't give him grief, because that's unprofitable for him and for you. 49:55.700 --> 50:00.000 And Pastor Thompson is the authority that God's given to us in this church. 50:00.000 --> 50:04.500 Be thankful for him and be thankful for our church. 50:04.500 --> 50:08.100 Okay, now go back to 1 Corinthians 10.10. 50:09.100 --> 50:16.980 neither murmur ye as some of them also murmured and were destroyed of the destroyer." 50:16.980 --> 50:22.220 And I think this is referring to Numbers 14.2. 50:22.220 --> 50:25.680 So turn to Numbers 14.2. 50:25.680 --> 50:32.520 And in Numbers 14 is when the ten spies brought the evil report that the Israelites could 50:32.520 --> 50:34.000 not defeat the Canaanites. 50:34.400 --> 50:39.280 And despite the fact that God had said they would defeat their enemies, 50:39.280 --> 50:44.160 and only Joshua and Caleb said, yeah, we could do this, let's go. 50:44.160 --> 50:47.760 They trusted God, the ten spies brought the evil report. 50:48.300 --> 50:53.840 Okay, so Numbers 14, 2 was after that evil report. 50:53.840 --> 50:58.360 And the Bible says, And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against 50:58.360 --> 51:03.680 Aaron, and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land 51:03.680 --> 51:07.960 of Egypt, or would God had we died in this wilderness? 51:07.960 --> 51:12.760 So they're saying they would just as soon have died in Egypt or died in this wilderness 51:12.760 --> 51:15.840 rather than try to face the Canaanites. 51:16.500 --> 51:24.080 Because remember that the spies brought an evil report that said they're giants in the land and we are like grasshoppers in our site 51:24.800 --> 51:31.960 And so the 10 spies caused the people to lose faith, 51:31.960 --> 51:34.080 and then the people were murmuring. 51:34.080 --> 51:39.260 And the word murmuring means to complain or grumble in a low tone, 51:39.260 --> 51:42.340 like quietly under your breath, like, oh man, 51:42.340 --> 51:44.880 we're going to die out here in this desert. 51:44.880 --> 51:47.100 We can't take on these Canaanites. 51:47.100 --> 51:50.260 And then just murmuring about it. 51:50.600 --> 51:57.280 And the Bible has many verses where the Israelites murmured against God and they murmured against Moses. 51:57.280 --> 52:09.520 But I think Numbers 14, 2 is, or the Bible tells us that, that instance is what caused God to make them wander in the wilderness for 40 years until that generation died off. 52:09.520 --> 52:16.080 And so that was the murmuring of great, it was a great, great impact. 52:17.100 --> 52:21.860 Okay, now look at chapter 14 verse 3. 52:21.860 --> 52:26.740 And wherefore hath the Lord brought us into this land to fall by the sword, 52:26.740 --> 52:29.460 that our wives and our children should be a prey? 52:29.460 --> 52:32.100 Were it not better for us to return to Egypt? 52:32.600 --> 52:37.160 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain and let us return to Egypt. 52:37.160 --> 52:42.520 So again, the Israelites are challenging Moses authority and thereby challenging God's authority. 52:42.520 --> 52:46.360 And God gave them direct instructions. Go take that land. 52:47.400 --> 52:56.120 And now skip down to Numbers 14, 8. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this 52:56.120 --> 52:59.720 land. So this is Joshua and Caleb, part of their speech. 53:00.300 --> 53:03.300 And remember, Joshua and Caleb had faith in the Lord. 53:03.300 --> 53:06.340 So this is Joshua and Caleb talking in verse eight. 53:06.340 --> 53:11.580 If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land and give it to us, 53:11.580 --> 53:14.300 a land which floweth with milk and honey. 53:14.300 --> 53:19.980 Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear the people of the land, 53:19.980 --> 53:21.860 for they are bred for us. 53:21.860 --> 53:26.020 Their defenses departed from them, and the Lord is with us. 53:26.020 --> 53:26.900 Fear them not. 53:27.400 --> 53:31.800 But all the congregation bade, stone them with stones! 53:31.800 --> 53:38.760 And so now they're trying to stone Joshua and Caleb for standing up and having trust in God. 53:38.760 --> 53:44.920 And certainly that's rebelling. 53:45.100 --> 53:51.300 And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel. 53:51.300 --> 53:55.600 And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? 53:55.600 --> 54:01.800 And how long will it be ere they believe me for all the signs which I have showed among them? 54:01.800 --> 54:04.200 So the Lord did all these miracles. 54:04.200 --> 54:13.000 Remember the ten plagues in Egypt and the Red Sea and the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire. 54:13.100 --> 54:20.980 by night, and Moses on Mount Sinai, all these signs and miracles, and yet the people still 54:20.980 --> 54:23.780 don't trust God. 54:23.780 --> 54:29.560 Verse 12, I will smite them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of thee 54:29.560 --> 54:31.660 a greater nation and mightier than they. 54:31.660 --> 54:37.860 So what God is saying is I'm going to kill them all and make a nation out of Moses. 54:38.300 --> 54:41.600 And so he's going to kill all the Israelites except Moses. 54:41.600 --> 54:44.140 That would be like more than a million people. 54:44.140 --> 54:45.640 Remember that when they counted them, 54:45.640 --> 54:49.080 it was just over 600,000, but that was just the men over 21. 54:49.080 --> 54:54.520 So there would also be women, another 600,000, and children. 54:54.520 --> 54:56.880 So maybe even getting close to 2 million. 54:56.880 --> 54:57.620 I mean, 54:58.000 --> 55:03.500 And so, you know, and this is the God of the Bible, right? 55:03.500 --> 55:07.500 That he's ready because they had provoked him. 55:07.500 --> 55:09.300 He was going to kill him. 55:09.300 --> 55:11.900 And this is the second time. 55:11.900 --> 55:15.800 Remember, God was also going to kill the entire nation of Israel 55:15.800 --> 55:19.300 back in Exodus 32 10, right after the golden calf. 55:19.400 --> 55:24.800 In Exodus 32.10, I'll read it for you, part of that says, 55:24.800 --> 55:29.300 that I may consume them, and I will make of thee a great nation. 55:29.300 --> 55:32.200 So he's talking about Moses, I will make of Moses a great nation. 55:32.200 --> 55:34.600 That's the God of the Bible. 55:34.600 --> 55:37.900 Do you love that God? Do you love the God of the Bible? 55:37.900 --> 55:40.000 Or does that kind of make you sort of like, 55:40.000 --> 55:43.100 whoa, God's going to kill two million people. 55:43.100 --> 55:46.100 And so, 55:47.700 --> 55:50.700 The God of the Bible also flooded the earth. 55:50.700 --> 55:54.700 You know, hundreds of millions of people, maybe more. 55:54.700 --> 56:01.700 And the Lord's also going to kill one-third of the men on earth at the sixth trumpet. 56:01.700 --> 56:04.700 And so that's probably billions of people. 56:04.700 --> 56:08.700 But of course, many of those are going to be reprobates, right? 56:08.700 --> 56:11.700 They took the mark of the beast. They can't be saved. They're reprobates. 56:12.200 --> 56:16.200 Okay, now back to the Israelites wanting to return to Egypt. 56:16.200 --> 56:18.200 What's the application of that today? 56:18.200 --> 56:21.200 Well, here's one allegory that fits. 56:21.200 --> 56:27.200 Egypt represents the world and its worldly ways. 56:27.200 --> 56:32.000 That's a constant kind of symbol in the Bible that Egypt sort of represents the world. 56:32.200 --> 56:38.280 And also in this allegory, then the Israelites, the nation of Israel, represents true believers, 56:38.280 --> 56:46.040 right? Whether New Testament believers like us or Old Testament believers like Noah and Moses and Abraham. 56:46.600 --> 56:49.840 And so the Israelites represent the believers. 56:49.840 --> 56:54.120 And the promised land, the land of Canaan that they were supposed to go into and enter, 56:54.120 --> 56:59.820 represents a believer's successful life, you know, a successful spiritual life, 56:59.820 --> 57:06.960 and a successful life having a great church, you know, having a great family, a great job. 57:08.200 --> 57:10.800 And so that's that promised land. 57:11.800 --> 57:14.300 And the allegory is... 57:14.500 --> 57:20.500 To achieve that successful Christian life, believers are going to have to fight battles 57:20.500 --> 57:25.500 to be able to get into that promised land. 57:25.500 --> 57:29.500 And battles that may seem like they can't win on their own. 57:29.500 --> 57:39.200 Just like the Israelites, they said, but they are giants, and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers. 57:39.600 --> 57:46.200 And so to win, believers must trust God instead of trusting in worldly wisdom. 57:46.200 --> 57:56.160 And believers today should leave behind the worldly ways and build a successful Christian life God's way. 57:56.160 --> 58:01.480 Okay, now please turn to Romans 5.3. 58:01.480 --> 58:05.760 And this is where Paul writes about how tribulations will increase our faith. 58:06.000 --> 58:14.660 In Romans 5.3, and not only so, but we glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation 58:14.660 --> 58:20.800 worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed. 58:20.800 --> 58:25.060 So the word patience in this context means endurance or steadfastness. 58:25.060 --> 58:32.440 And the word experience in this means a proving trial, passing that tribulation. 58:33.000 --> 58:35.560 And then that results in hope. 58:35.560 --> 58:40.360 And so that hope means a confident expectation. 58:41.480 --> 58:44.760 And so hope is like faith. 58:44.760 --> 58:48.920 If we have a confident expectation that God's going to pull us through, 58:48.920 --> 58:50.760 then we have faith in God. 58:50.760 --> 58:52.920 And so hope is like faith in this verse. 58:53.800 --> 58:56.600 And hope maketh not ashamed. 58:57.400 --> 59:03.400 And so if we have more faith, so in the next tribulation we can have more confidence. 59:03.400 --> 59:06.400 And then we won't be put to shame. 59:06.400 --> 59:09.400 We have more confidence that we won't fail. 59:09.400 --> 59:12.400 And so it's a positive cycle. 59:12.400 --> 59:18.400 Tribulations bring endurance, and when we pass that trial we have more confidence for the next tribulation. 59:20.700 --> 59:23.940 Now, I also noticed that in Romans 5.3 it says, 59:23.940 --> 59:26.020 but we glory in tribulations. 59:26.020 --> 59:27.300 And that's not me. 59:27.300 --> 59:31.380 I moan and groan when things are not going well. 59:31.380 --> 59:33.220 But that's something I need to work on. 59:33.220 --> 59:34.180 And 59:34.180 --> 59:34.300 you 59:34.800 --> 59:39.840 And that's the old man coming out, right? The old man doesn't enjoy trials and tribulations. 59:39.840 --> 59:44.160 The old man doesn't see God working us through this, you know, but the new man, 59:44.160 --> 59:50.560 he trusts in God to get us through and rejoices in tribulations. He glories in tribulations 59:51.520 --> 59:55.920 knowing that after we do get through that tribulation that our faith is going to be 59:55.920 --> 01:00:01.520 increased and oftentimes on the other side of the tribulation is a good thing that we may not have 01:00:01.520 --> 01:00:02.400 seen initially. 01:00:03.000 --> 01:00:08.040 And so God allows or even desires us that we go through these tribulations to grow our faith. 01:00:10.680 --> 01:00:15.560 But the problem again is the old man, right? Most believers don't have their old man under 01:00:15.560 --> 01:00:20.600 subjection. And so when those trials and tribulations come, there's a lot of complaining, 01:00:20.600 --> 01:00:23.080 a lot of murmuring. 01:00:23.200 --> 01:00:31.200 And much worse than that was when a believer decides to not fight that battle the Lord's way and go back to worldly ways. 01:00:31.200 --> 01:00:35.200 And that's kind of analogous to the allegory where the... 01:00:36.200 --> 01:00:39.240 The Israelites said, oh, we're not going to go into Canaan. 01:00:39.240 --> 01:00:41.360 We'll just we're not going to do that. 01:00:41.740 --> 01:00:45.480 And so they decided not to fight that battle. 01:00:45.480 --> 01:00:47.600 And so that can happen with believers today. 01:00:47.600 --> 01:00:52.080 We were faced in this tribulation and we do the moaning and groaning and complaining. 01:00:52.280 --> 01:00:56.120 But then much worse than that is we decide not to fight the battle the Lord's way. 01:00:56.280 --> 01:00:57.560 Now we go back to the world. 01:00:57.560 --> 01:01:00.280 We go back to Egypt. 01:01:00.560 --> 01:01:03.840 You know, and something else to keep in mind when we have tribulations. 01:01:04.400 --> 01:01:14.400 It can be God testing our faith and increasing our faith just like with Job. 01:01:14.400 --> 01:01:19.400 But sometimes tribulations can also be God's chastisement. 01:01:19.400 --> 01:01:24.400 And I think that's probably a good thing to do is when we have trials and tribulations in trouble, 01:01:24.400 --> 01:01:27.400 you know, maybe that's the first question that we should ask is, 01:01:27.400 --> 01:01:29.080 because did I do something wrong? 01:01:29.080 --> 01:01:31.160 Is God chastening me? 01:01:31.160 --> 01:01:32.400 And pray about that. 01:01:32.500 --> 01:01:44.000 And also sometimes trials and tribulations could just be the natural consequences of our own sins and our own bad decisions, our own mistakes. 01:01:44.000 --> 01:01:49.400 And sometimes trials and tribulations could just be time and chance happening to all. 01:01:49.400 --> 01:01:53.600 And sometimes trials and tribulations could be a combination of all those things. 01:01:53.600 --> 01:01:57.700 We don't know. We really don't know. Just like Job didn't know. 01:01:58.700 --> 01:02:03.700 And regardless of the cause or combination of causes, 01:02:03.700 --> 01:02:05.200 I don't think it really matters. 01:02:05.200 --> 01:02:07.700 We get through those tribulations the same way. 01:02:07.700 --> 01:02:09.900 Do what's right according to the Bible. 01:02:09.900 --> 01:02:11.200 Trust God. 01:02:11.200 --> 01:02:14.200 Do what we can and trust God to take care of the rest. 01:02:14.200 --> 01:02:17.500 And try not to murmur or complain along the way. 01:02:17.500 --> 01:02:19.500 That's only going to make things worse. 01:02:19.500 --> 01:02:22.500 God wants us to trust Him and... 01:02:22.900 --> 01:02:29.540 and murmuring and complaining is not necessarily putting all our trust in his physical salvation. 01:02:32.180 --> 01:02:36.980 So Paul knew that, right? That's why he's exhorting the believers in Corinth and believers here today, 01:02:36.980 --> 01:02:42.260 us, to fight the good fight of faith when trials come, fight that in faith. 01:02:42.800 --> 01:02:48.600 And Paul says, learn from the examples of these Israelites when they decided not to fight. 01:02:48.600 --> 01:02:55.100 And in the end result was they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. 01:02:55.100 --> 01:03:02.100 And so when trials and tribulations come, you know, trust God instead of trusting in the world and trying to return to Egypt. 01:03:02.100 --> 01:03:06.700 You know, don't cause yourself to wander in the wilderness. Have faith in God. 01:03:06.700 --> 01:03:10.400 Take heed lest you be a castaway like the Israelites. 01:03:12.800 --> 01:03:17.920 Okay, now look at verse 11. 1 Corinthians 10 verse 11. 01:03:17.920 --> 01:03:21.600 Now all these things happened unto them for in samples, 01:03:21.600 --> 01:03:25.840 and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 01:03:25.840 --> 01:03:31.040 Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth, take he lest he fall. 01:03:33.000 --> 01:03:35.500 And so, you know, every time we sin, we fall. 01:03:35.500 --> 01:03:38.200 So we fall all the time. We fall every day, right? 01:03:38.200 --> 01:03:47.600 But a man falls and that continues to fall and stays in that fallen condition. 01:03:47.900 --> 01:03:52.060 That's a castaway. He's cast himself away. He's not approved of God. 01:03:52.060 --> 01:03:55.900 And so we have to learn how to get back up, else we'll stay in that fallen state. 01:03:55.900 --> 01:03:59.780 You stay in that fallen state for too long, you become a castaway. 01:03:59.780 --> 01:04:04.620 Now it's not a permanent condition. Remember the example of the prodigal son. 01:04:04.620 --> 01:04:11.620 He was gone for years and years and spent all his wealth on riotous living. 01:04:11.620 --> 01:04:13.620 And he came back. 01:04:14.000 --> 01:04:22.400 And his father, who was a picture of God, welcomed him. 01:04:22.400 --> 01:04:26.680 And it even seemed like he was watching for him. 01:04:26.680 --> 01:04:31.600 And so, now please turn to Proverbs 24-16. 01:04:31.600 --> 01:04:35.200 Proverbs 24-16. 01:04:35.200 --> 01:04:38.600 And this is a well-known verse. 01:04:39.000 --> 01:04:43.140 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again. 01:04:43.140 --> 01:04:45.300 But the wicked shall fall into mischief." 01:04:45.300 --> 01:04:47.020 So we have a choice. 01:04:47.020 --> 01:04:49.520 You know, when we fall into sin, we can rise up again, 01:04:49.520 --> 01:04:50.500 and then we'll fall. 01:04:50.500 --> 01:04:52.300 And then we can rise up again, and we'll fall. 01:04:52.300 --> 01:04:53.780 We'll rise up again, and we'll fall. 01:04:53.780 --> 01:04:54.980 We'll rise up again. 01:04:54.980 --> 01:04:58.340 And he uses the illustration, well, seven times. 01:04:58.340 --> 01:05:01.660 But I think he's just saying, well, it's, you know. 01:05:02.100 --> 01:05:07.380 an unbounded number, just like when the disciples asked Jesus, 01:05:07.380 --> 01:05:11.300 how many times should we forgive our brother? And he said 70 times 7. So I 01:05:11.300 --> 01:05:14.020 think it's kind of the same thing. It's not like, oh, you're only going to fall 01:05:14.020 --> 01:05:16.980 seven times. He's just saying you're going to keep falling, and you just need to 01:05:16.980 --> 01:05:21.380 keep rising up for an indefinite number. 01:05:21.380 --> 01:05:25.620 Or we can fall into sin, stay fallen, and become a castaway, and that's 01:05:25.620 --> 01:05:27.200 the great danger. 01:05:27.400 --> 01:05:30.440 Okay, now turn to Psalm 37 23. 01:05:30.440 --> 01:05:34.240 Psalm 37 23. 01:05:34.240 --> 01:05:36.180 And the Bible says, 01:05:36.180 --> 01:05:38.880 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, 01:05:38.880 --> 01:05:41.780 and he delighteth in his way. 01:05:41.780 --> 01:05:46.080 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, 01:05:46.080 --> 01:05:49.720 for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. 01:05:49.900 --> 01:05:55.900 And so it says that if a believer walks in the steps ordered by the Lord, 01:05:55.900 --> 01:05:57.900 then the Lord will delight in that. 01:05:57.900 --> 01:06:02.900 And the Lord will uphold such a believer so that when he falls, 01:06:02.900 --> 01:06:05.900 he'll pick us up if we ask him. 01:06:05.900 --> 01:06:10.900 And if we're close to God, it's a shorter distance for him to uphold. 01:06:10.900 --> 01:06:14.900 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins. 01:06:16.600 --> 01:06:19.600 And now I'll read for you Jude 24. 01:06:19.600 --> 01:06:25.560 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and present you faultless before the 01:06:25.560 --> 01:06:30.000 presence of his glory with exceeding joy. 01:06:30.000 --> 01:06:37.560 And so I think that's kind of related to Psalm 37, to him that is able to keep you from falling. 01:06:37.560 --> 01:06:40.000 He can uphold you and he can also keep you from falling. 01:06:40.500 --> 01:06:44.240 And Saul, going back to Solomon and Saul, 01:06:44.240 --> 01:06:46.480 you know, they fell and became castaways 01:06:46.480 --> 01:06:48.160 in their life later on. 01:06:48.160 --> 01:06:50.540 They didn't take the heed. 01:06:50.540 --> 01:06:54.080 And so Paul's concern of being a castaway 01:06:54.080 --> 01:06:57.040 is well founded in the examples, 01:06:57.040 --> 01:06:58.560 especially Solomon, right? 01:06:58.560 --> 01:07:00.500 The wisest man on earth, 01:07:00.500 --> 01:07:03.480 and yet he fell a foul of idolatry 01:07:03.480 --> 01:07:06.480 and his wives turned his heart away from God. 01:07:07.900 --> 01:07:09.900 And, uh... 01:07:11.700 --> 01:07:20.240 And Paul, he himself, he'd been through many churches and he probably saw many castaways firsthand. 01:07:20.240 --> 01:07:24.240 You know, maybe even Demas, right? There's not a lot written in the Bible about Demas, 01:07:24.240 --> 01:07:26.880 but it says, I'll read for you 2 Timothy 4.10, 01:07:26.880 --> 01:07:34.480 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica. 01:07:34.480 --> 01:07:39.280 And so it's maybe kind of like a picture like the allegory of the 01:07:39.700 --> 01:07:43.860 Israelites deciding not to go into the promised land and they want to return to Egypt. 01:07:43.860 --> 01:07:53.020 And so maybe Demas had returned into the worldly ways, you know, saying, having loved this present world. 01:07:53.020 --> 01:07:56.220 And so maybe Demas was a castaway. 01:07:56.220 --> 01:08:04.700 And Paul, seeing all these examples, gave us this strong admonition. 01:08:04.700 --> 01:08:05.980 You know, take heed. 01:08:06.300 --> 01:08:11.300 lest you fall and become a castaway. 01:08:11.300 --> 01:08:15.300 Okay, so to wrap up the sermon, you know, here's a couple takeaways. 01:08:15.300 --> 01:08:20.300 Sin breaks our fellowship with God, and if we continue to walk in that sin, 01:08:20.300 --> 01:08:23.300 then we can become a castaway. 01:08:23.900 --> 01:08:28.340 And that's if we fall and we stay falling, falling, falling, falling, falling, 01:08:28.340 --> 01:08:29.780 boom, you're a castaway. 01:08:29.780 --> 01:08:30.820 But we have a choice. 01:08:30.820 --> 01:08:32.260 We can fall and rise again. 01:08:32.260 --> 01:08:33.500 We can fall and rise again. 01:08:33.500 --> 01:08:37.220 A just man falleth and riseth seven times. 01:08:37.220 --> 01:08:41.000 And so Paul is telling us to take heed. 01:08:41.100 --> 01:08:45.100 And becoming a castaway, I think, is a gradual process. 01:08:45.100 --> 01:08:53.800 I mean, if you think about Saul, it was over many, many, many years that he was still ruling 01:08:53.800 --> 01:08:59.500 as king of Israel, but yet he knew that God had given the kingdom to another man, and 01:08:59.500 --> 01:09:01.860 he just kind of just got gradually worse. 01:09:01.860 --> 01:09:05.740 And pastors have been preaching about that in 1 Samuel, that it's sort of like this ongoing 01:09:06.400 --> 01:09:10.140 Saul's slide into deeper and deeper and deeper sin. 01:09:10.140 --> 01:09:15.100 So I think that's something to think about when we're studying 1 Samuel, 01:09:15.100 --> 01:09:21.540 that Saul's process of being a castaway was a gradual, ongoing thing. 01:09:21.540 --> 01:09:29.660 And I think it starts to happen when Saul started to envy David. 01:09:29.660 --> 01:09:32.460 you know, and maybe to some degree it's all was... 01:09:32.800 --> 01:09:36.640 was discontent and he was bucking against authority. 01:09:36.640 --> 01:09:40.640 And so those are things that we need to watch for. 01:09:40.640 --> 01:09:46.240 Or when we start to lose faith in God, these are all things that can start that gradual process 01:09:46.240 --> 01:09:47.720 of being a castaway. 01:09:47.720 --> 01:09:53.400 Or when believers start to doubt what the Bible actually says about the God of the Bible and His commandments. 01:09:54.000 --> 01:10:04.000 And believers start to form a God in their own mind, their imagination of a God that's different than what the God of the Bible is. 01:10:04.000 --> 01:10:11.000 And also believers can start to have idolatry in their life where they make things to have higher priority than God. 01:10:11.000 --> 01:10:16.000 You know, their business, their career, seeking wealth. 01:10:16.000 --> 01:10:20.000 And so watch for those things. Search your life. 01:10:20.400 --> 01:10:25.760 Look at your priorities. Is there anything at all in your life that starts to approach being an idol in your life? 01:10:27.260 --> 01:10:29.260 Okay, so that was the sermon 01:10:30.040 --> 01:10:32.040 Take heed 01:10:32.800 --> 01:10:38.720 Lest you be a castaway and I'll pray father. Thank you for your word and 01:10:39.640 --> 01:10:41.000 Thank you for 01:10:41.200 --> 01:10:47.900 and samples that you've given us and not just in those few chapters, but all throughout the Old Testament, 01:10:47.900 --> 01:10:52.400 the Israelites were constantly falling and getting up and falling and getting up, Father. 01:10:52.400 --> 01:10:56.800 I pray that we would learn from those examples and apply it to our lives. 01:10:56.800 --> 01:10:58.800 In Jesus' name, Amen.