When God’s people do not put God first in their lives, we put ourselves in the position of a castaway, of not being useful to God. Learn how our experience with God is much like that of the Israelites and how Paul’s advice applies to us today.
I. The Champion (Previous sermon)
A. His Call
B. His Commitment
II. The Castaway
A. The Declaration about the Danger
1 Corinthians 9:27
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
B. The Illustration of the Israelites
1. The Favor They Found
a. The Protection of God
1 Corinthians 10:1
1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
b. The Power of God
1 Corinthians 10:2
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
c. The Provision of God
1 Corinthians 10:3-4
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
d. The Presence of God
2. The Flesh They Followed
a. Their Lust
1 Corinthians 10:6
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
b. Their Idolatry
1 Corinthians 10:7
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
c. Their Fornication
1 Corinthians 10:8
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
d. Their Tempting
1 Corinthians 10:9
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
e. Their Murmuring
1 Corinthians 10:10
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
3. The Fall They Faced
1 Corinthians 10:5
5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
C. The Application from the Apostle
1. An Example to Consider
1 Corinthians 10:11
11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
2. A Warning to Heed
1 Corinthians 10:12
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
3. A Promise to Apply
1 Corinthians 10:13-14
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.