WARNING AFTER WARNING; WHY DON’T WE TAKE GOD’S WARNING SIGNS MORE SERIOUSLY?

 

 

                     TAKE HEED LEST YOU FALL

 

 

 

Intro.

 

1. Possibility of falling away is a real threat to every child of God.

 

2. To think otherwise is a great danger! – 1 Cor. 10:12

 

3. Israel is a warning to Christians to remain faithful & true.

 

 

 

I. ISRAEL: OUR EXAMPLE – 1 Cor. 10:1-10.

 

A. Of Relationship With God – 1 Cor. 10:2; Gal. 3:27.

 

-Baptized into relationship with God’s prophet / Relationship with God’s Son.

 

B. As God’s Chosen People – Exo. 19:5-6; Psa. 135:4; 1 Pet. 2:9-10.

 

C. Israel’s Unbelief – Heb. 3:15-19.

 

1. Eyes fixed on Egypt instead of God & land of promise – Num. 11:4-6.

 

2. Fell in the wilderness due to their sinful & disobedient unbelief.

 

3. Our warning: 1 Cor. 10:6-10.

 

-Confidence of salvation must rest upon obedient faith, not wishful thinking!

 

D. Therefore, Take Heed Lest You Fall! – 10:12

 

-Look carefully & discern the warning that is given to us.

 

1. Israel thought she stood with God (chosen, saved, protected). Cf. Matt. 3:8-9 – Thinking we stand w/ God not same as actually standing with Him!

 

2. Israel did not take heed to herself. Mixed & mingled with worldly idolaters while complaining against God’s care & provisions – 1 Cor. 10:6-10; Psa. 106:13-15, 19-22, 24-25.

 

3. Israel fell. Consumed in wilderness – Psa. 106:26-27; Num. 14:26-35.

 

-What About Us?!-

 

 

 

II. WE MUST EXAMINE OUR FAITH & TAKE HEED LEST WE FALL.

 

A. Discern the Signs of a Faltering Faith – Heb. 3:12-13; 2 Cor. 13:5.

 

1. Use God’s word – Heb. 4:12-13; Jas. 1:25.

 

2. Apply God’s remedy for every sin we find – Acts 8:20-24; 26:20.

 

 

 

III. SIGNS OF A FALTERING FAITH WHICH IS READY TO FALL – Gal. 6:3.

 

-We can Deceive Ourselves that our Faith is Stronger than it is By…

 

A. Equating Men’s Estimation of our Faithfulness with God’s Approval of Us – cf. Lk. 6:26.

 

1. Reputation of faithfulness is not equivalent to proof of it! – Rev. 3:1

 

2. Instead of trusting what others say about your faithfulness – trust what God says about it! (2 Cor. 13:5)

 

3. Take heed: It is God’s evaluation that matters!

 

B. Minimizing the Corrupting Effect of Evil Companions – 1 Cor. 15:33.

 

1. Evidently Israel did this – Exo. 23:2; Num. 25:1-2; 31:16.

 

2. 1 Pet. 4:1-2 (1 Jno. 2:15-16) – Don’t be deceived! (At work, tempted to steal, Tit. 2:10; At school, tempted to cheat, Eph. 4:25; at home, media bombards our senses with sensuality, Col. 3:5).

 

3. In the world but not of it (sanctified) – 1 Cor. 5:9-10; Jno. 17:15-17.

 

4. Take heed: If you befriend the world you are God’s enemy! (Jas. 4:4)

 

C. Becoming Spiritually Complacent, Neglectful, Apathetic – Rev. 3:17.

 

1. Lukewarm Christian rarely acknowledges their real condition!

 

2. Take heed: Avoid downward spiral of apathy. Rom. 12:11 (Jas. 4:17)

 

D. Thinking We Are Above Temptation & Sin – Jas. 1:12-16.

 

1. By not recognizing the dangers of sin &/or temptation – 1:16.

 

2. Exactly where Satan wants you to be! – 1 Pet. 5:8

 

3. Take heed: Pride goes before a fall – Prov. 16:18.

 

E. Relying on our Past Faithfulness.

 

1. As long as we are alive we have a battle before us! – 1 Tim. 6:12 (Eph. 6:10-13).

 

2. Only when near death did Paul say he had “fought” the good fight (2 Tim. 4:7).

 

a. Just a few years earlier Paul had not yet attained or been perfected – He was pressing onward & upward! – Phil. 3:12-14

 

b. Imitate his forward-pressing faithfulness (Phil. 3:17).

 

3. Take heed: We cannot rest on past victories when present battles & opportunities exist! (Gal. 6:10; Jno. 4:35)

 

F. Equating Believing with Obeying – Lk. 6:46.

 

1. Faith without obedience: Incomplete, profitless, dead, unseen, demonic & barren (Jas. 2:14-20).

 

2. Only “faith working through love” has the power to produce a genuine hope of righteousness – Gal. 5:5-6.

 

3. Take heed: Affirming your faith but not obeying Christ is not real faith!

 

 

 

Conclusion

 

1. Israel’s fall is our warning: We can also fall!

 

2. Constantly check your faith in the light of divine truth & walk by faith – 2 Cor. 5:7-9…this will please God!

 

“HAVE THINE OWN WAY, LORD! HAVE THINE OWN WAY!! THOU ART THE POTTER; I AM THE CLAY!!”

How’s Your Relationship with God?

Intro.

1.  Do you even have one? cf. Matt. 12:30; 11:28-30

2.  We hear a great deal about having a “personal relationship” with God, & of Christians who confess they do not (or wonder whether they do).

  a.  The term is redundant: Is there any other type? You are involved!

  b.  We recoil from this denominational terminology because:

    1)   In practice it usually means “What Christ ‘means to me’ instead of the true relationship we can, should & must have with God in Christ.

    2)   It usually accompanies an emotion-based religion, not truth-based (self-based not God-based).

3.  Jno. 14:7-11: This exchange emphasizes the relationship disciples of Christ have with Him. “Do you not know me?” (14:9)

I.  TO BE A CHRISTIAN IS TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH CHRIST, Jno. 14:6; Rom. 6:3-5; Gal. 3:26-27 (4:8-9).

  A.  It is Personal, because it is your Salvation!

    -When you are saved by the gospel, you know God, cf. 1 Cor. 1:21.

  B.  Christ Died for You & Saves You when You Trust & Obey.

    -I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28-29); He that…. (Mk. 16:16).

II. TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP, CERTAIN THINGS MUST BE PRESENT:

  A.  A Relationship RequiresContact: You must have Contact with God, Jno. 14:7-9.

    1.  The Lord knows each of us, cf. Nathaniel, Jno. 1:47-48.

    2.  Question is, do we (you) know God?  1 Jno. 2:12-14 (What kind of contact do you have with God?)

    3.  Initial contact: Conversion to Christ. But, what then?

    4.  Illus: Decide not to have any contact w/ a person for 6 months: What kind of a relationship will you have him after 6 months?

    5.  cf. David knew God was with him, Psa. 23:4. Do you? Heb. 13:5-6

  B.  A Relationship RequiresSpending Time Together: You must Spend Time with God. (cf. young people)

    1.  Spend time in communication (Moses, Num. 12:7; cf. your friends).

      a.  From God: Spend time with the Bible! Jno. 14:10; Heb. 1:1-2; Psa. 1:2; 119:14-16

      b.  With God: Prayer (1 Ths. 5:17).

        1)  Quiet time with God, Mk. 1:35.

        2)  Pray about everything! Phil. 4:6-7

    2.  Spend time worshiping:

      a.  Rejoicing, adoring, praising, thanking, Phil. 4:4; Heb. 13:17.

      b.  How can we expect to know God when we will not bow before God?! (Psa. 122:1)

    3.  Spend time serving others.

      a.  When you help someone you get to know them.

      b.  By serving others we serve Christ & know Him! Matt. 25:40

  C.  A Relationship RequiresTrust: You must Trust God. Jno. 14:11 (BTW, we trust who we know.)

    1.  Faith (cf. Abraham, Jas. 2:21-23: Friend of God – companion).

        -Do you trust what God commands you? What God promises you?

    2.  Obey (Lk. 6:46). He is sovereign; do you trust Him to rule you?     1 Jno. 2:3-5; Jno. 14:20-23

    3.  Cast all your cares upon God, 1 Pet. 5:5-7.

      a.  Trust takes humility toward the one we trust, 5:6.

      b.  Trust takes opening yourself up to God, 5:7. Expose your heart to God (He already completely knows you!).

  D.  A Relationship RequiresNurturing: You Must Take Care of Your Relationship with God. (cf. Marriage)

    1.  Someone says, “God seems so far away.”

    2.  In truth, God is as close or as far away as you chose to have Him in your life, Rev. 3:20. God is close to us when we…

      a.  Choose to learn, trust & obey His word, Jno. 14:23.

      b.  Choose to live for His pleasure & blessings; cf. Eph. 5:8-10.

III. THE RESULT OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IN CHRIST.

  A.  You will become more and more like Jesus (He will influence you the most). Eph. 4:20-24; Phil. 3:7-11.

    1.  In your love for God & others (Matt. 22:37-39).

    2.  In your trust & reliance upon God (Matt. 6:33).

    3.  In your obedience to God in all things (Heb. 5:8-9).

 

Conclusion

1.  The call of the gospel is to know God, and more importantly, to be known by God, Gal. 4:8-9.

2.  Those who know Christ & are known by Him, “do the will of the Father,” Matt. 7:21-23.

3.  Do not turn back to the sinful error & immorality