WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:00.719 Well, welcome. 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:02.160 We're glad that you're here. 00:00:02.319 --> 00:00:06.559 And uh I have thoroughly enjoyed the It Is Written series. 00:00:06.719 --> 00:00:17.920 And uh part of the goal of the series has been to explain some of the deeper truths of Scripture, but part of the goal has been to renew our hunger for the Word of God. 00:00:18.079 --> 00:00:20.879 The truth is that we all go through dry seasons. 00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:28.640 And if you're in a dry season now and you just don't sense the hunger for God's word that you did at one point, listen, that's why we do this. 00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:30.960 That's one of the reasons, the goals of the series. 00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:38.079 And so we are praying for you that your hunger for God's word will be renewed, and we believe that God's gonna do that. 00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:45.039 And so today we conclude the series, and if you brought your Bibles, you can open those to 1 Corinthians chapter 10. 00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:47.280 That's where we'll spend the bulk of our time. 00:00:47.359 --> 00:00:52.880 We'll look at a lot of scripture on the way there, but but the bulk of our time will be 1 Corinthians 10. 00:00:54.159 --> 00:00:57.840 You may not be familiar with uh much of church history. 00:00:58.159 --> 00:01:05.840 Uh the last 2,000 years since the book of Acts was written is a history that you are very much connected to. 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:07.680 This is your history. 00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:21.200 And it is a history that is rich in faith and miracles and courage and the work of God in real places among real people just like us. 00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:27.040 But one of the most famous people in church history is a guy named Martin Luther. 00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:29.120 You may be familiar with his name. 00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:42.959 He lived about 500 years ago, came up through the ranks of the Catholic Church, was a monk, and then became a priest, and then was a professor and a scholar in the Catholic Church, part of the top brass of the Catholic Church. 00:01:43.920 --> 00:01:53.040 But the longer he lived with the Catholic Church, the more he noticed that the Catholic Church at that time began to veer away from Scripture. 00:01:54.319 --> 00:02:03.519 And so Martin Luther began to make notes to himself of the ways that the Catholic Church was veering away from God's word. 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:25.199 And his notes grew into a book, and his book became multiple books, and he began distributing these books until finally, probably the one act that he's most famous for is when he wrote down 95 disagreements that he had with the Catholic Church and he nailed them to the church house door in Wittenberg, Germany. 00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:28.240 Well, the Catholic Church called him in. 00:02:28.319 --> 00:02:30.639 He got in trouble with his boss, as you can imagine. 00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:32.319 It didn't go over very well. 00:02:32.479 --> 00:02:35.520 Okay, so the Pope called him in. 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:39.360 And the Pope said, Martin Luther, you've got to stop doing this. 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:40.800 Isn't going to work here. 00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:44.560 This relationship is not going to go anywhere like this. 00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:47.680 So you must recant your views. 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:51.360 And here was his response. 00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:57.599 I want to put this on the screen because I want you to see it and I want you to receive what he said. 00:02:57.759 --> 00:03:01.520 Here's what he said to this group. 00:03:01.759 --> 00:03:16.560 Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the scriptures, I cannot recant my views because my conscience is captive to the word of God. 00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:20.879 Now I want you to let that settle deep inside of you. 00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:25.120 My conscience is captive to the word of God. 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:28.560 This is the value of Scripture. 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:32.639 Scripture binds our conscience to God. 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:34.639 What else will do that for you? 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:37.520 Not philosophy? 00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:39.599 Not logic? 00:03:41.039 --> 00:03:46.719 Not common cultural, well, everybody believes this thought? 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:52.560 You know, a lot of people can all agree that the same thing is true and it's none of it's true. 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:53.439 That's possible. 00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:57.199 It's true, it's been done a lot of times throughout history. 00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:03.039 You may think it's cool that you believe that all roads lead to God. 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:05.840 But let me ask you something. 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:09.439 Upon what foundation does that rest? 00:04:11.039 --> 00:04:14.960 There's nothing stable that will uphold that thought. 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:18.959 In fact, that thought disagrees with Scripture. 00:04:20.720 --> 00:04:24.720 Scripture binds our conscience to God. 00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:26.319 What else will do that? 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:32.720 Scripture gives us confidence that when we agree with Scripture, we agree with God. 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:37.120 That when we disagree with Scripture, we disagree with God. 00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:43.199 Scripture tells us what's right and wrong, what's good and bad, what's true and false. 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:44.879 What else will do that? 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:47.759 Nothing else will do that. 00:04:48.800 --> 00:04:55.920 And so if you're a person who doubts your salvation or doubts God's love for you, Scripture is your answer. 00:04:56.399 --> 00:04:59.600 Scripture tells you what God thinks. 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:15.040 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 13 says, for this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it. 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:27.519 Now listen to this, not as the word of men, but as it is in truth the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:31.360 Now, here's what you have to see from that. 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:36.079 The word of God will get inside of you and begin to work. 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:42.879 Only something that's alive can get inside of you and begin to work. 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:45.920 It's got to have some life form in it. 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:52.560 So you say, well, how exactly does the word of God get inside of me and do its thing? 00:05:53.680 --> 00:06:13.759 Hebrews 4.12 says, For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:21.519 So, as Pastor Robert has said, scripture is only powerful for us if we read it. 00:06:22.480 --> 00:06:30.560 But what I want to say to you today is that if we love God's word, we will let God's word read us. 00:06:33.040 --> 00:06:36.160 You know, we we live in an education culture. 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:43.279 And in an education culture, the culture believes that the solution for every ill is more education. 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:45.519 And I don't happen to agree with that. 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:54.079 But what happens when we live in this environment is that every time we open God's word, we come to it to be educated. 00:06:54.399 --> 00:06:57.600 We come to it to build our knowledge. 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:02.879 And I want to say to you today that what we know is important. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:07.279 But what we love is primary. 00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:11.759 What we love is more important than what we know. 00:07:11.920 --> 00:07:17.519 1 Corinthians 8:1 says, Knowledge puffs up, love builds up. 00:07:18.079 --> 00:07:24.480 So if we come to Scripture for knowledge without love, we will get arrogant about how much we know. 00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:38.399 But if we come to the Word of God to direct the affections of our heart, then the knowledge that we gain comes into support and give direction to the way we love God and love other people. 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:42.319 What we love is primary. 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:44.959 What we love is primary. 00:07:45.839 --> 00:07:59.360 2 Timothy 3.16 says that all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:04.399 And so what I want us to receive today is this. 00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:07.040 All of us have scriptures that we love. 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:08.160 It's our go-to one. 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:14.879 You plop open your Bible, it falls open right there, and you've got it highlighted and underlined, and it's your refrigerator verse. 00:08:15.360 --> 00:08:22.720 It's on your bathroom mirror, and you see it every day, and you've read it so many times, you've got it memorized, and that's great. 00:08:24.399 --> 00:08:28.000 But there are also scriptures that come in to correct. 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:32.320 And both come from a loving God. 00:08:33.279 --> 00:08:40.000 Sometimes encourages, and sometimes scripture corrects, and both come from a loving God. 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:50.399 So what I want to do today is I want us to take a text of Scripture, and I want to show you what it means to let the Scriptures read us. 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:56.559 1 Corinthians 10, we're going to begin reading together in verse 6. 00:08:58.480 --> 00:09:06.159 Now, these things became our examples to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:08.159 Let me quickly give you the context. 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:10.480 Paul's talking about the Exodus. 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:19.039 If you've ever read the first five books of the Old Testament, the book of Genesis, the very first book, ended with God's people in Egypt. 00:09:19.200 --> 00:09:19.600 Alright? 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:21.039 They became slaves there. 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:27.600 The book of Exodus is the way God delivered them from being slaves and brought them into the promised land. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:34.639 But somewhere along the way in the wilderness, let's say that there was relational discontent there. 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:35.759 Alright? 00:09:35.919 --> 00:09:37.360 That's what Paul's talking about. 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:38.559 Verse 7. 00:09:38.879 --> 00:09:42.720 And do not become idolaters, as were some of them. 00:09:43.200 --> 00:09:47.759 As it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:55.759 Nor let us commit sexual immorality as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell. 00:09:57.440 --> 00:10:10.240 Nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents, nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:18.799 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:24.720 Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:45.600 No temptation has overtaken you, except such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, so that you may be able to bear it. 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:49.600 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:55.120 Now I want to call your attention as we begin to let the scripture read us. 00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:57.200 I want to call your attention to verse 13. 00:10:57.360 --> 00:11:04.799 At the very beginning of verse 13, he says, No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man. 00:11:04.960 --> 00:11:10.639 Now, when he says no temptation, would you agree with me that that just about covers all of them? 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:11.679 Alright? 00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:14.960 He's not talking here about great temptation. 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:21.840 He's not talking about martyrdom, or he's not talking about the threat of renouncing your faith at the point of a gun. 00:11:22.080 --> 00:11:24.000 It's not what he's talking about here. 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:31.120 What he's talking about here is temptation that he describes as common to man. 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:38.480 This is your everyday run-of-the-mill garden variety temptation. 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:43.279 Which means that you and I faced it today already. 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:46.240 We'll face it again tomorrow. 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:49.039 We'll face it again the next day. 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:50.399 We'll face it again. 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:52.879 You get the cadence here, right? 00:11:54.399 --> 00:12:00.159 It's common to people, but it's very, very dangerous. 00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:07.919 And the reason we know these temptations are dangerous is that all three of them end in death. 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:12.480 That's how you know these are dangerous. 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:24.480 But what makes them dangerous is that they all appeal to the area of our greatest weakness. 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:28.000 Do you know what your greatest weakness is? 00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:31.919 I know what your greatest weakness is. 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:37.440 And the reason I know what your greatest weakness is, is because it's the same as mine. 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:40.320 Selfishness. 00:12:42.399 --> 00:12:51.919 It's that latent thought that comes deep from within that thinks to ourselves, you know, I really should have everything that I want. 00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:53.919 I really should. 00:12:57.120 --> 00:13:04.480 And the truth is, is that that little thought resides deep down in all of us. 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:12.639 And so Paul lists three areas where our selfishness kicks in the strongest. 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:21.919 In fact, I want to tell you today that you are weakest in the areas where you are most selfish. 00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:32.159 If there's a sin that you fall to a lot, the reason you fall there is because that for you represents an area of great selfishness. 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:41.600 And the reason it's hard to resist is because that's where the enemy focuses in on us. 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:45.360 Now let me quickly give you the anatomy of a temptation. 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:46.960 Alright? 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:49.360 Here's the anatomy of a temptation. 00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:55.759 A temptation is nothing more than a promise that did not come from God. 00:13:57.600 --> 00:14:00.159 Also known as a lie. 00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:04.399 And here's the way it unrolls. 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:11.600 If you'll do this, you'll get that thing you want in return. 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:15.840 And I just want to tell you, it's a lie. 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:17.039 It won't work. 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:26.639 Now there may be temporary satisfaction, but the thing you're trying to satisfy by indulging in that sin will elude you. 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:33.759 And the reason it's a lie is because it did not come from God. 00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:48.639 James chapter 1, verse 13 puts it this way: Let no one say when he's tempted, I'm tempted by God, for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt himself tempt anyone. 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:54.799 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:58.879 And then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin. 00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:03.360 And sin, when it's full grown, brings forth death. 00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:06.320 Now you've got to see the cause and effect here, okay? 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:08.000 There's cause and effect. 00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:11.360 The cause is idolatry. 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:16.720 The effect is sinful desires. 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:23.440 Sinful desires lead to temptation, sin, and death. 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:26.799 But it all starts with idolatry. 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:40.879 Now, when you hear the word idolatry, most of us think those little carved statues that in the Old Testament they used to carry around, put in their back pocket for good luck, and they carried them in their saddlebag and put them under their pillow at night. 00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:43.600 And all of us would say, well, I'm no idolatry. 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:46.320 I may not be perfect, but I'm no idolatry. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:53.440 But friends, an idol is nothing more than a substitute for God. 00:15:56.720 --> 00:16:05.039 And the reason idolatry is so prevalent today is because God made us worshipers. 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:11.200 Every person on the planet worships. 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:18.399 The question is not if we worship, the question is what do we worship? 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:23.360 Because every person who breathes air worships something. 00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:32.480 And God created us to worship that which is most important to us. 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:41.679 Idolatry often begins when God doesn't do what we think he should have done. 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:50.159 And so what we do is we turn away from God to created things because they're a whole lot easier to control. 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:58.639 But the question really is: do I want God? 00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:04.400 Or do I really want what I think religion promises? 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:09.680 Because for every one of us, there is a God who is. 00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:12.559 And there is a God we imagine. 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:23.839 And the turning point of every life is when we stop seeking the God we imagine and we start seeking the God who is. 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:30.480 Now here's the great thing about God's word. 00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:38.480 No man could have ever explained what we're about to see in God's Word. 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:40.400 No man could have done it. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:45.279 Only God could have done it because God created us and God knows how we work. 00:17:47.839 --> 00:17:50.079 So here's what we're about to see. 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:56.480 If you'll look at verses 7 and 14, verse 7 says, and do not become idolaters. 00:17:56.720 --> 00:18:01.519 Verse 14 says, Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:04.799 So what he's talking about here is idolatry. 00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:13.839 And sandwiched in the middle of verses 7 and 14 are three temptations that are common to man. 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:17.119 So here's what Paul's saying. 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:20.960 And again, no man could have explained this to us, only God could have. 00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:22.079 Here's what he's saying. 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:39.039 If you and I have veered into idolatry, three sins will become known: sexual immorality, tempting Christ, and complaining. 00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:45.920 So let's look at these individually just for a moment. 00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:52.000 The first temptation that's common to man is sexual immorality. 00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:53.440 Verse 8. 00:18:54.000 --> 00:19:01.759 Nor let us commit sexual immorality as some of them did, and in one day 23,000 fell. 00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:06.160 Now this is a reference back to Numbers chapter 25. 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:07.680 You can make a note of that. 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:13.200 We're not going to take the time today to go into that, but it's from Numbers chapter 25. 00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:15.440 And here's what happened in Numbers 25. 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:25.359 God's people had come out of Egypt, spent a long time in the wilderness, and so while they were in the wilderness, they began to make friends with people who didn't know the Lord. 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:30.240 Well, they began to have sex with people who didn't know the Lord. 00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:34.960 And those people invited God's people to worship foreign gods. 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:38.799 And they began to do so. 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:50.480 They decided that it was a good thing to trade gods in exchange for sex. 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:55.119 That's why it's idolatry. 00:19:57.839 --> 00:20:03.359 When Paul says sexual immorality, it's this little Greek word pornuo. 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:07.759 And some of you hear the word pornography in that. 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:08.559 Okay? 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:15.920 It's very, it's actually a very expansive word that means sexual sin of any kind. 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:28.000 So whether it happens between our ears or whether it happens in our behavior, it fits what Paul would call pornuo. 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:32.960 Now, can we agree that this is a common temptation in our culture? 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:35.359 It's everywhere. 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:44.799 Advertising executives tell us that we witnessed somewhere between 3,000 and 21,000 images per day. 00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:49.759 In 1983, only 10% of those were sexually explicit. 00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:53.519 By 2012, 33% were sexually explicit. 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:55.519 Now we can't take in that many. 00:20:56.160 --> 00:21:07.759 They tell us that we can only receive 247 images, which means that 82 images per day of what we see are sexually explicit. 00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:12.000 Now, I'm not talking about full-on online porn. 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:16.160 I'm talking about anything that causes you to sin. 00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:20.160 It may be the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition. 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:25.759 Guys, it may be the Victoria's Secret catalog that she gets in the mail. 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:34.640 Whatever it is that causes you to sin is what Paul's talking about here. 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:42.079 Now, this word pornuo actually comes from a Greek word that means to sell off. 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:49.440 And sometimes this word is translated in Scripture as prostitution or prostitute. 00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:58.480 You may say, now, Pastor, I've never, I'm not perfect, but I've never sold myself for money. 00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:02.559 But, friend, The Bible makes no distinction there. 00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:10.319 Because if we've ever committed sexual sin, we sold off our purity for something. 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:16.640 Now I want to say something here. 00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:18.799 I know this is a hard word. 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:24.559 And you may be thinking, you know, I'd rather hear a grace message than a message like this today. 00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:31.839 But I want you to receive this as the Lord intends it, okay? 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:37.519 Romans 2, verse 4 says it is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance. 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:42.640 It's not the anger of God, it's not the wrath of God, it's not the threat of hell. 00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:45.680 It's the kindness of God. 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:50.000 And the word grace actually means gift. 00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:53.200 All of God's word is a gift to us. 00:22:55.440 --> 00:23:01.440 And so if the word of God comes to strengthen and support and encourage you, praise be to God. 00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:07.440 But if the word of God comes today to correct, praise be to God. 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:13.759 What God is saying, Hebrews 12 says, God disciplines those he loves. 00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:19.519 You need to receive this as the love of God, who's saying, don't continue down that path. 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:21.440 That path ends in destruction. 00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:22.880 You don't have to go there. 00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:29.839 My wife and I have five children, and the last two homes we've owned have actually had staircases. 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:34.400 Well, babies in staircases don't make for a good recipe. 00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:38.079 Because as soon as they learn to crawl, what do they want to do? 00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:40.799 The first thing they want to do is crawl up the stairs. 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:44.000 And so we had to train them not to. 00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:53.039 And they'd get up on the first step and the second step, and we had to go pick them up and pull them back off of there, and they would cry, they'd get so mad at us. 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:55.839 You're not letting me have what I want. 00:23:57.920 --> 00:24:05.440 But look, you know that there's a possibility they could get all the way to the top and fall down and break their neck. 00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:06.720 Alright? 00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:13.839 So in keeping them from having what they want, we're actually protecting them from harm. 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:23.119 And if the word of God comes today to correct you, you need to receive this as the discipline of a loving father. 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:31.519 And you need to understand that if you had everything you want, it would kill you. 00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:37.519 It would be an unloving father who gave you everything you want. 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:41.680 And I want to also say this. 00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:46.480 I think this is prophetic for some of us here today. 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:53.359 If you're stuck in pornography and you can't seem to get out, there's a reason for that. 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:55.359 Alright? 00:24:55.680 --> 00:25:03.680 More hard work and more self-discipline and another internet filter won't fix it for you. 00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:10.160 As good as those things are, because you're treating the symptom and not the root. 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:12.640 Scripture tells you what the root is. 00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:15.359 The root is idolatry. 00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:21.839 Turn your heart back to God, where you desire God above everything else. 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:27.039 You know, most of the people I've counseled who have fallen into sexual immorality will say this to me. 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:32.559 You know, Pastor, I know God doesn't want me to do that, but I wanted to do it anyway. 00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:41.680 Well, you've just placed yourself above God, which is by definition idolatry. 00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:44.480 But you don't have to stay there. 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:50.799 All right, here's the second temptation that's common to man. 00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:53.119 Verse 9 is tempting Christ. 00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:59.119 Nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents. 00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:03.200 Now, it's a reference back to Numbers chapter 21. 00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:06.799 They had again come out of Egypt. 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:11.279 They were coming through the wilderness, and they began to tempt Christ. 00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:12.400 And here's what they said. 00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:14.079 You know, Egypt was better than this. 00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:15.920 We're sick of this food. 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:17.680 There's no water out here. 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:19.200 We're always thirsty. 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:23.519 There are not enough graves in Egypt for we're going to die out here. 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:30.160 And Paul calls this tempting Christ or testing Christ. 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:33.680 Now, what exactly is tempting Christ? 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:46.960 Tempting Christ basically says this: that God's past behavior is no indication of his future behavior. 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:58.799 That what I have right now, the provision that God has given me today is not enough for me. 00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:01.200 I want more than I have right now. 00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:10.640 And so when we're dissatisfied, often what we'll do is we'll go acquire what is lacking for ourselves. 00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:17.440 And we most of the time we do so by sinning continually. 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:30.640 And what happens is, somewhere deep inside of us, we know it's wrong, but we see how far we can go until the spring trap, the trap springs. 00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:36.640 And when the consequences for that sin fall in on us, we say, you know what? 00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:40.799 Man, I just don't think a loving God would treat his people like this. 00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:46.720 If God wants me to trust him, he's gonna have to step up his coverage a bit. 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:51.920 Here's basically what we're saying. 00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:56.640 God, if you love me, you'll do this. 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:03.680 And God is saying, My goodness, have you not seen what I've already done for you? 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:06.400 You were a slave in Egypt. 00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:12.400 And with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, I set you free. 00:28:12.559 --> 00:28:16.960 Do you have any room to doubt what my intentions for you are? 00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:35.039 The Bible says that actually the troubles we walk through are intended to raise these questions because high on God's list is that you and I confront the issue of his character. 00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:38.160 Who is God to you? 00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:44.960 So that you can stand on your own and say, I don't really understand what's happening around me, but this I know. 00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:50.400 My God is faithful to me, and he will not leave me nor forsake me. 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:55.839 When you can get there, you've gotten a lot of what God wants. 00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:56.720 Alright? 00:28:57.680 --> 00:29:01.359 But when we begin to murmur, it's called tempting Christ. 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:11.039 Here's the third thing is verse 10 is complaining, nor complain, as some of them also complained and were destroyed by the destroyer. 00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:19.920 Now, scholars don't know exactly what Paul was referring back to here, and the reason why is because these people complained all the time. 00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:22.319 I mean, pick one, all right? 00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:24.880 It may have been here, it may have been there. 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:28.160 This is almost all they ever did was complain. 00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:33.599 And if you've ever had little kids, you know a little bit about what this is like. 00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:37.440 But here's the ground of their complaining. 00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:40.720 God disappointed them. 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:46.160 God brought them out of a land that they called a land of plenty. 00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:49.039 It was actually, they forgot, they were slaves. 00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:57.279 And on the way to a promised land, they were in a wilderness, and they made a judgment about God. 00:29:59.200 --> 00:30:07.359 If they had waited just a few more years, they could have looked back and seen, well, now it now it makes sense what God was up to. 00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:18.559 But one of the most common mistakes God's people make is that we make a judgment about God before God is finished with his work. 00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:25.839 You may be in a situation right now where you're struggling with something and you go, you know what, I don't know what God's doing here. 00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:27.599 It looks like God's left the scene. 00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:31.920 I don't smell God anywhere around this mess that I'm in. 00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:36.880 Let me just say, don't judge God yet. 00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:41.839 Don't make a judgment about God before God is finished. 00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:47.920 This this word for complaining actually means to show smoldering discontent. 00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:54.559 And most of the time it happens for us when somebody else gets what we want. 00:30:58.160 --> 00:31:01.680 Somebody else at work get that promotion that you wanted. 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:03.839 Here's the risk. 00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:05.759 Well, I've been here longer than him. 00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:08.720 I'm better than her. 00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:11.200 My work's a lot better than her work. 00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:14.319 We begin to murmur. 00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:18.160 And God's watching, listening. 00:31:19.599 --> 00:31:21.279 Here's what you need to know. 00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:24.160 The root of that is idolatry. 00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:27.440 That's where it comes from. 00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:31.599 Now I want to remind you one more time of verse 13. 00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:37.200 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man. 00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:50.799 But God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you're able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape so that you may be able to bear it. 00:31:51.279 --> 00:31:55.759 Now, here's what you need to know, because today you're going to be tempted. 00:31:56.960 --> 00:31:58.720 Here's what you need to know. 00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:03.279 In that temptation, God's going to make a way of escape. 00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:10.240 But in the moment of temptation, you're not going to feel like taking the escape hatch. 00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:13.440 And so what do you do? 00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:18.079 I want to do this sin, but I know that I shouldn't. 00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:19.200 What do you do? 00:32:19.359 --> 00:32:21.039 Here's the escape hatch. 00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:23.039 Trusting God's promises. 00:32:23.279 --> 00:32:26.559 It's actually the very same way that you got saved. 00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:29.279 And so here's what we say. 00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:38.400 God, I choose today, by an act of my will, to believe that your promises are better than whatever this sin is tempting me to do. 00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:45.920 And so I'm going to say no to this, and I'm going to believe, God, that what you have for me is better than that. 00:32:46.880 --> 00:32:48.640 And that's the way out. 00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:57.119 I've been drawn recently to verse 21 of the book of Jude that says this keep yourselves in the love of God. 00:32:58.319 --> 00:33:02.640 Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:06.640 I want to say to you today, friends, keep yourselves in the love of God. 00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:10.160 I want you to bow your heads. 00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:11.920 Close your eyes. 00:33:12.799 --> 00:33:19.839 If you're a guest here with us today or unfamiliar with Gateway Church, we close every service the same way. 00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:27.599 And that's by offering everyone here an opportunity to come and receive prayer if you need prayer today. 00:33:29.680 --> 00:33:32.799 Now, we'd like to pray for whatever there is going on. 00:33:32.880 --> 00:33:37.759 There may be something going on in your life that's totally unrelated to what we just talked about. 00:33:37.920 --> 00:33:41.519 You may have received bad news from a doctor or bad news at work. 00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:42.640 We want to pray for you. 00:33:42.720 --> 00:33:46.559 You don't have to be a member of Gateway Church to come and receive prayer today. 00:33:47.519 --> 00:33:56.640 But I want to say to you today that if the word of God has come to you to correct, you don't have to stay there. 00:33:57.839 --> 00:33:59.920 God's not condemning you. 00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:03.759 God is showing love to you. 00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:08.639 God is drawing you closer to Himself. 00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:15.679 And what He's saying is, beloved, your heart has veered away from me. 00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:18.559 Don't stay there. 00:34:20.960 --> 00:34:31.039 So if you're stuck today and you feel like the Word of God has come today to point out some very specific things to you. 00:34:32.639 --> 00:34:34.880 In just a moment, we're all going to stand. 00:34:35.360 --> 00:34:42.159 There's going to be a team of people up here at the front that we we know and love and trust, and they're going to pray for you. 00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:44.480 But listen, don't delay. 00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:47.840 If you need prayer, you come quickly. 00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:48.239 Okay? 00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:53.519 Holy Spirit, we ask that you would draw everybody today who needs prayer. 00:34:53.760 --> 00:34:55.280 In Jesus' name. 00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:56.239 Amen. 00:34:56.559 --> 00:34:57.679 Will you stand up, please? 00:34:57.760 --> 00:35:01.679 If you're part of our altar team, please go ahead and make your way down here to the front quickly. 00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:08.719 If you need prayer today for any reason, you can step out of the guy right now and begin to make your way down to the front. 00:35:08.800 --> 00:35:10.239 There's no time in needing prayer. 00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:12.480 All of us need prayer from time to time. 00:35:13.119 --> 00:35:15.519 So many days it's still decided to step off of the platform. 00:35:15.760 --> 00:35:17.280 I have supporting point for me. 00:35:18.400 --> 00:35:23.039 And it's the way that the Word of God works in conjunction with the Spirit of God. 00:35:23.840 --> 00:35:29.280 So today, if God is calling you, you step out right now and you make your way down.