HOW TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION
1 Corinthians 10:6-14
August 15, 2007
Mike Matijevich
mmatevich@aol.com

I. WARNING OF FOUR DEADLY DANGERS OF MATERIALISM- 1 Cor. 10:6-10

A. IDOLATRY- (v 7) (stories of the OT)
1. Ex. 32:1-6 Moses is receiving the LAW from God on the mountain.
a. "Play"= a contact sport, always (contact between two parties or things)
b. Their idolatry caused them not only to disobey God but to enter into al kinds of areas where they shouldn't be.
*The lesson: It doesn't take much time to fall into grave SIN when your relationship with God is ONLY superficial.
* The danger is… when casual, intellectual, superficial relationship with God.
Not like you are openly blasting God, "I'm against God".
Not too long I this condition- you'll be in sin soon.
*** Remember what this group had seen & experienced… Miracles…
NOTE: Some will go to a church this Sunday to get more into God because last week they were messing around.

2. Paul defined "Idolatry" 2 T in NT- Eph 5:5; Col :5 as "covetousness" /materialism
* Anything that comes between you & God is an IDOL. (why so many today, car, career, toys, etc)
"Success" can be an Idol- covetous. (Remember 1st commandment- no other Gods, #2 graven image. Must be important.
* We have the same tendency as did those of Moses & Paul's day.
1 Jn 5:19-21 to NEW believers, sums up book reminding them of "we know…" IDOLS.
"And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen."
* Here is a book written to new believers- means this is IMPORTANT! (the emphasis)

*** First danger of Idolatry is lapsing back into materialism, when the things that you have come between you & God.

B. IMMORALITY- (v 8) "Play" (v7) to (v8) is short- Idolatry to immorality.
1. Num 25:1-18 tells this story 23,000 died in one day because of immorality (@ 10%)
Story- while Israel wandered committed fornication with the daughters of Moab,
(Other tribes wandering around in the SAME wilderness)
(Men of Israel became idolaters, and then immoral, then graven images.)
"They" need to be consecrated to God, or it will not be long until you will be worshiping idols.

C. IMMATURITY (v 9)
1. Num 21:1-6 fiery serpents, because they were tired of life's realities.
(Jn 3 Jesus told Nicodemus it was a picture of Him)
a. Notice they "tempted God"- they abused God's grace, they pushed Him to His limits of His patience- they dared God to deal with them.
b. "Tempt"- like little kids, when they know that they shouldn't do… as they look over their shoulder to see if you are going to do anything about it.
c. Like we push the bounds of His patience. (Well I just ask for forgiveness)
* That tempting God- pushing Him to His limits. (Jews proved this doesn't work 40 all died)

D. INGRATITUDE (v 10) * Choose these words because they all begin with capital "I"

1. Num 16:1-3 When Moses & Aaron took a stand…
Korah & 250 men of "renown" powerful
* They blamed Moses & Aaron for the death of the famous & men of renown-
* People blame the man of God for the problems.
Num 16:41 "But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD."
14,700 + 250 destroyed because of the "tempting"
* Ingratitude- we complain & begin to reap from our sin & we want to blame someone else for the problem.
Nothing is ever "my" fault- it is the government, society, etc.

II. WHAT TO DO TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION IN YOUR LIFE 1 Cor. 10:11-12

A. Learn from the PAST- (the reason for the OT stories)
* Go to the bible & find a story that deals with your situation (WORK)
Three ways to apply this to your life:
1. Let God MOLD you- "ENSAMPLE" cp (v 6) "example"
Greek word the same, KJV translators used "ensample"- not a mistake…
* Note if you study history find out that at the time of the 1600's when English was on top-
Intelligent people used many synonymous words in conversation to indicate the breadth of a word.
- More than one word helps grasp the meaning of the concept.
* "Ensample"= (coin illustration material pressured and the mold is stamped into the coin)
"To mold"= what was written in OT was for more than just an example-
We are to be molded into the image of Christ.- His image in my life & yours.
The OT stories are to mold us into the image of Jesus.
* COOPERATE with the mold!

2. Listen to God's warning- (v 11) "admonition"
* Note admonition means- don't think you can sin & get away with it.
- Yes saved eternally, but remember God deals with our current state of obedience.

3. Learn to let go of our PRIDE (v 12) ("I've been through discipleship- I got this Christian thing down."
* Beware!
B. Look for God's WAY out (v 13) "temptation"
1. "Common" (v 13a) - your situation is NOT unique- we are all wrestling the same things.
"But pastor my situation is different than anyone else's problem".
2. "Faithful" (v 13b) - God is the basis for everything!
Will you believe God is faithful?
3. "Above" (v 13c) Tempted above your ability. The real issue is God.
4. "Escape"- (v 13d) He will make a way to escape.
I.e. When the religious leaders were before Pilate & he said, "What shall I do with this man called Jesus?" They crossed DENOMINATIONAL lines to condemn Jesus.
* But they had their way out.
5. "Bear it" (v 13e) His grace enables you to "bear" the temptation, not necessarily to deliver you from it.
* NOTE: The temptation may never go away- so you can get stronger and the effect gets easier to overcome it.
* That is when you are made an "ensample" molded into the image of Christ.

Conclusion:
How is your report card looking in the four areas Idolatry, Immorality, Immaturity, Ingratitude.