What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
For the carnal church at Corinth the Apostle Paul solidifies a point about those who went before, “But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness” (2Cor 10:5). Those desiring to be well pleasing and avoid such an overthrow might pay earnest heed to Paul's poignant message. The overthrown all had the same advantageous start; they saw the Shekinah cloud and the dry path through the Red Sea (vrs.1-2); they ate the manna and drank the water from the Rock (vrs.3-4). Yet they displeased God and were overthrown for four primary reasons: 1) Idolatry (vr.7): making up and worshiping false gods. We do not do that with wood, stone and precious metals today, but many “Christians” have, in their mind, made up their false concepts about “the man upstairs,” and worship a false god. God is holy, and we are commended to “know him that is true” and “keep his commandments” (1John 5:20,2:3-4). 2) Fornication (vr.8): foreign use of one of God's most intimate and precious gifts. There is no greater human intimacy than sexual intimacy, no greater human pleasure than sexual pleasure, and no greater oneness of a male and female exists. When that is used “foreign” to God's intent it is called “fornication.” Twenty-three-thousand displeased God and were overthrown in one day. Pay attention. 3) Tempting Christ (vr.9): Jesus said, “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God,” when Satan bid him to cast himself onto a promise of God. God is not here for our show-and-tell, nor does he play “Let's make a deal.” 4) Murmuring (vr.10): … this short essay could not capture the extent of failure in our murmuring. Take heed lest ye fall... and here Paul gives us four things to take heed of.
An Essay for week #44 Nov 4, 2018
Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs181104.mp3
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A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
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