(1Co 10:9) “Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.” In what way did they tempt the Lord? They tested His patience. They complained about His provision – the manna they ate. All they had to do was go out and pick it up every morning. Yet, they complained. Are we guilty of not seeing the Lord’s blessings upon our life and complaining to Him?

(1Co 10:8) “Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.”  It is so commonplace for men and women to sleep together and live together that our society thinks it normal. It is not. It is sin and wickedness before God. The going from one person to another is defilement before God. Believers need to see it and acknowledge it in their minds.

(1Co 10:7) “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.”  The common thought regarding different “gods” today is, “We all worship the same God just with different names.” No true. The only living and true God said His people were not to even take their name upon their lips (Ps 16:4).

(1Co 10:6) “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.”  The saved have two natures warring within (Rom 7:23). The old nature desires to please the flesh through the things of this world. We are to treat it as dead (Rom 6:11). Remember, the Holy Spirit lives within you. Our love for God should help us to live as not to grieve Him.

(1Co 10:1) “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;…(5)  But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.”  Outwardly, they all experienced the same thing. Yet, it was a minority that truly walked with the Lord. Many today speak of His greatness and their love for Him, but few it is that have experienced such a live change (new birth) that they walk that narrow road with Him.

(1Co 10:1) “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; (2)  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; (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.”  Simply put: the nation of Israel was privileged from Moses through the ministry of Christ Jesus. None could truthfully say they were not – thus each had no excuse for rejecting Christ.

(1Co 10:1) “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; (2) And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;”  Point: all had the same opportunity to love and obey God. The same is true today, certainly some of us more than others. (Lk 12:48b) “….For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required:…”  Have you lived according to the advantage you have been given?

(1Co 10:1) “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;”  Every person in Israel had experienced the blessings of God. It is speaking in the same sense as Jesus’ Words: (Mat 5:45) “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Yet, just because one experiences the goodness of God, it does not follow that it indicates a saved person.

(1Co 9:26) “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: (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.”  Paul practiced personal holiness of living. Such living serves as proof that one has been saved, changed by the new birth. The word “castaway” speaks of being put aside as unapproved, unworthy. This is speaking not of position (saved) but of worthiness to serve.

(1Co 9:24) “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. (25)  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” We do not “run” to receive salvation. That was given at the point of our spiritual birth. We receive rewards for serving our Lord. In doing so we live a “temperate” life – one of restraint, for His glory.