Brief Thoughts on 1 Corinthians 10:9-10

1 Corinthians 10:9-10 NKJV  Nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents;  10  nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

The word tempt

B1 The Greek word is ἐκπειράζω ekpeirázō. It means “to prove and test.”

B2 The idea here especially regarding the Old Testament is Israel did not believe God. They did not put trust in Him, but they could give no reasons for it, so they wanted to do something to make God react in such a way so to have an excuse to hate God and feel justified in their unbelief.

God has given enough proof with all that He had done to Egypt and Israel’s enemies.

God is displeased at a certain type of whining, complaining, murmuring.

B1 Romans 1:21 NKJV Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

B2 Two things these unbelievers did not do.

C1 They did not give God credit for what He has done. In this case, it would be deliverance from slavery in Egypt.

C2 They were not thankful for what He had done.

God now punished these who refused to believe. They were destroyed.

B1 The Greek word is ἀπόλλυμι apóllymi. It means lost as money that is lost and cannot be found. It also means destroy as in life that is lost and cannot be found, so we would understand this as they died. The reference is to Numbers 21:4-9. They complained; God punished; they were bitten by poisonous snakes; died, unless, they looked at the bronze snake as God invited them to do.

B2 Bible

C1 Romans 6:23 NLT For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

C2 Isaiah 3:11 NLT But the wicked are doomed, for they will get exactly what they deserve.

C3 Galatians 6:7 NLT Don't be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.

The whining and muttering they did was not an open complaint, but only speaking to one another. God heard them anyway. Certain types of actions show what we believe or don’t believe. They did not believe. God was sick and tired of these creepy rebels and sent the destroyer.

They were destroyed by the destroyer.

B1 The word destroyed is the same as in verse 9. It means they were punished with death.

B2 The word destroyer is different. It is the Greek word ὀλοθρευτής olothreutḗs. It means something that ruin, in this case, a venomous snake.

We learn

B1 Belief is the key. Do we believe God. Most do not believe God today. Most so-called Christians don’t either. They interpret the Bible (if they read it at all) symbolically, allegorically, or according to their feelings or theology. Let us believe God. He is omniscient, knowing all things, and omnisapient, perfectly wise, so He knows how to communicate perfectly.

B2 Actions show what we really believe. Thus the epistle of James speaks of: James 2:22 NKJV Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

C1 Works do not save us from sin. It is not required for salvation. Faith is required and only faith in Jesus Christ alone.

C2 Works, what we think, desire, say, and do, show what we really believe.

B3 Sin is punished.

Exodus 15:2 GNB The LORD is my strong defender; he is the one who has saved me. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will sing about his greatness.

A Few Thoughts About Morals Are Only Personal Opinions

Often we hear objections to Christianity as, “Moral Truths Are a Matter of Personal Opinion.”

Answer: This is the narcissistic view of truth and life. The relativistic view of truth is similar, but it doesn’t have the personality disorders. Both lead to chaos.

B1 Some resources on the narcissistic and/or relativistic view:

C1 Nine Truths Narcissists Will Never Tell You

C2 What is ethical relativism?

C3 Or even Relativism from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

B2 Christian view

C1 What are Relativism and Postmodernism?

C2 What is the Difference Between Absolute and Relative Truth?

C3 You might consider the Book by Nancy Pearcey on Total Truth

D1 The book Total Truth

D2 An interview with Sean McDowell.

Difficulties:

B1 Everyone would then have their own moral standard.

B2 What is right for one, is wrong for another.

B3 Stealing from you, is it right or wrong? Someone/s steal your identity, take all your money and reputation. Is this wrong? You may think it is, but the criminal/s do not. So there cannot be any punishment if every is OK.

B4 This is chaos.

B5 The Bible addresses this:

C1 Judges 17:6 NLT In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.

D1 Each person or person group had their own standards of right and wrong.

D2 So there is nothing lawful and nothing unlawful.

C2 It is selfishness. It is the narcissist view of truth.

C3 Psalm 12:4 NLT They say, "We will lie to our hearts' content. Our lips are our own--who can stop us?"

C4 The last days are characterized as such: 2 Timothy 3:1-5 NLT You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

C5 Proverbs 14:12 NLT There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.

C6 It results in a society of lawlessness: 1 John 3:4 NRSV Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.

B6 The solution

C1 1 Corinthians 14:33 NLT For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God's holy people.

C2 We should be living in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds that are right in God’s eyes: Deuteronomy 13:18 NIV because you obey the LORD your God by keeping all his commands that I am giving you today and doing what is right in his eyes.

C3 Matthew 6:33 NLT Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

C4 Matthew 7:24 NLT Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.

C5 Christianity has a gospel (humanity’s problem, forgiveness of sin, reconciliation with God), a way of thinking (theology), and a way of life (worldview). The New Testament is our source.

John 14:6 NLT Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

A Few Thoughts About Listening

Importance of listening

Listening

B1 Body language

C1 If standing, stance and posture may show we are open to listening or not. Do not authoritatively but compassionately.

C2 If sitting, then sit upright, leaning slightly forward, and not slouching, leaning away, or folding the arms.

C3 Nodding the head occasionally

C4 Not being distracted by the environment or technology (phones, etc.)

C5 Neutral facial to slightly friendly at times. Be genuine. Don’t frown or grimace as if looking bored.

C6 Examples: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/Body_Language.htm

B2 Face and eyes

C1 Show attentiveness. Look at them most of the time.

C2 Show respect

C3 Again, the link above has some pictures showing the difference.

B3 Re-enforcement

C1 Don’t interrupt except for

D1 Clarification

D2 Acknowledgement (stating, “OK, I see, I understand, wow, I’m sorry this happened,” etc.)

C2 Nodding your head once in a while

B4 Believe them

B5 Listening is not giving advice

B6 Some don’ts

C1 Don’t hurry them along

C2 Don’t be doing something else when they are talking

C3 Don’t be judgmental

C4 Don’t correct

Purpose

B1 Love (2^nd summary of the Law)

C1 Luke 10:27 NLT The man answered, "'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.

C2 Romans 13:9-10 NLT For the commandments say, "You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet." These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God's law.

C3 Also see Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 19:19, Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, Galatians 5:14, and James 2:8.

C4 If we really are going to live according to God’s rules, we must show this kindness—to listen to someone.

B2 Respect for others

C1 Matthew 7:12 NRSV In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.

C2 1 Peter 3:8 GNB To conclude: you must all have the same attitude and the same feelings; love one another, and be kind and humble with one another.

B3 Help and assistance for others

B4 There are those, however, you hog your time, talk incessantly, etc. There is a Scripture for that, too. These people are called “Compulsive Talkers.”

C1 Proverbs 17:27 NLT A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.

C2 Ecclesiastes 5:2 NLT Don't make rash promises, and don't be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.

C3 Proverbs 15:1-2 NLT A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness.

C4 Politely point out, “Do you mind if I say something?” If they keep talking, we must just excuse yourself and leave.

C5 A couple of articles that might be helpful (secular source)

D1 5 Steps for Dealing With People Who Talk Too Much

D2 5 Tips for Handling an Incessant Talker

How does God listen?

B1 Attentively

B2 Purposefully

B3 His motive is love and respect

B4 He answers prayer in love and wisdom. (If it seems that He does not hear, then It might be the wrong time, the wrong situation, the wrong attitude, sin might be confessed, our spouse is not being treated in a godly manner, there might be selfish, lustful desires in offering the prayer, etc.).

Scriptures

B1 James 1:19 NLT Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

C1 Many take this passage to remind believers to listen quickly to God’s word and do it.

C2 But why “slow to get angry?” To be consistent, one would understand this to mean slow to get angry at God’s word. This cannot be correct. Especially when in context of James 1:20 NLT Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.

C3 In addition, James 1:21 NLT So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

C4 One of the ways of getting rid of this filth is with God’s strength and help (grace), listen quickly, speak after listening carefully, and understand the situation and be controlled in anger.

B2 We want God to listen, shouldn’t we listen to our brothers and sisters?

C1 Psalm 66:18-20 NLT If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.

C2 Psalm 86:5-8 NLT O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. Listen closely to my prayer, O LORD; hear my urgent cry. I will call to you whenever I'm in trouble, and you will answer me. No pagan god is like you, O Lord. None can do what you do!

Application

B1 Listen

B2 We need each other

B3 A few testimonies on the importance of listening:

C1 Listening Is Powerful Medicine

C2 Listening: The art and science of hearing

B4 We pray and God listens. He has taught us to listen to each other.

B5 Take time to listen.

B6 God will help us.

James 4:6 NIV But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble."

A Few Thoughts about Waiting on God

Psalms 27:14 NKJV  Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Wait on the Lord. This is one of the hardest things to understand. We pray and then wait.

Some examples:

B1 A short wait (they prayed and God answered quickly).

C1 Peter: Matthew 14:29-31 GNB  "Come!" answered Jesus. So Peter got out of the boat and started walking on the water to Jesus.  (30)  But when he noticed the strong wind, he was afraid and started to sink down in the water. "Save me, Lord!" he cried.  (31)  At once Jesus reached out and grabbed hold of him and said, "What little faith you have! Why did you doubt?"

C2 Jonah: Jonah 2:1, 10 NLT Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from inside the fish. ... Then the LORD ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.

B2 A long time (they prayed and God has answered—wait).

C1 Apostle John: Revelation 22:20 NLT He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon!" Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

C2 The Psalmist: Psalm 13:1 NLT For the choir director: A psalm of David. O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way?

While we wait:

B1 What we can do:

C1 We keep busy: Psalm 25:5 NLT Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.

D1 Study Scripture (not every second, of course)

D2 Learn truth

D3 Seek truth

D4 Hope (that He will answer). All prayers are answered, but God does not say when they will be answered.

C2 We encouraged in trials and afflictions: James 5:7-8 WEL Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the Lord comes. Look how the farmer waits for the valuable yield from the land and waits for a long time for the early and later rains. 8 Likewise be patient and steady your hearts, for the Lord’s coming draws near.

D1 He promised to return, so we learn patience.

D2 Strengthen your hearts, that is, take courage. God strengthens us: Psalm 40:2 NLT He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.

C3 Be steadfast and living the faith in words, desires, thoughts, and deeds. We need to do this with His grace until we die or He returns: Luke 12:35-40 NLT Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready. "Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.

C4 Use our spiritual gifts for witnessing and/or for ministering to our brothers and sisters: 1 Corinthians 1:7-8 NLT Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.

C5 God waits for people to repent:

D1 Revelation 2:21 NIV I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.

D2 Proverbs 20:22 NLT Don't say, "I will get even for this wrong." Wait for the LORD to handle the matter.

D3 Example: The nation of Israel: Jeremiah 14:22 NLT Can any of the worthless foreign gods send us rain? Does it fall from the sky by itself? No, you are the one, O LORD our God! Only you can do such things. So we will wait for you to help us.

C6 We wait until a greater number are saved: Revelation 6:9-11 NRSV When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered for the word of God and for the testimony they had given;  (10)  they cried out with a loud voice, "Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge and avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the earth?"  (11)  They were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number would be complete both of their fellow servants and of their brothers and sisters, who were soon to be killed as they themselves had been killed.

C7 We must fulfill our ministry: Luke 2:25-32 NLT At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, "Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!"

B2 The benefits of waiting:

C1 We grow in faith: In the parable of wheat and tares, both wheat (believers) and tares (unbelievers) grow. One grows in sin and the other grows in faith. We learn and practice God’s ways: Matthew 13:30 NKJV 'Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.

C2 God tells the Jews in Hosea’s time of prophecy: Hosea 12:6 NRSV But as for you, return to your God, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.

D1 We learn and can practice God’s love. We love what God loves.

D2 We learn and can practice God’s justice. We view and practice justice as God does.

D3 We learn and can practice patience.

C3 God will give us strength to endure and witness for Him: Isaiah 40:31 NIV But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

C4 Give us reward—the fulfillment of God’s promises: Hebrews 6:12 WEL So that you will not be apathetic but followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

C5 It increases our prayer life: Psalm 40:1 NLT For the choir director: A psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.

C6 We learn that God is good, and we learn discipline: Lamentations 3:24-27 NLT I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!" The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD. And it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of his discipline.

Lamentations 3:26 NLT So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD.

Why We Should Study the Book of Revelation Today

Many people will not read and study Revelation anymore, because they claim it is divisive.

I once had a pastor who believed this. He thought those teachers who did teach were only after money, and it was divisive.

But

The Lord Jesus gives a special blessing to those who do:

B1 Revelation 1:3 WEL Blessed is the one who reads, who hears the words of this prophecy, and who obeys those things which are written in it, because the time is near.

B2 Revelation 22:7 WEL “Look, I come quickly. How blessed is the person who obeys the words of the prophecy of this book.”

Some quotes from others:

B1 Moffatt as found in Robertson’s Word Pictures: “The content of the Apocalypse is not merely prediction; moral counsel and religious instruction are the primary burdens of its pages” (Moffatt).

B2 W. A. Criswell: God has said that there is an attendant blessing in this study, and in this preparation, and in this preaching, that is not attendant upon any other part of the Word of God. The only book in the Bible that has in it an especial blessing for those who read, and study, and ponder, and meditate, and treasure is this Apocalypse of Jesus Christ [Revelation 1:3]. And lest we miss the blessing, the word is repeated again in the last chapter and the [seventh] verse: “Blessed is he, blessed is he that guards, that treasures, that ponders the sayings of the prophecy of this book” [Revelation 22:7]. (Source)

Some notes:

B1 Some prophesy is sealed; Revelation is unsealed:

C1 Daniel 12:4 NLT But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase."

C2 Revelation 22:10 NLT Then he instructed me, "Do not seal up the prophetic words in this book, for the time is near.

B2 The churches are warned to repent: Revelation 3:3 NLT Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don't wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.

B3 The Gospel is preached. All of humanity is warned to repent.

C1 Revelation 9:20-21 NLT But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to repent of their evil deeds and turn to God. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood--idols that can neither see nor hear nor walk! And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

C2 Revelation 16:11 NLT and they cursed the God of heaven for their pains and sores. But they did not repent of their evil deeds and turn to God.

C3 Revelation 14:6-7 NASB And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.

B4 Knowledge of the end times, especially to those who will live at the time of fulfillment.

B5 It is so important that God sent his angel to bring the message to the Apostle John and to us: Revelation 22:6 WEL Then he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true, and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show his servants the things which must happen shortly.”

The Book of Revelation must be interpreted in the plain, normal sense as all Scripture must.

Revelation 1:3 WEL Blessed is the one who reads, who hears the words of this prophecy, and who obeys those things which are written in it, because the time is near.

B1 Blessed

C1 Today the first definition is to make holy by religious ritual; sanctify. (Source)

C2 The definition in the Greek is more enjoying spiritual happiness and the favor of God (Webster’s Dictionary 1828).

C3 Some uses:

D1 Matthew 16:17 NLT Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.

D2 Romans 4:8 NIV Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.

D3 Revelation 19:9 NIV Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" And he added, "These are the true words of God.

B2 We want and strongly desire to read this message from the Lord Jesus. Three blessings; three classes blessed:

C1 The one who reads

C2 The one who hears

C3 The one who obeys (believes and lives God’s way)

B3 Joy is different than happiness.

C1 Happiness is defined as: Research in the field of positive psychology and happiness often define a happy person as someone who experiences frequent positive emotions, such as joy, interest, and pride, and infrequent (though not absent) negative emotions, such as sadness, anxiety and anger (Lyubomirsky et al., 2005). (Source)

C2 Joy is define as: Joy is distinctly a Christian word and a Christian thing. It is the reverse of happiness. Happiness is the result of what happens of an agreeable sort. Joy has its springs deep down inside. And that spring never runs dry, no matter what happens. Only Jesus gives that joy. He had joy, singing its music within, even under the shadow of the cross (S. D. Gordon). (Source)

C3 Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is not a result of circumstances.

C4 Reading and studying Revelation is a blessed joy.

Psalm 16:11 NLT You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

Some resources:

B1 Studies in Revelation by J. Hampton Keathley III

B2 A Testimony of Jesus Christ by Tony Garland

B3 Commentary on the Revelation by William Newell

B4 Revelation Commentaries an extensive list on Precept Austin