Sermon Sunday, June 18, 2006

Identifying and Eliminating

Barricades to God’s Best for Your Life

1 Cor. 10:1-13 NASBu

For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; 2and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3and all ate the same spiritual food; 4and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. 5Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.

6Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. 7Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play." 8Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. 10Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Five Barricades to God’s Best in Your Life:

1. Craving EVIL.

1 Cor. 10:6 (NASBr)

These events happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did.

2. Worshipping IDOLS.

1 Cor. 10:7 (NLT)

They worshiped idols, just as the Scriptures say, "The people sat down to eat and drink. Then they got up to dance around." So don't worship idols.

Exodus 20:5 (CEV)

Don't bow down and worship idols. I am the Lord your God, and I demand all your love. If you reject me, I will punish your families for three or four generations.

3. Engaging in SEXUAL Immorality.

1 Cor. 10:8 (NIV)

We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did--and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.

4. Testing JESUS CHRIST.

1 Cor. 10:9 (NLT)

Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites.

5. Grumbling.

Eliminating the Barricades . . .

By Asking God to Show you the escape. Visualize your life as God intends it!