The Four Admonitions
"What happened to them is a warning to keep us from wanting to do the same evil things." - 1 Corinthians 10:6 (Contempo-Eng)
We could learn a lot from the sins and wrongdoings of the Israelites in the past. As believers and followers of Christ our mindset and our goal everyday is to keep setting our hearts away from the evil things as they did.
"Now these things are examples (warnings and admonitions) for us not to desire or crave or covet or lust after evil and carnal things as they did." - 1 Corinthians 10:6 (Amplified)
1. "Do not be idolaters,.." (7.NIV) [WORSHIP, PRIORITY]
Some versions say that don't worship false gods. It coincides also with the Natural Moral Law which is part of the 1st 4 of the Decalogue. Idols can take many forms. We could create our mini-God or our own version of God. It is someone or something who takes our time, our devotion, our desire, our money, our effort, our interest in life.
For God is a jealous god. He deserves our worship, he must be the top-most priority in our schedule in our life, the way we live, the way we behave, the way we treat others. For he alone is worthy of all praise.
Israelites even "..sat down to a feast which turned into an orgy of drinking and sex." (7.GoodNews)
2. "We should not commit sexual immorality.." (8.NIV) [GRATIFY, INDULGE]
The Amplified translation expresses it into gratification of evil desire and indulging in immorality. "We must not gratify evil desire and indulge in immorality..". For sexual immorality doesn't only means lying in the bed together, but its the entire hidden evil motive or desire within our hearts. When we our alone what are we thinking? When we see the billboards, the pictures in the net, the youth in the beach, in the gym, in the media what are we ACTUALLY imagining?!?
Freedictionary.com states the meaning of indulge is "To yield to the desires and whims of, especially to an excessive degree; To allow (oneself) unrestrained gratification; to allow oneself the pleasure of something" and to "devote oneself entirely to something". The meaning of gratification is "to please or satisfy; to yield to or indulge (a desire, whim, etc.)". **Recommended Readings: Not a even a hint and Every young man's battle.
In sexual immorality what happen to them?
The result is this, "..as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died." (8.NIV)
3. "We should not test Christ.. " (9.NIV) [REPEATED DISOBEDIENCE]
The Amplified would put it "We should not tempt the Lord [try His patience, become a trial to Him, critically appraise Him, and exploit His goodness]..". Now let me clarify this, testing God in here is different from what we know in Malachi about robbing God. Testing someone or something varies on what kind of test. In Malachi God is actually commanding us to test him in giving to him, in tithes and offerings, and its the only one that we could test him. On the contrary, in Exodus, you will witness the Israelites testing God's greatness and power as they were wandering in the desert through their repeated disobedience in God's commands. They exploited God's goodness, even though they knew that God will always provide for them and forgive their sins, they abused it.
My brothers and sisters this should not be, even though we know that God is a merciful god, he will and always forgive our sins, we must not put his goodness and patience into test through repeated disobedience. That perspective signifies the worldly sorrow kind of attitude. As we all know that only Godly sorrow produces into the life-changing repentance. Let's obey him and follow his decrees. Once we encounter the TRUTH, let's REPENT and through FAITH we will not commit the same sins again and again.
Upon testing Christ what happen to them?
The result is this, "..as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.." (9.NIV)
4. "And do not grumble,." (10.NIV) [PERSEVERANCE UNDER TRIALS]
Let us not complain to God. For 40 years in the dessert, God has been so faithful to them. He showered them blessings, he provided them food, and even after the Exodus and the reign of the Judges, God always loved them and even granted their requests (ex. when they were asking for a king to rule over them). But if the things don't go according to their ways or to what they expect, they complain. Once, they had no food and water in the desert, they complained, they even grumbled and cursed God. Here's the funny thing, as they were complaining, they even asked God to bring them back to the Egyptians. Woah?! You have just experienced discomfort for the first time in God's presence and goodness, then you are actually asking him to bring you back to slavery which you can't experience happiness and freedom rather punishment and discomfort for the rest of your lives?
You know what, in reality, we are all like that. A little bit of trial, a little bit of problem, challenge, discomfort in life, we complain and grumble against our God, our father. As a father, he wants to discipline his children because of his so much love for us, he doesn't wants us to be spoiled, and not learn. He continuously educates us, trains us, teaches us every necessary things we need to know and guides us in our lives, for we are all a "work-in-progress". James says "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." (1.2-4.The Message) He tells that the tests and challenges are gift, and as we undergo through those situations in life, we grow in maturity and gain character.
Upon grumbling what happen to them?
The result is this, "..as some of them did--and were [a]put out of the way entirely by the destroyer (death)." (10.Amplified)
The results of all the evil things they did falls into one thing. DEATH.
"But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions).Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death." - James 1:14-15 (The Amplified Bible)
Picture taken : http://www.google.com.ph/imglanding?q=four&hl=tl&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=ykfwnP2iuAZ-fM:&imgrefurl=http://dawn42.deviantart.com/art/four-seasons-wallpaper-44148606&imgurl=http://www.deviantart.com/download/44148606/four_seasons_wallpaper_by_Dawn42.jpg&w=1280&h=1024&ei=KwGtTdSXOo2UvAO-rfnTCg&zoom=1&iact=hc&oei=mACtTd-8HYLwvwOyxN3DCw&page=2&tbnh=118&tbnw=133&start=25&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:25&biw=1366&bih=541
Legends/Symbolisms:
Green = God = "3 Colors of Ministry"
Fire = Burning Passion = Carnal desires
Brown = Land = Snakes
Blue = Cold = Angel of death
We could learn a lot from the sins and wrongdoings of the Israelites in the past. As believers and followers of Christ our mindset and our goal everyday is to keep setting our hearts away from the evil things as they did.
"Now these things are examples (warnings and admonitions) for us not to desire or crave or covet or lust after evil and carnal things as they did." - 1 Corinthians 10:6 (Amplified)
1. "Do not be idolaters,.." (7.NIV) [WORSHIP, PRIORITY]
Some versions say that don't worship false gods. It coincides also with the Natural Moral Law which is part of the 1st 4 of the Decalogue. Idols can take many forms. We could create our mini-God or our own version of God. It is someone or something who takes our time, our devotion, our desire, our money, our effort, our interest in life.
For God is a jealous god. He deserves our worship, he must be the top-most priority in our schedule in our life, the way we live, the way we behave, the way we treat others. For he alone is worthy of all praise.
Israelites even "..sat down to a feast which turned into an orgy of drinking and sex." (7.GoodNews)
2. "We should not commit sexual immorality.." (8.NIV) [GRATIFY, INDULGE]
The Amplified translation expresses it into gratification of evil desire and indulging in immorality. "We must not gratify evil desire and indulge in immorality..". For sexual immorality doesn't only means lying in the bed together, but its the entire hidden evil motive or desire within our hearts. When we our alone what are we thinking? When we see the billboards, the pictures in the net, the youth in the beach, in the gym, in the media what are we ACTUALLY imagining?!?
Freedictionary.com states the meaning of indulge is "To yield to the desires and whims of, especially to an excessive degree; To allow (oneself) unrestrained gratification; to allow oneself the pleasure of something" and to "devote oneself entirely to something". The meaning of gratification is "to please or satisfy; to yield to or indulge (a desire, whim, etc.)". **Recommended Readings: Not a even a hint and Every young man's battle.
In sexual immorality what happen to them?
The result is this, "..as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died." (8.NIV)
3. "We should not test Christ.. " (9.NIV) [REPEATED DISOBEDIENCE]
The Amplified would put it "We should not tempt the Lord [try His patience, become a trial to Him, critically appraise Him, and exploit His goodness]..". Now let me clarify this, testing God in here is different from what we know in Malachi about robbing God. Testing someone or something varies on what kind of test. In Malachi God is actually commanding us to test him in giving to him, in tithes and offerings, and its the only one that we could test him. On the contrary, in Exodus, you will witness the Israelites testing God's greatness and power as they were wandering in the desert through their repeated disobedience in God's commands. They exploited God's goodness, even though they knew that God will always provide for them and forgive their sins, they abused it.
My brothers and sisters this should not be, even though we know that God is a merciful god, he will and always forgive our sins, we must not put his goodness and patience into test through repeated disobedience. That perspective signifies the worldly sorrow kind of attitude. As we all know that only Godly sorrow produces into the life-changing repentance. Let's obey him and follow his decrees. Once we encounter the TRUTH, let's REPENT and through FAITH we will not commit the same sins again and again.
Upon testing Christ what happen to them?
The result is this, "..as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.." (9.NIV)
4. "And do not grumble,." (10.NIV) [PERSEVERANCE UNDER TRIALS]
Let us not complain to God. For 40 years in the dessert, God has been so faithful to them. He showered them blessings, he provided them food, and even after the Exodus and the reign of the Judges, God always loved them and even granted their requests (ex. when they were asking for a king to rule over them). But if the things don't go according to their ways or to what they expect, they complain. Once, they had no food and water in the desert, they complained, they even grumbled and cursed God. Here's the funny thing, as they were complaining, they even asked God to bring them back to the Egyptians. Woah?! You have just experienced discomfort for the first time in God's presence and goodness, then you are actually asking him to bring you back to slavery which you can't experience happiness and freedom rather punishment and discomfort for the rest of your lives?
You know what, in reality, we are all like that. A little bit of trial, a little bit of problem, challenge, discomfort in life, we complain and grumble against our God, our father. As a father, he wants to discipline his children because of his so much love for us, he doesn't wants us to be spoiled, and not learn. He continuously educates us, trains us, teaches us every necessary things we need to know and guides us in our lives, for we are all a "work-in-progress". James says "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." (1.2-4.The Message) He tells that the tests and challenges are gift, and as we undergo through those situations in life, we grow in maturity and gain character.
Upon grumbling what happen to them?
The result is this, "..as some of them did--and were [a]put out of the way entirely by the destroyer (death)." (10.Amplified)
The results of all the evil things they did falls into one thing. DEATH.
"But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions).Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death." - James 1:14-15 (The Amplified Bible)
Picture taken : http://www.google.com.ph/imglanding?q=four&hl=tl&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=ykfwnP2iuAZ-fM:&imgrefurl=http://dawn42.deviantart.com/art/four-seasons-wallpaper-44148606&imgurl=http://www.deviantart.com/download/44148606/four_seasons_wallpaper_by_Dawn42.jpg&w=1280&h=1024&ei=KwGtTdSXOo2UvAO-rfnTCg&zoom=1&iact=hc&oei=mACtTd-8HYLwvwOyxN3DCw&page=2&tbnh=118&tbnw=133&start=25&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:25&biw=1366&bih=541
Legends/Symbolisms:
Green = God = "3 Colors of Ministry"
Fire = Burning Passion = Carnal desires
Brown = Land = Snakes
Blue = Cold = Angel of death
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