ALL DID EAT THE SAME SPIRITUAL MEAT, Sermon Notes for 28 July 2024 Anno Domini, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide

 

 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 (KJV) 
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.  ⁵  But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.  ⁶  Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.  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.  ⁸  Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.  ⁹  Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.  ¹⁰  Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.  ¹¹  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.  ¹²  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.  ¹³  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 

            Due to the unchanging Providence of God, His great plan of redemption, promulgated from before the foundation of the worlds, has remained consistent from Eden to our present day and beyond. All believers should be baptized into the Church as a seal of the covenant relationship they have in Christ’s Church and as a sign of their regeneration to life in Christ. Normally, we would consider baptism as a personal, individual experience in the life of a believer; however, have you considered the wholesale baptism of an entire nation? 

            It is precisely that baptism which occurred to the Children of Israel as they passed under the waters of the Red Sea. The entire nation was anointed and sanctified as the people of God. Were they perfect in faith? Not in the least – they failed many times but endured those forty years of wandering in the wilderness until arriving at the Banks of Jordan Waters. “And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” Notice the baptism was a national baptism under Moses, their courageous captain. The leadership of a nation is of principal importance in the eyes of God. But even Moses was not perfect. His strength was in his trust of God under every circumstance. We tend to share the leadership we deserve as a people.

            I have heard it preached that there is no such thing as a Christian nation. Was Israel a Godly nation under the grace and providence of God? If there is no Christian nation, what did the Singer of Israel mean by the phrase: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” Psalm 33:12 I believe that every nation exists under the sovereignty of God, but I also believe that the United States was a nation very highly favored by God in its founding and miraculous rise as a leading nation among the powers of the earth. Its citizens were fundamentally good and faithful Christians. We have enjoyed the favor of the Lord in both peace and in war – our forces in bastle being especially blessed with success from the Revolutionary War to the World Wars. But since those days of glorious providential care, our people have turned against the God of their early founding and embraced every sinister and decadent practice imaginable under the sun. Most Americans have pacifically objected to these trends of degradation, but not strongly enough. 

            As our Epistle points out, “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.  ⁵  But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.  ⁶  Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.” Israel all ate of the same spiritual meat. Today, that meat has been denied our children in public schools, and a number of godless religions are emulated. We no longer drink the same spiritual drink since we have allowed the ancient enemy of our souls to dominate in many areas of our government and society. God is not pleased with many of us today, and we may fail, as did many in the Wilderness, to enjoy the freedom of ruling in our own affairs. After all, those who are incapable of ruling themselves will find rulers aplenty who are eager rule in tyranny over them.

            God is not well-pleased with a people who, having known the truth of God, have turned away to the lusts of the flesh and every wicked way. We have turned to the riotous and slanderous orgies of the golden calf of Aaron. “But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” 2 Peter 2:22

            America has become a habitat for serpents – the very ones we have opened our doors and welcomed to come among us – people of diverse manners and ungodly customs, but more importantly, of religious conviction that contrast sharply with those of the biblical faith once practiced in the homes and churches of our land. When Israel sinned in murmuring against God, He sent fiery serpents among them that resulted in the death of many. Perhaps our serpents today are drugs, alcohol and sex. We stumble as drunken men who have forgotten their home in God. Certainly, we have many who are greatly concerned and struggle to restore our country to its firm foundation in God, but that re-conversion cannot occur through politics – it must come by way of the conversion of one heart at a time. When a nation is primarily righteous, it will be led by men worthy of the role. But when the balance, known only to God, has reached a critical mass of unrighteousness, even the Godly among us will suffer. 

            “Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.   Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” God has given us due warning. How shall we respond to that warning?

            My words may be heard with discomfort and sorrow. If so, they have achieved their purpose. We need a stark awakening to the great point of national and spiritual jeopardy in which we find ourselves today. Be strong in the Lord and touch not the unclean thing. “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13