I've Got Good Sense

1 Corinthians.10:15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

To begin with Paul said I want to talk to people with good sense. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10: 15 I am speaking to you as to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say.

This really opened my eyes. Somebody ask me why? Well Paul is not shoving the word down none of the people throat. Paul is saying that I’m speaking and reasoning and conversating with people who have good sense and they can make up their own mind whether or not I’m speaking Truth or Lies.

In 34 years of ministry I’ve come to discover that the best way to handle people is to let them!! make up their own minds. Paul said I’m talking to people who have good sense. And so you’ve got to know the historicity of the Corinthian Culture.

Paul isn’t talking to a Jewish community. No No No. The Apostle Paul is speaking to culture where there were many pagan gods. The Corinthians were a cosmopolitan metropolis upwardly mobile trend setting place.

Paul taught the Corinthian Church In 1 Corinthians Chapters 8–9 & 10, that Paul believers had to make personal decisions about important “questionable” areas of Christian life.

Paul said 1.IN 1 CORINTHIANS Chapter 8 THAT KNOWLEDGE MUST BE BALANCED BY LOVE.

2. IN 1 CORINTHIANS Chapter 9 THAT AUTHORITY MUST BE BALANCED BY DISCIPLINE. 3. IN 1 CORINTHIANS Chapter 10 :1-22 THAT EXPERIENCE MUST BE BALANCED BY CAUTION. AND THEN 4. IN 1 COR. 10:23-33 THAT FREEDOM MUST BE BALANCED BY RESPONSIBILITY.

And so Corinth A city on the isthmus between Greece and the Peloponnesian Peninsula.was located at the center of trade and commerce. Corinth was an influential Graeco-Roman city, it was a hub for international trade and business. So you had all kinds of people came to Corinth. It was a culturally divers ed place, which tolerated and even embraced all kinds of customs and foreign practices, odd behaviors, and eccentric lifestyles, like America does today.

And so Just let me say in defense of the city of Corinth. Corinth wasn’t no Rome or Athens or Jerusalem but it was Corinth. In Modern times we’d say Corinth wasn’t no New York City, Corinth wasn’t no Los Angeles and Corinth wasn’t no Chicago or Las Vegas but Corinth would have been like a New Orleans.

Corinth has a super huge international shipping port just like New Orleans. You had smart people from all over the known civilized world there. But you also had lewd low down immoral people there too. There was also an element of pagan immorality that said around every corner “do what you want to”.

And unlike Athens, and Rome where they centered around intellectual jargon , Legalistic rules and regulations and philosophical gesturing Paul had to deal with this new sect of Christianity that was infused with paganism.

And Paul had to remind the Jews of the diaspora don’t forget where God had brought the Children of Israel from. And we too must be reminded from time to time of Where we come from so we can appreciate where we are today.

And so Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:1 began an extensive history lesson to the people of God. Paul started quoting the Exodus 13: text where Moses told the People remember that It was the strength of the Hand of the Lord that deliver us from Egyptian Bondage you keep it holy. Don’t start eating leavenated bread and other things like the heathens do.

Moses said teach your children to do it right,Keep it right in your mind in your heart and in your mouth. Moses said say it out loud that we’ve been delivered by the Strong Hand of God Almighty.

Moses wrote in scripture that God protected us with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Paul said they all were on one accord at first.

They all ate the same spiritual food Manna from on high. Paul said they all drink from the rock that God provided and and and that the clean clear spring water from the Spiritual Rock represented Jesus the Christ.

Then Paul said some folk had a Backsliding spirit and because of their disobedience many died in the wilderness. In verses 5&6

Verse 5 But God was not pleased with most of them, so they died in the desert. 6 And these things happened as examples for us, to stop us from wanting evil things as those people did.

Paul said the church they died for acting up and so that’s example of what not to do. Brothers and sister you and I don’t have to learn everything by experience right? Because some of the stuff I’ve seen people go through because of their sins lets me know not to do that. Well it’s communion and this is where we ought to examine ourselves and line up with God’s Word right?

And so specifically what was Paul reminding the new converts about? We’ll find our answers in verses 7&8 Do not worship idols, as some of them did. Just as it is written in the Scriptures: “They sat down to eat and drink, and then they got up and sinned sexually.” 8 We must not take part in sexual sins, as some of them did. In one day twenty-three thousand of them died because of their sins. Brothers and sisters Be sure your sins will find you out.

The second thing in the text is found in verses 9&10 and that is that God has been good so don’t complain and try to tempt God. The word of God says in verse 9 We must not test Christ as some of them did; they were killed by snakes. 10 Do not complain as some of them did; they were killed by the angel that destroys.

The children of Israel were complaining They said Moses you and God got us out here in this god forsaken desert wilderness and we don’t have food to eat or nothing and Numbers 21 say that God sent venomous snakes to bit and kill a lot of people and they begged Moses to talk to God on their behalf and God told Moses build an brass brasen image of a snake put it high upon a pole and tell them to look up and if the snakes bite them they will live, Yes indeed.

Brothers and sisters obedience is better than sacrifice. I’d rather try it God’s way than to try it my way and be wrong as two left shoes. and have to pay for it with my life.

Paul said in I Corinthians 10:11 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. 14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

Well I see several things in verses 11-14.

1. God is not a man that he should lie. God said through Paul these are examples and admonitions and warning to be holy and not heathenish.

2. Paul said in verse 12 the worse thing in the world to do is think that you strong enough to violate God law and then get away with it.

3. God says in verse 13 I know that in your flesh dwells no good thing, and so I the Lord will provide Grace for you yes indeed!!! and that’s a sure way of escape from the temptations of life.

( If you’re a Christian The Lord keeps us from a whole lot of stuff…that our flesh really likes to do). God knows you’re weak to it and he keeps you from it so it don’t take you down.

4. In verse 14 the word says flee from idolatry. Any person, any place, or Any thing that we put above God is idol worship.No person, no thing, and no place is above God. He said I will have no other gods before me. And the city of Corinth was famous for idol gods and pagan worship.

And so now Paul talks to the people in common sense terms that sets up the criteria for communion with Christ.

Look at verses 15,16, &17 Let’s read it together 15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

Paul is saying First of all, 1. in verse 15 I’m talking to people with good sense.Tell your neighbor: we got good sense.

Secondly Paul is saying in verse 16 that the cup of blessing that we’re blessing with is the communion Blood of Jesus Christ. It’s symbolic but it’s real. That cracker that we eat and that grape juice that we drink during communion it’s all symbolic but it also real. Where is it real? Where? IN MY HEART.

Thirdly in verse 17 that we are all participants in this sacred process. During the communion procedure there are no big Iiiii and little uuuu We’re all the same in God’s Eyes. Paul is saying in essence even while I am the administrator of the communion, make no mistake about it Paul said I need it just as badly as you do. Because the worse thing in the world for the Pastor to do, is to get everybody else saved and then He’s lost, out of the will of God, and bust hell wide open. (I don’t cut no corners I’m going to tell it like it is).

In Chapter 10 from verses 18 -33 Paul tells the church some profound things.

Paul said don’t get caught up in those idols and make them important to you.

Paul said don’t get caught up with having a split personality you can’t be at the Lord’s Table and at the devil’s table at the same time. Elijah said How long halt ye between two opinions follow God or the devil. And Jesus said but you can’t follow both.

Paul said just because you can do something doesn’t mean that you ought to do it. You can jump off the Mississippi River bridge that doesn’t mean that you’ll live if you do!!! Paul said I’m talking to people that have good sense.

Paul said You got good sense Just because somebody invite you to do wrong stuff doesn’t mean that you have to do that to stay friends with them. Because friends like that you don’t need no enemies.

The last thing Paul said in chapter 10 whatever you do, do it to the glory of God. Paul said I’m trying to save as many people as I can.

Well that the just of Chapter 10 and Paul said before we take this communion there are a few more things that I need to lay out the Christian foot work of steps we need to follow

Paul said to this Corinthian Church in Chapter 11. Some how and some way this church got off course.

1. Paul said I told ya’ll to follow me as I follow Christ. The head of every man is Christ. The head of every woman is her husband and the head of Christ is God Almighty.

2. Paul said men pray without a hat on women pray with your chapel cap on.

3.Paul said Men and women need each other. The woman was made from man but the man afterward Eve was born of a woman. So Chaka khan song I’m every woman doesn’t work here.

4. Paul said in verses 17 - that you come together doing more harm than good. You’re divided and God wants us on one accord. That’s not just in Paul’s day but that’s in 2024 too.

5. Paul said it’s a shame how some of ya’ll are coming and behaving in church. Paul said in verse 20 we are all supposed to be eating together and drinking together. We are supposed to be having Kionia Christian fellowship.

6. Paul said but I see classism starting to happen big IIII and little uuuu. Some people got too much to eat and too much to drink and are even getting drunk at church on the communion meal.

7. Paul said in order for this new religion this sect of Christianity to truly survive we’ve got to do it right.

I’m closing here now and Paul said 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

Paul specifically warned the people in verse 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

Paul said when you don’t take communion seriously in verse 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

Why ah Paul said I’m speaking to folk with good sense and I expect to see some changes in their behavior. Because once we know better God hold us to a higher standard of righteous living.