August 5, 2007

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 Scripture KJV

1 Corinthians

Reverend David S. Huffer

Westwood Baptist Church - 2124 Davis Road
 Waynesboro, VA

1:17    For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
1:18    For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1:19    For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
1:20    Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1:21    For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
1:22    For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
1:23    But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1:24    But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
1:25    Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1:26    For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1:27    But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1:28    And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1:29    That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1:30    But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
 

What The Lord’s Supper Can Do For You

1 Corinthians 11:17-30

 

We often ask or think when asked to do something or be a part of something, “What is this going to do for me?”

·         It seems to be the bent of this age,

·         but perhaps every age as we see this attitude in the believers of the church in Corinth

The City of Corinth was known for its raw immorality, where gods and goddesses of every form of pleasure were created, worshipped, and followed.

·         The city’s reputation could be summed up in the expression “to live like a Corinthian.”

·         This expression meant that one was to live in an unexamined and uncontrolled “anything goes” manner.

Paul spoke of the Christians at Corinth being “carnal” – worldly in their approach to the Christian life.

 

FRIENDS – It would be easy to conclude that there is too much of the influence of Corinth in and on the Church – and too little influence of the Church in and on Corinth.

 

Our brothers and sisters in Corinth light the way for the worse kind of attitudes of selfishness and separation.

·         Oh – they were believers – but they were more concerned about themselves and what they personally were going to get out of the Lord’s Supper.

 

Through the wrong actions of the Christians in Corinth we gain an understanding of what the Lord’s Supper can do for us.

 

IT CAN BETTER US – V.17

·         Little sharing with little caring going on

·         Your congregational gatherings are more debilitating than edifying

·         “worse” – less, worthless

·         V.23 – Jesus was betrayed

FRIENDS – Jesus went through the worse so we could live in the better.

“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to

·         you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread.”

The Lord’s Supper is a visible representation of the death of Christ for us.

·         Which is the Good News

·         Our participation in it should strengthen and deepen our faith through fellowship with Christ and other believers.

 

IT CAN UNITE US - V.18

·         The Corinthians were not demonstrating the unity and love that should characterize the church

·         “divisions” – self-willed – destructive dividing to self and body

·         A break in fellowship – Will it unite or untie?

 

FRIENDS – Jesus was broken.

·         V. 24 – “and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

Jesus was broken that we would not be divided – BUT UNITED!

 

IT CAN HUMBLE US – V.19

·         “factions” – to prefer or choose one over another – sects/clicks

·         Promoting of self

FRIENDS – Jesus bled.

·         V. 25 – “In the same manner He also took the cup after supper saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

 

STORY – Many years ago in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, George and Gerry Bajenksi’s lives were changed forever.

·         February 16, 1989 – A very normal Thursday morning.

·         The phone rang at 9:25 am.

·         There’s been an accident …” It involved their son Ben.

 

As they approached the intersection near the high School, they could see the flashing lights of the police cars and ambulance units.

·         Vera noticed a photographer and followed the direction of his camera lens to the largest pool of blood she had ever seen.

·         All she could say was – “George – Ben went home – home to be with his Heavenly Father.”

·         Her first reaction was to jump out of the car, somehow collect the blood and put it back in her son.

·         That blood – for Vera – at that moment – became the most precious thing in the world because it was life.

·         It was life-giving blood and it belonged to her son, the one she loved so much.”

 

The road was dirty and blood just didn’t belong there. George noticed that cars were driving right through the intersection – right through the blood.

·         His heart was smitten. He wanted to cover the blood with his coat and cry – “You will not drive over the blood of my son!”

 

Then Vera understood for the first time in her life, one of God’s greatest and most beautiful truths: WHY BLOOD?

·         Because it was the strongest language God could have used

·         It was the most precious thing He could give

·         The highest price He could pay.

1 Peter 1:19 – “…redeemed by the Precious Blood of Christ.”

 

Hebrews 10:29 – “Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which He was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of Grace?”

In our moments of being worse – being divided – and being in factions with one another – DO WE TRAMPLE ON THE BLOOD OF CHRIST?

CLOSE

When we think of Christ being… Betrayed … Broken… Bleeding… for us… it should:

  1. Better us – not just make us better
  2. Unite us – not just help us get along
  3. Humble us – not just give us false humility

When we are Bettered (not battered) – when we are United (not untied) – and when we are Humbled (not haughty) – we will proclaim Christ till He comes (v.26)

To think of Christ betrayed, broken, and bleeding – should cause us to examine ourselves (vv.27-28)

To do otherwise is to put ourselves and the body at risk (vv29-30)

AMEN!

 

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