A Deeper Look at Communion
Sit underneath your teaching their hearts will be ready to receive little pray for us here as Pastor. Chris gets ready to bring the word that you would speak through him. Just as you going to speak through the teachers with a child and that our hearts would be ready and willing to be shaped by you and your word. This is their hearts. Are your name? We thank you. Amen.
I'm glad you're here. I know a lot of people are out of town, but we're glad that you're here. It is a special morning because it is our last Sunday service before we begin our new year and I can't think of a better way to celebrate than to celebrate with communion this morning. We're going to observe communion. It is one of the two ordinances that God left that Jesus left for us to do. What is the other ordinance? Baptism so baptism and the Lord's Supper are the two ordinances. Both are symbolic. They represent something baptism represents that Jesus died that he was very many Rose again. That's why we we say we Dunkin Donuts is Baptist. We put up we put you under the water under the water died was buried and then he rose again on Thursday. And then I have communion is this this is not his body and blood Jesus, but I can have any sitting at the right hand of God and this does not magically turned to his blood or his body. I'm a symbolic of that Jesus died on the cross that he shed his blood as payment for our sins and he gave his body for us so that we could be set free as we've been going through this Christmas. We've seen lots of lots of symbols. Lots of things that we talked about as Christ came into the world. The reason why he came into this world was he came so that he could be that sacrifice God Emmanuel God With Us God literally came down from heaven the last week if you were here last week. We went in Revelation 1 and we saw that this Jesus Who Came From Heaven Wasn't the Jesus in the manger that we talked about. This was God in the flash that God himself Came In the Flesh and came humbled himself became a man and became obedient even to the Cross where he died in place of our sin, but when we take communion, there's a couple things a week. It's important that we that we look at while we take communion. The first thing I want us to see is it is a time to remember it's a time to remember what he's done for us. In fact in 1st Corinthians chapter 11 verses 23 through 25 for I received from the Lord. What I also delivered to you. But the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed. He took the bread. When he had given thanks, he broke and said this is my body, which is for you do this in remembrance of me. Same way you also took the cup after supper saying this cup is the New Covenant in my blood. Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me, when we come to the Lord's table. We are not offering a new sacrifice. We are remembering what he did because his sacrifice was a one for all sacrificed when Jesus Christ died on that cross and if we didn't have to hack kill Lambs anymore, there's no more sacrifice because those lamps would only atone for your sins. They would cover it up for a moment Jesus when he died. He was the Lamb of God's he redeemed us. He took away the sin of the world as far as the East is from the West. Who sang the song just a few minutes ago all the overwhelming? Never ending Reckless Love of God. How Reckless was it that God would send his son to this earth to die in my place.
He left heaven to become a baby. He became poor of the God who created everything he became poor so that I might be rich rich in his Mercy rich in his love the creator of the universe gave up everything so that he can redeem us 2nd Corinthians chapter 8 verse 9 says this for you know, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich yet for your sake he became poor. You by his poverty might become rich We celebrated Christmas as we looked at them Carnation. We seen that God himself became man. He became poor he became sin who knew? No sin Galatians says he who knew no sin became sin for us so that we might be declared not guilty. How amazing is that?
penalty of my sin Isaiah 53 Verses 4 through 6. Is this surely he has borne our griefs? He carried our sorrows yet. We esteemed him stricken smitten of God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. Upon him. It's past Heisman. That was bet brought us. Peace. And with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way and the lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Sometimes I'm afraid that we don't have a grasp of send anymore. It seems to me that in our day. We take sending it just kind of brush it to the cyborg. Everyone does it and I don't think the brass the gravity of what Sin is Sin is what separates us from God. Can't even look at it. It's so disgusting to him. He can't even look at it and yet we play around with seems like it's nothing.
I think if we had a real view of what sin was if we could understand send from God's perspective. It would change the way that we live. 2 Chainz how we walked in our lives to change the things we watch the things we talked about it would change everything.
Became sin for me. The shed his blood for my Redemption looking 1st Peter 1 18 19.
knowing but you were ransomed. Family Feud always inherited from your forefathers not with perishable things such as silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ. logout of a lamb without blemish response
You understand that he came and shed his blood for my Redemption for mice in the guys would never knew some good. Look at sin knew that my sin separated me from God for eternity. He came and shut his book took my place on the cross. I was the one that deserved committed to say. I was the one who is guilty and he came for me on that cross in my place still out. The poorest Ralph out on him for me.
I think if we could dress that if we can understand how much he's done for us if we can understand the Incarnation of what God did for us. It would change everything about the way we live. He shed his blood for my Redemption not just so I could be covered up but I could be redeemed. You see what he separated my Cindy separated as far as the East is from the West Saint Kateri charged me with it anymore even since I haven't committed yet. He's declared not guilty of because of what he's done on the cross when saying says looking at me supposed to be password supposed to be one of your children to look at it. Look at always treated that person. Look at what he's done.
Jesus steps out and says I died in his place.
Jesus and God says not guilty already punished that's in on my son. I put him on the cross and his place. There's no charge you can bring against them.
I conquered death for me forever.
Revelation 1:18 says this the living one I died and behold. I am alive for Evermore and I have the keys of death and Hell.
You realize that when Jesus rose again from the dead after he took all my penalty all my sin of paper all my crimes and all the current any person is ever committed. He died for all of those.
He alone. Being God rose from the dead and conquered death and sin and hell and he has the keys to hell and keys to death. Guess what one day I'm going to close my eyes in this world, but the Bible says as soon as I open my eyes, I'm going to open up an eternity standing before the King of Kings and the Lord of lords member that guy we talked about last week and Revelation 1 the guy whose eyes are fire and his hair is white and white as snow in His Garment was white with a with a golden sash. He stood in firm judgment. His decision is absolutely final he declared me not guilty not because of anything that I did not because I deserve it. Because I'm a pastor it's not because I'm about to stop because of anything that I've done only because of what Jesus Christ did for me when I recognized with Jesus Christ did for me and I accept that as payment for my sins. He said you are declared not guilty. Can you talk about Reckless abandon love God himself became flesh and died in my place so that I can be redeemed. I wonder if maybe earlier today and you don't know what Christ has done for you. I want you to know I want you if you hear nothing else today. I want you to understand that that is the sole purpose why we celebrate Christmas. That's the whole reason why we come to church every Sunday why we worship Why We Sing me songs because we are worshipping the one who died in my place to pay the penalty for all that. He declared me not guilty because of what his son did for me. And there's nothing that I can ever do to repay that.
It's a time to remember when we take communion in just a little bit. It's a time to remember what Christ did that's what we do when we celebrate communion when we eat before we take the bread. I want you to take an exam on yourself. And remember what Christ did for you remember all that he did to pay the penalty for your Cindy came was born of A Virgin live the perfect life. I've lived a sinless life died on the cross the paper the penalty for my sin is the time to remember what he's done. The second thing we need understands that's a time to reflect. I can't think of a better time to reflect a new year. I mean the new year you look back at the old year and you say mint. There's something I wish I could have gotten done. There's some things that I tried to do what I was able to get done with that are some things that there's some changes that I needed to make in my life. Take communion. We are declaring his death and Resurrection to a new generation of people. He is making a statement that we are Christian. We are Christ like when we take communion it is a time to reflect on who I am in Christ.
I'm not that person. I want to see anymore what he redeem means he didn't save me so that I can call him and continue to live in sin off the question. Should I continue in sin that Grace May abound God forbids?
Wherever reflect ourselves we have to look at our lives as we take communion as we examine our lives and say God Am I Living For You what part of my life and my still hanging on to that what part of my wife still struggling with? I've got to give it to you.
1st Corinthians, 11:26 says this for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
It's a serious problem. We reflect Our Lives ever asked yourself how to my children see me. I see me as forgiving. They see me as loving. They see me as righteous. Listen, it's easy to come to church and stand and you don't see me every day. You don't see my life everyday, but the people that live with me my wife knows all my faults and she knows all my failures. She was almost done with my kids know my struggles. I know my faults and all my failures, but how did they see me? Do they see me becoming more like Christ. Am I using things more to him everyday?
Emergency. Hey, I got my ticket out of hell, and I'm good now. I'll just go. However, I want to live.
I'll just continue living in my sin. So Grace May abound my perfume is God forbid.
It's a serious time we reflect on our lives. I love there's a poem that I think I say it all the time. But I think it's so fitting in so many instances. It says the Bible is written a chapter a day.
by the Deeds that we do and the words that we say
memory what you say weather faithless or true? What is the Bible according to you?
People that work with you when they see you.
They see that there's something different about you. See that Christ lives in you.
If I see that there's a difference. I'm afraid in our culture. We got this. We got to a place where we going to rejected the whole separation. The Bible tells us that come out from among them and be separate we have to live different from the world. We're not despise them. We're not to hate them but we have to be so markedly different than them for the world. To recognize us as difference in them.
I'm afraid we live in a culture. We live in a time. Where are the churches decided what we're just going to be like him quiz when everybody's be like everybody else. God help us if that's where we're at.
It's a time where we examine ourselves when we reflect on our Salvation 1st Corinthians, 11 27 through 29 says this whoever there for Easter bread. Drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and the blood of the Lord.
Little person examine himself then and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup for anyone who eats and drinks without Discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
What is an unworthy manner? I call myself a Christian. And I come and take communion and I know there's blatant sin in my life. I know that there are things that I have completely rejected got on and completely turn my back on them from but I come and I put a smile on my face and I partake in communion like nothing's wrong. I better miss my heart again somebody else. I'm holding a grudge against somebody.
Communion is about fellowship with one. Another communion is for the church is for the church as a whole. We are called the whole one another up. We're called encourage one another to live righteous life each other out.
Why because none of us are perfect. Because we all fall we all fall short one of the reasons why we set up the outer board and it was to make sure that I have accountability in my life. It's imperative that we all are countable. Why because we're all Sinners. We're all prone to phone. We are called to take it a worthy man. That is that I exempt myself that I confess my sin. If I was if you confess your sins. He is faithful and just to forgive you your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. I can't think of a better way to start the new year and the confess my sin to God the Bible says whoever conceals his sin will not Prosper confesses and renounces. It will find Mercy.
I don't know about you, but I would much rather find Mercy. You were struggling sin for a while and it just brings you down and it brings you down it brings you down and you can push it off for a little while.
I'll send you realize it's just dragging me down so far. I've got to put away.
I want to tell you something that helps when you have somebody that you can talk to. It's been through it. I can help you walk out of it. It's a Time communion is a Time on when we reflect on our lives. We reflect on our salvation.
No one who is trusted Jesus for their salvation?
I'm sorry. No one who is not trusted Lord Jesus for their salvation should take the Lord's Supper. Listen if you're here today, and you have never trusted Christ as your savior, don't take it. It's not for you. It's for the church is for those people called. Christ Our Lord and ask him to forgive their sins and cleanse them of all their unrighteousness. If you've done that then you are welcome to take communion. If you haven't done that, it's not for you. There's nothing there's nothing wrong with it. There's nothing if you're not going to get punished for taking it. It's just it's just juice and it's just that it's symbolic for what we believe.
What is the time when we reflect on our spiritual condition, are you backslidden when we come to the Lord's table is sending our lives. We open our our lives up to God's judgement. You have a broken relationship. Are you harboring bitterness communion is a time to examine yourself and get it right communion is not something to be taken lightly as a Christian too many people will not take time to search their hearts for their sin or they don't consider the great sacrifice that Jesus gave and I want to tell you that's dangerous looking for some 29 through 32. It says anyone who eats and drinks without the CERN in the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
Cuz this is why many of you are weak and ill and some of God. What if we judge ourselves truly we will not be judged. Where we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that heat so that we may not be condemned along with the world. Is your life pleasing to the Lord?
Are there hidden things in our life that need to be dealt with? Communion is a time where we deal with those things.
Is there a problem between you and another believer?
sometimes sometimes people have problems and they never say a word. And then you find out years later that somebody had a problem with you. You have no idea.
If you have a problem, you have to go to the go to the person and get it resolved. I'm amazed that marriages that struggle because they don't talk to one another they don't spend time dealing with her issues.
It's also time communion is a time to recommit.
426 posters this is often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
Is coming a day when we are going to partake in the marriage supper of the Lamb. It's a time to look forward to what's going to happen. You know, when we take this communion again, when we die, we want to take it again with the Lord war in heaven. What a day that's going to be I don't know about you, but I'm getting excited thinking about heaven. I look at this world my see how broken it is. I see how fun it is. I see how much trouble one day though. I know that I have hope in the future that I know the people that I love that have died that went on before me. I'm going to celebrate with them. I love Christmas. I told somebody is watching this morning so much this Christmas cuz we went to meet his mom there weren't there about half of what normally comes there, but I think she fix food for everybody. That normally comes there. I ate until I couldn't eat anymore. I came home need a mate to my favorite stuff. The boys came home. Yesterday. We ate and we ate and we ate and I laid in bed last night thinking.
But you know what happens when you get around with people that you love you spend time and you eat and you it was just a constant. We're all together and it was I don't know if we just eat all the time more than other people but it was like all my favorite stuff. So it was like we had she made made this nut roll that is really good to eat some of that for breakfast and then she make tortellini soup and I hate that for lunch and she had pies and she had all this other stuff until was like I was constantly eating all day. No limits to what shouldn't eat that much but one of the things that's going to be off about having I can eat as much as I want. I won't gain a pound.
There's something about getting together with people that you love and sharing meal. One day when we get to heaven we are going to share a meal with each other that I believe is going to be the greatest meal that's ever been in history. It's called the marriage supper of the Lamb. You know who goes there the people that are married to Jesus. That is the church folks. We are the bride of Christ. We are a special people we get to go. He's going to prepare a meal for us the bride of Christ to come and spend time with him. I can't wait for that day. I want to tell you I get excited everytime I think about it. I think what have I been missing my whole life of me. I love the stuff that our mom makes my mom makes but what stuff out there that I've never tasted. What Fellowship do we sat last night? And it was so much fun. We talk when we spend time with each other. We tell stories and it was just wonderful, but that time I want to spend that marriage supper of the Lamb with Jesus. I want to hear stories of people's Redemption and how they came to Christ.
There's not going to be any Tears in Heaven, but I want to tell you something your heart's going to well up so big that might explode. It's alright, cuz there's no dying in heaven.
Look at Revelation 19 Verse 6 through 9.
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude. Like the Roar of many Waters and like the sound of Mighty peals of Thunder trying out. Hallelujah for the Lord our God the Almighty Reigns Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory for the marriage of the Lamb has come and the bride has made herself ready. It was granted to her the clothes herself with fine linen bright and pure. For the fine linen is the righteous Deeds of the Saints. An angel said to me right this blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb?
He said to me these. Are the true words of God?
I want to tell you how you get an invitation to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
It's one way you get an invitation to the marriage supper of the Lamb. The first thing is you have to recognize that you're a sinner. That your sins separated you from God. If you bet your ass in there without Christ your sins separate you as far as that can't even look at you because your sins is so despicable.
And all of us were there the Bible says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. There is none righteous. No, not one. I'm a pass right here and look at me.
I have to recognize that I'm a sinner and that my sin separating me from God. I have to believe that God sent his only son Jesus Christ to come down to this earth to be born a baby. God incarnate God With Us. To live a perfect life and die on that Old Rugged Cross to pay the penalty so that I can be declared not guilty and go to heaven with him. So a I have to admit that I'm a sinner B. I have to believe that Jesus Christ is who he says he is but he is the Son of God that he died on the cross in my place and see I have to call on him. The Bible says whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. You want an invitation. It's a simple as ABC admit that your Center believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for you and call on him ask him to save you. I always keep telling you this like this. It's like Tom Brady. He makes millions of dollars plays for the Patriots. Every week is paycheck goes in there wherever his paycheck boxes if he went how many years he's been playing now and never picked up that paycheck never deposited in the bank. It wouldn't be any good to him. Yes, the Patriots wrote that check every week for his money, but if he didn't go and get it and put it into his account and it didn't mean anything.
I want you to understand something that Jesus Christ died for all sins past present future for everyone. I don't care if your wife if your black if your green if your purple I don't care if you're a man or a woman that's tight Jesus Christ died for all sin, and he died for sin 210. He will imputed righteousness. He wrote the check. He definitely that was the check Brittany said I paid it all and all you have to do is take that check and deposited into your account and I would puke my righteousness, you know, how you get to heaven you have to be as righteous as Christ. And the only way I can be as righteous as Christ as when he imputes that means he deposited his righteousness on my account on that cross.
If you haven't ever trust in Jesus Christ your savior, then he's already written that check for you and it's doing you no good at all.
If you want to receive that invitation to the marriage supper of the Lamb that we were talking about. You have to accept what he's done lacrosse and apply it to your life. How do I do that? Like I said ABC admit to your Center ask God God look I recognize that my sin separated me from you. I believe that what you said in your word that you came to this earth and died on the cross to take my penalty for my sin. Lord I'm asking you to forgive me of my sins to impute your righteousness on my account. I know I'm not worth it. I know I'm not worthy of it. But Lord you promise that you did that to me. If you do that today, the Bible says that you will be declared. Not only not guilty you be declared righteous.
And you will receive a first-class invitation to the marriage supper of the Lamb. You will be the bride that's dressed in white.
Why do we celebrate communion? Why do we take communion is to remember what Christ is done?
Stuart a time to reflect on our own lives and it's a time to recommit with what God has done in our lives. So if you've never trusted Christ this morning, I want you to know you can you can receive that invitation accept what Christ has done for you on the cross believe what he's done and he will impute his righteousness on your account. You want you can do that today and then you know what? You're welcome to come and partake in communion with us. If you've already done that listen you out to examine yourself. We're going to take a few moments here in just a minute. We're going to examine ourselves. We're going to have some music playing some time. We're reflecting on that and after you've reflected I want you to come up and take the bread and take the cup go sit down quietly and then we'll protect together. It is a it is a ordinance that is given for the church is at ordinance that we do together.
Because we are the bride of Christ. One day we'll take this again in heaven with all the saints all over the world for all the time. Matthew by your heads and close your eyes. I'm going to ask our elders if they'll come forward and uncover the elements at this time.