Remember!
Notes
Transcript
Reading: Isaiah 53:4-6
Introduction:
Today we are going to take part in communion together.
Communion is one of the two biblical ordinances.
The other is Baptism.
Communion is the command for us to: “do this in remembrance of Him”.
Generally speaking it is a moment when we all remind ourselves of His:
Love
Sacrifice
Grace
Mercy, and everything we were given through His work.
Transition: Today I wanted to use Paul as an example of how we should approach Commuinion.
Transition: Today I wanted to use Paul as an example of how we should approach Commuinion.
He expresses his:
I. Gratitude (:12-:13)
I. Gratitude (:12-:13)
1 Timothy 1:12-13 “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,”
Paul is writing to Timothy with the purpose to provide an instruction manual for organization and administration in the local church.
He begins with a greeting, followed by a warning about teachers of false doctrine.
Then in :12 he changes his tone.
He starts with praising God and worships Him in His writing.
“I Thank Him”
He possesses a demeanor or mindset of thankfulness.
Point:
We can approach Communion with:
A. Being Thankful (:12a)
A. Being Thankful (:12a)
Paul’s first statement: “I give thanks” literally translated is:
“I have thankfulness”
? Have you ever abided in a mindset of thankfulness?
It will change your entire attitude towards everything.
Illustration:
A pessimist can change from seeing the negative in everything to noticing the good and focusing on that.
When Paul saw Christ and trusted in Him and was saved. He began to view the believers differently than before.
They were’n’t his enemies anymore.
They were courageous and bold in their faith.
They were kind and accepting.
They reflected the love of Christ.
Point:
He saw the good and ignored the bad because he was thankful to be counted among them.
Connection:
Connection:
We too can have thankfulness, which would bring dramatic results to our mindsets: True joy, kindness, the fruits of the spirit.
Paul also recognized the great power when relying on Jesus:
This power was the pinnacle when compared to the weak efforts of witchcraft and demonic dependence.
Illustsration:
“When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Prove yourselves by working a miracle,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.’ ” So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.
Through all ten plagues from God in Egypt they revealed the power of Christ is supreme.
Paul’s strength was supreme to anything; because it was Christ in Him.
That was why he could write and believe what he wrote in:
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Connection:
Connection:
Christ equipped Paul. Christ will equip you too.
He is the employer that makes it possible to fulfill your job.
Transition:
Transition:
We can have thanks that he who is faithful calls us and will work through us.
We must come to:
B. Acknowledgement (:12b)
B. Acknowledgement (:12b)
Paul says that Jesus judged him.
? Would you be worried if Christ came to you (before salvation) to judge you?
Absolutely!
I would be guilty.
Yet Paul states He judged him faithful!
? How was Paul faithful?
Look at the position he was occupying for the current temple leadership.
He was Zealous more than any other!
He was the most faithful to what he believed in.
Point:
God created Paul with a loyal heart and mind, it was time to reveal Himself to Paul and for Paul to recognize he was God and that Christ chose to give mercy and grace.
He was grateful that Jesus didn’t give him the punishment he deserved; then was blown away by asking him to fill an office and work for Him.
Transition:
Transition:
Paul states who he used to be before Jesus changed him entirely. We hear his:
C. History (:13)
C. History (:13)
Blasphemer:
He denied Christ as God.
Persecutor:
He hunted believers down to sentence them to death.
Insolent Opponent:
Which is an arrogant spirit, proud, haughty.
Illustration:
Now a days we have easy targets for this type of mindsets.
Our modern sports venues.
I’ll pick on football today a little. It seems like every touchdown is the game winner for the Superbowl, or it’s the first time it has ever happened in football history.
The overly general statement: The stereotype professional athlete is proud, haughty, an arrogant spirit.
That was Paul. Better than everyone and Christ was a liar.
* But I received mercy because I didn’t believe in Christ!
Connection:
Connection:
I’m sure every believer has an history to divulge that was done in a mindset of unbelief and received mercy.
Transition:
Transition:
We can have a thankful demeanor for Christ’s work for us.
That work was:
II. Grace Extended (:14-:15)
II. Grace Extended (:14-:15)
1 Timothy 1:14-15 “and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”
The grace of our Lord was extended to all who would believe at the Cross.
Paul states the:
A. Recognition (:14a)
A. Recognition (:14a)
It didn’t just meet the fill line, it “overflowed”
Think about this:
Who in this world doesn’t wan someone who’s love never stops, is fierce, isn’t conditional and is forever?
No one, each and every one of us long for that kind of love from someone.
Only a perfect God could love like that!
Transition:
Transition:
Paul recognized Jesus’ love, and it was love for him personally!
Paul submitted to believing in which allowed the:
B. Receiving (:14b)
B. Receiving (:14b)
He responded to knowing the Lord and His work extending grace and mercy for him.
He believed and was given no more condemnation.
Transition:
Transition:
Paul possessed a new name written down in glory.
His sins were washed away.
He knew the Lord didn’t just provide for him so he made a:
C. Declaration (:15)
C. Declaration (:15)
?What did he declare?
He was the worst sinner!
? How did he declare it?
He proclaimed it boldly, it was a dogmatic fact!
He even had a sense of appeal that he was portraying:
This is trustworthy!
It should be accepted with no skepticism
*He presented the purpose of Christ.
When before he spoke boldly against Christ!
*He humbly states: I was the worst.
People believed him probably because they remember.
Point:
Every believer has that powerful testimony of how their life changed after Christ saved you!
The declaring of it is revealing the power of Christ upon a soul.
The validation is when people can testify of that change in your life.
Maybe it’s an attitude change or your lifestyle.
Transition:
Transition:
We can declare the authority and power of Christ everyday, since we have:
III. Received Mercy (:16-:17)
III. Received Mercy (:16-:17)
1 Timothy 1:16-17 “But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Why me?
You ever wondered that?
Why did God save me?
*Don’t worry it’s normal to think that, it shows your humility.
Paul provides us with the:
A. Reason (:16a)
A. Reason (:16a)
“But I received mercy for this reason,”…Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience”
?What in the world is Paul saying?
I think that Paul didn’t pull any punches with what he understood about himself.
He knows that he can be a little stubborn.
Maybe hard of hearing.
Maybe sure of his own conclusions about people or a matter.
Illustration:
Have you ever worked with someone who has to try their own way instead of just listening to someone’s help?
Oh how it requires patience while dealing with them.
Point:
God is very patient with us whole we do it our way and finally when there aren’t any other options: we do it His way.
God reveals His patient loving care for us to everyone around.
Some of us are lucky to be alive and it is only because He is patient.
Transition:
Transition:
This epiphany may have caused:
B. Reflection (:16b)
B. Reflection (:16b)
“…That in me, as the foremost,…as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life.”
*Paul had been called to represent God to the brethren.
Connection:
Connection:
Paul is an example for all believers.
Kinda seems like he is portraying that God set the bar pretty low with him.
“If Paul can do it you can too”...
Transition:
Transition:
It might not seem fair but we are to be examples to one another for what is possible in the Lord.
When we recognize how God is working in us and through us.
We have reason for:
C. Praise (:17)
C. Praise (:17)
He ascribes titles that can only be attributed to one worthy of them.
“This is possible because of you.”
Your:
Outside of time, you have always existed and will continue existing.
Not bodily present, revealing He is a spiritual being.
Thee almighty and only 1 God.
Praise often is proclaiming the awesomeness of someone.
People can get a little fuzzy about praise.
I’m not sure why it is a spectacle that can be seen all the time.
?How many people praise their favorite sports team following a game or even bringing out stats. Or Player? That’s Praise.
When we brag to someone for their accomplishments.
Point:
We only misunderstand what praise is when it comes to praising the only one worthy of it.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
As we take part in communion together I hope we understand reflection of how the work of Christ impacted us and that we should:
Be Grateful!
Be Grateful!
Know that:
Grace was Extended!
Grace was Extended!
Even though it wasn’t deserved, then:
Praise the God who saves!
Praise the God who saves!
Shout it from the rooftops how awesome God is!