The Cost of Unity: Preparing for the Lord’s Table

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:00:00] 1 Corinthians chapter 10. We continue our redemptive history survey. I've missed seeing you the last couple of weeks. It's good to see you all out there today. Welcome.
[00:00:15] We've been going for the last number of years through the Bible and we've finally made it to 1 Corinthians. We've been in chapter 10.
[00:00:25] today we're going to continue in chapter 10 we're going to be reading verse 10 i mean verses one and actually we're going to go to a little bit further than we've gone in the past we're going to go all the way up to verse 22 today and today as you see we're going to be celebrating the lord supper of course it's hard to have communion when you're not here and we usually have communion the first Sunday of the month so we decided to forego that and to have it with you now and this is something today's message is going to be about communion about the Lord's Supper if you had any kind of Christian background at all before coming here you've been familiar with this different churches teach different types of views we hope to present not only the biblical view but more importantly what is this that we're about to do what is the importance and And what does it mean for us as Christians here today at Cornerstone ARP?
[00:01:24] Well, let's go to the Word and see what the Lord has to say.
[00:01:29] I pray it will be an encouragement to all of us, especially in light of the fact that today we introduce the fellowship meals.
[00:01:37] Some people want to have more friends, want to be more of a part of Christian families and friends.
[00:01:44] Well, you need to make sure you're here after service, because we're going to be introducing a ministry that encourages table fellowship, that encourages making Christian friends and deeper ties.
[00:01:57] But this is the most important tie to Christ and to one another spiritually that we're going to talk about now in 1 Corinthians 10, beginning in verse 1.
[00:02:08] Moreover, brethren, I would not that you should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and did all eat the same spiritual meat, and did all drink the same spiritual drink.
[00:02:24] For they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ.
[00:02:29] But with many of them God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
[00:02:33] Now these things were our examples to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
[00:02:40] Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them, as it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink.
[00:02:45] and rose up to play.
[00:02:47] Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed and fell in one day, three in twenty thousand.
[00:02:53] Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted and were destroyed of serpents.
[00:02:58] Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured and were destroyed of the destroyer.
[00:03:02] Now all of these things happen unto them for examples, and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
[00:03:10] Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
[00:03:14] There is no temptation taking you, but such as is common to man.
[00:03:18] But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape that you may be able to bear it.
[00:03:29] Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
[00:03:33] I speak as to wise men, judge ye what I say.
[00:03:37] Now this is the territory we haven't covered so far.
[00:03:40] Verse 16.
[00:03:41] The cup of blessing which we bless.
[00:03:45] Is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?
[00:03:49] The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
[00:03:54] For we being many are one bread and one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread.
[00:04:04] Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.
[00:04:08] May God add his blessing and understanding to the reading of this, his holy word.
[00:04:13] We talk about the communion here, the Lord's table, in the context of the greater context of Corinthians where Paul is dealing with a church that is in the midst of an idolatrous nation.
[00:04:25] Most of these people in the church were Gentiles and they were partaking of meals and feasts of idol worship where there was food that was offered as sacrifice to false gods.
[00:04:38] And so Paul is giving this instruction to the church based on what happened in the Old Testament When God brought out the Israelites out of Egypt to be sanctified and set apart and holy and to worship him alone.
[00:04:53] And of course, we know they fell into idolatry.
[00:04:55] The people, what does it say?
[00:04:58] And this is basically a quote from the book of Exodus that they sat down to eat, verse 7, and drink and rose up to play.
[00:05:10] And they followed the golden calf and they committed idolatry.
[00:05:14] And so Paul is using these Old Testament examples to teach the church of Corinth and us.
[00:05:20] And as we've talked about in the previous messages, those Old Testament stories also, Christ was there.
[00:05:27] It wasn't just pointing forward to Christ, but Christ was there.
[00:05:31] And so, and we'll see that again in a few moments.
[00:05:33] But it goes on to say, now to address the Lord's table.
[00:05:38] And he says a little bit further here in this text in verse 18 of 1 Corinthians 10, And behold, Israel after the flesh, are not they which eat of the sacrifices, partakers of the altar?
[00:05:49] What say I then, that the idol is anything, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything?
[00:05:55] But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils and not to God.
[00:06:01] And I would not that you should have fellowship with devils.
[00:06:04] Listen.
[00:06:05] You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils.
[00:06:09] You cannot be partakers of the Lord's table and the table of devils.
[00:06:13] Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?
[00:06:15] Are we stronger than he?
[00:06:17] And so the importance of communion here, we are one body.
[00:06:21] Communion is not just me and Christ together.
[00:06:24] It's me and each of you who are believers.
[00:06:27] We are the many becoming one with one another and with Christ.
[00:06:33] And that's what's here in this passage.
[00:06:35] Verse 16, The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?
[00:06:41] The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread and one body, for all are partakers of that one bread. And that picture was foreshadowed earlier in the chapter.
[00:06:57] Notice it says in chapter 10, verse 1, all of our fathers went to the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and the sea, 1 Corinthians 10, 2 and 3. All did eat the same spiritual meat. That's foreshadowing the bread that we eat. All did drink the same spiritual drink. Verse 4, and they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ. Was Christ in the Old Testament in the wilderness wandering, following them? Yes, absolutely. Christ was there. Christ is eternal, the second person of the Trinity. He is God.
[00:07:32] And so they were drinking of the water that Christ gives. They were eating of the bread that God gave.
[00:07:39] what was that the manna from heaven and these were pictures looking forward to us eating one bread and drinking of one cup but the whole picture is of christ and we are to be one now we see if you turn in first corinthians to chapter 12 just look at two verses of interest here in first corinthians chapter 12 it's talking about the gifts that are in the body of christ and that we're all one body even though we have different gifts uh kind of like the physical body there's There's the finger, there's the toe, there's the eye, right?
[00:08:11] You know, there's the mouth.
[00:08:13] Every member has different purposes, but they all have to work together.
[00:08:17] And that's the metaphor being used to describe the body of Christ, which is us as a local church in this context.
[00:08:24] And notice what he says in 1 Corinthians 12, 12 and 13.
[00:08:29] For as the body is one and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. Now look at verse 13. For by one spirit we are all baptized into one body.
[00:08:46] When we're baptized, now I'm not talking about water, okay? I'm talking about the Holy Spirit, right? John the Baptist says, I baptize you with water, but one's coming after me whose shoe latch that I'm not worthy to unloose, who will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire. Now the water baptism is important, but that's an outward sign, that's a seal, and that shows what has happened or what is supposed to happen in that individual by the spirit and so we are baptized verse 13 for by one spirit we are all baptized into one body one body the body of christ whether we be jews or gentiles whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one spirit isn't that something to drink into one spirit now you go down to the abc store they got many spirits but we have the one spirit that they don't have the holy spirit and so we're baptized into the body by the holy spirit and then we continue in this walk of unity with christ and the holy spirit and one another by drinking in the spirit by the way when we drink of the grape juice or the fruit of the vine what is that a symbol of the blood of christ now in the bible it says you you know without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin, in Leviticus and in Hebrews.
[00:10:10] And why? Because the life is in the blood. You pour out the blood, there's no life.
[00:10:17] Christ's life is poured out for us. We drink it in. One spirit. You see, symbolically.
[00:10:24] But when we do it, it's not just an individual thing, because when we become one with Christ, I'm becoming one with John. Now, that's hard to take, but I'll do, you know, we'll pray over of that. No, I love John. By the way, we were just talking about it. John's been here 15 years almost. Isn't that something? Praise God. So we become one with one another, not just one with Christ. We talked about it in Sunday school. If you have a grudge against somebody in this place today, don't come up to this table. You're a hypocrite. You're drinking judgment upon yourself because when you come up here you are evidencing the fact that you have been made one with christ and you are one with each other we are one body this is communion this is a wonderful thing a fellowship a blessing that god has provided for us the people who came out of israel were one people and they partook of one drink and one bread and yet what happened how many of them got to the promised land. So that's another question. Though we are one, are we all going to end up in the same place? And we certainly hope so. We're going to talk about that. And that's why there are warnings in the scripture. But we're baptized into the one body, the one spirit. Now we drink of the one spirit as we're going to be seen in the Lord's Supper. Now turn to Ephesians 4, if you would, just for a moment. Ephesians 4, talking about this body, the body of Christ. Have you heard that the church is called the body of christ if you're a believer you're part of the body of christ the body of christ when he was on earth was one human body one person as a matter of fact jesus calls himself the temple of god he says destroy this temple and in three days i'll raise it up again well he does he's killed and they destroyed it but on the third day he's raised up and then on the 40th day after his resurrection he ascends into heaven and then on the 50th day there in Pentecost, he sends his spirit, and now all who are born again become his body spiritually on the earth. And so we are his body on the earth. Next time you think about sinning, do you want Christ's hand to sin? Do you want Christ's mouth to sin? If you're part of his body and you're sinning, it's as if you're causing the body of Christ to sin. Now that can be very convicting, but it can also be very encouraging to think, I am the body of Christ on earth.
[00:12:57] God sent his son, one man, to the whole earth who is the God-man, and now his son's in heaven, and he's entrusted this glorious message of the gospel, the greatest and most important message that any human ear can hear, any human tongue can confess.
[00:13:12] It alone brings forth eternal salvation, and I've been entrusted with it.
[00:13:16] Yes.
[00:13:17] I say, well, Pastor Joe, that's just what we pay you for, and Pastor Andy.
[00:13:20] No, no, no, no.
[00:13:20] If you're part of the body of Christ, you are the light of the world.
[00:13:25] You are the salt.
[00:13:26] and you are entrusted as a representative on earth of the King of kings and Lord of lords.
[00:13:32] That's a high calling, folks.
[00:13:35] That is a high vocation, if you will.
[00:13:37] With that in mind, Ephesians chapter 4, verse 1.
[00:13:42] I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.
[00:13:55] Listen, verse 3.
[00:13:56] endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
[00:14:02] We should work together to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
[00:14:07] Why?
[00:14:08] Verse 4, There is one body and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all.
[00:14:22] But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
[00:14:26] So though we are one body, we all have different gifts, all have different particular callings within the body, and these were gifts given to us by Christ through his glorious resurrection and disarming and spoiling principalities and powers, and that's mentioned here in Ephesians 4, verse 8.
[00:14:45] Wherefore he saith, when he ascended up on high, that's the 40th day, Christ ascends to heaven, he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men.
[00:14:54] now that he ascended what is it but that he also descended first to the lower parts of the earth he went to the very pit of hell so that our sin might be removed for us that he received for us the punishment that we deserve yes but he he that descended also ascended above all the heavens that he might fill all things and in this work of christ dying on the cross dying as a cursed individual because our sins were placed upon him descended into hell raising to the right hand of the father filling all in all suffering our punishment in this he takes captivity captive he spoils principalities and powers satan and the demons he gives gifts unto men and the giving of his holy spirit to us his church and offices verse 11 he gave some apostles some prophets some evangelists some pastors some teaching for what purpose verse 12 for the perfecting of the saints now if you come from a catholic background you say well that's nice for the saints but what about me but if you're a believer if you are a christian you're a saint isn't that right isn't that what it says in the bible it says look at look at ephesians 1 1 paul an apostle of jesus christ by the will of god to the saints which are at ephesus folks the roman catholic church didn't exist when this was written there were no saints per se it's every believer every born again believer if you're born again you are a saint and saint means holy set apart sanctified for what to be god's ambassador on earth to be god's light to be god's uh salt to be god's body here on earth what a high calling not just for me not just for those in the professional ministry but every single one of you if you are born again you are a saint and every saint is a minister and that's what this is telling us and we all have gifts and there's offices verse 4 or 12 of Ephesians 4, for the perfection of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Who's that? That's us. Until when? Until we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. We're growing together in Christ. That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine. Why do we preach and teach doctrine?
[00:17:28] Why do we take pains to teach right and orthodox theology and doctrines?
[00:17:33] So that you do not get tossed to and fro and deceived and often in the weeds.
[00:17:39] No, we want you to grow with good, pure milk of the word and the meat of the word.
[00:17:44] So that it says here in verse 14, that we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive.
[00:17:55] but speaking the truth in love may grow up into him into Christ in all things which is the head even Christ from whom the whole body that's each and every one of us fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part make it increase of the body under the edifying of itself in love you understand here all of this is saying if you're a Christian you need to be part of a body you need to be part of a local body if you're not you're not going to be effective right you go read chapter 12 of first corinthians the eye says i'm not no sorry body i don't want to be part of you i'm going to work over here doesn't work so well it's like the branch take the branch off the tree i don't want to be a part of that tree you're not going to bear any more fruit you think you're a wonderful finger well unless unless you're on the body you're not going live very long you know and so this is the idea we have to be part of the body why because the body is christ christ is the head and we work together we walk together we minister together we love one another and we move forward in christ as a body and this is what brings us together now with that in mind continue to read in ephesians 4 here in verse 17. this i say therefore and testify. So if that's true, then so what, Pastor Joseph?
[00:19:24] Here's the so what, verse 17. That you henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind. People come into church today, and if all they talk about is some kind of young men running around a field with a ball, and that's all they can talk about, that has nothing to do with Christ. I'm not telling you if you go to the Super Bowl, you're a sinner, or you're watching the, now maybe if you watch the halftime show, you're a sinner. But what I'm saying is, the Super Bowl. So what? There's a prayer meeting at six. Maybe we'll make it long enough so you miss the kickoff. I don't know.
[00:20:09] But the point is, if you're part of the body of Christ, act like it. Look, it says here in verse 17, this I say therefore and testify in the Lord, that you henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart, who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness to work all uncleanness and greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ, if so be that you have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus, that you put off concerning the former conversation, the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lust, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. If you're part of the body of Christ, then act like it. This is a high calling, folks. Excuse me. This a high calling if you're part of the body of christ this is a great privilege there's no higher privilege to be called royalty is nothing to be called the president of the united states is nothing to be that to be the elon musk or the bill gates or whoever i had lord have mercy but the point is none of this this is all worthless this is all going to be burned up no it's only to be a child of the creator of the heavens and the earth a child of the one who runs the whole thing a child of the one who at a word we could all go out of existence just like that the one who one day we will answer to whether we like it or not and he alone will decide our eternal destination this is the most important everything else begins to eclipse everything else dwindles away everything else grows strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace are you part of the body of christ what a high calling what a high calling then let's start to act like it let's walk like it let's live like it let's talk like it notice verse 23 be renewed in the spirit of your mind and that you put on the new man which after god is created in righteousness and true holiness wherever putting away lying speak every man truth with his neighbor for we are members one of another we're not just members of christ we're members one of another when i lie you lie that's pretty rough yeah that lion pastor cornerstone don't go there those people bunch of liars god forbid pastor andy and i have a higher calling those of you who'd be in leadership right and we reflect poorly on you all if the pope says something bad oh that catholic church look look what the pope did you know but all of us because each and we're not just members of christ but we're members one of another if you go out and lie and you go out and sin oh yeah cornerstone a bunch of hypocrites they say they preach the word they say you can find more there yeah more sin and more hypocrites lord have mercy see no you can't we we have to love one another but remember love the lord your god with all your heart soul mind and strength is the first commandment to have communion with him and then now that love god is love is inside of us now i can properly love you without love true love being in my heart i can't properly love or consider you but if all of us have the love of god inside of us now we walk with that love towards one another that holiness that righteousness that comes from God notice verse 25 where for putting away line speak every man truth with his neighbor for we are members one over another be angry but sin not let not the Sun go down upon your wrath never give place to the devil let him that stole steal no more but rather let him labor working with his hands the thing which is good that he may have need them he may have to give to him that needed let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth nobody here curses right nobody here uses curse words right you shouldn't if you're a believer but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace unto the hearers and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby you are sealed in the day of rhythms you understand how serious is if you're born again God's Spirit is inside of you don't grieve him you know if Jesus was with you you know we're talking about in Sunday school again that people I've had a couple people come to me and say well where does it say in the Bible you can't use those curse words I don't see some of those words in the Bible never says you can't use those let me ask you a question when you pray to God would you use those words no no why because you think God's listening if Jesus was right beside you would you have acted exactly the same way last week as you did when the Bible says he's not just beside you he's inside of you If that's true, let's start acting like it.
[00:24:45] Amen?
[00:24:46] And let us not come to the table hypocritically.
[00:24:51] Because when we come to the table, we're saying, Christ is in me and I am in Christ.
[00:24:57] But when we act differently from Christ, we are contradicting that main element of our worship.
[00:25:06] And so verse 3, Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption, that all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice you should have malice to no one if you're a christian you cannot have malice we put on the sign out there uh hatred and malice two telltale signs of non-christians it's true folks if you have hatred in your heart this is not of christ you need to repent i love my sweet mother i told her the other day that she was in danger of hellfire because she has hatred in her heart towards an individual said you cannot keep that you must repent we are to walk in love we are to forgive because we have been if you got what you owed if you got what you deserve what would you get hell for all eternity and by the way me too so i think i'm a pretty good person tell it to god what did jesus say good master what should i do to inherit your life oh i'm so glad you realize how good i am thank you is that what he said why do you call me good nobody's good but god and here's the uh the verse that julia and my children have learned in song verse 32 of ephesians 4 and be ye kind one to another tenderhearted forgiving one another even as god for christ's sake hath forgiven you does this describe your life is this the type of things that people think of when they think of you they should if this is if you're born again now with that in mind when we have communion pastor andy and i i think pastor does even a better job than i do at this church we try to be biblical in everything that we do and we warn you not to partake unworthily now i am told that in some churches no such thing is done or practiced but biblically we are to warn you because it says that and we'll read that if you look in first Corinthians 11 where we find the institution of the Lord's Supper notice the warning that is given first Corinthians chapter 11 we were just in verse and just in 10 and introduces the Lord's Supper and then in 11 it talks about the Lord's Supper verse 17 first Corinthians 11 verse 17. Actually, let's begin in 1 Corinthians 11 verse 26. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you do show the Lord's death till he come. 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. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup for he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the lord's body for this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep did you see that it says we should not come up here in an unworthy manner if we do we could get sick we could even die i don't believe that pastor joseph well you haven't read first corinthians remember chapter 10 notice all the israelites verse 3 did eat the same spiritual meat They all drank the same spiritual drink, 1 Corinthians 10, 4.
[00:28:33] But notice verse 5, But with many of them God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
[00:28:39] Now these things were our examples to the intent we should not lust after the evil things they lusted.
[00:28:44] Neither be idolaters, verse 7.
[00:28:46] Neither commit fornication, verse 8.
[00:28:48] Neither tempt Christ, verse 9.
[00:28:50] Neither murmur ye, verse 10.
[00:28:52] Verse 11, All these things happened to them for examples.
[00:28:55] 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 they did not partake worthily they were eating the manna from heaven they were drinking the water from the rock and that rocket says was christ they were eating and drinking if it if you will the prototypes of the lord's supper but they weren't doing it worthily they were not doing it by faith they were murmuring what is this manna i'm tired of this stuff how about some meat and they were murmuring about the water or the lack thereof and what happens they're overturned they're sick many of them die there's no coincidence and in first corinthians 11 he brings up this warning about coming to the table unworthily when he just mentioned that the prototype of us the church how many died thousands and thousands died because they were not walking in a worthy manner before the lord they were blaspheming this wonderful grace and sacrament and ordinance god was giving their physical life day to day depended on a miracle of the lord showering down manna from heaven so too our spiritual life depends on a miracle of the lord bringing down jesus who says i'm the bread that came down from heaven but we need to be careful that we do not partake unworthily was it how what is unworthy i just read you a whole chapter about it did you miss it go back to ephesians 4 real quick just look at verse 1 i therefore the prisoner of the lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called what is a worthy walk we just described it not being like the unregenerate and putting on christ walking as christ walking the spirit of love walking the spirit of unity walking the spirit of communion with christ and with one another here is the worthy walk then that's what he's saying he's asking you to walk worthy of the vocation vocation's a job well this is this is the highest job you could possibly get because what is the vocation you're called with to be a son and daughter of the king of kings and lord and lords the creator of the heavens of the earth and the judge of the same what a job you know when i was a kid i i really had a difficult time the only time in my life i was depressed and it was in college in my freshman year what am i supposed to do i thought i knew i got to college i said oh no that's not what i'm supposed to do didn't take long either and then what am i supposed to do it troubled me there's some young people here today it may trouble you but if you're a believer you don't have to worry you don't have to worry at all it's already set i can give you the perfect answer we had on the sign earlier today find answers here this is the answer to everyone if you're a born again believer your career is serving christ from start till you die this is your focus everything you do it doesn't matter if you're a garbage collector if you're the president if you're an engineer if you're a farmer if whatever school teacher i don't know bus driver you name it if you're born again believer your career is the same your career is serving christ what you do as a job is not as important now if your job and career can be the same kind of like me well praise the lord or in your job you're able to share christ and minister praise the lord but the bible says do everything as unto the lord and so we have this vocation is that from now that i'm born again until i die i'll be serving christ no matter what i do as a job i'll be serving christ no matter how difficult it may be i'll serve christ no matter what challenge comes in the way i will serve christ it's very simple it's very simple now it's not necessarily easy but it's very simple what a vocation to be called to be part of the body of christ so when we come to to the table, we need to come in sincerity, in truth, in love, in peace, in a desire for communion with Christ and with one another. Now, in that 1 Corinthians 11 passage, the warning about not partaking, if you're an unworthy partaker, is preceded by a rebuke. You see, in the church at Corinth, they did celebrate the Lord's Supper, but what they did, now we're having a fellowship meal afterwards, so we're separating it, so I'm glad, but they would have a big meal, big meal, everybody brings something, and they were drinking and everything, and then they'd have the Lord's Supper, but there was a lot of abuses, the rich people brought a lot of food, the poor people didn't, maybe they were sitting over there, the scrubs, they said they couldn't bring anything, if you didn't bring anything, please come today, but you know, and sometimes they're drinking alcohol. They're getting drunk and everything. Then they come to the Lord's table. He says, this should not be so. And that was certainly an unworthy manner to partake. We find it in 1 Corinthians 11, beginning in verse 17. Now in this that I declare unto you, I praise you not, that you come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when you come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you, and I partly believe it.
[00:34:20] For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you when you come together therefore unto the to one place this is not to eat the lord's supper for in eating everyone taketh before other his own supper one is hungry another is drunken what do you not have houses to eat and drink in or despise the church of god and shame them that have not what shall i say to you shall i praise you in this i praise you not so this is a problem you know think about it we need food to live and some people especially people with blood sugar issues understand that even more and you know have you ever been remember when you're the most hungry i mean really hungry doesn't that kind of change the way you act and you get to a point where you're just focused on getting something to eat and or thirsty yeah well we have to be careful because these people were more interested in the meal afterwards or whatever else we talk about the Golden Corral Buffet or whatever it is than the meal that's spread before us.
[00:35:29] Which meal are we more interested in?
[00:35:31] What's at the covered dish meal or what's here?
[00:35:33] Ah, well, I know what's here.
[00:35:35] I'm looking forward to that, though.
[00:35:37] Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
[00:35:44] Are you hungry for this?
[00:35:45] Are you thirsting for this?
[00:35:47] Do you recognize that just as our physical body needs food and drink to live, so too spiritually we need Christ and we need his spirit to live day by day and to walk the journey.
[00:36:00] And so we need to be careful.
[00:36:03] We find that this issue of carnal desires getting in the way of the true worship of God is common to mankind.
[00:36:14] We saw it in the Israelites coming out.
[00:36:16] They sat down to eat and drink and get drunk and rose up to play.
[00:36:22] And we think of Nadab and Abihu.
[00:36:24] They were the ministers of the tabernacle, newly erected.
[00:36:28] And they go in with strange fire, not that the Lord commanded.
[00:36:32] God burned them up.
[00:36:33] And if you read later in that passage, it says, don't come in having drunk wine or strong drink into my house.
[00:36:42] And so many think that they were drunk when they came in.
[00:36:45] And so they were more interested in getting drunk or getting a buzz they were in rightly partaking and administering the lord's supper we have to be careful we are flesh and we are so apt to go after the flesh and to the fleshly desires but on that day when we stand before god the flesh that we have will only be by god's will resurrected just to stand before him and say what have you done in your spirit not so much the flesh how have you been in your spirit we need to feed the spirit we feed the flesh a lot some of us too much right maybe me but if we don't feed the flesh what's going to happen we get weak and sooner or later we die if you don't feed the spirit what do you expect now the word of god is food christ is food and this is food because this is christ broken and shared for us now with these things in mind i want you to remember when jesus comes to the woman at the well it's interesting whose well was that that in john chapter 4 remember well it may have been abraham's but it's called jacob's uh it could have very well been re-dug by jacob but uh because you know it wasn't that far off and it's in the special place where Abraham did live but it mentions in John chapter 4 when Jesus ministers to the Samaritan woman in verse 13 he's at Jacob's well you see that in verse 12 and Jesus says whoso drinketh of this water from Jacob's well shall thirst again but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life remember the Israelites that came out of Egypt.
[00:38:40] They're in the desert.
[00:38:41] What do they drink of?
[00:38:41] They drink of from the rock.
[00:38:44] They drink water that miraculously comes out of the rock.
[00:38:47] And where does it say that rock was?
[00:38:48] Jesus Christ.
[00:38:50] Jesus is going to give water to those who are thirsting.
[00:38:53] What kind of water?
[00:38:54] Living water.
[00:38:56] Now Jacob's water is not going to satisfy.
[00:39:00] The water of the Old Testament.
[00:39:02] The water of the law.
[00:39:03] The water of us trying to be good enough on ourselves or trying to impress God with good works it's not going to satisfy we're going to be continue to thirst for something more but christ is the one who can fill us to overflowing that we not only have enough but we have more than enough to give to all who asks whosoever drinketh of the water that i shall give him shall never thirst but the water that i shall give him shall be him in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life that's the way each and every one of you should be when you go out into the world. You go out here in Mooresville and all of these people who don't know Christ, you don't have to be a preacher. You don't have to be an evangelist. You are God's ambassador to them. When they come to you, you should be able to give them an answer. Even if it's simply your testimony, you should have more than enough to give for them if you're born again because you're filled with the Spirit of God. You're filled with that living water that is not just a well like jacobs that can run dry but an actual well of water springing up into everlasting life that should be the picture of your christian life but in order to have that you first got to drink into one spirit receive the life that you might be able to give it think of john chapter 6 talking about the bread and and jesus is the bread which comes down from heaven you know in john chapter 6 we the freedom of the five thousand the people follow jesus because they like the free food hey socialism this is great can you give us some more do you know ma'am danny no but these people i mean you know all they want is a free meal jesus gives them a free meal this is wonderful let's follow this guy is that the reason to follow christ and so they come to christ in john chapter 6 verse 26 and jesus says verily verily i send you you seek me not because ye saw the miracles but because you did eat of the loaves and were filled labor not for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth into everlasting life which the son of man shall give unto you for him hath god the father sealed we're so busy in our life running this treadmill right why do you work so i can eat so i can pay the bills well why do you uh why do you eat and pay the bills well so i can live well what are you living for well i'm living to be healthy enough to work why are you working so i can eat and so i can pay the bills why so what is this this is an animal's life you're called to something much higher something much greater this is why jesus says to the devil you see the devil comes and he tempts jesus just like he tempted uh eve with the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life and jesus is if you thou be the son of god turn these stones into bread and jesus answers man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of god there it is the spiritual and again even in the with the women at samaria jesus is tired he's at the well uh it's the end of the day well it's middle of the day but he's tired and it's hot and he's witty he asked for a drink and his disciples go to town for what reason to get food it's lunchtime he shares christ with this woman she gets shares himself with her she gets excited she goes and runs and brings other people to him and maybe she's born again she doesn't need water she leaves a water pot there and by the way best i could tell jesus still hadn't drunk anything and when his disciples show up with food i have food to eat that you know not of and what is that food to do the will of his father in heaven and that should be for us the same thing well he continues on and they say tell us whatever you want us to do we'll do it just give us that free food verse 39 this is the work of god that you believe on him who he has sent they said well our fathers ate manna in the desert it's written he gave them bread from heaven to eat verse 32 verily verily I say unto you Moses gave you not that bread from heaven but my father giveth you the true bread from heaven for the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven and giveth his life unto the world he gives his life to you you should be excited about this my life oh my life's not worth that much I nobody knows who I am I haven't accomplished him ah if you're a believer his life is inside of you you're the most important person the world along with everyone else who is a believer because you're children of god get excited about this but if you're not born again you're not excited i don't see by exciting here what's the problem we should be excited oh hallelujah praise god look at what god has done for us notice verse 35 they say oh evermore give us this bread sound spiritual these are good church people until the truth comes out jesus says i'm the bread of life and they start looking at him crosswise you mean i don't get that french bread with the butter i'm the bread of life he that cometh to me shall never hunger he that believeth on me shall never thirst but i said unto you that ye also have seen me and believe not all that the father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me i will in no wise cast out for i came down from heaven not to do mine own will but the will of him then sent me and this is the father's will which he has sent me that of all which he hath given me i should lose nothing but should raise it up at the last day and this is the will of him that sent me that everyone which seeth the son and believeth on him may have everlasting life and i'll raise him up at the last day then the jews murmured at him because he said i'm the bread which came down from heaven and probably because they were sad they they weren't going to get another all-you-can-eat buffet.
[00:44:54] He tells them, don't murmur anymore.
[00:44:57] And you read this whole passage, I encourage you.
[00:45:00] But look what Jesus says, verse 47.
[00:45:03] Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me has everlasting life.
[00:45:07] It's not when you die that you get everlasting.
[00:45:09] If you're born again, you got it now.
[00:45:11] Woo!
[00:45:11] I got everlasting life right now.
[00:45:13] Praise God.
[00:45:14] And if it's everlasting, that means I can't lose it.
[00:45:16] Hey, that's wonderful.
[00:45:17] I don't have to worry about losing my salvation.
[00:45:19] If you're truly born again, And what everlasting life do I have?
[00:45:22] The very life of Christ.
[00:45:23] How do I have it?
[00:45:24] By faith and believing on Him.
[00:45:26] And what is the sign of that?
[00:45:27] The fact that I drink into one spirit that life-giving blood of Christ.
[00:45:32] His life poured out and me taking it in by faith.
[00:45:36] Oh, praise God.
[00:45:37] And so notice, I am the bread of life.
[00:45:40] Verse 48, your fathers ate man in the wilderness and they died.
[00:45:43] They're dead.
[00:45:44] This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that if a man may eat thereof, he'll not die.
[00:45:49] Hallelujah.
[00:45:49] I'm not going to die. How about you? He said, just wait. He watched those Muslims show up. No, just wait. You're going to die. Guess what? If you're born again, you're not going to die.
[00:46:01] He said, well, I'm going to die. Of course I'm going to die. The spirit is the real man.
[00:46:05] I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me shall never die. And yea, he who believes in me and lives, though he die, yet shall he live. He'll never die because spiritually, when we're born again, we cannot die. Physically, we die. That's all right. This body will be raised up again, but the spirit will live forever. There's only two kinds of people in the world. Which one are you? Either you die twice and are born only once, or you're born twice and you die once. I'm born twice and die once. I'm born again, and the only death I'm going to have is the death of this body, but this spirit will never die. But for unbelievers, they're born once of the flesh, and then they say, ah, Pastor Joseph, ah, that stuff, you know, that Bible stuff, ah, whatever, let's go eat.
[00:46:56] And if they never come to Christ, they'll only die physically, but they will have the second death and enter into everlasting damnation and separation from God for eternity. You say, oh, that's harsh, I don't want to hear that. It'll be your own choice.
[00:47:11] God will say, you've chosen that.
[00:47:13] You did not choose me, You did not choose to have communion with me and be in my presence.
[00:47:18] I'm going to fix it so you can have it your way.
[00:47:21] I'm going to put you in a place where you don't have anything to do with me.
[00:47:25] Because I'll be in heaven with my saints.
[00:47:27] You'll be in hell for all eternity, in darkness, because I'm light.
[00:47:32] In hatred, because I'm love.
[00:47:34] In suffering and torment, because I am healing and grace.
[00:47:38] God forbid that you would choose such a fate.
[00:47:42] Christ continues to offer, I'm the living bread, verse 51, which came down from heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live forever and the bread which i give is my flesh which i will give for the life of the world now here's where people get confused what we're eating here is not the literal physical body and blood of christ but he did give his literal body and blood but we feast on him spiritually in faith just like those uh those israelites who drank of that physical water that came out of a physical rock it says and that rock that followed them was christ jesus christ is not a rock if so go find a rock and bow down to it but spiritually speaking this is what we have and it's the same thing here we partake by faith he goes on to say the importance of eating his flesh and drinking his blood and of course the Israelites are not excited about this and as he's teaching many of him many of them murmured at him because you're not supposed to eat blood and how can we all eat his flesh and blood this is weird a lot of people left him and notice what he says in verse 61 does this offend you what and if you shall see the Son of Man ascend up where he was before it's the spirit that gives life the flesh profits nothing the words that i speak unto you they are spirit and they are life but there are some of you that believe not spirit and life we partake in faith the symbol of christ's body broken for us we partake of his body that ours might be made whole and that we might have everlasting life his blood poured out at the cross which is life eternal life we drink in in a figure and this is manifesting the fact that we have received and are in communion with him his spirit working in us that living water that keeps welling up and springing out of the holy ghost that we have received by faith we see this in john chapter 7 at the end of the feast the feast of tabernacles where they have this ceremony where they bring water from one end of the town to the other and pour it out of the altar seven days in a row if any jew should be full he should be full after seven days of feasting and and drinking and and in the tabernacle but on the seventh day the last day the great day of the feast jesus says in john chapter 7 verse 37 if any man thirst let him come unto me and drink problem is most people aren't thirsty most people in america aren't hungry why because they're filled with spiritual junk food i believe in the religion of montel or oprah or you name it whoever it is today i don't know i believe in my own religion my jesus wouldn't do this my jesus wouldn't do that my jesus wouldn't send anybody to hell of course he wouldn't because he doesn't exist the jesus of the bible does right what purpose is there to have a religion of your own making this is foolish the utter point of folly but christ is not coming to condemn the world but to save the world that's what he said and if you do not receive him on judgment day it will be your fault and god will remind you of your own conscious decision to reject this wonderful invitation this privilege of inestimable value there is nothing higher nothing greater no college no job no woman no man no family no possession no nothing on earth that comes anywhere close to what god has laid up for you in heaven in christ jesus and by the way if you believe in him those gifts and those blessings are already in some degree of possession even now because the holy spirit of god comes into you at the moment of the new birth and he is the earnest of our inheritance also in ephesians chapter 2 6 we don't have to wait until the lord returns to go to heaven it says if you've been born again you have been raised up and made to sit in heavenly places in christ jesus at his right hand how can we sit in him because you're his body but if you're not his body you can't where would you like to sit the highest place you can think of the white house i don't know where up on a mountain you want to sit in the judgment over other people how about in heaven at the right hand of the father you're born again it says you got a place right there there's nothing higher there's nothing greater if it isn't already may your life be completely consumed and everything you do from henceforth be in the context of who you are whose you are what god has done for you in christ where he's raised you up what he has set up and laid up for you in the future and what he wants to do through you right now as his body as his ambassador upon the earth as his light and salt to the whole world but that begs the question if you are part of that body everybody who comes up here may not necessarily be everybody who partook of the manna was not because with some of them god was not well pleased and only two made it to the promised land You see, Christ in 1 Corinthians 5, verse 7, is our Passover lamb sacrificed for us.
[00:53:26] How did the Egyptians get out of bondage?
[00:53:28] Ultimately, it was the Passover lamb.
[00:53:30] The 10th plague, there were nine plagues on Egypt, the 10th plague was the death of the firstborn.
[00:53:36] It didn't say just the Egyptians, because the Jews would have had the death of their firstborn too, would they not?
[00:53:43] If they did not follow the Passover.
[00:53:45] it was the Passover lamb that kept their firstborn from being killed and that Passover lamb is typical of Jesus Christ first Corinthians 5 7 says Christ is our Passover lamb sacrifice for us it's no coincidence that Jesus and you can go to secular references and find this out died on the very day of Passover why because he's our Passover lamb he's the one that gets us out of spiritual bondage he's the one that redeems us from Pharaoh which is a picture of Satan He's the one that sets our feet on a firm ground and sets us in the highway of holiness on the way to the promised land, heaven itself.
[00:54:22] And then we see in 1 Corinthians 10, yeah, Christ is with us all the way.
[00:54:27] He's the one that sustains us.
[00:54:29] This is a difficult journey, but He has provided food and drink for your journey.
[00:54:35] God forbid that we refuse to partake.
[00:54:39] Remember, we've been baptized into one's body, by one's spirit.
[00:54:43] We drink into one's spirit.
[00:54:46] Are you part of that body?
[00:54:48] Then walk worthy of that vocation.
[00:54:52] What a high vocation.
[00:54:54] What a high vocation you're called to.
[00:54:56] Turn with me, if you would, back to the book of Ephesians.
[00:54:58] We're almost finished.
[00:55:01] Ephesians chapter 1.
[00:55:04] We've preached this before about Paul praying that the eyes of our understanding would be enlightened to know what we have in Christ.
[00:55:13] I think the reason people aren't excited here is either number one, they're not in Christ I hope that's not any of you or number two, you don't know you can't seem to grasp by faith who you really are in Christ and what you already have and you've got it right now and if you could, boy I tell you what they'd call us charismatic church alright, Ephesians chapter 1 verse 15 wherefore I also after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love unto all the saints cease not to give thanks for you making mention of you in my prayers paul's praying this for ephesus he's praying for us that the god of the lord jesus christ the father of glory may give unto you christian body the spirit of wisdom and revelation the knowledge of him that the eyes of your understanding would be enlightened that you may know what is the hope of his calling what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints praise god and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in christ when he raised him from the dead and set him on his right hand in heavenly places so the very power of resurrection the power that god used in raising his son is the power that's inside of us we've talked about that amazing wonderful tremendous but don't miss this christ has been raised where verse 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in that which is to come and has put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the church listen which is his body the fullness of him that filleth all in all where is christ right now at the right hand of the father where is that heaven and christ is the head over a body and And what is that body?
[00:57:08] The church.
[00:57:09] Are you part of the church?
[00:57:12] Are you part of his body?
[00:57:14] Then where are you right now?
[00:57:17] So I'm pretty sure I'm in Warsaw, Pastor Joseph.
[00:57:21] Bible says you're at the right hand of the Father.
[00:57:26] Are you?
[00:57:27] Bible's not, doesn't lie.
[00:57:29] Are you?
[00:57:30] Are you at the right hand of the creator of the heavens and the earth?
[00:57:33] The right hand of the judge of the earth?
[00:57:35] The right hand of the one that gives you the impulse to give you your next heartbeat?
[00:57:40] Thank God we don't have to remember to have our heart beat.
[00:57:43] Thank God we don't have to remember for the next breath.
[00:57:46] It's in His hands.
[00:57:48] Are we at His right hand?
[00:57:51] Then come up higher, my friend, and live that life that God calls us to live, hidden in Christ at His very throne on the right hand, walking worthy of that vocation wherewith you're called.
[00:58:04] Because you're not only His body, but before we end and come to the table, you're also His bride.
[00:58:10] Ephesians 5 beginning in verse 18 Be not drunk with wine where is excess but be filled with the Spirit Amen We drink into one Spirit Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs Singing and making melody in your heart Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ submitting yourselves to one another in the fear of god wives submit yourselves to your own husbands as unto the lord for the husband is the head of the wife even as christ is the head of the church and he is the savior of the body that's us therefore as the church is subject unto christ so let the wives be to their own husbands and everything husbands love your wives even as christ also loved the church and gave himself for it why that he might sanctify and cleanse us sanctify make holy cleanse us with the washing of water by the word that he might present it to himself a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish so ought men to love their wives as their own bodies he that loveth his wife loveth himself for no man ever yet hated his own flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord the church for we are members of his body his flesh and his bones can it get any closer than that for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and shall be joined unto his wife and they too shall be one flesh that's a quote from where Genesis Adam and Eve God creating the institution of marriage now he applies it to you and me how in us being married to Christ.
[01:00:11] The two become one.
[01:00:16] That's communion.
[01:00:18] But it couldn't have happened until Christ purchased us.
[01:00:24] We cannot drink in the life-giving Spirit signified by His blood until He poured His blood out for you and me.
[01:00:33] We cannot look forward to a whole resurrection body that will never get old and never get sick and never have any infirmity until first his body was broken for you and for me.
[01:00:47] This is what God has done for us, brothers and sisters.
[01:00:52] It says, this is a great mystery, but I speak unto you concerning Christ and the church.
[01:00:59] Let's end now in 1 Corinthians 11, which brings us to the table.
[01:01:04] We started in 1 Corinthians 10.
[01:01:06] We talked to 1 Corinthians 12, drinking into one spirit.
[01:01:10] 1 Corinthians 11, the warning not to partake unworthily.
[01:01:13] and now here in 1 Corinthians 11 beginning verse 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 he took bread and we had given thanks he break it and said take eat this is my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me 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 you drink it in remembrance of me for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you do show the lord's death till he come in just a moment i'll ask pastor andy to come forward we're going to uncover the table we are going to partake we pray worthily of the body and blood of the lord but as we come understand what God has done for us in bringing us into his body.
[01:02:14] One with Christ and one with another.
[01:02:17] And when we go over there in a moment and have table fellowship and hear about this new ministry of tables of seven and fellowshipping and stronger bonds with one another, let's remember that if, ah, well, that's not really important, then don't come up here.
[01:02:33] What could be more hypocritical?
[01:02:35] You come up here and claim to be one with the God you haven't seen, and you refuse to be one with your brother and sister who you're looking at right now? True communion, one with Christ, one with one another, the body of Christ on the earth, yet sitting at the right hand of the Father in heaven. What a great privilege, what a wonderful, wonderful blessing, what a great life, an eternal life lived here upon the earth.
[01:03:02] The very power of God, the life of God inside of each and every one of us manifests here.
[01:03:09] But before we come, remember the cost.
[01:03:12] Pastor Andy, would you come forward?
[01:03:14] Remember the cost, brothers and sisters.
[01:03:19] If you're not impressed by the privileges of being part of the body of Christ, maybe you will be more impressed when you consider the cost.
[01:03:32] Thank you, Pastor Andy.
[01:03:33] You have the privilege to come and partake of the cost in just a moment.
[01:03:44] And before we do, we're going to have a song.
[01:03:46] We're going to take up the offering, tithes and offerings, so you have time to meditate on it.
[01:03:52] But this pretty silver, these nice little cups, little tiny pieces of bread, the cost is your cost that Christ paid on the cross 2,000 years ago that we might have this wonderful privilege of communion with Him, with one another, and with even God the Father through the Holy Spirit for all eternity.
[01:04:16] To Him be glory, honor, and praise, both now and forevermore. Amen?
[01:04:21] Let's give unto the Lord the tithe and the offering as we're blessed by a song from the choir.

[01:04:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[01:04:28] Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

[01:08:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[01:08:01] Praise Him, all preachers here below.
[01:08:05] Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts.
[01:08:10] Praise Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

[01:08:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[01:08:19] Amen. You may be seated.
[01:08:21] Thank you, choir.
[01:08:27] In just a short moment, you'll be invited to the table of grace.
[01:08:32] And I just want to say this.
[01:08:34] None of us are worthy to come.
[01:08:36] I am not worthy to come.
[01:08:38] Pastor Henry, none of us are worthy.
[01:08:40] And none of ourselves.
[01:08:42] But Christ had to come because He alone is worthy.
[01:08:46] if you've truly believed on him then you are worthy to come and in just a moment we're going to pray if there's any unforgiveness, any anger any hatred, any malice anything in your heart that you feel is sin, if you're a believer, you have an opportunity right now as we pray to go to the very throne room of heaven, because haven't we already said you're already there at the right hand with Christ as the body, and Christ has told us through his word, through John, that if we confess our sins, he's faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to do what?
[01:09:25] Cleanse us of all unrighteousness. And that's how you're made worthy. You can't be worthy, but in Christ we can all be worthy. We repent, we believe, we receive his wonderful offer of salvation and forgiveness.
[01:09:42] Through him taking the penalty we deserve on the cross 2,000 years ago, we receiving salvation by believing on him in faith let's take time now and pray and prepare our hearts before the Lord the Heavenly Father we confess before you that without you we can do nothing and truly we are not worthy but Lord God we do praise you for the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world that Passover Lamb sacrificed for us your son who lived in perfect obedience to your law, who fulfilled your law which condemns us, who received the condemnation, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, who received those awful stripes in his back by which stripes we are healed, the spear in his side, the blood and the water flowed out, that we might in a figure spiritually receive that life-giving living water and soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb, even now.
[01:11:12] Lord, as your children have come before you and confessed sin, we thank you for these promises in your Word that you hear from heaven, that you cleanse us and wash us with the water of the Word, that you might present us to yourself a chaste, pure, and spotless bride with garments that may be one time more scarlet or crimson with blood and yet through the blood with sin but through the blood of your son Jesus are now made whiter than snow.
[01:11:46] May we come now, Lord, those of us who are in you and those of us who have repented of sin boldly to your throne of grace, to your table of grace, to drink afresh into this one spirit.
[01:12:01] by which we are saved, by which we walk, and through which we look forward to being in your very presence.
[01:12:11] In Christ's name we thank you, Lord. Amen.
[01:12:17] On the night that the Lord Jesus was betrayed, there were two meals.
[01:12:24] There was the Passover feast because they were Jews, and the Jews were partaking the Passover just as any good Jew would.
[01:12:41] And at the end of the meal, Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper.
[01:12:47] It's not a coincidence.
[01:12:49] It is by design for he is our Passover lamb and he takes of the bread and remember what he did before he broke it?
[01:12:59] Do you remember?
[01:13:01] He blessed it by doing what?
[01:13:03] Giving thanks.
[01:13:04] he was giving thanks for what his body being broken for you because this is my body which is broken for you and he took the cup to the same manner he said this is the cup of the new testament written in my blood take ye drink ye all of it christ lived the perfect life died on the cross so that we might have everlasting life communion with him and with one another i invite you now to come forth and evidence that fact those of you who are born again besides children who have not yet gone through our confirmation come whether you're a member of this church or another member come if there's anything that has been left un unconfessed you should not come but you've had a chance you've had an opportunity so come to the table of grace two lines you can come forward you can receive the elements take them back to your seat and we'll all partake together come the body of Christ broken for you