Thank you for joining us at Key Life Fellowship for her Pulpit
Ministry, podcast. Each sermon on this podcast is
from our 11 a.m. Sunday service.
We are glad that you have joined us digitally, but would love to
see you in person on Sunday mornings at either 9 a.m. or 11
a.m. Now, let's open God's word and
ask him to reveal his truths for our lives.
You have your Bibles. I want you to turn First
Corinthians. 11th chapter. And I want you to just put a
bookmark there. Visitor card or hold a finger
there. Then I want you to flip over to
Matthew chapter 26. We're going to read Matthew
chapter 26, Hazard introduction today.
No fancy story. No fancy illustration.
No joke. Just the truth of the Gospel.
according to Matthew, Matthew chapter 26.
Says this in verse 26, concerning the Lord's Supper.
It says, while they were eating, Jesus Took bread.
He gave thanks and broke it. Gave it to his disciples saying
Take and Eat. This is my body.
Then he took the cup. He gave thanks and he offered it
to them. Sing drink from it, all of you.
This is my blood of the Covenant which is poured out for many for
the Forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of
the fruit of the vine from now on until the day when I drink
it, a new with you in my father's Kingdom.
When they had sung A Hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives
in Matthew. Matthew gives us in chapter 26,
the eyewitness account. Of what we know as the Lord's
supper or the last supper or communion with the observance of
the Eucharist. All of those titles, all apply
to what we know as the Lord's supper.
And in just a moment, we will be observing the Lord's supper
together. We will be observing this
ordinance that the Lord has himself commanded us to do.
I know this that throughout the ages.
There have been many questions about the Lord's Supper.
To which many of them go unanswered.
In fact, it is the basic ones that seem to go unanswered, most
often that's what I want to do today as we look at the
scriptures and as we prepare our hearts and our minds, and our
souls to observe the Lord's Supper in accordance with the
scriptures, I want us to ask these questions.
And in my feeble attempt, I will attempt to answer the questions
as best as I can find in Scripture.
I told you to hold your place in First Corinthians chapter 11 and
I told you to hold your place there for a reason.
If you would turn over there and we will spend most of our time.
They're in First Corinthians chapter 11, as Paul is writing
here to the Corinthian Church and he is giving them
instructions about the Lord's supper.
And let me just tell you this, he's giving them instructions
about the Lord's Supper, because they were majorly messing.
The thing up, He's correcting them.
I believe so many times in our church culture, we either ignore
the importance of the Lord's supper or we completely mess it
up. I told them in just a moment ago
before, we had our time of men's prayer, prior to the service
that we're going to be looking at.
The Lord's Supper today in observing the Lord's supper
together as the body of Christ and I don't like to do that
without first teaching on the topic of the Lord's, supper or
communion the reason that I don't is because I my church
experience have been in those Services where no one explains
the elements of the Lord's Supper.
No one talks about the importance of the body or the
blood of Christ. No one asked the questions and
then answers the questions as to why we are to do this, why it's
so important? What is the significance of
these things? And so we go to the First
Corinthian letter in chapter 11 and Paul is going to give us
great insight into this as he begins to correct the church
there in Corinth first. 20 starts out on.
It says this when you come together it's not the Lord's.
Supper you eat. He's letting them know the thing
that you've made it into is not the Lord's supper and then watch
what they made it into. He says, for as you eat Each of
you goes ahead without waiting for anyone else.
It's about you or we're going to see today.
That the Lord's Supper is not about us at all.
That's not why it is commanded. One remains hungry, another gets
drunk other there and they are some of them committing
gluttony. Some of them.
Committing drunkenness. Don't you have homes to eat and
drink it? Or do you despise the Church of
God and humiliate? Those who have nothing?
He said, there's some here you're not even sharing with
them. They can't even participate.
What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this
certainly not Paul is not praising them here.
In fact, he is doing the complete opposite.
He's rebuking them for the way that they have mistreated the
Lord's supper. And he says this in verse 23,
for I received from the Lord, what I also passed on to you,
the Lord Jesus on the night, he was betrayed took bread.
And when he had given thanks, he broke it.
And said, this is my body, which is for you.
Do this in remembrance of me in the same way.
After he took the cup saying this cup is the New Covenant in
my blood. Do this whenever you drink it.
In remembrance of me whenever you eat this bread and drink
this cup, you proclaim, the Lord's death until he comes.
Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the
Lord, in an unworthy manner. Will be guilty of sinning
against the body and blood of the Lord.
A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and
drink of the cup. Verse 29, says, for anyone who
eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord
eats and drinks judgment on himself.
That is why many among you are weak and sick.
And a number of you have fallen asleep but if we judge
ourselves, we would not come under Her judgment with this
text comes, lots of questions, I assure, you of that, three of
which we will answer today. So if you're taking notes, let's
write down at the first question that often times arises when
observing the Lord's supper. And that is it this basic
question, what is the Lord's Supper?
What is this? What is it?
All about? Verses, 20 through 25 and then
26 and we'll come back and grab Other verses, but verses 20
through 25 and 26, tell us some things about what exactly the
Lord's Supper really is verse 20.
He begins by saying this don't miss this important part.
When you come together, when you come together, it's not the
Lord's Supper, you eat when you come together.
And when we answer the question, what is the law?
Lord's. Supper it is an ordinance for
the church. You see that in this tax he said
when you come together now I know we live in a day and age
where people in errors. Say things like this or that are
ridiculously unbiblical. Well I can be the church here
all by myself. I don't have to go down there
and participate. In organized religion.
No you cannot be the church by yourself.
Stop buying in. Into that lie of the enemy.
He is instructing them when you leave your homes because he
references back to their homes. He said if you're going to eat,
go eat at home but when we come together, the assembling of the
Saints and when do we do that on the Lord's Day?
In fact, early church history, says that they would meet on the
first day of the week on Sunday and they would observe the
Lord's supper together. It is an ordinance for his
church. In fact, even the word church
ekklesia, Has the meaning of assembly.
You can't have a necklace Iya by yourself because one person does
not constitute an assembly. An assembly must be the many.
Remember it said, this is the blood of the New Covenant, which
I said for many, it is those who are God's elect his children
coming together to remember what Jesus Christ has done for them.
It is an ordinance for the church, when you come together
or we joined together today, to observe the Lord's Supper, on
this first day of 2023, this first day of the week, the
Lord's day, what a privilege and honor it is.
I would not rather be in any other place and all the Earth
than to be right here, with this body of Believers on this
particular day. Why?
Because I'm just a moment. We are going to remember our
Lord. And we're going to remember him
properly, exactly for who he is and what he did for us at the
cross. What is the Lord's Supper?
It's an ordinance for the church.
So if you're here today and you're not a blood-bought member
of the church or not born again, brought into the church, by The
Sovereign, Grace of God. If you're not a member of God's
Church through faith in Christ and his finished work at
Calvary, please do not participate in the Lord supper
today, it is not for you often times in churches, they ignore
the importance of that. But a person who does not know
Christ, cannot understand the body and the blood of Christ are
ignorant and they are in their sin.
Just as I, once was unto the Holy Spirit, quickened, me and
opened my eyes to the truth of who Jesus is and what he
accomplished at the cross. So we see first, when we ask the
question, what is the Lord's Supper?
It's not something that anybody can participate in.
It's for his people when they come together.
We've come together today to observe the Lord's.
Supper, it's an ordinance for the church, but not only that.
What is the Lord's Supper? It is an observance of the
Lord's, death verse 26 speaks of this verse 26 tells us for
whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim,
the Lord's death until he comes. It is it is an observance of the
Lord's death. We ought to approach the
observance of the Lord's death with appreciation for his work
at the cross. Now, I want you to stop for a
second and we are approaching the Lord's death here today, to
remember what he's done for us, don't approach that lightly,
don't approach, that nonchalantly, don't approach
that without a hard in the attitude of worship approach
Christ today. As we ought to approach crimes,
recognizing his death Expressing our appreciation for.
When's the last time brother and sister in Christ was the last
time. That you bow down, broken moved
in your Thanksgiving, not for the blessings that you have in
this life that are only going to perish.
For the death of Jesus Christ. The one who gave his all to
rescue you from your sin and from your misery and from a
certain hell that you were condemned to when's the last
time that you showed your appreciation for the death of
Jesus. Christ, it is an observance of
his death where we might with appreciation approach, the
throne of grace and to say Thank You Lord, once again, thank you.
When I was lost in my sin. You rescued me by your death on
a cross. Thank you.
Lord. It's an observance of the Lord's
death. We are to observe it with
appreciation for his work at the cross but also with anticipation
for his return. Verse 26 says, for whenever you
eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's
death. Yes you do.
You are identifying with the fact that the Lord died for you
if you're in Christ, I assure you this, you died with him
there upon that cross. We acknowledge that fact with
appreciation but we also should acknowledge that fact with
anticipation of his return. He goes on to say in verse 26,
for whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you
proclaim, the Lord's death until he returns.
Isn't that what we ought to be doing?
Proclaiming the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, which brought
us live with every ounce, in fiber of our being until we
leave this earth. I know you have other things to
do But as a Christian, you ought to let those other things go.
When you want to proclaim the death of the Lord, Jesus Christ,
every opportunity that you have because it is in the death of
Christ that we find life and life, eternal.
So, when we ask the question, what is the Lord's Supper?
It is an ordinance for the church.
We have gathered today as his church, his bride.
Observe this ordinance. As we have come together, it's
an observance of his death. It's a time when we observe
again through the word of God, we remember importance of
Christ's death on the cross. What is the Lord's Supper?
It is an ordinance for the church and it is an observance
of the Lord's death according to verse 26 of chapter, 11 of that
First Corinthian letter. Which brings us to the second
question today. Now, second question, is this
not only should we ask the question?
What is the Lord's Supper? I pray that you do understand
what it is. I pray that you have a clear
understanding. Now, it's not just some ritual
that we do for the sake of doing it.
It is an act of worship and reflection and Remembrance upon
Christ and what he did for us. But the second question that
arises that we should ask from this text and also receive the
answer from this text is why should we observe the Lord's
Supper, why should we do this? Can't we just go along about our
merry business and just every now and then think about Jesus
and remember what he did for us and you can buy yourself and you
should In fact, every moment of every second of every minute of
your life you should, this is special time when we joined
together to do that as the Lord has commanded us to do.
Why should we observe the Lord's Supper?
Well verses 24 and 25. Give us those answers there in
chapter 11 verse 24 says this. And when he had given thanks, he
broke it. And said this is my body which
is for you. Do this in remembrance of me in
the same way after supper. He took the cup saying this cup
is the New Covenant in my blood, do this, whenever you drink it
in remembrance of me. So as we look at this, I want
you to see the answer that is contained there or answers for
us to our question today. Why should we observe the Lord's
Supper simply put I would ask you this question.
Is he your lord? And if he is your lord, you
know, that he is your Lord, because you Obey what He
commands. And so it would be proper as we
ask the question. Why should we observe the Lord's
Supper to give you this clear and concise answer?
Because it's commanded by the Lord Jesus, that's an easy
enough. Answer to that question.
It's commanded in fact, in Luke's Gospel of Luke chapter 22
verse 19. When he records it do this.
In remembrance of me, it is very clear there by the context.
That Jesus is not making a request, he's not giving a
suggestion. If you know anything about the
Greek language, what you know is that this the the mood and which
it is written is very important and the mood of that phrase do
this is in the imperative in the Greek.
What does that mean? It means it's a command.
It is Jesus saying of this is not optional.
This is what you are to do, do this.
Just like I have shown you this example where the Corinthians
messed up Paul makes it very clear.
They were getting outside of the example of Christ, they had made
it into a big feast and a drunken party.
It's not what the Lord's Supper is to be at all.
It is a command from Christ to observe his body and his blood.
He says do this. It's a command In fact, John
Calvin and noted this, he said this, and I quote, he said,
wherever we find the word of God, surely preached in heard
wherever we walk into assembly, and they're preaching the word
of God and the sacraments administered according to the
institutions of Christ. He said in there, observing the
Lord's, Supper, the sacraments, according to the institution of
Christ Christ's teaching. He says, when you find a place
and they're preaching the truth of the word of God, they're
preaching, the truth of the gospel, and they are observing
the body and the blood of Christ through the sacraments As they
have been instituted of Christ there, he says it is not to be
doubted is a Church of God. John Calvin, believe that was
the mark of a true church. We see today many places claim
to be churches and never ever observe communion and never
observe the Lord's supper and thank you would ask them.
Do you guys observe the Lord's Supper know, what is it?
Why is that so important? Oh now sad, is it that we've
gone so far in our church culture?
That's no longer important to remember the body and the blood
of Jesus Christ. We ask ourselves this question.
Why should we observe the Lord's?
Supper is commanded by the Lord. Why?
Because it's indicative that we are truly a church.
When we observe the body and the blood of Jesus Christ.
Why should we observe the Lord's?
Supper is commanded by the Lord Jesus.
Secondly, not only is it commanded by the Lord Jesus, it
is to commemorate the Lord Jesus.
He says, do this that imperative and then he tells you.
Why in remembrance of Of me in remembrance of me there
monuments all over our country. Unfortunately, many of them
being torn down for political reasons and that's a whole
nother topic. But there are monuments all over
our country. In fact, I talked to someone
this morning who during the Christmas holiday, went to DC
and got to see all of The Monuments there and all of the
things that commemorated soldiers and battles.
And all the things that we know. Our history is full of as a
nation. We spend lots of time and lots
of money. Commemorating these things.
If you were to Google the average cost of a funeral where
you commemorate a loved one or if you have recently had a
funeral service for a loved one. You know, this is no easy task
and it comes at a great expense and we go through great extent
to commemorate others. Ben often times when it's time
to commemorate Christ. We approach it with a nonchalant
attitude. He says, do this in remembrance
of me, commemorate me by doing this, when you come together for
the Lord's Supper, it's not something that is just a
flippant ritual. It is a commemoration of your
savior, if you know him, you will take this moment and this
opportunity very seriously be something that you approach
haphazardly. Be something that you approach
with great, all you approach with great reverence and great
honor and respect. It is to commemorate the Lord
Jesus. He said, do this, I command you
so that you don't forget Oh, how quick we are to forget, aren't
we? You know this many of you are
struggling in your Christian, Life is In.
It's because you constantly forget what Christ has done for
you. You constantly forget that he is
your justification and that he is your sanctification.
He is your adoption and one day, he will be your glorification.
You forget constantly of what Christ has done for you.
This is the time where we come together and we say let's not
forget Let's commemorate him for who he is and for what he has
done, bringing God glory and bringing Sinners to
reconciliation with God, it is to commemorate the Lord Jesus.
He says, do this in remembrance of me and when we commemorate
the Lord Jesus, we see there are some elements to that, that we
must. Remember, I'm going to give you
some theological terms and I know some of you the moment I
say that you turn your ear off and you say, oh I'm not a
theologian. What you need to learn to be?
Did they is a good start first day of the first year?
The first day of the week. Let's start.
Now. And the first thing that we see
that we ought to commemorate, the Lord for is his
propitiation. I know this that's a big
theological word, don't be afraid of it.
Oh, I remember when I would sit in churches and they would dumb
everything down so that they could keep people dumb, so that
they could seem smart. How about we do something new?
How about I tell you what propitiation means.
And then, from this point on, you will understand how we are
to commemorate the propitiation of Jesus Christ.
Who weren't propitiation. The easy-to-remember definition
is this. It means to appease wrath means
to appease wrath. Oh, wait a second pastor.
You're going to talk about wrath and in the middle of the Lord's
Supper. Oh yes, I am.
I'm going to tell you that it is the body and the blood of Jesus
Christ that has freed you from the wrath of God.
And so, as we look at this, I want you to understand when we
talk about propitiation, we talk about his body, his bodily
death, the death that he died on the cross, the beating that he
took in the suffering that he endured under the Wrath of the
father. That bothers so many people in
modern Christianity. That the father would pour His
wrath out upon the Sun but I promise you biblically, that is
exactly what happened. You want me to Fleur.
You even more and it was God's will.
It was God's will, in fact, Isaiah 53:10, Watch what it says
here. As God spoke through the
prophet. He says in verse 10 yet, it was
the Lord's. Will some of your chance could
say this yet? It pleased, the Lord to crush
him and cause him to suffer. And though, the Lord makes his
life, a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong
his days and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hands.
We look at the propitiation of Jesus.
Christ is Christ. At the cross, satisfying, the
wrath of God. On our behalf as Believers.
And we need to think about that for just a moment.
Christ, was not deserving of the Wrath, Christ was perfect and
righteous and holy and complete in all of his ways, never
breaking one of God's Commandments.
I on the other hand was a sinner.
How do I know the scriptures? True for all have sinned and
come short of the glory of God, there's none righteous?
No, not one no one seeks after him.
You can put Kerr calls name in there.
Her called did not seek after him for call was not righteous
by his own. it is the righteousness of Christ, it has
been accredited to Kirk all That God counts is enough.
Why? Because of the body of Jesus
Christ. Appeasing, the wrath of God in
my stead. What are you saying, pastor?
I'm saying this. That the Wrath that Christ
endured at Calvary. Should have been mine.
So I don't know that. I really could say that.
You don't understand it yet and I pray today that God would open
your eyes so that you could understand it.
So, it would bring you to a place of bended knee and
humbleness and Brokenness before God, Almighty saying Thank You.
Lord, thank you that when I could not come to you.
When I deserve the wrath of God, you did not bore your ass out on
me because you could have just lie at any moment in time but
you were patient with me and you poured your ass out on your only
begotten son so that at the appointed time that you had
decided. And Or infinite mind in eternity
past. So that the appointed time Kirk
Hall could get in on the deal that you had in store for him.
That's by his grace and his grace alone.
So it is to commemorate the Lord Jesus Christ for his
propitiation. Oh, second Corinthians, five and
a verse. You all should know at this
point. In time verse 21 says this, God
made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him.
We might become the righteousness of God.
Pastor, are you trying to tell me?
That Jesus put on the filth of our sin.
And gave us his garments of righteousness.
Watch me, watch me closely. That's exactly what I'm telling
you. That is his propitiation he
appeased the will and the wrath of God in my place and in the
place of all those who would believe past present and future.
And we should commemorate. Is propitiation.
Not only his propitiation theological term.
Number two. Are you ready?
Is expiation is expiation. You say another big word.
It's not that big. It's only a few letters.
Don't let it throw you off. Look at what it means.
And see how amazing the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Is he was our opinion, which means he appeased and satisfied,
the Wrath of the father, but he's also our expiation.
And expiation means this to cover or to cleanse from sin.
I don't know about you, but I do know about me and I can speak
for myself. Had Jesus not become my
expiation on the cross, there would be no cleansing and
covering from my sin. It was far too great.
But in Christ, he has indeed become our expiation are
covering our cleansing, the atoning blood of Jesus Christ.
That is what we were all remembering.
When we take the cup, just as we take the body and we remember
his propitiation, how he was crushed there on the on the
cross according to the plan, in the will of God.
We look at his Pro. We look at his expiation and we
leave his propitiation. We see that he was not only the
one who's satisfied, the wrath of God, he's the one who
cleanses The wicked sinner, not only did Christ satisfy, the
wrath of God that belongs to me. But he also cleanse me, of all
of my sin. He is my expiation, all of my
sin, watch this, dear believer, past present, and future sin.
There will never be a sin held to the charge of a True
Believer. Why?
Because Christ is your expiation, he's your expiation.
He is recovering. He is your cleansing.
When the father sees the believer, he no longer sees the
believer as a. Filthy wretched sinner, he sees
the believer clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
An heir to the throne and a son of the Living.
God thinks be to Christ and what he did for us at the cross.
What is in this time of commemoration?
in remembrance of me, he said, we remember his propitiation and
his expiation atoning work that he accomplished through his
death and through his blood Is where we remember?
The gift that he gave us to by faith.
Trust in that blood, the by faith.
Trust in that blood, I can assure you of this without
faith. In the blood of Jesus Christ,
you will remain a filthy unacceptable sinner, When it
comes to a holy God. You cannot approach him.
You cannot fellowship with them. And you are completely cut off
from your creator but it is through the expiation, the
covering the cleansing of the blood of Christ.
That one can be forgiven back in Ephesians 1:7 and says this.
In him Christ, we have Redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of sin. Oh, you will not be forgiven by
God for your sins. Lest you be cleansed by the
precious blood of Jesus. Jesus Christ, I assure you of
that he says, we have Redemption through his blood, the
Forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of
God's grace, God did it all that he lavished on us with all
wisdom, and understanding. And Colossians Paul says this,
in verse 14 of chapter one in whom talking about Christ, we
have Redemption, the forgiveness of sin.
These should be familiar, passages and familiar verses.
You hear them all the time? But don't forget them, remind
yourself of them constantly. When you feel dirty because you
do as a Believer, commit, a sin. Remember this?
You're a clan, you're forgiven, you recovered, why not?
Because you always get it right? But because Christ died in your
place on a cross and his blood has cleansed you of your sin.
Many a man, even a believer spends his life in a miserable
State because he doesn't understand the expiation of
Jesus Christ his covering in his cleansing by his blood.
That there will be no sin held to the charge of Kirk Hall any
longer because of his faith in the expiation of Jesus Christ.
You say none? Yes, none Christ, died.
Once for all sin. I'm thankful for that.
He died for my sin. He is my expiation Without faith
in his blood. You're an eternal trouble.
There is no cleansing for you. That first John says this and
John's first epistle, he says in verse 7, but if we walk in the
light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another
and the blood of Jesus his son purifies us from all sin.
Anyone here thankful that you have been cleansed and purified
by the blood of Jesus Christ. Allowing you communion that's
exactly what John is talking about with the father Communion
with the father comes because you have been cleansed.
Is expiation. Something that we ought to
commemorate when we observe the Lord's Supper.
So we asked the first question, what is the Lord's Supper to an
ordinance for the church and observance of the Lord's death.
The second question was, why should we observe the Lord's
Supper? Because the Lord said to do it,
And because it is to commemorate the Lord for what he has done.
Do this in remembrance of me, you say, well, I don't think I
have to do this. To remember what Jesus did for
me really. You didn't know where your car
keys were this morning. So we do this so that we don't
forget so that we are reminded of this propitiation through his
body. And his expiation provided by
his blood. Third question, who should
observe the Lord's Supper? Oh, I have seen churches in
error. Run people through the communion
lines as if they were cattle being vaccinated.
I want you to pay close attention to what the Apostle
teaches here in verse 27 of chapter 11.
As we answer the question, who should observe the Lord's
Supper, is this for everyone. Therefore, whoever eats the
bread or drinks the cup of the Lord, in an unworthy manner will
be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
He says, in verse 28, a man ought to examine himself before
he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
Why should he do that? Verse 29, says, for anyone who
eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord
eats and drinks? Judgment on himself.
I would say this to you. Anyone who eats or drinks
without recognizing the body and the blood of the Lord eats and
drinks judgment upon himself, pay attention to what he's
saying here, only a True Believer can fully understand
the body and the blood of Jesus Christ.
Why? Because that was not revealed by
your own human intellect. It was revealed by God himself,
we know that Peter, when he confessed the Lord Jesus, you
are the Christ, the son of the Living God.
He said, yes, Peter and Flesh. And Blood did not reveal this to
you, but God's spirit has revealed this to you.
So as we think on these things, understand the first thing that
I want you to understand about who should observe the Lord's
Supper, it's only those who understand the body and the
blood of Christ. If you're sitting here right now
and you're going man, us is really making sense.
We're going to eat a body and drink some blood.
This is weird. These people are car Navarra
cannibals. If that's your attitude, let me
say this, don't protect. If the cup You have no idea.
Oh I pray this. I pray that before we're done
today that God would sovereignly open your eyes to see the truth
that he would Quicken your dead Spirit to understand and to
Believe In Christ. and 42 in for the first time in your life, to
see him for who he truly is, Who should observe the Lord's
Supper? He makes it very clear.
The real believers Those who by faith have been given true
Enlightenment from the Holy Spirit.
True Enlightenment, true, Enlightenment concerning the
magnitude of Christ's atoning death because a True Believer is
going to understand that. That's interesting when I talk
to people, I ask them if they're a Believer and they said, yeah,
that's will tell me about when you became a Christian and they
never talk about Sin. He never talked about Brokenness
and never talk about repentance and never talk about the death,
and the blood of Jesus Christ, and his cross, and his death,
and it's very real. And his resurrection.
All they talk about is their free ticket to Heaven.
That some shyster sold them yet, because I walk the, I prayed a
little prayer, you have no understanding of the sacrifice
of Jesus Christ. Do not partake of his table.
You don't belong here. Some for you.
It's only for the real believer is it will Pastor?
That's kind of bold. I'd been in churches where they
invite everyone to take Community.
Yeah they do. No those are living an active
sin. Those are living a sinful
Lifestyles, those who aren't Believers at all and they abuse
the table of the Lord. And if the Lord was going to
write another letter to the church, it would address the
fact that they have abused and abused and abused, the table of
the Lord, we're not going to do it just because others do.
This for real believers. You know, Christ and were known
of Christ. We've been brought the true
Faith. True repentance.
We're broken over their sin and humbled by the sacrifice of
Jesus Christ. It is for the real Believers
because only a True Believer will really understand this at
all. The rest, it would just be
something that people do. Oh, don't let this just be
something that people do a ritual.
See this for what it really is. Is a picture of the communion
that we have with the father through the son because we are
true. Believers who have been saved by
grace alone through faith alone. In Christ alone.
We can come as true believers to his table.
Why? Because he has invited us Sup
with him to fellowship with him to have that intimate
relationship with him who should observe the Lord's Supper the
real Believers, but it doesn't just stop there Paul goes on.
He says in verse 27, he talks about therefore whoever eats the
bread and drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will
be guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord
and a man ought to examine himself before he eats of the
bread and drinks of the God. He goes on to say for anyone who
eats and drinks without recognizing the body of Lord
eats and drinks judgment. I meant on himself.
That is why many among you are weak and sick and a number of
you have fallen asleep. See the seriousness of what the
Apostle Paul teaches here that he has received from the Lord.
He's saying many of you have read are receiving discipline
and have received discipline from the Lord in the form of
sickness and even death. That's what it means when it
talks about asleep. When we refer to Believers
dying. It is the fact that we refer to
it in scripture as those who have fallen asleep in Christ.
He's saying there are many believers who are right now.
Now undergoing sickness and some have even died.
Because they have mishandled and abused the Lord's Supper.
It's beginning to make sense. Now, why I take this topic?
So seriously when others do not Because I have been placed in a
position of Under Shepherd to this body of Christ, and is my
duty to warn the sheep of the danger that lie ahead.
And I say to you. True sheep of God, do not take
of the Lord's table today. Do not partake of the body and
the blood. Lets you first, examine
yourself, why? Because, as we have seen this
observances for the real Believers, but it's also for the
repentant Believers though, those who are walking in a
constant state of examination, followed by confession and
repentance. Oh, so many times Christians.
Leave repentance and confession to this one-time experience.
Can I tell you this? That is the biggest error that
anyone has ever taught you. We as Christians are to walk in
a continual state of repentance. In fact Charles Spurgeon said it
best. He said this sincere, repentance
is continual are you will repent at Salvation and you will
continue to repent. He's a sincere.
Repentance is continual Believers repent until their
dying day. Christian, we must never ever
ever neglect that continual examination.
That the Lord calls for that continual confession and
repentance that he calls for. Each day of our life, but
especially, especially when we approach the Lord's table as we
are going to do in just a few moment.
Who should observe the Lord's Supper?
Only the real believer. I tell you this today, if you're
not a Believer here today, Do not partake of this cop.
You are per taking judgment upon yourself.
It's only for the real believers.
It's only for the repentant Believers.
If you're a True Believer here today, I want you to listen to
me. I want you to listen to me
clearly. You are a True Believer here
today. And there's active sin in your
life that the Holy Spirit has made you aware of And I assure
you this, if he lives inside of you, you can't sin unaware.
If you are holding onto it, oh and is even your little pet
secrets in that goes on on the internet that you think no one
knows about because you're pretty good at covering your
tracks. You know.
And to partake of the supper with that unconfessed and
unrepented of sin in your life is to bring judgment and
discipline upon yourself. You say current, do you really
believe that? Yes, I believe all of the word
of God. Hebrews chapter 12, says those,
he loves he disciplines and he chastens with Rod.
If you're a truly loved by Christ today, if you were truly
his, I assure you of this, he is not going to let you approached
his table with unconfessed sin in.
Your life without consequence. How do I know this?
Look what? He says there in verse 31.
Verse 31, he says, but if we judged ourselves, we would not
come under judgment. What is he talking about?
He's talking about the self-examination that ought to
go on in the life of a Believer every day.
He's talking about the preaching of the Gospel to yourself.
He's talking about the preaching of the truth of the scripture to
yourself constantly. Are you doing that?
Are you doing like the psalmist? Who invites the Lord.
That's me. Try me.
See if there's any wickedness in me at all.
Are you doing that believer? Are you today approaching his
table with the attitude of Lord? Show me if there's anything in
my life? That is a defilement to you.
That is offensive to you. Everybody's worried about
offending, everybody in this culture and no one seems to
worry about offending God. Would you pray that?
What if there's something offensive in my life?
Is that my language that I use on a day-to-day basis?
I Repent of that. Is it?
My lustful thoughts? I Repent of that.
Is it my lustful Deeds? I Repent of that.
Is it? My greed?
Is it my covetousness, is it my lack of contentment Lord, I
Repent of that and I confess it to you by name.
I am in need of your body and your blood.
I'm in need of your cleansing constantly.
Thank you. Lord.
Jesus. What would happen?
We approached his table like that.
So it would be what it was intended to be.
The time of worship and adoration a time of remembrance.
The time, sweet, sweet, intimate Fellowship because of what
Christ has done for us all the attention now goes off of us.
Well, that was the big problem with the Corinthian Church.
All the attention was on them. They were having a party.
Paul says, this is not about a party.
This is about Christ. This is about remembering
Christ, his body and his blood. Walking in a manner. that is
consistent with someone who truly understands that Who
should observe the Lord's? Supper the real believers. and
the repentant Believers perhaps today, as we prepare our hearts
and our minds to observe the Lord's Supper You would examine
yourself. In fact, I would implore you to
do that. To examine yourself to test
yourself, as Paul said to see, if you're truly of the faith.
To do as the word commands in to work out your own salvation with
fear. And trembling, are you a real
believer here today? Go to examine yourself.
As a believer. My repentant believer today.
Are there things in my life that I need to let go of and and
Trust Christ power. Free me from them today.
The things that I need to confess by name that I've never
mentioned hoping God would somehow look the other way.
Can I say this? Your forgiveness came at the
price of his only begotten, son. He's not going to look the other
way. Did you hear me?
It's not going to look the other way.
God does not cast a blind eye to your sin.
You confess your sin to Christ today.
Your mediator Walking, the Forgiveness that he has provided
for you first. John 1:9 says that if we confess
our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Would you take Christ up on that today before coming to his
table? Did you hear the words of John
and that same epistle where he said?
I would that you not sin. but if you do, But if you do you have
an advocate with the Father the Lord Jesus Christ.
Would you today approach The Advocate the Lord Jesus Christ.
Confess those sins. And walking the Forgiveness that
he died for you to walk in. Would you approach the table?
With a clear conscience. Knowing that you have not
trampled over the body in the blood of Jesus Christ, is the
Corinthian Church did but that you as best as you could.
Your broken state. Relied upon the grace and the
mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ, you identified with his body.
With his blood. We answer the questions
surrounding the Lord's Supper what is the Lord's?
Supper. It's an ordinance for the
church, as for the Believers and observance of the Lord's death.
It is where we observe and commemorate the Lord and his
death. Why should we observe the Lord's
Supper? Because it is commanded by the
Lord. And his to commemorate the Lord.
His propitiation aren't you. Glad that?
You know what that means now? and as expiation this
propitiation provided by his body where he bore the wrath of
God on the cross for you and Main died in our place,
Fulfilling the wrath of God. Why satisfying it completely,
why? The wages of sin is death, he
bore our sin and he died our death but the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ, Our Lord giving us
eternal life It is to commemorate his propitiation and
is expiation. What of atonement but of
atonement that the whole Old Testament sacrificial system
pointed to, it is to commemorate, the Fulfillment of
that to commemorate, the true Passover Lamb.
It's no coincidence that this happened at Passover, where
Jesus stood, he took the bread and he took the cup, it's no
coincidence that it happened that way.
He was saying, I am the one that all of this pointed to all of
this time, just as John, the Baptist identified him there and
he said, behold the lamb Lamb of God who takes away the sin of
the world as he walked the banks of the Jordan River.
So now that these questions have been answered.
I pray hopefully, clearly now that these questions have been
answered, I want us to go into a time of careful examination.
Careful examination. I'm going to ask that you not
examine your husband husbands. Don't examine your wives lives.
Don't examine the lives of your children, your grandchildren,
just a moment. Would you examine your own life?
Would you rely on the power of the Holy Spirit?
To show you the things that maybe you would miss your
fallible state. Would you be bold enough and
brave enough to confess those things to the Lord?
He already knows. And to repent you say well I
can't I've tried yeah that's why you haven't because you keep
trying. You call in the name of Jesus in
the power of the Holy Spirit today.
Let you walk out from that sin, that you've played around with
so long. May this be a day?
You remember forever the day you took communion for the first
time with a pure heart toward God.
Would you stand your feet? Every head, bowed?
Every eye closed. Let's free together.
Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank you.
For the picture. You have given us.
Your body and your blood that we might remember you but we thank
you for the lessons in your word that make it so clear as we do
have questions or thank you for the grace of answering those
questions that we have. Got a preacher.
Now that now that we would all approach your table with the
right heart in the right mind. That it would be a time of
worship appreciation and adoration toward you what you
did for us at Calvary. 2000 years ago, we pray and we ask
all these things in Christ's name.
Amen. Thank you for listening to the
key Life Fellowship, Pulpit Ministry podcast.
If you would like to talk with one of our pastors, please email
us at info at Key Life Fellowship, dot org or call us
at 28 1689 1604. You can also visit our website
at www.piofl.com. We hope and pray.
You have a blessed week and remember you are lying.
Light in the dark. Light in the dark.