1 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:08,200 Thank you for listening to Riverbend Church's podcast. 2 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:11,560 To find out more about this message or Riverbend Church, 3 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:14,920 connect with us online at Riverbend Church dot live. 4 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:23,760 I'm so excited about being able to to go back into the series 5 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:27,800 together, to be able to. Worship with you together and if 6 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:29,240 you're. New to the series? 7 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:32,439 Let me kind of go ahead and give you the overall gist when we 8 00:00:32,439 --> 00:00:36,120 read about the life of. Jesus in in in the scriptures. 9 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:38,160 And Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. 10 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:41,200 We're able to see to where it's recorded for US. 11 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:45,240 Jesus borrowed 5 things. He borrowed a boat. 12 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:49,240 He borrowed some bread. He he borrowed a donkey. 13 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:50,600 If you're here. With us last week. 14 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:53,360 Todd preached on that. And did an incredible job 15 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:57,000 leading us through that. He borrowed a room and then. 16 00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:58,960 Ultimately, we're going to see. Next week to where? 17 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,600 Jesus borrowed a tomb and and. Really, there's two. 18 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:05,720 Overarching questions about this series. 19 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:09,360 Like OK number one, why did God think? 20 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:11,640 That it was so. Important to record for. 21 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:15,560 Us in the pages of scripture these specific 5 things. 22 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:18,760 Or maybe just the context? Around these five things. 23 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:21,080 And then #2 what does God want to? 24 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:25,160 Teach us through these five things or or or the context 25 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:28,160 surrounding these five things. And if you've. 26 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:29,880 Been with us throughout. This series, you know that 27 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:33,440 there's a unifying truth, whether it's a boat or bread or 28 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:34,960 donkey. A room or a tomb? 29 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:37,600 There's a unifying truth that we see playing out. 30 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:39,200 It's actually serving as a big idea. 31 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:40,680 Throughout. This series, and if you're 32 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:42,000 taking notes with us, here it is. 33 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:45,640 We find out that what Jesus borrows whatever Jesus borrows. 34 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:47,640 He blesses to use. For our. 35 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:52,840 Good and for His glory. If he if he borrowed a boat, he 36 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:54,800 he blessed it to. Use for Simon. 37 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:59,040 Peter's good and for the glory of God when when he barred some. 38 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:00,280 Bread. He. 39 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:01,960 He. Barred it and and he. 40 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:05,040 Blessed it to use. For that little boy that. 41 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:08,960 Offered his five loaves of. Of of bread and two fish up to. 42 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:12,080 Jesus, he he, he used. It for that little boy's good, 43 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:14,760 but also for. God's glory. 44 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,360 With with a donkey. Same thing with with a room that 45 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:19,320 we're. Going to see the same thing, 46 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:20,440 Tomb. We're going to see the same 47 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:23,240 thing. There's a unifying truth, but in 48 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:28,080 each individual 5 things that Jesus borrows, I think that 49 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:29,720 there's also a specific. Lesson. 50 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:32,640 That God wants to remind. Us of SO for example. 51 00:02:32,640 --> 00:02:36,320 If you were with us, If you were this the first week of this 52 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:39,920 series when Jesus borrowed a boat, that reminds us that Jesus 53 00:02:39,920 --> 00:02:43,880 wants to meet you where you are and to make what you're doing 54 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:47,640 matter forever. If you were with us a few weeks 55 00:02:47,640 --> 00:02:49,760 ago and where we see Jesus. Borrowed the. 56 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:53,200 Bread and the fish. It's a reminder that what's not 57 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:55,200 enough in our hands is more than enough in. 58 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:57,920 His. If you were with us last week is 59 00:02:57,920 --> 00:03:00,880 taught I'm packed for us when Jesus borrowed a donkey. 60 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:04,040 It's a reminder that Jesus doesn't always. 61 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,080 God doesn't always use the extraordinary. 62 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:11,000 He uses the available and this morning we're going to look. 63 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:14,120 At the 4th of the five items that Jesus borrowed and. 64 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,600 We're going to be reminded that. Before there was a cross as as 65 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:20,320 we're right. Here heading towards Easter. 66 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:22,600 Easter week. Before there was a cross. 67 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:25,160 There was an empty room or there was an upper room. 68 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:27,760 And what I want to do is I want to encourage you if you have a 69 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:29,200 Bible with. You where there's a physical. 70 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:34,120 Copy or digital copy Find Luke chapter 22 with me. 71 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:36,760 Luke chapter 22. And if you don't have a Bible 72 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:39,560 with you, no worries. The passage is on the screen in 73 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:42,600 front of you and it's also on your note sheet. 74 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:45,880 What we're going to do is we're going to pick it up in verse 7 75 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:48,200 and walk through this together. Luke 20. 76 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:51,200 Two verse 7 starts off. When they then came the Day of 77 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:53,080 Unleavened bread on which the Passover. 78 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:57,440 Lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus said Peter and John, 79 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:00,040 his disciples, saying, Go and prepare the Passover for us, 80 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:03,080 that we may eat it. And they said to him, Where will 81 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:05,320 you have us prepare it? And he said to them, Behold, 82 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:07,760 when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water 83 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:10,400 will meet you. Follow him into the house that 84 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:12,040 he enters, and tell the master of the house. 85 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:14,760 The teacher says to you. Where's the guest room where I 86 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:16,839 may eat the Passover with my disciples? 87 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:19,519 And he will show you a large upper room furnished. 88 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,760 Prepare it there. And they went and found it, just 89 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:25,080 as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. 90 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:28,600 Now third verses 13. And 14 is almost like a hinge 91 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:33,360 verses 14 forward is. Right. 92 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:36,800 After they have finished the Passover meal, or in the context 93 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:41,000 of that Passover meal, when the hour came, Jesus reclined at the 94 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:43,400 table and the apostles with him, and he said to them, I've 95 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:45,480 earnestly. Desired to eat this Passover 96 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:48,840 with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat 97 00:04:48,840 --> 00:04:52,440 it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. 98 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:56,440 And he took a cup, and when he'd given thanks, he said, take this 99 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:59,400 and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on 100 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:01,400 I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom. 101 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:04,360 Of God comes. And he took bread, And when he'd 102 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:05,840 given thanks, he. Broke it and gave. 103 00:05:05,840 --> 00:05:07,800 It to them saying this is my body which is given. 104 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:10,160 For you do this in remembrance of me. 105 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,680 And likewise the cup after they had eaten saying. 106 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:16,040 This cup that is poured out. For you as the new covenant in 107 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:19,520 my blood now before we go any. Further, I think. 108 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:21,160 There's some really important background. 109 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:24,160 Info that we need to know, we need to understand for this 110 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:26,880 passage to truly make sense to us. 111 00:05:27,280 --> 00:05:29,520 You need to understand that on the timeline here of. 112 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:31,120 Jesus's life. Jesus. 113 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:35,120 Is in his final hours. This is just several hours 114 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,480 before. Jesus is going to be. 115 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:39,200 Betrayed by Judas, he's going to be. 116 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:42,560 Arrested by the temple guard. He's going to be tried, brought 117 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:46,800 before Pontius Pilate tried. He's going to be wrongfully 118 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:51,400 condemned, he's going to be beaten beyond human recognition 119 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:56,200 and he is going to be murdered. By being executed and nailed to 120 00:05:56,200 --> 00:06:00,680 a cross. Last week, Todd talked about how 121 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:03,480 Jesus. Borrowed a donkey and on that 122 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:07,360 donkey he rode into Jerusalem and and and the streets of 123 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:11,360 Jerusalem were lined with people cheering hosanna, hosanna, 124 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:13,560 Hosanna blessed is he who comes in the name of the. 125 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:17,760 Lord in this. Passage We're a few short hours 126 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:21,280 away from the. Tide of that crowd turning. 127 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:25,120 Not from Hosanna Hosanna Hosanna. 128 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:31,840 But to crucify him, crucify him, I think it's. 129 00:06:31,840 --> 00:06:36,120 Also really important that we note that in this passage in 130 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:40,640 Luke 22, Luke starts off by reminding us it is the Day of 131 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:43,600 Unleavened. Bread of the Passover if. 132 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:45,560 You were this a couple. Weeks ago we. 133 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:49,280 Talked about when Jesus borrowed bread and and and and fish and 134 00:06:49,280 --> 00:06:51,160 he multiplied. It he broke, it blessed. 135 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:54,720 It multiplied it and fed over 20,000 people that that was on 136 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:56,600 the. Day of Passover and and. 137 00:06:56,600 --> 00:07:00,840 Passover was and still. Is a a festival celebrated? 138 00:07:00,840 --> 00:07:04,400 And observed by the Jewish people to commemorate to 139 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:09,200 remember how God saved them out of Egypt and saved them out of. 140 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:11,160 Slavery, and it's called Passover. 141 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,680 Because the 10th and the final plague that God brought down on 142 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:20,320 Egypt was to go and kill the first born of every household in 143 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:25,840 Egypt if that household did not have the blood of a lamb 144 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:29,160 painted. Up and over its door frame. 145 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:32,720 If a house had the blood of a lamb painted up and over its 146 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:35,200 door frame, that Angel would literally. 147 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:41,920 Pass over that house. Now on this specific day, this 148 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:45,560 would be the day to where people from all over the area, they 149 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:50,840 would bring their spotless without blemish perfect lamb. 150 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:53,400 They would bring this lamb to the temple. 151 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:56,960 They would give the lamb over to a priest in the temple. 152 00:07:57,160 --> 00:08:00,720 The priest would slaughter the lamb, would kill the lamb, and 153 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:03,440 then collect his blood and pour the blood on the. 154 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:06,720 Altar. And then give the Lamb's body 155 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:10,320 back to the person, back to the family that brought the Lamb to 156 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:12,720 the temple. That family would then go roast 157 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:16,000 the meat of that lamb and then. Serve it at a special. 158 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:19,160 Dinner. Called the Passover Seder, this 159 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:22,040 is the. Type of dinner that Jesus and 160 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:24,280 his. Disciples are celebrating in 161 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:27,240 this upper room now all of what I just described. 162 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:30,280 To you is incredibly symbolic of. 163 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:34,280 Jesus, you see, Jesus the. Son of God. 164 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:38,440 Is about to be slaughtered for the forgiveness of sins of the 165 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:40,400 people. Do you remember when Jesus 166 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:41,520 first? Came on the scene. 167 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:45,080 And he came out to be baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist. 168 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:47,880 Do you remember what John the Baptist yelled to announce? 169 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:51,560 Like the arrival of Jesus. Behold the what? 170 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,320 The Lamb of God. Who takes away the sins of the 171 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:57,760 world? You see, all of this is all 172 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:00,040 pointing back to Jesus. This. 173 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:03,200 Perfect lamb of. God the Son of God, Jesus, is 174 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:05,960 about to be slaughtered. On a cross. 175 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:09,440 And his blood is about to be poured out for the forgiveness 176 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:12,240 of sins. Now I don't think at. 177 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:17,480 All that the disciples in this moment in Luke. 22 I don't think 178 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:20,880 that they really had much of A clue about everything that was 179 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:22,320 going on. They they. 180 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,160 Would over the several days after this. 181 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:27,720 Event. I think that in their minds. 182 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:30,160 They were probably just celebrating the Passover meal 183 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:34,560 with Jesus like they had the previous two years with Jesus. 184 00:09:34,560 --> 00:09:36,480 But as they would soon find out, this. 185 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:39,200 Was no ordinary meal. At all. 186 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:40,960 As a matter of fact, this was going to be the most. 187 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:43,880 Impactful. Most important meal. 188 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:48,000 In all of human history. It's a meal that's now known. 189 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:53,040 As the Last Supper me ask you a question though. 190 00:09:54,160 --> 00:10:00,120 Is it just me or do you find it? Odd how Jesus told his disciples 191 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:04,160 Peter and James. Hey guys I need. 192 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:05,920 You to go prepare. A room. 193 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:07,880 I need you to go find a room for. 194 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:09,400 Passover and here's what I need you to do. 195 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:12,800 I need you to go into town. Once you get into town, there's 196 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:14,320 going to be a man carrying a big. 197 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:17,640 Jar of water. I need you to follow this guy 198 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:24,040 home and then once you get to his home, ask for his master. 199 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:25,440 Ask for. The owner of the house. 200 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:30,400 And then just tell that guy, hey, the teacher has need for 201 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:32,720 your room to celebrate the Passover meal. 202 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:35,720 With his disciples. Can you imagine being putting 203 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:37,920 yourself in the shoes of that man carrying? 204 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:40,480 The jar of water. To where you're just out running 205 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:43,160 errands, you're getting like last minute preparations, big 206 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:46,080 jar of water and then you see two complete strangers kind of 207 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:47,600 make eye contact with you and then. 208 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:50,840 They start to follow you. And everywhere you look like 209 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:53,240 they're following you, they're making every turn that you make. 210 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:56,200 I wonder if that guy at any point in time thought I need to 211 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:58,480 lose these guys. So he started zigzagging. 212 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:01,800 Through the streets. And imagine how like amazed he 213 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:05,200 was that those two guys actually followed him into his. 214 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:06,960 House. And asked. 215 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:10,480 For the owner of the house and. Told them that their. 216 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:13,680 Teacher has need for the. Room while while. 217 00:11:13,680 --> 00:11:15,960 We're at it and while we're asking interesting questions. 218 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:18,960 Does. Anybody else find it interesting 219 00:11:19,680 --> 00:11:25,640 that Jesus went to such great lengths to have a or to, to to 220 00:11:25,680 --> 00:11:33,600 to to reserve such a secluded and a secretive place for his 221 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:34,440 last? Meal. 222 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:39,120 I've always thought that. That was strange. 223 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:42,080 I've always thought that that was strange that. 224 00:11:42,680 --> 00:11:47,520 That of all the times. For Jesus to be secretive and 225 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:55,640 secluded, it was his last meal. But with all things Jesus, 226 00:11:55,680 --> 00:11:58,160 nothing was accidental. Nothing was coincidental. 227 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:02,920 I think that that decision by Jesus, Jesus borrowing that 228 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:08,080 upper room on that night, demonstrates 3 key choices that 229 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:11,960 He made that are so important for you and I to wrap our minds 230 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:13,960 around. So important for. 231 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:18,240 You and I to embrace not just today, but far after today as 232 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:20,240 well. If you're taking notes with us, 233 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,440 here's the first of the three choices that Jesus. 234 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:25,560 Made he made the choice to go. Private versus public. 235 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:31,120 He made the choice to go. Private versus public again, 236 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:34,120 Jesus Christ, perfect Lamb of God. 237 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:36,400 Comes to take. Away the sins of the world. 238 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:40,240 He. Chooses to have his last. 239 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:45,120 Meal in an upper room with a small group with his inner core 240 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:48,240 with like his 12. Closest friends. 241 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:51,880 I've always thought that that was strange because. 242 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:55,640 If it were me, I I would I would think that it would make. 243 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:57,760 A lot more sense for Jesus to reserve a. 244 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:03,360 Huge like banquet hall, or maybe a huge like outdoor arena to 245 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:06,920 where he could host hundreds upon hundreds if not thousands 246 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:10,560 of Jerusalem's like movers and shakers and who's who. 247 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:14,960 And yet he didn't go. Public he, he, he, he, he stayed 248 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:17,800 private. With this he he chose. 249 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:22,040 To share this meal with his closest. 250 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:24,080 Friends. Not with the crowds. 251 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:27,040 Not with the. Not with the masses. 252 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:32,200 I think that one of the reasons. That Jesus made this decision. 253 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:39,880 It is is a is to kind of, I guess, tear down this false 254 00:13:39,880 --> 00:13:41,000 notion. Out there. 255 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:44,120 That that I think some of us have. 256 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:47,000 And some of us hold on to that. That is go something like this 257 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:49,720 that I need to have a big stage and a massive. 258 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:52,160 Platform to do good thing, big things for God. 259 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:54,840 And you know what? When? 260 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:59,560 Jesus decided, hey, this Last Supper, it's going to be 261 00:13:59,560 --> 00:14:01,400 private. It's not going to be public. 262 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:05,320 I think Jesus is reminding. Us of a truth here check this 263 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:11,800 out I don't need a stage I need a secret place I don't need a 264 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:16,040 stage you don't need a stage you you need a secret place and I 265 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:20,600 don't need a stage I need a secret place you see we. 266 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:22,400 Live and I'm not. I'm not telling. 267 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:25,000 You something that you don't. Already know we live in a. 268 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:30,520 Culture that, that that that fosters this. 269 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:33,760 This mentality of what I would call even within the. 270 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:40,440 Church what I call stage chasers, stage chasers, stage 271 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:43,840 chasers like. To do whatever you have to do to 272 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:45,560 make it on a. Stage and to do. 273 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:49,520 Whatever you have to. Do to to stay on that stage. 274 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:53,480 Because I've said this before and I'll continue. 275 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:56,160 Saying it because it's so true. A. 276 00:14:56,160 --> 00:14:58,880 Stage and a set of. Lights give the impression that 277 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:01,520 they're actually making you, when in fact they're really. 278 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:04,760 Baking to you? There was There's nothing that 279 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:09,680 will dry out your soul. Faster than a stage and a set of 280 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:11,400 lights. A platform. 281 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:14,760 So here's what I would. Tell you do. 282 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:20,640 Not crave a stage in front of people, crave a secret place. 283 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:24,520 With Jesus, do not crave a stage. 284 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:28,440 In front of people crave. A secret place with Jesus. 285 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:33,600 A place to where you can get along alone with Jesus, 286 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:39,040 undistracted, uninterrupted. Because it's in that secret 287 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:42,800 place that you can hear most. Clearly the words of Jesus. 288 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:45,600 And then it's in that secret place that you can be molded and 289 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:48,480 formed by Jesus, and then it's in that secret place that you 290 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:50,760 can be. Developed by Jesus. 291 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:54,240 And when you hear the voice of Jesus, and when you're molded 292 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:56,240 and shaped by Jesus, and when you're formed by. 293 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:59,520 Jesus. Then you leave it up to Jesus 294 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:03,400 to. Determine the size of the stage 295 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:08,400 that He can entrust to you. You see, in, in, in, in Western 296 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:11,200 Americanized Christianity, we've got it all wrong. 297 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:13,400 The bigger the stage, the bigger. 298 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:14,760 The lights. The bigger the platform, the 299 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:16,680 more the followers, the the the more, the more. 300 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:18,960 Holier, the person. The the, the greater the 301 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:23,600 platform we put a person on, we we've exchanged godly character 302 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:28,680 for charisma and, and, and that's not the way of Jesus. 303 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:33,400 Jesus demonstrated on his last night, his last meal, that the 304 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:35,800 private. The private. 305 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:38,680 World. The private world matters 306 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:42,240 infinitely more. Than a public stage. 307 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:45,680 But that's not the only decision that Jesus made. 308 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:47,120 And distinction that he demonstrated. 309 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:51,160 For us, check this out number two, personal versus preoccupied 310 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:53,640 personal. Versus preoccupied. 311 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:57,840 Can you imagine? Being one of the disciples on 312 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:03,320 that evening, the most important meal in all of human history, 313 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:08,760 and missing it, missing the words of Jesus. 314 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:11,800 Because you were too preoccupied. 315 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:15,000 Doing something else? You were too preoccupied. 316 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:16,359 Kind of in your own. Thoughts. 317 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:19,040 You were too preoccupied. Maybe with a discussion with 318 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:23,680 somebody else you your attention was diverted away from Jesus. 319 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:29,320 Can you imagine of all? Places of all settings missing. 320 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:32,040 The words and the message. Of Jesus. 321 00:17:32,360 --> 00:17:37,080 In that room, I don't think that really crosses any of our minds, 322 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:38,880 but one of the convicting things I got. 323 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:41,520 To tell you this church. One of the convicting things 324 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:43,880 that God has laid on my heart is how many? 325 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:48,960 Words of Jesus do I miss. Because I'm too busy, because 326 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:51,920 I'm too surrounded. I'm surrounded by too much noise 327 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:54,720 because I do not regularly either. 328 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:57,800 I don't understand the. Practice of silence and 329 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:00,000 solitude. Or I intentionally. 330 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:03,800 Run from silence and solitude. Because I'm scared out of my 331 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:08,200 mind to be alone with myself and alone with my thoughts and alone 332 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:13,520 with my God. So many times we miss the 333 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:18,360 message and the. Heart of Jesus, because we do 334 00:18:18,360 --> 00:18:24,280 not intentionally practice silence and solitude in this. 335 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:28,120 Jesus is teaching us this, that I have to be quiet enough to be 336 00:18:28,120 --> 00:18:31,120 fully. Present, yet still enough to be 337 00:18:31,120 --> 00:18:34,760 fully expectant. Quiet enough. 338 00:18:36,120 --> 00:18:38,520 Quiet enough to be fully present, still enough to be 339 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:42,720 fully expectant. You know, one of the things that 340 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:46,320 I think. Is the hardest is that it's that 341 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:49,760 internal quietness? You with me on that? 342 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:55,640 It's like my body obviously hates running, physically 343 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:59,000 running, yet my brain. Is a world class marathoner. 344 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:02,760 Anybody else like that? To where? 345 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:04,720 You go to bed, you're. Exhausted, but your brain just 346 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:05,520 keeps running. You're like. 347 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:06,600 Please turn off. Please turn off. 348 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:09,360 Please turn off. It's that. 349 00:19:09,360 --> 00:19:14,600 Struggle to to maintain that. That inner quiet, that 350 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:20,440 stillness, I got to tell you, you know, one of the things that 351 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:24,240 we see often throughout the pages of Scripture, God 352 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:27,120 whispers. He never screams. 353 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:32,120 You know why he whispers is it's because to hear somebody 354 00:19:32,120 --> 00:19:34,480 whisper, you have to be what you have to be close to him. 355 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:41,000 And I think a lot of. Times we miss the heart of God. 356 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:43,560 We miss the message of God because we're not. 357 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:50,480 Still enough or quiet enough, We are constantly bombarded with 358 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:54,160 interruptions and notifications. We don't know how to. 359 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:58,760 Practice silence and solitude. So how do we reverse that trend? 360 00:19:59,360 --> 00:20:02,720 I think it starts with coming back and understanding. 361 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:07,000 Who we're actually meeting with do a mental. 362 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:10,120 Exercise with me. Imagine being invited. 363 00:20:10,120 --> 00:20:12,640 To a dinner, it could be like your favorite sports. 364 00:20:13,120 --> 00:20:15,800 Icon it could. Be your favorite, your most 365 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:18,480 respected world leader. It could be your favorite 366 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:22,480 musician or artist. Imagine being invited to dinner 367 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:24,760 and and talking with them. Face to face. 368 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:30,840 Can you imagine like sitting there talking with Michael 369 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:34,040 Jordan and scrolling Instagram? Or you go. 370 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:36,000 Hold on, Mike. I got to check this notification 371 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:40,680 and some of you are. Like it wouldn't. 372 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:43,280 Be Michael Jordan, be LeBron. After the service we're. 373 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:44,680 Given an invitation, you need to repent. 374 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:50,640 Give your life to Jesus that that got falls. 375 00:20:54,360 --> 00:20:59,560 But Can you imagine like in that room in that? 376 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:03,080 Space but. Your mind's still cluttered. 377 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:06,440 And you're so divided, your mind is so fractured. 378 00:21:08,120 --> 00:21:11,680 I think it begins with like, knowing, reminding ourselves. 379 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:14,720 Who we're meeting with, regardless of who that athlete 380 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:17,120 would be or who that artist would be, who that world leader 381 00:21:17,120 --> 00:21:20,080 would be, man, that person pales in comparison of the meeting 382 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:25,040 with God Almighty himself. I think it also then goes into 383 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:27,760 just reminding yourself that the biggest challenge you're going 384 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:29,320 to face. Is to. 385 00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:30,880 Keep your thoughts from straying. 386 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:33,760 Into 180. Three different directions at 387 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:38,160 the same time. So how do we keep our minds from 388 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:40,480 straying? I'm not really sure how we keep. 389 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:43,480 Them from straying. I do know a practice. 390 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:45,760 That we can do to rein the thoughts back in. 391 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:48,200 For me. It's a, it's a mental. 392 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:51,800 Image like when I feel my mind, when I feel my brain start to. 393 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:55,960 Stray like you ever. Spend a lot of time in prayer or 394 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:59,240 sat down and go I'm going to pray for the next. 10 or 15 395 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:02,440 minutes. And you get 43 seconds in. 396 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:04,720 And you're already thinking about like the discussion you 397 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:07,920 had yesterday and what's? Coming up at work and lunch plan 398 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:12,400 like the whole 9 yards I think in that moment coming back. 399 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:16,160 And re centering around a a mental image and and for me that 400 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:19,920 mental image is it's a table. And on one side. 401 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:22,640 Of the table it's it's Jesus, and on the other side of the 402 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:25,480 table it's me. And Jesus is just simply. 403 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:27,240 Asking me, hey, how's your day going? 404 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:31,200 What's on your mind? And it's just a conversation 405 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:34,840 between me and Jesus if you don't. 406 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:36,760 Have a mental image kind of reign those. 407 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:40,000 Thoughts back in you can you can borrow mine. 408 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:44,920 But we've got to learn to be quiet enough turn. 409 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:47,520 Off the phones, turn off the notifications. 410 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:50,160 Get. Away to a place to where you 411 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:51,000 know. That you'll be. 412 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:54,280 Most likely undistracted or uninterrupted. 413 00:22:55,360 --> 00:22:59,360 And I think that that starts with, I think that it really 414 00:22:59,360 --> 00:23:06,360 starts with this, with this mindset of first of all, I've 415 00:23:06,360 --> 00:23:09,280 got to pick a place. I've got to pick a place. 416 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:11,200 It could be in your house, it could be in your apartment, it 417 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:13,080 can be in your car, it could be at work. 418 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:15,560 That I know that I'll. Probably be most likely 419 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:18,320 undistracted for for a few moments. 420 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:21,320 And then I've got to. Pick a day, or I've got to pick 421 00:23:21,320 --> 00:23:25,360 a time of day that those same things are going to be true. 422 00:23:25,360 --> 00:23:27,480 I'm going to be least distracted, least interrupted. 423 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:29,960 And then here's what I would. Encourage you to do if you don't 424 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:32,240 already have a place and you don't already have a time of 425 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:33,880 the. Day, I would encourage. 426 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:36,240 You to to go. Home and before you go to bed. 427 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:40,320 Tonight to to identify that place and that time and I would 428 00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:42,560 encourage you to go pray over that place. 429 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:45,000 To. Consecrate that place to 430 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:47,800 dedicate that place that this. Place is the meeting. 431 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:51,320 Place of of me and Jesus at this time tomorrow morning. 432 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:54,600 This is a sacred place. Why? 433 00:23:54,600 --> 00:24:00,760 Because it is so incredibly, incredibly important that it has 434 00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:05,040 to be personal. If it's not personal, my default 435 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:06,680 is always going to be preoccupied. 436 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:09,520 And if I'm always preoccupied, I'm going to miss out on 437 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:11,880 everything that Jesus has for me. 438 00:24:12,840 --> 00:24:17,080 The third choice that Jesus demonstrates for us is pivotal 439 00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:20,480 versus performative. Pivotal versus performative. 440 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:31,040 You know, the disciples on this night, I think that they all. 441 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:33,960 Came into the room. Thinking it was just, it was 442 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:35,560 another Passover meal with Jesus. 443 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:38,400 But I think that they soon found out. 444 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:41,160 They soon, they soon sensed there was a there was a weight 445 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:43,800 and there was a heaviness. There was an intensity about the 446 00:24:43,800 --> 00:24:46,680 moment that made them. Realize that this is not. 447 00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:50,560 Going to be that normal? Passover meal, and I don't know 448 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:53,840 if it was before or after Jesus knelt down and washed their 449 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:59,360 feet, an unthinkable act of humility, or it was before or 450 00:24:59,360 --> 00:25:02,800 after when Jesus started talking about this is my body and this 451 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:06,000 is my blood. Both are going to be given for 452 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:08,560 you. But they knew something was 453 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:11,080 going to be. Was going to be radically. 454 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:16,280 Different about this night. You know, I think that most of 455 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:19,440 us, whether in the room or online, most of us, we've either 456 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:22,680 been at church long enough or we've lived in the Bible Belt. 457 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:24,120 Long enough to where we know how. 458 00:25:24,120 --> 00:25:29,720 To play the religious game, we know how to look the part and, 459 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:32,240 and, and here's here's the religious game here. 460 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:34,520 Here's how we look the part. We, we, we get up on Sunday 461 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:36,480 morning, we get the kids up on Sunday morning. 462 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:40,480 We, you know, our kids are screaming and we just say, hey, 463 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:42,920 just wait to get to church. They have Donuts there and. 464 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:45,320 You know, and then mom. And dad, we go get coffee and 465 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:47,400 then go get another coffee and then go get another coffee. 466 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:51,480 We get the kids checked in and. We may go. 467 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:54,960 Sit in a small group and we may go sit in a worship service and 468 00:25:55,160 --> 00:25:58,360 we may even, you know, take the bulletin notes and. 469 00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:00,440 Maybe we even. Try to fill in the. 470 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:02,400 The blanks before they even pop up on the. 471 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:04,000 Screen and sometimes we get the blanks. 472 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:09,080 Right, all the while wondering. If the people next to us or in 473 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:13,240 front of us or behind us can sense that we're actually empty 474 00:26:13,240 --> 00:26:19,080 and hollow on the inside, that resonate with any of us. 475 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:25,160 If that resonates. With you if, if, if I just 476 00:26:25,160 --> 00:26:31,960 described how you feel on a Sunday morning to where like you 477 00:26:31,960 --> 00:26:34,360 look the part, you play the part, but you're just, you just 478 00:26:34,360 --> 00:26:36,120 know that you're empty and hollow on the inside. 479 00:26:36,120 --> 00:26:37,760 Listen, I've got great news for you. 480 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:41,000 Jesus is not at all. Interested. 481 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:44,480 In making you a better. Religious actor Jesus is 482 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:48,560 interested and invites you in to absolutely transform your life 483 00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:50,440 for real. Check this out. 484 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:53,280 He isn't interested in a version of me. 485 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:56,440 He invites the. Real me, I don't know if 486 00:26:56,440 --> 00:26:59,320 anybody's ever told you this or not, but Jesus Christ knows 487 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:00,920 everything that there is to know about you. 488 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:03,520 He knows your highlights, your low lights. 489 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:05,560 He knows you inside out, backwards and forwards. 490 00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:07,440 He knows the. Parts about you that. 491 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:10,240 You want everybody out in the world to know, and he knows. 492 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:12,240 The parts about you that you have pushed deep. 493 00:27:12,240 --> 00:27:17,800 Down and you've locked behind. Doors deep within your soul that 494 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:20,400 no other person knows. Jesus knows that too. 495 00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:23,280 And here's the great. News, he knows it all, and yet 496 00:27:23,280 --> 00:27:24,520 he still. Chooses to love you. 497 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:27,560 That's great. News for two reasons #1. 498 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:29,160 Is because I think that there's this. 499 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:32,960 False notion that if. Jesus really knew the real me. 500 00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:37,600 He he would and and what I've done and what I really my mind. 501 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:40,520 Thinks about and what I. Struggle with and he'll find me 502 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:45,440 too gross or too offensive or too unlovable and he'll reject 503 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:47,880 me. I can assure you that is not the 504 00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:49,760 case. He knows you inside and out. 505 00:27:49,920 --> 00:27:52,160 He knows every part about you and yet he still. 506 00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:54,680 Chooses to love you. I can assure you that he will 507 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:57,160 not reject you. But there's this other false. 508 00:27:57,160 --> 00:27:58,520 Notion. This is the second reason this 509 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:00,640 is great news. There's this other false notion. 510 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:03,480 That if I just look the. Part and play the part. 511 00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:06,360 Long enough and I'll just strive to be a good. 512 00:28:06,360 --> 00:28:12,200 Person then. Somehow I can trick Jesus and 513 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:13,560 he'll just let me. Slide. 514 00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:19,600 And I can assure you nothing. Could be further from the truth. 515 00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:24,960 You see, what Jesus is after is not making us a better 516 00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:29,080 performer. He is actually about providing 517 00:28:29,080 --> 00:28:33,880 pivotal moments in. Our lives Check out the basis of 518 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:34,760 this pivotal. Moment. 519 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:37,040 This is what Jesus? Said that night at dinner. 520 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:39,280 He took the bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it 521 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:41,400 and gave it to them, saying, This is my body which is given 522 00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:42,680 for you. Do this in. 523 00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:45,200 Remembrance of me and likewise the cup after they had eaten, 524 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:46,800 say. This cup that is poured. 525 00:28:46,800 --> 00:28:49,200 Out for you is the new Covenant in my blood. 526 00:28:50,160 --> 00:28:52,320 In other words, what Jesus? Is saying is. 527 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:56,680 I'm about to pay. The price for your sins and that 528 00:28:56,680 --> 00:29:00,760 invitation still extends today. The very end of March. 529 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:05,360 Last Sunday of March 2026, that invitation is still open, just 530 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:09,600 like it was to the disciples on that night over 2000 years ago. 531 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:15,640 And what we're about to do this morning as we wind down, as 532 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:17,480 we're going. To follow in the. 533 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:20,120 Footsteps of Jesus disciples on that night. 534 00:29:20,840 --> 00:29:24,120 And we're going. To observe what's called the 535 00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:27,160 Lord's Supper. Now there are two quick. 536 00:29:27,160 --> 00:29:29,240 Things that. You and I, that we. 537 00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:33,520 Need to understand about the Lord's supper before we take it 538 00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:37,640 #1 the Lord's supper, the. Elements that we're about. 539 00:29:37,640 --> 00:29:40,320 To take the bread. And the and the. 540 00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:44,800 Cup They're for believers it is. It's for believers. 541 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:46,680 It's for true followers of Jesus. 542 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:49,400 If you're not a true. Follower of Jesus if you're. 543 00:29:49,400 --> 00:29:51,400 If you're not a believer. Listen, it is far. 544 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:55,080 Better for you to abstain from taking the bread and the cup 545 00:29:55,440 --> 00:29:59,560 than for you to take. Them fraudulently, but the 546 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:02,960 second. Thing that I have to tell you is 547 00:30:02,960 --> 00:30:06,040 it's a. Really, really, really big deal. 548 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:08,240 What we're about to take together. 549 00:30:09,080 --> 00:30:10,440 And I'll. Put this passage at the. 550 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:12,520 Bottom of your note. Sheet is the Apostle Paul's 551 00:30:12,520 --> 00:30:14,640 words in First Corinthians Chapter 11. 552 00:30:14,920 --> 00:30:17,200 Check out what Paul said for I received. 553 00:30:17,200 --> 00:30:18,800 From the Lord. What I also delivered. 554 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:21,120 To you that the Lord Jesus on the night that he was betrayed. 555 00:30:21,120 --> 00:30:23,520 Took bread. And when he had given thanks, he 556 00:30:23,520 --> 00:30:25,640 broke it and said this is my body which is for you. 557 00:30:25,920 --> 00:30:27,720 Do this in. Remembrance of me. 558 00:30:28,320 --> 00:30:31,320 In the same way also. He took the cup after supper, 559 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:34,200 saying this cup. Is the new covenant in my blood? 560 00:30:34,520 --> 00:30:36,960 Do this as. Often as you drink it in. 561 00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:40,440 Remembrance of me for AS. Often as you eat this bread and 562 00:30:40,440 --> 00:30:44,560 drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 563 00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:47,320 Whoever. Check this out Whoever. 564 00:30:47,320 --> 00:30:49,960 Therefore, eats the. Bread or drinks the cup of the 565 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:54,520 Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty Concerning the body 566 00:30:54,520 --> 00:30:57,720 and the blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself. 567 00:30:57,720 --> 00:31:00,080 Then and. So eat of the bread and drink of 568 00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:04,360 the cup for anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the 569 00:31:04,360 --> 00:31:05,480 body. Eats and drinks. 570 00:31:05,480 --> 00:31:08,400 Judgement on himself do not. Miss Verse 30. 571 00:31:08,760 --> 00:31:11,360 That is why many of. You are weak and ill. 572 00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:16,240 And some have died. There's a lot of weight to what 573 00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:20,560 we're about to do so before. We go into. 574 00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:22,320 The Lord's Supper. I want. 575 00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:27,320 To give us an opportunity to rightly examine ourselves so 576 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:31,560 that as we take it, we can take it in an we can take it in a 577 00:31:31,560 --> 00:31:34,480 worthy manner, as Paul puts it well. 578 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:37,040 What does it mean? To take it in a worthy manner. 579 00:31:38,240 --> 00:31:39,560 I want to ask. You 3 questions. 580 00:31:39,560 --> 00:31:43,800 Number one, are you a true follower of Jesus? 581 00:31:44,200 --> 00:31:45,760 Has there been a point in time I didn't ask? 582 00:31:45,760 --> 00:31:47,960 Are you a good? Person have you gone to church 583 00:31:47,960 --> 00:31:50,560 your entire life? I didn't ask about your parents 584 00:31:50,560 --> 00:31:53,800 or your grandparents. Has there been a point in time 585 00:31:53,800 --> 00:31:56,400 to where? You asked Jesus to forgive you 586 00:31:56,400 --> 00:32:00,320 of your sins. And for him to come. 587 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:02,520 In and take control of your life. 588 00:32:02,960 --> 00:32:05,880 And committed to following. Him for the rest of your life. 589 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:11,600 Has there been that moment? If there hasn't. 590 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:14,720 Been that moment, then the. Answer to the question, Are you 591 00:32:14,720 --> 00:32:17,640 a true follower of Jesus? The answer to that's no, you're 592 00:32:17,640 --> 00:32:24,920 not, but you can be this morning if you struggle with that 593 00:32:24,920 --> 00:32:27,280 decision and you struggle with me saying listen, if you. 594 00:32:27,280 --> 00:32:32,040 Have not come to that. Point of surrender, but you can 595 00:32:32,840 --> 00:32:36,080 I have great news for you in just a moment when we bow our 596 00:32:36,080 --> 00:32:39,680 heads and we close our eyes, just simply have a brief 597 00:32:39,680 --> 00:32:43,960 conversation with God and say God, I believe that Jesus is who 598 00:32:43,960 --> 00:32:47,200 he says that he is and that he died on a cross. 599 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:52,800 For me, would you forgive? Me of my sins, would you take 600 00:32:52,800 --> 00:32:57,320 control of my life and I commit to following you for the rest of 601 00:32:57,320 --> 00:33:02,640 my life. The Bible teaches us at that 602 00:33:02,640 --> 00:33:04,040 point in time, you will be saved. 603 00:33:04,360 --> 00:33:07,960 You'll be born again. If you. 604 00:33:07,960 --> 00:33:11,480 Have already made that decision. Taking. 605 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:14,480 The Lord's Supper in a worthy manner also involves this. 606 00:33:14,760 --> 00:33:16,880 Is there any unconfessed sin in your life? 607 00:33:17,560 --> 00:33:21,760 Is there anything in your life that you're holding on to that 608 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:24,960 that you haven't brought? Before God and say God, I 609 00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:29,120 acknowledge this was sin, would you forgive me? 610 00:33:31,440 --> 00:33:33,960 I think there's a third element of how we can take the Lord's 611 00:33:33,960 --> 00:33:36,880 Supper in an unworthy manner, and that's by withholding 612 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:40,520 forgiveness towards someone. So my question is, is there? 613 00:33:40,520 --> 00:33:43,600 Anyone that you are. Withholding forgiveness from. 614 00:33:46,600 --> 00:33:48,720 So here's what we're going to do, I'm going to pray over. 615 00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:52,760 Us and as I pray, we're just going to have just a quiet 616 00:33:52,760 --> 00:33:56,600 moment of prayer for us to sit with our heads bowed and our 617 00:33:56,600 --> 00:34:00,560 eyes closed is a time for us just to spend some time with 618 00:34:00,560 --> 00:34:04,560 God, talking with God and. And if you don't know exactly 619 00:34:04,560 --> 00:34:05,400 what to. Pray. 620 00:34:05,440 --> 00:34:07,200 Here's a great prayer. God. 621 00:34:07,200 --> 00:34:10,360 Would you search me, God? You you. 622 00:34:10,360 --> 00:34:12,159 You have. Access to all of me. 623 00:34:12,679 --> 00:34:16,120 Would you search me? And would you would you bring to 624 00:34:16,120 --> 00:34:18,120 mind the? Things in my life that don't 625 00:34:18,120 --> 00:34:22,000 match up with who you are. And God, would you forgive those 626 00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:24,239 things? God, I want to be right with 627 00:34:24,239 --> 00:34:30,159 you. So I want to pray over us, spend 628 00:34:30,159 --> 00:34:32,199 some time in prayer, and then we'll continue on. 629 00:34:34,080 --> 00:34:39,199 God, we love you for the fact that you know us completely, and 630 00:34:39,199 --> 00:34:44,080 yet you still choose to love us. God, you knowing us completely. 631 00:34:46,520 --> 00:34:49,920 God, that's so free for some of us because. 632 00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:53,040 We've been holding on to this. Thought and this notion that if 633 00:34:53,040 --> 00:34:56,800 there was something that you discovered about us, that it 634 00:34:56,800 --> 00:35:00,240 would somehow be too gross or too offensive or too unlovable 635 00:35:00,240 --> 00:35:02,800 for you to love us, and that's not the case. 636 00:35:03,600 --> 00:35:07,320 But God, you loving you, you loving us fully and knowing us 637 00:35:07,320 --> 00:35:10,240 completely, that also means that we can't trick you. 638 00:35:11,640 --> 00:35:13,600 God, we can trick the people around us, but. 639 00:35:13,600 --> 00:35:20,760 We can't trick you, God. Would you search us at a deep 640 00:35:20,760 --> 00:35:26,560 down soul level this morning? God if. 641 00:35:26,560 --> 00:35:30,240 We need to be made. Right with you, God, I pray that 642 00:35:30,240 --> 00:35:32,040 you would bring us to a point of surrender. 643 00:35:34,960 --> 00:35:37,440 God, if there's any unconfessed sin in our lives, God, I pray 644 00:35:37,440 --> 00:35:41,240 that we would bring that before you with a repentant heart. 645 00:35:42,440 --> 00:35:45,880 God, if there's any unforgiveness in our hearts, if 646 00:35:45,880 --> 00:35:49,040 there's any forgiveness that we're withholding towards 647 00:35:49,040 --> 00:35:55,320 someone else, that's a barrier between US and you. 648 00:35:56,680 --> 00:36:02,200 Can I pray that you would soften our hearts, and I pray that you 649 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:08,760 would allow us to release what we're holding on to God in this 650 00:36:08,760 --> 00:36:11,480 space and in this place and in this moment? 651 00:36:11,960 --> 00:36:13,720 We just want to be right. With you. 652 00:36:14,840 --> 00:36:19,480 So God, whatever that takes, whatever that looks like, God, I 653 00:36:19,480 --> 00:36:22,840 pray that you would have your way with us over the next few 654 00:36:22,840 --> 00:36:25,240 moments. It's in Jesus name. 655 00:36:25,240 --> 00:36:29,360 I pray you can stay in this posture of prayer for just a few 656 00:36:29,360 --> 00:36:36,120 moments, and after spending a little one-on-one time with God, 657 00:36:38,040 --> 00:37:20,840 we'll move forward. God, we thank you so much for 658 00:37:20,840 --> 00:37:31,560 this time of the year that we're reminded to go back to a level 659 00:37:31,560 --> 00:37:35,640 and to a depth of love that we cannot explain. 660 00:37:38,000 --> 00:37:44,480 God, you sent your son into this world to die for us, so that we. 661 00:37:44,480 --> 00:37:49,080 Would have an. Opportunity to come to you, to 662 00:37:49,080 --> 00:37:56,040 come back to you, got to be. Forgiven by you? 663 00:37:56,920 --> 00:38:01,840 To be transformed by you, to be born again by you. 664 00:38:05,160 --> 00:38:06,680 God is. We're about to take these 665 00:38:06,680 --> 00:38:12,600 elements that were taken in that upper room over 2000 years ago. 666 00:38:14,040 --> 00:38:18,800 God, I pray that you would impress upon us just a deep, 667 00:38:19,160 --> 00:38:27,640 deep weight and gravity of what we're participating in God, and 668 00:38:27,640 --> 00:38:34,240 that would lead to a deep, deep love for you and dependence upon 669 00:38:34,240 --> 00:38:40,200 you because God is we're reminded of the body and the 670 00:38:40,200 --> 00:38:44,240 blood of Jesus. God, it also encourages us that 671 00:38:44,240 --> 00:38:47,480 there is no good thing that you will withhold from us. 672 00:38:49,840 --> 00:38:54,280 God, these are the links to which you will go to for us by 673 00:38:54,280 --> 00:38:58,920 giving your own son for us. God, we thank you. 674 00:39:01,360 --> 00:39:04,800 It's in Jesus name we pray, Amen. 675 00:39:07,720 --> 00:39:12,520 Paul wrote. For I receive from the Lord what 676 00:39:12,520 --> 00:39:16,360 I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night he 677 00:39:16,360 --> 00:39:23,320 was betrayed, took bread. And when he had given thanks, he 678 00:39:23,320 --> 00:39:27,840 broke it and said, this is my body which is for you. 679 00:39:28,120 --> 00:39:46,170 Do this in remembrance of me. In the same way he also took the 680 00:39:46,170 --> 00:39:51,770 cup after after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in 681 00:39:51,770 --> 00:39:55,970 my blood. Do this as often as you drink it 682 00:39:55,970 --> 00:40:14,520 in remembrance of me. God for the body and the blood 683 00:40:14,520 --> 00:40:19,280 of Jesus. Our language is so inadequate, 684 00:40:22,680 --> 00:40:29,680 but thank you, God, Thank you for his sacrifice for us. 685 00:40:30,920 --> 00:40:34,520 Thank you for everything that you went through so that we 686 00:40:34,520 --> 00:40:36,400 might have a relationship with you. 687 00:40:41,040 --> 00:40:43,680 God, we pray that your Holy Spirit will continue to move in 688 00:40:43,680 --> 00:40:48,200 our midst, and it's in Jesus name that we pray. 689 00:40:49,280 --> 00:40:54,120 Amen. Thank you for listening to the 690 00:40:54,120 --> 00:40:57,160 Riverbend Church Podcast. Learn more about who we are as a 691 00:40:57,160 --> 00:40:59,280 church and how to connect. You can head over to our 692 00:40:59,280 --> 00:41:01,440 website, Riverbend Church dot Life.