1 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:10,240 Would you please open your Bible to the book of First 2 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:13,880 Corinthians? And in Chapter 11, we're going 3 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:16,680 to pick up where we left off last week out of Chapter 11. 4 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:19,320 The title of tonight's message is The Lord's Table. 5 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:24,120 It never ceases to amaze me how the Holy Spirit just 6 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:27,520 orchestrates what we focus on in our teaching through God's Word. 7 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:30,960 You know, just with the different things that have 8 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:33,880 perhaps disrupted our our Sunday evenings as we've been 9 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:37,320 progressing through First Corinthians and we found 10 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:39,920 ourselves partaking of communion this morning. 11 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:43,400 And it wasn't planned that tonight I would be teaching out 12 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:46,120 of this passage on it. So clearly the Lord wants us to 13 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:49,240 learn and to grow in our understanding and knowledge of 14 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:52,920 what it is we partake of when we are involved in communion or the 15 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:56,640 Lord's table or the Eucharist or whatever background you might be 16 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:59,560 familiar with terminology wise, and we'll explain it. 17 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:03,040 But if you're unfamiliar with where we're at or you're new to 18 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:05,760 us teaching through First Corinthians, this is very much a 19 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:09,400 corrective letter that Paul the apostle is writing to the Church 20 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:12,040 of Corinth. In fact, many suggests that this 21 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:15,480 is actually the second letter that Paul wrote to them and the 22 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:17,440 first that they had received from him. 23 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:20,560 They were so irritated and annoyed by it that they tore it 24 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,160 up. That's an interesting 25 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:26,600 speculation. But today people sometimes are 26 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:29,960 the same when it comes to correction or or feedback, even 27 00:01:30,960 --> 00:01:35,240 on on areas and things that they need to alter or to adjust or to 28 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:37,200 change. And a lot of us don't like to be 29 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:38,720 corrected. I know it's a source of 30 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:41,680 irritation for me. And I think my parents will 31 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:45,440 testify of that character trait in my life growing up of that 32 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:48,360 defiance in like, you know, who are you to tell me what to do? 33 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:52,360 Top thing where your parents, but you know, there's something 34 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:55,400 that that is within us and sometimes people can come to 35 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:58,720 God's word, the Bible and say, well, isn't it supposed to be 36 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:01,360 good news and I want to hear the good news and the message of 37 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:04,480 that and yes, that is true. That is very much what is the 38 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:08,400 reality when it comes to the scriptures, but there are also 39 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,280 other parts of it that are that are corrective for us, that are 40 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:14,120 beneficial for us to hear. And we need that. 41 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:17,760 And sometimes people are looking for like a a therapeutic sort of 42 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:21,880 moralistic teaching out of God's word, maybe like a feel good 43 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,600 message. And and we have those at times. 44 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:27,040 But really it's more akin that if that's what you're 45 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:30,600 gravitating or or driven towards of what Paul wrote to Timothy 46 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:34,160 of, of people chasing after teachers who are just scratched 47 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:37,040 their ears, that itch that they have out of second Timothy 48 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:38,840 chapter 4. And there's plenty of other 49 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:41,240 places you can go to where you'll receive that. 50 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:44,440 And some like to call themselves churches and give that, but but 51 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:46,720 the Bible also brings conviction. 52 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:49,000 And that's what we know when we read it. 53 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,400 You can't help but but read God's word and and feel like 54 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:56,440 sometimes that it is a A2 edged sword that pierces asunder, 55 00:02:56,640 --> 00:02:59,360 digging into, oh man, that's got me again. 56 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:02,880 And I need to forgive, seek the Lord's forgiveness and 57 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:06,280 repentance on that. And and that's not just to non 58 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:07,920 believers. That's that's to us as 59 00:03:07,920 --> 00:03:10,240 believers. And that's certainly Paul's 60 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,640 heart here and his purpose in writing this letter to the 61 00:03:13,640 --> 00:03:16,360 Church of Corinth. But I don't know about you, but 62 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:20,040 there might be many times when you're reading God's Word and it 63 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:22,680 and it kind of runs against the grain of your flesh. 64 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:25,640 Why did that have to be in there? 65 00:03:25,640 --> 00:03:28,240 And it brings conviction. And you know who needs to 66 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:30,200 change, right? It's us. 67 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:33,520 We need changing. And how you handle correction, 68 00:03:33,920 --> 00:03:38,120 how you handle this is actually a mark of maturity in your life. 69 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:42,120 And that's really what Paul has been after in in the Corinthians 70 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:45,800 is his desirous of them to move out of infancy, of being baby 71 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,880 Christians, of what he called them as being carnal Christians, 72 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:53,000 to now becoming more mature and solid and stabilised in their 73 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:56,440 faith. And part of that requires us to 74 00:03:56,440 --> 00:04:00,800 receive correction and to respond to that rather than than 75 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:04,240 soak and throw all the toys out in the cot like a kid does and 76 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:05,560 leave it. Well, you know, that's it. 77 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:08,360 I've had it with this Bible and, and God's word and all of this 78 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:11,200 sort of stuff. And it was kind of like when 79 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:14,400 many people were following Jesus as we read through the Gospels 80 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:18,160 and there was a hard word that he delivered one time and, and 81 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:20,320 they said that now this is a hard word, Jesus. 82 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:24,160 And many left. And Jesus then turned to his 83 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:27,440 followers, the, the disciples, and said, now what about you 84 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:28,760 guys? What are you going to do? 85 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:32,320 Are you going to leave too? Are you going to be like all of 86 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:34,600 these others who found it too difficult to follow me? 87 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:37,840 And they said, Jesus, we've abandoned everything and 88 00:04:37,840 --> 00:04:39,440 everyone and where are we going to go? 89 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:41,600 And now we're with you all of the way. 90 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:44,760 But he turned and he challenged them with the same correction 91 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:48,800 that the others had left by. So this is what Paul had to do. 92 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:52,800 The Church of Corinth is, is some five years old in their, 93 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:55,160 their walk with the Lord and he's correcting them because he 94 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:58,480 loves them. He's like a father towards his 95 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:00,280 children and he wants the best for them. 96 00:05:00,280 --> 00:05:03,560 He wants maturity out of them for them to, to like I say, not 97 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:07,640 be carnal Christians anymore. And so he's correcting the 98 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:08,760 church at Corinth. Yes. 99 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:10,880 But as we're reading, haven't you found that he's also 100 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:14,720 correcting us then as, as we've been reading through it, it's 101 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:19,000 like, wow, that is so relevant for me, for us as a church. 102 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:22,080 And the question in all of it when we read it is how will you 103 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:25,960 respond? How will you react to it? 104 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:28,480 Are you going to look for ways out? 105 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:34,040 You know, is the, the little defence lawyer in the brain 106 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:36,800 going to come out with all of the suitcases and pop them open? 107 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:40,600 And here's Exhibit A and Exhibit B as to why I'm I'm exempt from 108 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:46,400 needing to follow this Or will you hear the Holy Spirit's 109 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:49,560 loving voice through Paul's words to the church at Corinth 110 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:53,800 and go, thank you, Lord, I, I need that I received that now 111 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:57,840 please help me to live that out and to change that in my life 112 00:05:57,840 --> 00:06:00,600 and to grow as this correction takes place. 113 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:06,280 Now the background to the letter is all through chapters one to 114 00:06:06,280 --> 00:06:11,480 six, Paul has been dealing with very known sins in the church at 115 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:15,800 Corinth, a very common knowledge in in what's called Asia Minor 116 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:18,480 and in the other churches. And word had gotten back to Paul 117 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:23,000 of the division in their midst. Some were bragging about being 118 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:27,360 followers of Apollos and we're followers of Peter and we're 119 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:30,760 followers of Paul and and some were even even hyper 120 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:33,640 spiritualizing and said, well, we're followers of Jesus and and 121 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:36,440 sort of setting themselves above any others. 122 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:40,240 And where are you at in it? And there was immorality in the 123 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:42,400 church. We learnt of that and such that 124 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:45,080 wasn't even named amongst the pagans. 125 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:47,120 And Paul corrects and breaks them for that. 126 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:51,120 And there was this serious immorality through the Church of 127 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:54,840 sexual sin. In Chapter 7, Paul kind of 128 00:06:54,840 --> 00:06:58,280 switches gears a little bit and answers some of the questions 129 00:06:58,280 --> 00:07:02,360 that they had written to him about with respect to marriage 130 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:06,480 and singleness and divorce and, and wondering what what what 131 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:10,640 they were to do now, you know, no longer being pagans where it 132 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:13,080 used to be one way of, of acting and behaving. 133 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:15,600 And now what do we do as Christians, Paul and he writes 134 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:20,000 to answer that in chapter 8. What we saw was that he was 135 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:23,040 addressing what we would call Christian liberties. 136 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:25,480 When we first read it, we go, it's not really relevant to us, 137 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:28,640 this idea of eating meat that's sacrificed to idols, but the 138 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:32,360 connection is to those things in our lives that are permissible 139 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:36,480 or not permissible that we have liberty, freedom, grace to 140 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:39,760 participate in or not. And and Paul gave for us some 141 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:43,280 some clarifiers that we need to abide by that we need to 142 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:47,720 consider our love for God in it and our love for others in that. 143 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:51,920 And he used himself in Chapter 9 as an example that though being 144 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:56,120 an apostle and having a right to receive remuneration, a salary 145 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:59,040 from them, he, he decided not to take it in this particular 146 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:02,960 instant and had other churches support his ministry as well as 147 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:06,760 working as a tent maker to be an example to not cause a stumbling 148 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:09,200 to others. And then in chapter 10, he 149 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:13,200 pointed to Old Testament Israel as an example of what not to do 150 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:16,800 in our Christian liberties in case we go so far as to make 151 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:20,560 them become idols in our lives and to flee from them. 152 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:23,560 And he said over all of this, I really want you to understand 153 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:26,280 that whether you eat or you drink, that whatever you do, you 154 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:30,360 do all for the glory of God. That's been his priority and the 155 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:34,200 prominence in that. And now Chapter 11 last week we 156 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:38,600 looked at the focus and it shifts from 11 into Chapter 1213 157 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:45,520 and 14 into very much a focus on order, harmony, unity within the 158 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:49,720 church and the gatherings after Mother's Day, when we return, 159 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:52,440 we'll start looking at the gifts of the Spirit because they were 160 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:56,160 abusing them in Chapter 12 and in 13 and 14. 161 00:08:56,360 --> 00:09:00,280 And So what he writes is to to guide them when they would meet 162 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:04,320 and us when we would meet as to how the gifts of the Holy Spirit 163 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:07,040 are to look and to function and be in operation. 164 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:09,880 And overall of it. Chapter 13 sits as the pivot 165 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:12,360 that you could do all of these things, but if you have not 166 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:13,920 loved, then then what does it matter? 167 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:17,600 That's where we're going, That's where we've been, that's that's 168 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:19,080 where we're at and that's where we're headed. 169 00:09:19,560 --> 00:09:22,840 But this evening it's the importance of communion. 170 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:27,440 And since the beginning of the church in the 1st century, when 171 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:30,680 Jesus ascended into heaven and he commanded his disciples to 172 00:09:30,680 --> 00:09:34,720 wait for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to come upon them, 173 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:38,040 that they would gather together and they would meet. 174 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:41,800 And at the end of Acts in chapter 2, we get this, this 175 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:45,840 explanation that emphasises how it was that they would meet and 176 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:49,440 they would often distribute goods amongst one another and 177 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:52,480 they would commune and and eat together. 178 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:55,560 That was a big part of it. And their their gatherings and 179 00:09:55,560 --> 00:09:58,600 their meals. Typically on a Sunday, they had 180 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:03,240 given the name of Agape feast. We might call it a love feast, 181 00:10:03,680 --> 00:10:06,040 almost like a, a church potluck dinner. 182 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:11,800 And then after they would participate and partake in, we 183 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:16,160 call it communion, the Lord's Supper, the Lord's Table. 184 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:19,040 Maybe you're familiar with, like I said, the Eucharist, depending 185 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:21,760 on your background. But what was happening in 186 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:26,040 Corinth was even something so simple as sharing a meal 187 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:30,520 together became problematic. It caused division in their 188 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:34,120 midst, and some were abusing it to the point that they were 189 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:37,880 using it as an opportunity towards gluttony and drunkenness 190 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:41,200 in their meetings. Could you imagine that in a 191 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:45,920 church gathering? And the idea was that as the, 192 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:49,120 the practise was back then, when you would eat with someone, 193 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:52,840 there was this, this unity and coming together that was taking 194 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:55,200 place. And, and that's the purpose of 195 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:58,840 these, these feasts. But it was causing the exact 196 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:02,800 opposite to happen. People were being left out. 197 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:07,240 People were elevating themselves above, above others and it was 198 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:12,520 causing division in their midst. And what Paul says in fact, in 199 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:17,160 verse 17, that this thing that as simple as coming together and 200 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:21,360 sharing a meal and then partaking of communion, he said 201 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:24,320 that when you come together, it's not for the better, but 202 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,520 actually for the worse. He says, I'd rather you not meet 203 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:30,160 instead of what's happening and going on. 204 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:36,120 And could you imagine such a sad statement to make of a church 205 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:42,000 that it'd be better that you don't meet then you do for all 206 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:44,640 the problems that are caused in your gathering? 207 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:49,000 I hope the Lord would never say that about us, about our 208 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:51,280 gatherings. You know, it's better off that 209 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:54,720 those folks at Calvary Chapel, Secret Harbour had never gotten 210 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:57,640 together. God forbid that would be true of 211 00:11:57,640 --> 00:12:00,640 us. And so to avoid that issue, that 212 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:04,880 comment about us, let's look at Corinth, the church there, and 213 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:07,040 what was going on. And the problems consisted of 214 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:11,080 three things which Paul outlines for us in verses 18 to 21. 215 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:14,360 Let's go back to verse 17 of chapter 1. 216 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:17,440 Now, in giving these instructions, I do not praise 217 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:21,480 you, since you come together not for the better but for the 218 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:25,320 worse. For first of all, when you come 219 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:29,040 together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among 220 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:31,440 you. And in part I believe it. 221 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:36,640 In other words, what Paul says, I know you guys well enough that 222 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:40,720 when I'm hearing rumour of this, I don't think it to be rumour 223 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,600 that is made up as, as fictitious, but I think it's 224 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:46,280 reality because I, I know your character. 225 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:50,880 I, I know your reputation. And then he, he uses the, the 226 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:53,440 gift of sarcasm here in the next verse. 227 00:12:54,560 --> 00:12:58,160 He says, verse 19 For there must also be factions among you that, 228 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:00,800 that those who are approved may be recognised among you. 229 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:03,400 He says, well, after all, if there weren't these division, 230 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:05,600 how would we know who's more important than the others? 231 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:08,200 That's kind of what he's conveying there in that verse. 232 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:12,560 Therefore, when you come together in one place, it is not 233 00:13:12,560 --> 00:13:14,960 to eat the Lord's Supper, though you pretend it is and though you 234 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:17,000 label it as such, that's not what's happening. 235 00:13:18,680 --> 00:13:21,880 For in eating verse 21, each one takes his own supper ahead of 236 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:24,080 others, and one is hungry and another is drunk. 237 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:28,200 What? Do you not have houses to eat 238 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:31,920 and drink in? Or do you despise the Church of 239 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:34,200 God and shame those who have nothing? 240 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:38,160 What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? 241 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:41,480 I do not praise you. We'll stop there, and that'll be 242 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:45,840 our focus initially. First, what we see is that Paul 243 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:50,680 said that there were divisions, factions among them. 244 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:53,920 He'd identified that earlier. And and now another example of 245 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:58,560 it being in existence comes up practically here. 246 00:13:58,560 --> 00:14:02,160 What was meant to be a great time of fellowship and of unity 247 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:05,800 and of sharing and of coming together and, you know, just a a 248 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:09,400 glorious kind of heartfelt experience turned out to be 249 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,520 anything but that for for some in the congregation. 250 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:16,440 And again, like I said, the purpose of the meal and of 251 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:19,520 coming together is supposed to unite, but it was causing and 252 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:22,760 having the opposite effect. And Paul said, verse 18, I've 253 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:25,120 heard of these things and I believe it. 254 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:28,400 He knew these people well enough that he knew it was possible 255 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:30,160 that this this is actually happening. 256 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:36,360 And again, man, I pray that that would never be the case of us in 257 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:40,520 our gatherings, You know, that that the Lord would so work in 258 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:43,360 our lives, that our flesh would be so crucified. 259 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:47,240 That when when people speak of Calvary Chapel, Secret Harbour, 260 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:51,640 that they would speak of this place of being a people who are 261 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:56,120 so in love with Jesus and and so affectionate towards one another 262 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:59,800 that it'd be evident that if a rumour were to start about 263 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:02,880 divisions taking place here, that their reaction wouldn't be. 264 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:05,880 Oh, yeah, I believe that. Yeah, I know those people in 265 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:07,280 Calvary Chapel, Secret Harbour. Yeah. 266 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:10,960 And they're a divisive lot. No, that rather they would go. 267 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:14,280 No, I don't believe it. I know that to be a place where 268 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:17,160 they love Jesus and where they love one another, where that 269 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:20,520 unity is present, that couldn't be said of the Church of 270 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:25,480 Corinth. John McArthur, preacher and a 271 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:28,120 Bible commentator. He said one of the most fearful 272 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:32,200 things in a church is division because it is one of the 1st and 273 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:35,560 surest signs of spiritual weakness and sickness. 274 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:39,800 One of the first symptoms of worldliness and backsliding in a 275 00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:44,240 church, which often shows up before it is seen in compromise, 276 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:48,400 doctrine or lifestyle, and it's dissension in a congregation. 277 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:54,360 Now, the reason that this division, that this dissension 278 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:59,760 was apparent was really a dependence on and a priority of 279 00:15:59,920 --> 00:16:03,080 self and the flesh that that's at the heart, that's at the root 280 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:07,160 of, of such symptomatic kind of things that we can look at. 281 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:10,760 And, and the root cause is selfishness in the heart of 282 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:13,880 believers in such a gathering, you know, where it's all about 283 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:19,120 my agenda, my plan, my feelings, me, me, me. 284 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:23,240 It's interesting that that mindset, that attitude starkly 285 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:27,640 contrasts the example and the mindset that Jesus displayed, 286 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:31,000 who it is that we're following. You know, in John chapter 13, 287 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:35,320 Jesus washing the feet of the disciples and they were blown 288 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:39,280 away by it because that was that was the role of the lowliest of 289 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:41,560 household slaves and servants back then. 290 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:46,280 And then Jesus said in John 13 that I have given you an example 291 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:49,440 in this that you should do as I have done to you. 292 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:54,160 And it was just mind blowing for them to even see that displayed. 293 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:57,440 And it set the tone for the disciples, the very beginning of 294 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:00,840 the church. And Paul writes in Philippians 295 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:04,000 chapter one, verse 27, and I'll read a little bit out of his 296 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:06,640 epistle to the Church of Philippi in chapter 1 and 297 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:09,640 chapter 2. Later chapter one verse 27 he 298 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:14,359 says only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ 299 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:17,560 so that whether I come and see you or I'm absent. 300 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:22,560 I may hear of your affairs that you stand fast in one spirit 301 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:28,079 with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. 302 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:32,800 See what he prioritised that the unity the common mind of being 303 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:35,400 in Christ in in their gatherings in our gatherings. 304 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:39,920 Later in Philippians chapter 2 verses one to four, he says 305 00:17:39,920 --> 00:17:43,160 Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, and is 306 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:47,600 there, if there is any comfort of love, and is there, if any 307 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:48,960 fellowship of the Spirit, and is there. 308 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:52,120 These are rhetorical statements because the answer is obvious. 309 00:17:52,120 --> 00:17:56,560 He goes on, If any affection and mercy fulfil my joy by being 310 00:17:56,560 --> 00:18:01,360 what like minded, having the same love, being of 1 accord of 311 00:18:01,360 --> 00:18:04,960 one mind, let nothing be done through selfish ambition or 312 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:07,520 conceit, but in loneliness of mind. 313 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:10,160 Let each esteem others better than himself. 314 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:13,520 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but 315 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:15,560 also for the interests of others. 316 00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:19,600 That is the lifestyle modelled for us by Jesus Christ. 317 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:23,320 That is the lifestyle commanded and taught by Jesus and the 318 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:26,120 apostles to the church. And that's why Paul writes this, 319 00:18:26,120 --> 00:18:29,400 because the exact opposite was taking place in the gathering in 320 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:33,840 Corinth, that their lives weren't marked by this common 321 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:37,040 goal of unity in Christ Jesus. There was division and and there 322 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:40,320 were people who who who thought themselves better than others 323 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:44,600 and would prioritise their own selfish desires to the detriment 324 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:46,880 of others in their midst. And it was evident in these 325 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:51,280 agape feasts that would be prior to their participation in the 326 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:55,360 Lord's Supper and communion. Instead of having lives marked 327 00:18:55,360 --> 00:18:57,600 by a common heart, a servanthood, following the 328 00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:00,880 example of the Lord, they were being selfishly motivated. 329 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:04,320 You know, it's really so simple when we gather there's no 330 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:11,160 superstar Saints, we are all just servants serving our 331 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:16,240 servant king and one another, it said. 332 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:19,320 Here's an illustration. A hospital visitor saw a nurse 333 00:19:19,320 --> 00:19:24,600 tending the sores of a leprosy patient and commented saying I'd 334 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:28,880 never do that for $1,000,000 to which the nurse responded 335 00:19:28,880 --> 00:19:33,680 answering neither would I, but I do it for Jesus for nothing. 336 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:38,600 Now unfortunately that wasn't the case in Corinth. 337 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:42,840 The believers were divided because of selfishness became 338 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:46,320 evident in their gathering and in this instance of communion. 339 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:49,600 And so the second problem in Corinth in regard to the love 340 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:53,600 feast really is a symptom out of the 1st and it was insensitivity 341 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:58,800 towards their fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord sharing 342 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:01,560 in a meal. Understand in the 1st century 343 00:20:01,840 --> 00:20:05,000 was considered one of the most intimate things that could take 344 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:06,960 place. Culturally speaking. 345 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:09,280 It was it was a big part of hospitality. 346 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:14,200 We tend to think of eating more to just meet our needs for 347 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:17,040 nutrients and for fueling our bodies. 348 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:22,560 But then back then, literally there was this idea that that 349 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:26,960 oneness was taking place because as you would eat of food and I 350 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:30,120 was eating of the same food, that which we're participating 351 00:20:30,120 --> 00:20:33,760 in is now absorbed into US, and what has become a part of you 352 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:37,000 has become a part of me. So they believe this idea of the 353 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:40,440 the physical nature of what was happening and transpiring in the 354 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:44,600 eating created this oneness across those gathered around the 355 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:48,040 same table. That's interestingly why it was 356 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:51,760 that Jesus was often criticised by the Pharisees and religious 357 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:56,000 leaders for eating with those who are sinners. 358 00:20:56,640 --> 00:20:58,960 How could you do that, Jesus? Don't you know what's happening 359 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:00,760 and taking place here when you're doing that, that you're 360 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:03,840 becoming like them and you're being contaminated with that. 361 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:08,800 And so all of this was to create oneness that's wrapped up in in 362 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:12,160 the significance and the symbolism of eating together. 363 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:16,520 And so they're eating together in currents should have been all 364 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:20,880 of us in Christ coming together and, and it being an expression 365 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:26,120 of unity and a celebration of Christ's work upon the cross. 366 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:30,200 But it was, like I said, creating the exact opposite. 367 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:35,040 It was dividing, it was causing barriers, it was seeing people 368 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:39,720 left out and it was causing some to even sin in front of others. 369 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:42,400 You see, when they came together, it seems that the rich 370 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:45,840 people are eating all of the food and that the poor people 371 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:49,760 were going hungry, gluttony was taking place, people actually 372 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:52,960 getting drunk. Paul said in verse 22, don't you 373 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:55,880 have houses to eat in? Do that at home. 374 00:21:57,560 --> 00:22:01,120 Purpose wasn't to stuff yourself silly in the public gathering of 375 00:22:01,120 --> 00:22:03,800 the church, but to come together for fellowship and sharing. 376 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:06,640 And that's not what you're gathering for. 377 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:09,160 And if that's what you're gathering for, Paul says, stay 378 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:12,240 at home. Don't let that be a part of your 379 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:14,120 gathering. I don't want to praise you in 380 00:22:14,120 --> 00:22:18,560 this verse 22 in the second part or do you despise the Church of 381 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:20,480 God and shame those that have nothing? 382 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:22,800 What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? 383 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:24,640 I don't praise you guys. This isn't good. 384 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:26,920 It's not a good thing that's happening here. 385 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:29,880 And I don't give you any commendation for what's taking 386 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:33,840 place. And the third problem out of 387 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:37,360 this that he highlights as a result of the second in these 388 00:22:37,360 --> 00:22:41,480 love feasts was leading to a bigger problem in the flow on 389 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:43,560 into their partaking of communion. 390 00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:47,320 As I mentioned, these love faeces like Galpe feasts would, 391 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:50,280 would end with what we would call communion. 392 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:56,000 And so instead of coming together around the Lord's 393 00:22:56,000 --> 00:23:01,160 table, that which Jesus died for to create unity, that separation 394 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:05,720 between a holy righteous God and man and and brothers and sisters 395 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:08,080 in the Lord, that separation to no longer be there. 396 00:23:08,360 --> 00:23:14,120 The contrary was taking place and some were drunk, some having 397 00:23:14,120 --> 00:23:18,120 just participated in gluttony and then partaking of the Lord's 398 00:23:18,120 --> 00:23:22,400 table in an unworthy manner. He says in verse 27, jump ahead. 399 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:25,240 Therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the 400 00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:29,640 Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood 401 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:32,880 of the Lord. What does this mean? 402 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:36,000 What does it mean to come to the Lord in an unworthy manner? 403 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:40,360 Because rightly you might be thinking, aren't we all 404 00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:44,960 unworthy? And some people get kind of hung 405 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:49,680 up a bit on this verse 27 here and they go, I'm so unworthy to 406 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:53,240 take communion. You know when when we do so and 407 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:58,440 notice that it does not say are you worthy to take communion. 408 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:02,920 It says, don't take communion in an unworthy way, in an unworthy 409 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:06,680 manner. The issue isn't are you worthy 410 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:10,920 to be safe because none of us are worthy to be saved. 411 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:14,680 That's not what Paul is saying. It's not are you worthy to be in 412 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:17,720 God's presence because again, none of us are. 413 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:25,320 The idea is the manner, the heart in which you take it in an 414 00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:28,360 unworthy manner. Basically, it's not giving 415 00:24:28,360 --> 00:24:33,600 appropriate worth to the Lord. He is worthy of our prayers, of 416 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:37,920 our focus, of our devotion and not being flippant, irreverent 417 00:24:38,560 --> 00:24:42,000 in our attitude, in our involvement, in what we call the 418 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:44,520 Lord's Table communion. We'll unpack this a little bit 419 00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:47,000 further. How do we do that? 420 00:24:48,560 --> 00:24:52,080 How do we not give worth to the body of Christ? 421 00:24:52,080 --> 00:24:56,040 One way which was their problem is by having this careless, 422 00:24:56,040 --> 00:25:00,520 irreverent spirit which many of them were doing by being drunk, 423 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:05,440 by by being gluttonous in their behaviour prior. 424 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:09,080 They were just simply not taking this seriously. 425 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:12,640 Oh, another opportunity to pass me the cup. 426 00:25:13,120 --> 00:25:16,280 You know, I'll have another one. It was just like ordinary 427 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:18,200 eating. There was nothing special. 428 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:21,680 There was nothing sacred about this moment, nothing holy, 429 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:24,600 nothing important, nothing significant to them in their 430 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:26,600 involvement, in their participation in it. 431 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:31,880 Another characteristic of their partaking in an unworthy manner 432 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:35,000 was the bitterness and the hatred that was among them as a 433 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:37,960 consequence of the divisions in their midst, of the factions. 434 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:41,560 They're again, they're supposed to be celebrating something that 435 00:25:41,560 --> 00:25:44,440 is supposed to unite, something that speaks of Christ's 436 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:47,520 selflessness and of his love for his people. 437 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:51,920 But if your heart is filled with selfishness, if your heart is 438 00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:55,120 filled with bitterness, then you're making a mockery of the 439 00:25:55,120 --> 00:25:57,640 very thing that Jesus died to do away with. 440 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:02,440 And they were celebrating this, it seems in their midst. 441 00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:05,640 They weren't united. They didn't have that common 442 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:10,080 union in Christ. Hence we get the name of 443 00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:14,880 communion from effectively undoing the death and suffering 444 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:18,080 that Jesus Christ came to achieve when they were together. 445 00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:21,640 And remember this, you know, another way that we can 446 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:25,560 participate in communion in an unworthy manner is when it 447 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:31,240 becomes ritualistic for us, when it's just lost its meaning and 448 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:33,400 it's just, oh, is it Communion Sunday today? 449 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:34,440 Is it? And that's something that we 450 00:26:34,440 --> 00:26:37,800 need to be conscious and mindful of that, you know, because we 451 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:41,800 have that rhythm in our gathering of a a Sunday morning 452 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:44,800 like it was, Yeah, the the first Sunday of each month. 453 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:46,680 Oh, it's communion Sunday. Oh, here we go. 454 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:49,120 It's the the cup and the the bread. 455 00:26:49,120 --> 00:26:51,680 And yeah, I'll have that. It's been a while, a little bit 456 00:26:51,680 --> 00:26:54,720 and we've become sort of blase and flippant about it. 457 00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:58,120 We need to be careful that the significance doesn't get lost in 458 00:26:58,360 --> 00:27:03,080 in the schedule, in the ritual of that in our lives and the 459 00:27:03,080 --> 00:27:06,280 result of their partaking in an unworthy manner. 460 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:09,160 It's it's a pretty heavy statement as we read in verse 29 461 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:13,640 to 30 for he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and 462 00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:19,280 drinks judgement to himself, not discerning the Lord's body and 463 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:22,960 for this reason, many are weak and sick among you and many 464 00:27:23,280 --> 00:27:25,320 sleep. Now that's not sleep like we 465 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:28,520 understand it literally, which maybe some of you are doing 466 00:27:28,520 --> 00:27:32,360 tonight nodding off Now this was actually the euphemism for 467 00:27:32,360 --> 00:27:35,720 dying. That's a heavy statement, isn't 468 00:27:35,720 --> 00:27:41,160 it, that by them partaking of communion in an unworthy manner, 469 00:27:41,360 --> 00:27:47,120 some had actually died. Could you imagine that happening 470 00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:50,640 in the modern church? And maybe it does and we're just 471 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:55,800 not giving it that label. But here this this word 472 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:58,640 judgement is is literally chastisement. 473 00:27:58,640 --> 00:28:00,160 And what does the Bible tells us? 474 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:03,240 The Bible tells us that God loves God. 475 00:28:03,360 --> 00:28:05,880 God rather chastens those whom he loves. 476 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:12,280 The result for them was that some were sick, some were weak, 477 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:16,120 some had even died. That's heavy for us to consider 478 00:28:16,120 --> 00:28:17,920 and to think about. And I don't know about you, but 479 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:22,320 that statement sobers me up a fair bit. 480 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:28,320 Not to make us sombre in our participation in communion, nor 481 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:31,800 fearful of that, but to realise the importance and to be 482 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:34,760 reminded of the significance of it. 483 00:28:35,760 --> 00:28:39,520 So when we gather in communion like we did this morning and and 484 00:28:39,520 --> 00:28:44,520 heading into future, you know, our participation in the Lord's 485 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:47,080 table or the Lord's Supper communion. 486 00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:50,920 Then let's look at three things out of this to bring this 487 00:28:50,920 --> 00:28:54,080 through in our understanding out of the text here that we should 488 00:28:54,080 --> 00:28:57,640 remember and consider and be reminded of and put into 489 00:28:57,640 --> 00:29:01,360 practise and learn from Paul's instruction to the church at 490 00:29:01,360 --> 00:29:04,600 Corinth. Verse 23 go, go there with me. 491 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:08,960 It says I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to 492 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:11,680 you. And the Lord Jesus on the same 493 00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:13,480 night in which he was betrayed, took bread. 494 00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:17,800 When he had given thanks, he broke it and said take, eat. 495 00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:23,840 This is my body, which is and some translations have which is 496 00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:27,800 for you and the new King James that I have which is broken for 497 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:30,120 you. Now the Bible tells us there was 498 00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:33,800 not a bone in his body broken but we understand the symbolism 499 00:29:33,800 --> 00:29:36,840 of the brokenness through what he went through on the cross. 500 00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:40,920 But really understand where it says for my body, my body for 501 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:43,600 you that it's a life giving element here. 502 00:29:43,600 --> 00:29:47,720 And we'll explain that a moment in connection with the bread and 503 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:52,160 do this in remembrance of me. In the same manner, verse 25, he 504 00:29:52,160 --> 00:29:55,600 also took the cup after supper, saying this cup is the new 505 00:29:55,600 --> 00:29:59,520 covenant in my blood. This do it as often as you drink 506 00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:03,800 it in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this 507 00:30:03,800 --> 00:30:08,640 bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till 508 00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:12,000 he comes. So first what we can learn out 509 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:15,840 of this is that we must look back when we partake of 510 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:20,040 communion. Do this, he said, in remembrance 511 00:30:20,320 --> 00:30:22,560 of me. As Marlon said this morning, 512 00:30:22,560 --> 00:30:27,840 we're forgetful people, but I found it interesting that Jesus 513 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:30,280 never said, here's what I want you to do. 514 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:33,560 I want you to when I'm gone, I want you to build me a 515 00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:37,360 mausoleum. If you could just erect a little 516 00:30:37,360 --> 00:30:40,080 monument to me in the place where I was raised from the 517 00:30:40,080 --> 00:30:42,680 dead, that would be, oh, that would be momentous. 518 00:30:42,680 --> 00:30:44,920 I'd really appreciate it. I'd love that when I'm gone, 519 00:30:44,920 --> 00:30:48,120 when I ascend. He never said build a monument 520 00:30:48,120 --> 00:30:50,520 to me where I preached the Sermon on the Mount, though. 521 00:30:50,560 --> 00:30:54,080 That's very significant and important in conveying, you 522 00:30:54,080 --> 00:30:57,760 know, the Kingdom of heaven and what it's like, he said. 523 00:30:57,760 --> 00:31:01,760 The only thing I want you to do to raise up as a memorial, or is 524 00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:09,760 that a reminder as a remembrance of me, is take the bread, take 525 00:31:09,760 --> 00:31:13,600 the wine. And when you do that, Remember 526 00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:15,480 Me. Remember Me. 527 00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:21,960 That's the mausoleum. That's the monument that Jesus 528 00:31:21,960 --> 00:31:26,360 said he wanted put into place when he ascended into heaven. 529 00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:33,000 Now, most of us, when a loved one passes, especially if they 530 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:37,520 suffered quite a bit in that, we want to forget that experience, 531 00:31:38,560 --> 00:31:42,840 that trauma, that pain. That's the last thing that we 532 00:31:42,840 --> 00:31:45,480 want to remember about them. We want to remember the good 533 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:50,840 times, to celebrate those fond memories with them, to celebrate 534 00:31:50,840 --> 00:31:55,440 their life, not remember their death, but Jesus Christ 535 00:31:55,640 --> 00:32:00,160 specifically mentions remember my death. 536 00:32:01,840 --> 00:32:05,120 And so remember back on the shores of the Galilee when I 537 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:08,880 preached that sermon. Remember that time when we're up 538 00:32:08,880 --> 00:32:11,640 on the mountaintop and we were gathered around the campfire. 539 00:32:11,640 --> 00:32:15,360 Once you remember that, no, they were significant moments, yes, 540 00:32:15,360 --> 00:32:17,440 don't get me wrong. But he said, I want you to 541 00:32:17,440 --> 00:32:24,320 remember my death, my body, my blood, as often as you take this 542 00:32:24,320 --> 00:32:26,480 bread, as often as you drink this cup. 543 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:30,720 Because everything that we have, everything that we enjoy, 544 00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:33,960 everything that we we know and experience as Christians is 545 00:32:33,960 --> 00:32:37,120 centred on his death. That's the power. 546 00:32:37,400 --> 00:32:42,840 It's the power of the cross. So what are we to remember in 547 00:32:42,840 --> 00:32:44,600 that? Let's look at a few things, and 548 00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:47,680 you can see in the slide here, we're to remember what, who, 549 00:32:47,840 --> 00:32:50,680 why, and how. As we look back, we're to 550 00:32:50,680 --> 00:32:55,440 remember what he did. His body bruised and beaten, His 551 00:32:55,440 --> 00:33:01,280 bloodshed, the intense pain, the misery that he experienced, all 552 00:33:01,280 --> 00:33:02,000 of that. Why? 553 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:06,640 Because He loved us and He left heaven for the very purpose of 554 00:33:06,640 --> 00:33:10,480 coming to give his body and to shed his blood for you and I. 555 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:17,120 Jesus said this is my body. Now, unfortunately, some have 556 00:33:17,120 --> 00:33:19,960 taken that to mean that he was teaching here that the bread 557 00:33:19,960 --> 00:33:22,000 literally becomes his body in that moment. 558 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:24,920 Maybe you've heard of something called transubstantiation. 559 00:33:25,560 --> 00:33:28,200 The Catholics are Big Island and some in other parts of the 560 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:31,800 Orthodox Church. I think it's very clear that he 561 00:33:31,800 --> 00:33:35,080 meant this in a symbolic sense here and instead Jesus was 562 00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:37,720 saying this represents my body, which is for you. 563 00:33:39,160 --> 00:33:41,880 So when we gather, when we partake of the Lord's table, 564 00:33:41,880 --> 00:33:45,840 when we when we break the bread, when we pass it amongst 565 00:33:45,840 --> 00:33:51,520 ourselves, we are reminding ourselves of this, that Jesus is 566 00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:58,040 our life. In those days bread very common 567 00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:02,480 a staple part of their diet, but they would pass it around at the 568 00:34:02,600 --> 00:34:06,360 the love feast going on into communion the the unleavened 569 00:34:06,360 --> 00:34:09,880 bread in a basket and even more. Now this, this clarity in the 570 00:34:09,880 --> 00:34:14,800 symbolism here, just as bread was a staple daily for them, our 571 00:34:14,800 --> 00:34:17,960 participation, their participation, our involvement, 572 00:34:17,960 --> 00:34:22,480 their involvement in it was a testimony, a reminder, declaring 573 00:34:22,480 --> 00:34:27,760 that it is by Jesus body symbolic in this bread that we 574 00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:31,320 have life. Just as bread sustains us, just 575 00:34:31,320 --> 00:34:35,000 as bread nourishes us, just as all of these, these grains that 576 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:38,800 make up this bread that have come together and now we as a 577 00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:41,600 part of the body have all come together because of Jesus body 578 00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:48,239 broken now as we remember it is the life that he died for that 579 00:34:48,239 --> 00:34:52,520 we experience and enjoy. As Paul says, I am crucified 580 00:34:52,520 --> 00:34:55,560 with Christ. Nevertheless I live yet not I, 581 00:34:55,560 --> 00:34:59,400 but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the 582 00:34:59,400 --> 00:35:03,000 flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and 583 00:35:03,000 --> 00:35:05,600 gave Himself for me. Galatians 2 verse 20. 584 00:35:06,280 --> 00:35:10,480 This is what the bread symbolises, that He is to be our 585 00:35:10,520 --> 00:35:15,400 power by which we obey the demands of God, The word of God, 586 00:35:15,400 --> 00:35:21,280 that because His life, represented by the bread through 587 00:35:21,280 --> 00:35:26,080 His body is now in us. Then the Bible's instructions to 588 00:35:26,080 --> 00:35:30,400 love one another, the Bible's commands to forgive one another, 589 00:35:31,320 --> 00:35:36,440 the Bible's instructions to be tender and merciful, kind and 590 00:35:36,440 --> 00:35:39,280 courteous to one another, to not return evil for evil. 591 00:35:40,040 --> 00:35:45,120 We're now empowered by Christ in us to live that, and to do that. 592 00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:49,640 His life in US enables us to be what God asks us to be. 593 00:35:50,080 --> 00:35:55,920 We live by means of Christ in US and following that, the same is 594 00:35:55,920 --> 00:35:59,480 evident in the Lord taking the cup, the wine of the cup, 595 00:35:59,480 --> 00:36:02,640 symbolising his blood. You know, when you're unwell, 596 00:36:02,640 --> 00:36:05,240 what do you need? Often times if you've lost a lot 597 00:36:05,240 --> 00:36:09,720 of blood, a blood transfusion. And, and think of that with the 598 00:36:09,720 --> 00:36:12,840 symbolism of the cup, that when we drink of it, we're not 599 00:36:12,840 --> 00:36:16,360 literally consuming Jesus blood, but it's symbolic of the fact 600 00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:20,560 that that Jesus life giving blood is, is doing that and 601 00:36:20,560 --> 00:36:24,240 having that effect in US. The way once our blood was 602 00:36:24,240 --> 00:36:28,400 contaminated with sin, that now his righteousness pulses through 603 00:36:28,400 --> 00:36:32,160 our veins and spiritually infuses us to be empowered 604 00:36:32,160 --> 00:36:36,480 supernaturally to live the Christian life by his body and 605 00:36:36,480 --> 00:36:42,080 his blood in US symbolised by the bread, symbolised by the 606 00:36:42,080 --> 00:36:44,840 cup. It is his life force that now 607 00:36:45,240 --> 00:36:48,960 animates us. So we remember what he did and 608 00:36:49,680 --> 00:36:51,560 we also need to remember who he was. 609 00:36:53,360 --> 00:36:56,240 I'm not sure if you're familiar with a statesman called Daniel 610 00:36:56,240 --> 00:36:59,920 Webster is one of the first statesman's out of the US in the 611 00:36:59,920 --> 00:37:04,480 early 1800s, but he was dining with a company of a very 612 00:37:04,480 --> 00:37:07,880 literate men in Boston. During the course of the dinner 613 00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:11,880 conversation it turned to the subject of Christianity, and he 614 00:37:11,880 --> 00:37:15,840 frankly stated his belief in the deity of Jesus Christ and his 615 00:37:15,840 --> 00:37:18,720 dependence upon the atonement of Jesus as Saviour. 616 00:37:19,680 --> 00:37:24,520 And one man responded and said to him, How can you, Mr Webster, 617 00:37:24,520 --> 00:37:29,560 comprehend how Christ could be both God and man at the same 618 00:37:29,560 --> 00:37:32,000 time? To which he promptly replied, No 619 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:36,400 Sir, I I cannot comprehend it. If I could comprehend him, he 620 00:37:36,400 --> 00:37:41,360 would be no greater than myself. I feel that I need a superhuman 621 00:37:41,440 --> 00:37:44,320 Saviour. And so it is. 622 00:37:44,320 --> 00:37:52,080 We need to remember who Jesus was, who he is, 100% man, yes, 623 00:37:52,080 --> 00:37:55,040 but 100% God. God in the flesh. 624 00:37:55,040 --> 00:37:59,040 He left the glory of heaven and, and and came in humanity and 625 00:37:59,040 --> 00:38:01,840 lived a human life. But he was God. 626 00:38:03,360 --> 00:38:06,760 And we need to remember not only what he did, not only who he 627 00:38:06,760 --> 00:38:10,400 was, but why he died. He died as our substitute. 628 00:38:11,440 --> 00:38:15,720 He paid the price that we owed. He paid the penalty for the 629 00:38:15,720 --> 00:38:17,160 wages of sin. His death. 630 00:38:18,560 --> 00:38:22,520 DL Moody, the famous evangelist, tells the story of a young man 631 00:38:22,760 --> 00:38:27,160 during the time of Napoleon Bonaparte's army, who, having 632 00:38:27,160 --> 00:38:30,960 been drafted a friend actually volunteered to go in his place. 633 00:38:32,640 --> 00:38:37,280 The substitution was made, but sometime later the surrogate in 634 00:38:37,280 --> 00:38:42,040 the course of battle was killed. The same young man who had 635 00:38:42,080 --> 00:38:45,240 originally been drafted through clerical error was drafted 636 00:38:45,240 --> 00:38:47,960 again. You can't take me, he declared, 637 00:38:47,960 --> 00:38:50,400 telling the started officers, I'm dead. 638 00:38:51,040 --> 00:38:54,680 I died on the battlefield. And they argued that they could 639 00:38:54,680 --> 00:38:58,280 most definitely see him standing right in front of them. 640 00:38:58,680 --> 00:39:02,080 But he insisted that they look on the roll to find the record 641 00:39:02,120 --> 00:39:05,680 of his death. And sure enough, there on the 642 00:39:05,680 --> 00:39:10,240 roll was the man's name with another name written beside it. 643 00:39:11,400 --> 00:39:14,760 Well, the case eventually went to the Emperor Napoleon himself, 644 00:39:14,760 --> 00:39:17,520 and after examining the evidence, Napoleon said these 645 00:39:17,520 --> 00:39:21,880 words through a surrogate. This man has not only fought, 646 00:39:22,280 --> 00:39:24,800 but he has died in his country service. 647 00:39:25,440 --> 00:39:29,880 No man can die more than once, therefore the law has no claim 648 00:39:29,880 --> 00:39:33,600 on him. It's an, I think, an insightful 649 00:39:33,600 --> 00:39:36,120 illustration of what has happened and transpired with us 650 00:39:36,320 --> 00:39:39,600 2000 years ago. Jesus came to the cross to bear 651 00:39:39,600 --> 00:39:42,120 the penalty that rightly belonged to you and I. 652 00:39:42,440 --> 00:39:46,640 He died in our place and through him. 653 00:39:47,280 --> 00:39:52,400 Our names are written in the book with His name written 654 00:39:52,480 --> 00:39:56,760 beside ours. Additionally, remember when we 655 00:39:56,760 --> 00:40:02,000 look back how He died again, not just the brutality of it, but 656 00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:06,680 the willingness of his death, that meekly he went to the 657 00:40:06,680 --> 00:40:09,320 cross. It displayed his love. 658 00:40:09,320 --> 00:40:12,400 It was love that held Jesus to the cross. 659 00:40:12,800 --> 00:40:15,800 And so our remembering is not just a recollection of 660 00:40:15,800 --> 00:40:21,000 historical facts, but a participation in spiritual 661 00:40:21,000 --> 00:40:25,760 realities in our lives. And when we partake of communion 662 00:40:25,760 --> 00:40:29,640 at the Lord's Table, we're not. Walking around the monument, 663 00:40:30,160 --> 00:40:34,560 we're not just in awe of it, but we're having fellowship with our 664 00:40:34,560 --> 00:40:37,720 living Lord and saviour in and through it. 665 00:40:39,760 --> 00:40:43,360 Came across a pretty cool story that illustrates why we need to 666 00:40:43,360 --> 00:40:45,960 look back. The stories told of a British 667 00:40:45,960 --> 00:40:48,720 soldier in the First World War who had lost heart for the 668 00:40:48,720 --> 00:40:53,320 battle and deserted trying to reach the coast for a boat back 669 00:40:53,320 --> 00:40:55,400 to England. That night he ended up wandering 670 00:40:55,400 --> 00:40:59,400 in the pitch black night, hopelessly lost in the darkness. 671 00:40:59,400 --> 00:41:03,840 He came across what he thought was a signpost, and being as 672 00:41:03,840 --> 00:41:08,520 dark as it was, he began to climb the post, to be able to 673 00:41:08,520 --> 00:41:11,320 read it, to get some sense of direction and bearing. 674 00:41:11,520 --> 00:41:15,240 And as he reached the top of the pole he struck a match to see 675 00:41:15,240 --> 00:41:18,680 and found himself looking squarely into the face of Jesus 676 00:41:18,680 --> 00:41:21,480 Christ. He realised that rather than 677 00:41:21,480 --> 00:41:25,680 climbing up a signpost, he had climbed up A roadside crucifix. 678 00:41:27,120 --> 00:41:30,440 Then he remembered the one who had died for him, who had 679 00:41:30,440 --> 00:41:33,200 endured, who had never turned back. 680 00:41:34,000 --> 00:41:37,760 And the next morning the soldier returned back to the trenches. 681 00:41:39,720 --> 00:41:41,320 True or not, an interesting story. 682 00:41:41,320 --> 00:41:45,800 But you see, we are in a battle and that is the Christian life. 683 00:41:47,520 --> 00:41:48,760 It's been said, the Christian life. 684 00:41:48,760 --> 00:41:50,520 It's not a playground but a battleground. 685 00:41:50,520 --> 00:41:54,000 We wrestle not against flesh and blood, the Bible tells us, and 686 00:41:54,000 --> 00:41:57,840 looking back to Jesus death helps us to keep going, moving 687 00:41:57,840 --> 00:42:00,000 forward in the victory that he won on the cross. 688 00:42:00,560 --> 00:42:04,280 To persevere in the midst of that battle in the intensity of 689 00:42:04,280 --> 00:42:07,520 it, to know that the victory has been won in him, that our 690 00:42:07,520 --> 00:42:10,960 salvation is secure, is guaranteed in him, and that we 691 00:42:10,960 --> 00:42:17,120 can hang in there because Jesus hung upon the cross for us. 692 00:42:18,200 --> 00:42:22,600 So first, look back. 2nd, we need to look forward verse 26 693 00:42:22,600 --> 00:42:25,400 for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you 694 00:42:25,400 --> 00:42:27,840 proclaim the Lord's death till he comes. 695 00:42:28,720 --> 00:42:31,840 And when we partake of communion, we, we look back, we 696 00:42:31,840 --> 00:42:35,160 reflect on his death, yes, and it's heavy for us and it can be 697 00:42:35,160 --> 00:42:39,000 sobering and sombre, but it's also to be a time of celebration 698 00:42:39,000 --> 00:42:41,400 because his death wasn't the end of the story. 699 00:42:42,000 --> 00:42:45,520 Three days later he rose again. He is very much alive. 700 00:42:45,720 --> 00:42:48,280 The Bible tells us that he is seated at the right hand of the 701 00:42:48,280 --> 00:42:50,080 Father, that he's interceding for us. 702 00:42:50,080 --> 00:42:54,000 And in John 14, Jesus said that he goes to prepare a place for 703 00:42:54,000 --> 00:42:58,560 us, that where he is, we may be also that one day very, very 704 00:42:58,560 --> 00:43:02,080 soon, he is coming back to take us to be with him and to never 705 00:43:02,080 --> 00:43:05,320 be separated ever again. That is what we look forward to. 706 00:43:06,280 --> 00:43:08,600 So we look back, we look forward to that moment. 707 00:43:08,600 --> 00:43:12,000 And then thirdly, we should look within verse 28. 708 00:43:12,600 --> 00:43:16,080 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread 709 00:43:16,080 --> 00:43:20,280 and drink of the cup. 4 verse 31, If we would judge ourselves, 710 00:43:20,280 --> 00:43:23,400 we'd not be judged. But when we're judged, verse 32, 711 00:43:23,400 --> 00:43:26,720 we're chastened by the Lord that we may not be condemned with the 712 00:43:26,720 --> 00:43:29,440 world. So we need to examine look 713 00:43:29,440 --> 00:43:34,200 within when we partake of communion to see that our hearts 714 00:43:35,160 --> 00:43:39,160 are right if we're partaking in an unworthy manner, any 715 00:43:39,160 --> 00:43:45,440 unconfessed sin, any compromise, any bitterness in our hearts, 716 00:43:46,240 --> 00:43:50,000 any division with others as was the issue in Corinth. 717 00:43:51,240 --> 00:43:55,360 You know every time that we participate are involved in the 718 00:43:55,360 --> 00:43:58,960 Lord's Supper, the Lord's table should examine ourselves. 719 00:43:59,760 --> 00:44:03,680 That's why we'll often pause and we'll have that moment for, for 720 00:44:03,680 --> 00:44:07,080 you to just reflect, to, to seek forgiveness and repentance 721 00:44:07,080 --> 00:44:10,480 again, to examine our motives, our attitudes towards the Lord, 722 00:44:10,480 --> 00:44:13,960 towards his word, towards his people, towards the communion 723 00:44:13,960 --> 00:44:17,400 service itself, and to go through that process. 724 00:44:18,000 --> 00:44:22,080 And I think that our each time we are involved in the Lord's 725 00:44:22,080 --> 00:44:26,040 table, it's a means by which Jesus instituted the the 726 00:44:26,040 --> 00:44:29,800 purifying of his church continually a constant 727 00:44:29,800 --> 00:44:33,960 reflection for us that each time that you eat my body, each time 728 00:44:33,960 --> 00:44:38,000 that you drink my blood symbolic in the bread and in the cup. 729 00:44:38,360 --> 00:44:42,400 It's to be a time of examination of coming together before me and 730 00:44:42,400 --> 00:44:45,800 of seeking repentance and and restoring that sweet fellowship 731 00:44:45,800 --> 00:44:52,040 with me. The psalmist said Psalm 139, 732 00:44:52,040 --> 00:44:55,160 verse 23 and 24. Search me O God, and know my 733 00:44:55,160 --> 00:44:59,440 heart, try me and know my anxieties and see if there is 734 00:44:59,440 --> 00:45:03,360 any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.