Wednesday Night Bible Study

thank you so much for your giving thank you musicians for always is doing a wonderful job of leading Us in worship we greet you tonight in the precious name of Jesus and we welcome everyone to this very special and joyous and sacred occasion uh we have been announcing here at the first of the year that tonight would be our communion service and I uh say thank you to all those who were able to join us in our prayer services on Monday night and Tuesday night uh a special time of uh just getting together with the family of God and I never uh can uh say enough how much I preach a First Apostolic Church indeed being a church family and uh there's a lot involved in that word family first of all uh families uh love to be together and that's what we do we get together and fellowship together do you know families don't always get along but you know what they also if they're real family they get over it too and uh I I'm glad to see everyone here tonight and uh I'm thankful that the Lord has uh given us the opportunity to Fellowship together and uh tonight is a night that we Fellowship uh with uh the Lord in a special way and we uh commit memorate and celebrate uh his crucifixion but most importantly his resurrection I'd like to get into uh some teaching those of you who' have been in a communion service before the things I'll say you've heard before but this is the same uh message and the same Ministry that we do every year this is not out of form this is not out of ritual but this is out of obedience to the word and it's for us to be reminded of the sacrifice the ultimate sacrifice that was paid for us I'd like to take just a moment uh to uh if you've never been in a a communion service or celebration of the Lord's Supper uh in an Apostolic service I'd like to give you h a little a few um definitions of a couple of things just so you'll know what we're talking about you'll hear these words uh used you'll hear folks talk about Sacrament you'll hear uh some in uh some movements uh refer to the Eucharist uh communion the Lord's supper if you look at all of those definitions of those four words uh you will find uh one or the other of those words mentioned in the definition of the other words for example if you look up the word Sacrament defined uh classically it's a Christian right that is believed to have been ordained by Christ that is held to be a means of divine grace or to be a sign a symbol of spiritual reality now that's an interesting definition the term Eucharist defined as a Christian ceremony commemorating the Last Supper in which bread and wine are consecrated and consumed communion the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings especially when exchange is on a mental or spiritual level the service of Christian worship at which bread and wine are consecrated and shared the Lord's Supper the definition given is the Eucharist the Holy Communion so with all of that said let me Begin by giving you the word in the book of First Corinthians the 11th chapter being taught to the Corinthians Paul is recounting Jesus words and actions uh from what we commonly call the Lord's Supper 1 Corinthians 11 verse 23 States for I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread and when he had given thanks he Breo it and said take eat this is my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me after the same manner also he took the cup when he had SED saying this cup is the New Testament in my blood this do ye as of as you drink it in remembrance of me for as of as you eat this bread and drink this cup you do show the Lord's death till he comes so I would speak to you on do this in remembrance of me since the early church first began even secretly celebrating and remembering the death and the resurrection of Christ the church has celebrated with communion and communion service of all the things that we did this service should indeed hold a very sacred and solemn meaning to us it should cause us to reflect and be humbled at the thoughts of the sacrifice that Christ made for us I would also give you another term that is something that scripture does not bear out and we do not believe some have said that uh the communion when one takes of the bread and takes of the wine that it actually becomes his body and it actually becomes his blood it's a term that is uh called transubstantiation that is not what scripture Bears out scripture tells us we're doing this in remembrance of Christ we're doing this freely and willingly to remember and we are celebrating him because we know this was not the end this was the beginning so this time of communion is an opportunity for we as the church to look down inside ourselves repent it's a a way that we remember the Supreme sacrifice he did at Calvary communion and taking communion is not for the remission of post baptismal sin as some have taught I would remind you again this is in remembrance of Christ we do not do this as a ceremony of forgiving of sin we are baptized in the precious name of Jesus once and for all that is the remission of all your sin this is not a again a remitting of sin in fact he gives this and says as of as you do do in remembrance of me me does not say once a year once every six months or once every Sunday but he said as of as you do do it why in remembrance of me so as we take commu communion tonight it is to remember Christ to commemorate his broken bleeding body to uh understand the Supreme sacrifice that we might have salvation but also live with life abundantly now because we are able to live free from sin we can live an abundant life now on this Earth so tonight as we partake of the communion again I want us to be reminded of uh some things as we look into our own Hearts as we examine Our Lives as we do what the word of the Lord tells us to commemorate The Last Supper it's important to note this passage of scripture that we read from we begin reading at verse 23 but it actually did not start obviously at verse 23 when we started reading in 1 Corinthians 11 long before communion was mentioned the Apostle Paul did a lot of teaching to the Corinthian Church the first thing he started talking about at the beginning of 1 Corinthians the 11th chapter is following Christ he then went on to teach on headship that's not being a master but he taught the proper relationship of a husband and wife of headship of a man being subject to Christ and the wife being subject to a husband and he he began laying out some plans and some direction for the church church and the example that Christ gave of the relationship between himself and the church with marriage he talks about in 1 Corinthians the 11th chapter the glory and power of long uncut hair for a woman he talks about the shame of a long hair on a man he also addresses being contentious you see there are some things that are easily identified in appearance but there's also spirits and attitudes that can only be identified by one's actions he said we we have no such custom as being contentious we we we don't do that he he spoke about divisions within the church he even addressed for some had turned the celebration of the Lord's Supper in the church to a gluttonous drunken object observation and he was addressing that this was not a time to get together and eat enough bread and drink enough wine to suffice and fill the natural man but again the proper purpose of communion all of this he mentioned before he even got to verse 23 and all before he said do this in remembrance of me so tonight we must once again take for not take for granted why we do what we do it's a time of commemoration or a time to recall and show respect for something that's what to commemorate means the verses of our text remind us that the Lord's Supper is a time of call calling to mind remembering the great sacrifice When We Gather at the Lord's table for communion we are not offering a new sacrifice we are remembering his sacrifice once and for all Hebrews 9 and 12 said it this way neither by the blood of goats and Cales but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy Place having obtained Eternal Redemption for us you've got to remember the previous dispensation before Jesus died the sins were passed on year to year by blood sacrifice of animals the blood of goats and calves but now Jesus would bring us to a new dispensation when he died on the cross and rose again the ultimate sacrifice was paid for all sin that would ever be committed you see that's why when we repent of our sins we are recognizing the death we are when we are baptized taking on his name the name of Jesus and water bapti and water baptism that's the death the burial and the resurrection when we're filled with his Spirit there's new life there's a new creature that has been born all of this commemorates what Christ Christ has done for us but he gave us a Plan of Salvation in Acts the 2 chapter but tonight we do commemorate his death Hebrews 10:9 said then said he lo I come to do thy will oh God the flesh speaking unto the spirit he taketh away the first that he may establish the second by the which we by the which will we are sacrificed through the offering of the body of Christ once for all this is why it's important for everyone to realize and be reminded that when you're baptized in the precious name of Jesus this is a necessary symbolic act an essential symbolic act with spiritual significance I've said it before not to trivialize but to REM mind everyone the water that's in that baptismal pool that's not holy water that's KUB water there's not sins floating in that water where they've been washed away but it is an obedience to the word of God that a physical act takes on spiritual significance and it's a commitment in our flesh that suddenly something Supernatural is taking place we are taking on on Jesus we're taking on his name that's why we do as we do but you only need to be baptized in his name one time we don't come back next week and say well I had a rough week I need to be be baptized in Jesus name again he you're buried once and for all he died once and rose again for us all verse 11 says and every priest standeth down daily ministering and offering of times the same sacrifice which can never take away the sins blood and go the the blood of goats and calves couldn't take away the sin it just moved them ahead but this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins how long forever forever s the sins that he he took on was everyone sin everybody in this house everything well how did he know because he's God you see he gave us that will to choose but because he is God he died for our sins and we have the opportunity to take on that Redemptive Power by being obedient to his word in the death burial and Resurrection but tonight we remember the idea of remembering is more than just recalling an event but it's the idea of stirring up our minds to relive what Jesus as much of his life death and Resurrection is to us as is humanly possible remember he left heaven to be born into the human body he became poor that we might be rich he bore our sins in his own body at Calvary on a tree he willingly took our place on Calvary it should have been me on the cross it should have been you on the cross but it was for our sins that he died he shed his blood he went through all the degradation all the embarrassment all of the pain and suffering for my sins and oh it would be easy to dwell and wallow in the horror of that death oh but after three days he conquered death death for me he conquered death for you he died that we could have eternal life that's why we celebrate he then ascended into heaven his Redemptive work to serve as our high priest forever so tonight we commemorate all of that but we also contemplate or consider it thoughtfully we look at the big picture for everyone when we commemorate but when we contemplate we Zoom it down to us tonight our eyes and our hearts and our spiritual vantage point should not be to look toward anyone else anyone else's faults failures or short shortcomings tonight we are to inspect ourselves and look specifically what his sacrifice means to us as individuals 1 Timothy 1 and 15 said it this way this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into this world to save Sinners of whom I am chief I would hate for us to have to have a discussion tonight to see who's the worst sinner because simply put we are all sinners some sins may appear more heinous than others to humanity but the real truth we have all sinned Timothy said of whom I am chief what does this night mean to me what does his death mean to me personally have I been obedient to the Salvation plan according to his word does his sacrifice move me to worship that's why when we come together we just can't contain ourselves when we start worshiping and praising because he's so good we feel his presence we enjoy the fellowship of his spirit with other brothers and sisters that's why we get so excited that's why we worship as I said while tonight is sacred we sometimes try to intertwine sacredness and fear but we instead should find ourselves thrilled that we have a savior that we can go to that did so much for us we should reflect on in this time we should reflect on the works of Christ and what it means to us personally and we should consider our own relationship ship with Christ and it's important tonight that when we do what we're going to do and take the Lord's Supper that we are indeed doing this publicly it's a time of identification we're not hiding the history of the beginnings of the church many times they had to celebrate in secret for safety sake there are fellow Saints around the world even as we speak that to openly Proclaim their walk with Christ and to do what we have the privilege of doing tonight might very well cost them their lives we have so much to be thankful for and it would be a shame for us to look at being part of such a service as being something I'm embarrassed about or something that we need to keep secret we do this openly and freely identifying with Christ but brother M is it possible that a lost person could partake of the Lord's supper and never be saved I remind you again this event holds no saving power but it is how however for those who are saved and it's a time to declare publicly that we believe in his death and his resurrection and it was for us Mark 8:38 said it this way whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation of him also shall the son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his father with the Holy Angels the Lord's Supper service is a Time time to identify ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and then it's a night that we should have expectations as we're reminded of what he's done for us and we know that it's true that he died for us and rose again there's a promise that goes along with that what did Jesus say in John 14 And1 he said let not your heart be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me what are you expecting from Christ what are you expecting he said in my father's house are many mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you that's everybody in the house that's a Believer and has been obedient to us I go to prepare a place for you that ought to make us excited there should be great expectation there should not be fear and dread and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there ye may be also there is a promise of another life after this life there's a promise of eternal life first Thessalon Ians 4:14 said it this way for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again and we do even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him those of us in this house in this past year we lost loved ones we've lost dear friends but those who sleep in Christ those who sleep in Jesus as he said will God bring with him when he returns and for this this we say unto you by the word of the Lord that we which are alive and remain un the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep for the Lord himself shall descend from heaven listen we're not playing games Jesus is coming back for his people I'm excited about it I've got expectations Hallelujah for the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel with the Trump of God and that dead in Christ shall rise first then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord could as I often hear folks say could I be transparent again you know as a child then as a teenager and a young adult newly wed and having kids getting married all that stuff that you go through in the transitions of Life all the time that I read this passage of scripture I always found myself in verse 17 then when which we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together and I'm expecting Jesus to come any day could be tonight could be tomorrow but with that said as time passes you suddenly get an empty nest and you you you see your your family growing up up and you see your family having family you know I read this now and while I still anticipate verse 17 being there verse 16 starts becoming a reality the dead in Christ shall rise first but you see when you got that kind of hope you can't lose I'm not sad I'm not worried I'm not nervous that another Day's coming I got another year older I've got the wonderful promise that no matter if I'm here or if I'm in the ground when he comes back he's coming back to get his people in fact you get a head start if you die in Christ that should give us great anticipation and should make us excited that you can't lose either way and verse 18 bears that out for it says wherefore Comfort one another with these words so find Comfort whatever stage of life you're in when you live in Christ he's got you covered he's taken care of you let me move quickly tonight is also a night of examination self-examination in the text passage of 1 Corinthians the 11th chapter verse 27 said this wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup unworthily shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord but let a man examine himself so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup for he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh Damnation to himself not Discerning the Lord's body while everything else that we've talked about is true this is a serious warning of the sacredness of what we're about to undertake the Lord's Supper surface is a time of reflection and worship but it's also a time of this self-examination we are warnning against partaking of the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner it can mean several things it's a warning to the lost you should not partake with unrepented sin in your life it's dangerous to do so it's a warning to the backslider when we come to the Lord's table with sin in our lives we open our lives up to God's judgment that's what verse 29 said he will chasen his children when they profess to be right with God yet they are harboring sin in their hearts it's a warning against taking it lightly allowing it become a form and a ritual and something done without any real sacredness we must not come to the Lord's table without taking time to search our hearts for sin nor considering the great sacrifice Jesus gave for our Redemption we must not go through the motions and ignore the emotions communion must not ever be relegated to realist or ritualistic Customs it's not for forgiveness but it's for remembering so at this point it would be easy to back up and say well who is worthy because scripture said all have sinned and come short of the glory of the Lord none of us are worthy but I'm here to tell you a repentant heart becomes worthy in just a few minutes we're going to have a season of repentance repentance before God is simply saying God I'm sorry for my sinning and we're making a proclamation before him that I'm going to change my oh brother m i I might have done something that I don't know about God is not standing up here looking toap somebody if I could use the vernacular of the day he's not trying to play gotcha he's simply saying I want this to be a time when you remember me that you have a repentant heart every person in this house has the opportunity tonight to pray a repentant prayer brother M how often do you pray a repentant prayer every time I get down on my knees and pray I pray a repentant prayer prayer a repentant prayer say God forgive me forgive me myself how we should pray in the order we should pray in when he said Our Father who art in heaven Hallowed be thy name that we should first of all when we go to the Lord in prayer acknowledge who he is acknowledge that Jesus is Lord When you pray you need to talk to him and acknowledge his name that should be your first statement Hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven now I will not cross theological swords but I have a personal belief that one way that can be interpreted scripture says we have this treasure in earn vessels thy kingdom come thy will be done in earth in me as it is in heaven see we want that glorified body and all the attributes of heaven but what do you want to be in you right now give us this day our daily bread have you taken the time to thank the Lord for all he's done for you today think just think be before you get to having too big of a pity party and putting your elbow out of place trying to Pat yourself on the back because things are so bad man he woke you up this morning you had breath in your lungs to breathe you you had a roof over your head you you had food to eat you had family you oh oh you might have had you might have had some trials today but you think in the grand scheme of thing everybody in this house how blessed we are think the Lord for what he's done for you that's the model give us this day our daily bread and he goes right to it and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors he's measuring his forgiveness for us but how we forgive others oh God am I holding anything in my heart tonight Lord do I have something in my heart God you're the god of forgiveness you're the god of Grace you're the god of restoration if I'm going to be like you and you're going to forgive me I got to forgive somebody else if I've got anything in my heart God get it out tonight forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors lead us not into temptation but Deliver Us from Evil Temptation comes from in Temptations are part of our flesh evil comes from it without and the attack of the enemy and then our model of prayer that we acknowledge again it's his will for thine is the kingdom thine is the power thine is the glory forever that's our model for our prayer life many would be surprised if you pray that as your model and include in your blessings all the things you can count you include in praying for the need that you have God will perform a mighty answer that's what we will do tonight These Warnings that were given should not be taken lightly but they should not be a deterrent instead they should remind us that it's time to repent I would ask our musicians and praise team to start moving to your place and I would at this time call for our elders and ministers to come and take your places as well Bishop M I'd ask you to come to the edge of the stage please in just a few moments I want to give you some instruction uh and a uh sanctuary as large as this so many people I would ask our our ministers if I could have four that would stand as the um ushers do and then the other two if you would help us uh replenish the uh uh the uh uh bread and the wine here's what we will do in just a moment I'm going to have everyone stand and just as we give our offerings tonight I would ask everyone to exit the right side of your Pew pass by the offering container and then enter into the opposite end end only it's not the offering container it will now be the uh communion wear and please take your communion wear to your seat and remain standing I would ask you it has Bread on top of it there's a a thin plastic uh covering now again this is this is something we are doing to commemorate and to remind and it is symbolic you will take that off you'll take the second layer off which is the cup but do not take that yet just have it ready because we're going to pray a a prayer of repentance and a prayer of uh of Mighty calling on Christ and thanking him and then Bishop is going to come and he's going to administer the communion to all of us at once we're going to take it together so if you would please I'd like for everyone to stand and if musicians if you would give me some music please I would ask every our ministers to take their places and I'd ask everyone going to begin with the front rows exiting the right side of your Pew pass by the communion wear and then return to your seat and please remain standing after you do that as a child I remember my mother about the time we were going to eat and have supper she'd say it's time to wash up that's what repentance is that's what a prayer of repentance is it's time to cleanse ourselves Paul speaking of repentance he said I Die daily I ask myself the questions am I saved am I pleasing to the Lord are there any hidden things in my life that I need to deal with right now in Repentance is there any problems between me and another believer that I'm needing to forgive tonight is my heart honest and pure before you Lord am I ready to receive the blood and the body thank you thank you for moving yes Lord yes Lord and I would encourage everyone again as you're at your seat at this time if you have not already now we will have dispensers or uh we'll have our ushers ready at the end of the service to take all of the empty cups so you please keep those and we're taking just a moment because hey this is family time we talk about that we're going to do this together this is family time the technicians praise team and musicians I'd ask everyone to please at this time if you have not already opened your cup do that as well and at this time I'll turn the service to Bishop mcco