Communion

so glad you all are out tonight you can be seated there's no Nursery no clubs or or kids church tonight we're all here thank you so much brother Duron again I welcome all of you into our communion service tonight it's already been mentioned again though how solemn it is because the beauty of a of a communion service is the fact that we we get to once again visit the story The the way things unfolded for you and I was there anybody in please feel free to lift your hand raise your hand identify was there anybody here at the crucifixion of Christ anybody at all no okay so the only information that we have is is in the word is that okay we got the Bible that we we go to I mean you're thankful for the word of God come on are you glad you know the word is true As We Gather here in this room tonight we we go back if you will in time we remember one more time exactly what Jesus did for you and I this past Sunday for an example we looked into the incredible event called Palm Sunday it was an event that transpired uh six days as the scripture reveals to us before Passover and the words The Chosen words of worship and adoration unto the king of glory it moved the people at that time into another level now we all because we can read the Bible we all know how things unfolded and how that not long after they called or cried Hosanna blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord it wasn't a few days later they were crying out crucify him but we know according to the gospels of Matthew Mark Luke and John we can look at the instructions that Jesus himself gave to Peter and to John and to the rest of the disciples in fact you can read in any of those accounts how that and I'll give you this short version before we go a little deeper tonight Jesus told his disciples his followers we're going to celebrate Passover together now for Jesus to say that to this group of Jews if you will was a very common thing it would not really have to explain anything to them about what Passover was he would not really have to go through any in-depth discussion or discourse of why the Passover would be celebrated at this Feast time but suffice it to say that Jesus was very very determined at that point to spend time with his followers so the Bible tells us and again you can go Matthew Mark Luke John you'll find parts of the stories that it unfolds as the authors wrote it Peter and John were sent to prepare the chamber for Passover so they went if you know the story I'll give you the short version you go prepare it when you walk into town you'll see a guy carrying a water pot follow him tell him we got a need for the guest chamber and it'll be prepared for you then you just have to go and you have to gather the supplies that you need lo and behold the Bible says Peter and John did exactly that and they found everything the way it was supposed to be Jesus then meets with them for this celebration and when they are partaking of it now stay close to me okay if you were to go back in the Old Testament understanding the way that God gave it to Moses to give it to the people at that time Old Testament we're way back in in exes way back in the Old Testament you'll find out that God gave specific things that they would be required to do we noticed for an example we read a little bit about it Sunday about how in Exodus he said all right you're going to have to get inside your house because the death Angel's going to come by and once you get in the house and the blood of the Lamb that you have sacrificed has applied to the to the doorpost and to the the top of the door you get behind there you put your clothes on everything's ready you're standing there you're eating the lamb you can't leave anything all right you remember the story and then you have to eat the the bread that doesn't have 11 in it so it's it's kind of dry and Bland if you will nothing at all Pleasant about what was about to transpire all of these guys that were gathered with Jesus at that night in this upper chamber they would have understood all of that so knowing that understanding you and I in 2023 we can look to the New Testament and we can discover that they continued with that celebration now they did at that point New Testament they changed if you will developed if you will a different way of doing this they would no longer for an example be required for every house to kill a lamb and bring it together because the death angel had already been pushed aside from the Old Testament if you will how that the children of Israel were delivered out from under the hand of what was going to happen killing the firstborn and so now they're going through the ceremonial part of the Last Supper very intriguing here that Jesus made sure that everyone that was gathered in that room that night partook of it and understood the details of what was about to transpire again no doubt they understood what it stood for they understood the law they understood what was required Jesus sitting with them you can find again any of the gospels how that he took bread and and he blessed the bread and then he broke the bread and he handed it to them and he said take this eat for this is representation of my body and all of the disciples that would have been sitting there at that particular moment would have understood exactly what Jesus was talking about because they understood how that the Mosaic law was given and the requirement was for a lamb the requirement was is that they would partake of unleavened bread the requirement was is that they would year after year come back and revisit and every time that they did this ceremony the Bible says they would have to remember why they did it so they're sitting there and they're receiving portions of bread Jesus then takes the wine which is in a cup and he says to them drink this it's my blood now it was not the physical blood of Jesus it was again representation of a blood that separated the children of Israel from the death angel so they're sitting if you will in this upper guest chamber and Jesus is sitting amongst them these supplies have been presented the way that Jesus explained to Peter and John and they're now sitting and they're talking now allow me just a moment before we go further notice who's gathered around the table everyone who knew Jesus everyone if you will the 12 that had been called to be followers to to be Fishers of Men also it's very specific here especially in Luke's writing how that Judas Iscariot is there and he would be one that would betray Jesus understand this is all part of Jesus's plan for the end of his ministry here on planet Earth now when he mentions to them for an example hey somebody here is going to betray me what did they do they begin to hit one another hit his eye no no no no no no it didn't hit his eye is it I I was a play on words boy y'all took that way too seriously is it me and they're asking one another am I the one betrayal that's I'm not gonna do He's Mine He's My Savior he's my Rabbi he's my teacher and the Bible says at that moment that Judas being in the midst of him anybody remember the name Judas iscaria he was the one that betrayed Jesus right does anybody here think for a moment that that was an accident no that was exactly part of the plan because of the way that the prophecies had been proclaimed in the Old Testament by the prophets Jesus would have to go through all that he went through in order to fulfill those prophecies and so when when when Ezekiel or or when uh Zechariah or when any of the other old prophets spoke of one that would be betrayed one that would come riding in on a cult one that would be the Savior one that would be the the wonderful the counselor when that's coming to fruition now through Jesus Christ it was also spoken about that he would be rejected he would be denied there would be those who would would not receive him and so Jesus is sitting in a group amongst a bunch of men and they're partaking in this communion what we call communion supper the bread the wine these were representations of what had transpired in Old Testament days what we learned from that is that Jesus listen carefully is now instructing them on something that is going to change them for eternity and he's explaining to them in detail what the focus is and what it means to do this now the reason I go through that small explanation is because the the gospels of Matthew Mark Luke and John are about the life of Jesus then we go into what is considered the Acts of the Apostles and that's what the apostles did after Jesus had ascended the Holy Ghost comes Jesus name baptism is revealed and the churches are now beginning to grow y'all with me in the book of Acts well then the disciples the followers of Jesus called them Apostles because of what they're doing in their then Known World starting and planting works first Corinthians chapter 11 verse number 23 notice what is written here to the church this is very interesting 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 when he had given thanks he break it and said take eat this is my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me after the same manner also he took the cup when he had subbed saying this cup is a new testament in my blood this do ye as oft as you drink it in remembrance of me verse 26 for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you do show the Lord's death till he come for those Bible scholars I ask you who wrote the letter to the church at Corinth who Paul Paul was not in that upper chamber that night so how did Paul know because Paul having been revealed to him the way of Salvation while he's blinded Paul then once he the blinders the scales fall off he's now interacting with who who's who's the argument between Paul and Peter read your scripture you'll find this discourse you'll find you'll find different ones that are that are there and they're saying well the Gentiles this the the Hebrews this the Jews and they're going through the Samaritans that are going through all this Discord what Paul is telling the church at Corinth at this time is this is what I have learned both of those who were there and as the spirit gave me Revelation and so what Paul is telling the church here at that moment is if you go backwards I didn't have time tonight so I didn't go through those scriptures go backwards before verse 23 and chapter 11. there's an indication there that Paul is telling them don't do this anymore and the reason is because there was disunity in the brethren one even says some of you will bring and you'll come together and you'll just get drunk together some of you will eat excess don't you have houses to eat in some of you are declaring the Lord's Supper it's right there in in this chapter some of you are declaring that what the Lord's Supper is about is about having a party and you're forgetting the whole principle behind the bread and the wine and because of that Paul was instructing the church at that time listen I I want you to understand something when you do this this is in remembrance now there are some today there are some Scholars that decide that there's no such thing as a physical communion I have talked to them I've tried to understand where they come from and I've tried to explain where I come from the fact is is that the spiritual communion that they reference is a true thing and you realize if you're full of the Holy Ghost and you're baptized in Jesus name you are in the family and every time you open your mouth unto your lord and savior you are communing with him every time you pray every time you gather together the spirit of God is there moving I get that but it doesn't say here for an example to the church at that time this is a spiritual Endeavor it says when you do it do it in remembrance so something here has to be physical or evident to remember what the Lord has done now when we do communion of course now we've gotten very convenient oh brother covet did a whole lot of things for us number one is I don't have to pour this and all these little big cups anybody here remember covid when we couldn't do communion together and everybody baked unleavened bread at home what kind of disaster cool thing was that huh anybody remember that that was cool time some of y'all it's because you had a big Loaf and you ain't trying to chew it up it's got no 11 nothing it's just a big chunk of something the principle here is this listen friend you could do this every day as long as you do it and you understand the principle behind it the reason that Cornerstone that we do it once a year is because I as Pastor associated with the events that transpired between Palm Sunday and the Passover in the life of Jesus feel like that this is a very real thing now I want you to understand something if you then go past verse number 26 here in First Corinthians chapter 11. you will find some very very powerful strong words that Paul wrote to the church admonishing them if you are do this and you're not worthy of it because there's sin and things in your life you better be careful because you are taking it in vain and Paul warned the church at that time if you're just doing this going through the motion and you've got all this junk in you and you're not willing to be United with your brethren then you're going to stand at a place where you'll have to give an answer for that the beauty if somebody will and you're you're that Bible scholar you love to study the word go in here and read chapter 11 very slowly of First Corinthians and notice what he says in essence if I may for the sake of time he is telling them you're not unified in what you do be very careful some of you are eating and drinking some of you are this some of you are full of sin some of you haven't checked yourself in a long time you haven't prayed you haven't sought God and you're doing this because somebody's telling you you're doing it for the wrong reason now you ask me as pastor of the church what age do you have to be I don't I can't set that I can tell you this when you've reached the age of accountability where you are accountable for your actions and your ideas you better understand the power of salvation and salvation is a point of Jesus name repentance Jesus name baptism receiving the Holy Ghost I will tell you this Mom and Dad you better make sure you pray with your children so they understand the truth of what is happening hear me if you ever take this for granted and you slightly throw it off kilter to where it has no ability to change your life you listen to me you will forget the incredible sacrifice of the Lamb of God and you'll deny the fact that Jesus died on a cross for you oh Pastor I want yeah you watch Time Will Reveal that because as you turn loose of the things of God you will grab onto something else and I don't know what that is you may choose your sin but God will send you a delusion with that sin now I'm not being harsh I'm speaking to you with all the love I can tonight's communion service think about what's going on Jesus died for you his blood was shed for you for me and when they did communion at that particular time and Corinthians with Jesus from that point to where we are today we better understand fully that this need remind us of what Jesus has done for us that's why it's referred to as a solemn thing I don't know about you but sometimes I I can feel unworthy anybody understand man I'm I'm having a hard time or I struggle with this or my I'm trying my best and Lord I don't know if I do God I don't know here's the beauty of what Jesus has done for us on Calvary forgiveness of sins works because the blood of Jesus will cover a multitude of sins so you can before you partake tonight you can repent of your sins and no matter what statement Place whatever you're in you can say Lord I need you to wash me because I want to make sure I understand the power of what's going on I want to invite you to stand with me tonight I'll watch the clock we're okay I'd like for us to take a few moments here a few minutes even and if you want to get out of your chair come to the carpet if you want to go wherever if you need a place to go pray I want you to search your heart you take I can't take inventory for you I don't have your spreadsheet in mind I know what I deal with I can inventory me and the things I miss I'll ask the general manager to pick up because the Lord misses nothing can we pray it's 7 38 I'll call us back together in three minutes go pray everybody find you a place and pray Lord you did this and tonight Lord is a solemn event we're coming together here to love you we're coming together Lord to remember what you did for us come on find you a place of Prayer come on get honest bad decisions and choices I pray God for cleansing because Lord every time that I doubt you every time Lord that I worry and fret to myself I'm saying that you're not able and Lord I know you are if I've had ought against someone Lord I ask forgiveness if I've offended someone tonight Lord I beg forgiveness I need a cleansing once again the blood you shed Lord has such great power your body Lord that took the bruises and the beating and the Stripes Lord has such power salvation comes only by you Jesus only you only hear great sacrifice changes us wash us Lord help us Jesus come on church pray get a hold of God I I need you Lord I need you Lord I need you Lord as a church family We Gather Lord for this special occasion to remember what you've done to remember Lord all of the grace and all of the mercy that you've shown us through our lives your faithfulness in all things your loving kindness Lord that surpasses fear and doubt and questions tonight Lord we gather as a church family Binding Together unified Lord unified Lord under the name of Jesus we need you Jesus tonight we give you thanks Lord sacrifice Lord is enough to save all of humanity thank you for that no Valley is too deep no mountain is too high no depth too profound can't forget you can't move in that situation tonight Lord I pray for my brothers and sisters and the family of God that you would touch them those that aren't even here tonight Lord all around the globe help us to remember power of the blood the power of your body Jesus we remember and I am humbled tonight God just to know that you would allow me to be one of yours that you would write my name in The Book of Life that you would prepare a place for me so that where you are I can I could come and be with you thank you Jesus I love you Jesus I need you Lord I must have you Jesus I must have you Jesus Hallelujah to the Lamb of God Worthy is the name of Jesus Hallelujah oh come on somebody get real with God he sees he knows