The Lord' Supper

                           THE LORD’S SUPPER

Songs 2:3-4                        1 Cor. 11:27-34

Intro: Over the years, we have seen the manner and the casual manner in which people have received this holy, sacred rite of communion.  Today we will teach on this.

Communion is koinonia=fellowship, it sharing in a common experience.. Acts 2:42   And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
 We share in the realization of the effects of the blood of Christ and of His body.. 1 Corinthians 10:16 (KJV)16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

(THE FIRDT OF FOUR CUPS) Luke 22:17  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:

The blood: represents Christ’s sacrificial death and atoning work .. Romans 5:9  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Romans 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

The impossibility of communion between light and darkness:  2 Corinthians 6:14   Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

1 John 3:6  Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
1 John 3:7   Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
  THERE HAS TO BE PREPARATION:

1 Corinthians 11:27-34  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.33 herefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

To come to the Lord’s table clinging to sin, dishonors the ceremony and the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ!!

WHEN BELIEVERS DO JUDGE THE HOLINESS OF THE SACRIFICE:

Hebrews 6:4-6   For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

The Seriousness of this:.. 1 Corinthians 11:29-30
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

So serious that God put the worst offenders to death.

1 John 5:16   If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
1 John 5:17  All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

Premeditated sin that will cause the Lord to end the believers life, no effectual prayer will be effective for this person…ACTS 5:1-…1 Corinthians 5:5  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
EXCOMMUNICATE:

GOD seeks to preserve the purity of His church; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8  Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

(Privilege is no guarantee of success)

UNWORTHY PARTAKERS:

Discern not the Lord’s body…1 Cor. 11:29 Visited with judgment…1 Cor 11:30

Partakers of communion to be wholly separate to God.

1 Corinthians 10:21   Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

Holiness is essential….2 Cor. 6:14-16,  James 4:4

1 John 2:15………….LOVE FOR THE WORLD, will create idols in your life,  OT idols were statues, golden calves etc.. today ..Our work, money, success, achievement, recognition, can take the place of God.

Hobbies, entertainment, TV, internet, can become our focus, Family, friends. Can become our god, disappointments, unmet longings, bitterness ,anger, CAN SEPARATE YOU FROM GOD!!! AND we wallow in our PAIN AND WORSHIP THE IDOL OF DISCONTENTMENT

THESE idols have more power than we think and courting idols, you are courting the judgment of God.

1 Corinthians 10:14   Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

Do not tempt Christ by seeing how much you can sin before He judges you!!!!