Love, Fellowship and Forgiveness at Communion
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15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
Introduction
Introduction
His only desire was fellowship. He wanted to be with us.
Drive through or self serve communion is maybe the worst corruption of a Biblical ordinance possible.
Believers always met together because that was His desire at communion. To fellowship with them, and for them to fellowship with each other.
They came together, in spite of persecution, even though it would be easier to just remain in their homes, they gathered together with Jesus.
1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
According to this scripture, He washed Judas feet.
Genuine love met a heart so bitter it could not be moved by that love.
We usually read down to v. 17, but look what happens after communion and footwashing:
17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
It’s so much easier to see a potential betrayer of Christ, in everyone else.
23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
Peter was actually concerned that it would be him, because of what Jesus had told hm earlier.
25 He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Judas missed this.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
I think communion would be an appropriate time to love one another, and forgive one another.
Communion causes you to check up on your own life, for the sake of others.
Is this communion just something I go up for it, an order, say, “Well, the rest of them take this, I will too”?
It’s a revelation that I am part of Him and I’m part of you, and I love you and I love Him, and we’re taking this together as a symbol of our love to God, and our love and fellowship to one another. 65-1212 - "Communion"
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
If you’ve been indifferent, if you’ve had little squabbles and little things, what difference does it make? You’re going to die one of these days. What day? Maybe today! You don’t know.
An hour from now, you may be in hell, or you may be in Heaven. But you’ve got to choose now. If there’s anything in your life that isn’t right, you choose now, by faith.
You say, “Well, if I can just get even with her! If I can get even with him!” No matter what they done, choose Life. Choose Life.
For, Jesus said, “If from your heart you don’t forgive every person their transgression, neither does your Heavenly Father forgive you.”
So just get that close. If there’s one ought in your heart against any person, sinner or a saint, you’re in danger of hell fire.
Now lift up your eyes. What do you see, your enemy? Or, do you see your Saviour? What are you looking at this morning. 58-0720M - "By Faith, Moses"
33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
And we believe that when we come together, He said, “Tarry one for another.” In other word, “Wait on one another.” The word tarry means “to wait.” “Wait on one another.”
Now, as has been a custom to us, we take that Scripture in this way. That, when we do this, that we just bow our heads, and the congregation prays for we pastors. We pastors pray for our congregation. That’s how we wait on each other, by serving each other, by praying.
You pray, “God, forgive my pastor. If there’s anything in his life that they have done, You forgive them for it. Forgive them. They didn’t mean to do it.”
And we come right back, the pastors, praying for our congregation, “God, this is the little flock that You give us to watch over. If there’s anything wrong in their life, take it away, Father.
So we can all stand together around, fellowship around, knowing that we’re coming here, keeping the order of God, and taking the communion.” I think it’s a sweet time of fellowship. 62-1104E - "Ordination"
Therefore, Paul, I think, in saying this, “Wherefore, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for the other.” That is, other words, just wait a few minutes, pray, check yourself out.
And if you know a brother is in there, just about to do something that’s wrong, or something, and you pray for him, too. See? See, “tarry one the other,” wait just a minute, pray.
If there’s any feelings between you or something, don’t do it, go make that right, first. See? Go straighten that up, first, because we want to come here just as pure as we can be, and our thoughts of one another and to God, and to each other, and then we come in fellowship around the table of the Lord.
And we do this because that we are giving thanks to Him, and among one another. Eating the bread between each other, drinking the wine between each other, as His Blood and His flesh.
“Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His Blood, you have no Life in you.” See? You see, that’s what the Bible said. Except you do it, there’s no Life. You see? You are then, more or less, showing you are ashamed to identify yourself as a Christian, because of the life that you live.
And then this is really the showdown. Then if you don’t do it, you have no Life. If you do do it unworthily, you are guilty of the Body of the Lord. 65-1212 - "Communion"
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Did you know preachers need love, fellowship and forgiveness too?
I get questioned a lot about decisions I make as a pastor. You have every right to do that, but remember you won’t answer for a single decision I make.
I will answer for every one of your souls, and for every word I say from this pulpit.
Hundreds of people watch our videos, I’ve traveled and preached on three continents, some of the people I’ve preached to I was the only opportunity they ever had to preach the Gospel. I need your prayers.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
And before we approach this sacred moment, you ask God to search my life. And if I’ve done anything that’s not right, forgive me for it. I don’t mean to do it.
I’ll make it right if He’ll reveal it to me. And I’ll ask the same thing for you. Said, “When you come together, tarry one for another.” That’s, “Wait on one another, and pray for one another.” 59-0301E - "What Does Thou Here?"
Conclusion
Conclusion
Tarry one for another.
When I pray, I will pray for you.
Communion.