Remembrance in Anticipation

As we PREPARE for communion, we are going to move through a time of worship, reflection, and sharing. These steps are not the main event. The remembrance is. But these steps are designed to prepare us get there.

Song – Indescribable

Song – You are My All in All

Scripture Reading (Volunteers)

(Feel free to read slowly, thoughtfully, reflectively)

Isaiah was shown the coming Savior — Isaiah 53

David was led to foretell of His suffering for our sins—Psalm 22

Paul gave us God’s explicit instructions for HOW we are to remember—1 Corinthians 11:23-32

John beheld His glory in ways we can only dream of and anticipate with longing and hope—Revelation 5:6-14

Guided Reflection (Personal)

(Questions on Screen-Soft music in background via audio so no musician must miss out on this time)

Where have I sought self-glory instead of God’s glory?

Where have I sought self-gratification instead of holiness?

Where have I trusted myself instead of God?

Is there someone I need to forgive?

Is there someone whose forgiveness I need to seek?

Is there a burden I need my church family to help me carry?

Prayer

(Break into small groups)

**Share only what is appropriate for public confession. We are not looking for details. We are looking for honesty. Anger, fear, pride, bitterness, anxiety, discouragement, self-reliance—these are the kinds of burdens we can bear together.

Confess

Give Thanks

Pray as the Spirit leads

(Prayer when drawing them back together)

Where Anticipation Leads - Revelation 19:6-11

Revelation 19:6–11 ESV

6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.

What observations do you make from this text?

What questions do you ask from this text?

Revelation 19:6-11 is about the marriage supper of the Lamb.

The Bride of the Lamb is ready. The marriage has come.

There is uncertainty as to exactly when this marriage and the supper take place, with differing perspectives. But what is agreed upon is this: This is the consummation of God’s redemptive plan and the union of Christ with His bride.

It is clear from scripture that the church is the Bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:25-32; 2 Cor 11:2; Rev 19:7-9; 21:2-9; 22:7.)

Ephesians 5:25–32 ESV

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

If the bride is the church, what of Israel? It is not an unimportant question.

We know they are distinct.

So, how do we reconcile two marriages involving God in scripture?

THE OT makes clear, Israel is the bride of Yahweh—Is 54:5; 62:5; Jer 3; 31:32; Ezekiel 16, Hosea 1-14

Isaiah 54:5 ESV

5 For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.

LORD of hosts…Yahweh of Hosts

The OT never distinguishes Yahweh as one particular person of the Trinity instead ascribing the identity to God in all three of His persons.

In this way, Christ is also husband of Israel.

Church is bride of Christ

Israel is bride of Yahweh

Are these in conflict? Scripture does not argue so.

Due to their rebellion, Israel was set aside—for a time—and God is choosing to work in, with, and through the church in this age—as a means to rebuke, draw, and ultimately restore ISRAEL to their rightful place.

At the rapture, God’s direct dealing with the Church conclude and He returns to Israel.

The church, then, weds the Lamb and appears to be wed to Him throughout the tribulation and millennium.

During this time, God works to restore Israel as a whole to Himself—not every individual, as we have noted but Israel as whole would repent and be restored.

Going into the Millennium, both will exist then.

Why does this matter here and now? Why do we take time to explain this?

BECAUSE

Something astoundingly beautiful happens in Revelation 21 at the end of the millennium.

In order to understand it and see the glorious beauty if of it, we need to understand Israel and the church.

Revelation 21:9–14 ESV

9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

What do you notice about this text?

12 Gates—for 12 tribes of Israel

12 Foundations - Apostles (church)

Why is this distinction made? Why is it described this way?

What is missing?

Division

Rivalry

Jealousy

Separation

Israel and church retain their identities

AND YET

They form the New Jerusalem—Together

And the New Jerusalem is fundamentally about one thing…

God coming and eternally dwelling with His people.

The message of scripture has only ever been about one thing…

God’s desire to dwell with His people.

He may have chosen to work this out through Israel as well as through the church, but ultimately, both are His and both will be His dwelling place for all time.

Because of what Christ has done.

We remember the cross because it purchased this future.

We anticipate because the cross reveals God’s eternal intent and guarantee of dwelling with His people.

This communion is about remembrance in anticipation. Every time we remember it, we ought to have both views in mind.

Communion

Finally, we come to it.

All that has come before has been preparation for this moment.

Communion is not, nor has it ever been, a solo practice. God always intended this remembrance to be done as a gathered body. Today, we have practiced that.

And in doing so, in this fashion, we are modeling and encouraging the shared body life that God intends for us to have…not just on Sunday, not just once a month on communion Sunday, but every day.

Christ gave His life so we could and would live in unity, reflecting the perfect unity that exists between Father, Son, and Spirit.

Let us do this in remembrance of Him.

(Pass out both elements at the same time.)

(Partake back-to-back with no break in between)

Scripture – Revelation 19

(Invite music team to come while I read)

Revelation 19:6–9 ESV

We will return here in two weeks to dig in more fully, but as we gathered for communion today, the anticipation of what is to come imposed an unmistakable influence over our regular gathering…

We remember…

And that remembrance fuels our anticipation of what it is come.

Because of what we remember…

We can anticipate…

Because of what Christ has done for us…

We have the certainty of His permenance in dwelling with us.

Now—and in the future.

And not just us, but Israel—all who have given themselves to Him.

We remember—in anticipation of the culumination of all things. For us—future. For Him—A present and done reality.

Imagine church…We will dwell, forever, with the King of Kings.

Song – King of Kings

There is no small group today…

HOWEVER, as I encouraged you during the week, Stick around. I pray you brought your own lunches to eat so that you do not have to rush out. We have an extra crockpot of food for those who did not know, forgot, or changed their mind. Come, each your lunch and fellowship as a body. Connect. Share. Pray. Cry. Rejoice. Share your lives together. Let today be about God, about the body, about encouraging one another to see and savor our indescribable God.

There is, of course, no expectation that everyone stay until a certain time. Some have responsibilities and commitments. But if you are able, I want to encourage you not to hurry away. The ministry of the church is not ending with this prayer.

Pray

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