5/5/2019 Sermon: In Remembrance of Me

While I'm giving you a little preference this go ahead and open up your Bibles the 1st Corinthians. chapter 11 We'll get there in a moment.

As you who are regulars in this church know and and even if you're not a regular in this church if you're observant. You might have noticed that this must be communion Sunday.

And you know, I've always had a little bit of a fear about communion Sunday in the church. because anything that you do repetitively over and over and over and over and over again sooner or later it just kind of becomes so it's communion Sunday, okay.

Bud communion Sunday or communion the Lord's Supper. You can even call it the Eucharist if you want, whatever you want to call it. Is something that should never be taken for granted? It should never be taken lightly. It should never be taken for granted. It should never be something that you just go. Okay. Well, let's see well in the service and communion and that'll take this much time and then we'll will give the prayer and then everyone can go to lunch. You know, if you've got any of those kind of attitudes about communion, you've totally committed you've totally missed what communion is all about and how vital it is to your faith. So this morning we're not going to just take communion or receive communion. We're going to dedicate the entire service to it.

Now you all know that same in remembrance of me and who's the meat? Jesus Jesus is the one saying that now we're going to read now. There's you can obviously go to the gospels and read the Last Supper there and you can come up here to where Paul is talking in 1st Corinthians, and that's what we're going to be today. But all of them, of course. Say pretty much the same thing maybe use in a little bit different words. And then there's also an interesting interesting thing that is set by Paul right at the very beginning then we're going to look at today. So we're going to read it all the way through. It's only a couple of verses we're going to read it all the way through then we're going to go back and take phrase by phrase by phrase through what we just read and look at what are we reading? What are we saying? What are we declaring or as Paul says, what are we proclaim mean? What are we proclaiming? alright, so if you haven't gotten there yet open your Bibles to 1st Corinthians, 11:23. If you brought your lightsabers, you can open up your lightsabers instead of your swords.

Praise the Lord stand with me and honor of reading God's word, please.

We're going to be reading verses 23 through 26. The Mev version is on the overhead. You can follow along with that or you can read along with the version that you brought with you. This is the Apostle. Paul speaking. I have received of the Lord that which I delivered to you that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread when he had given thanks. He broke it and said take eat. This is my body which is broken for you do this in remembrance of me in the same manner. He took the cup after he had supper saying this cup is the New Covenant in my blood do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes Lord Jesus. We thank you for your word. We thank you that it is a light unto our path and did it is the standard by which we judge everything we do in life and practice. We thank you Lord that by studying your word and hiding it in our house. We not only have a better opportunity of not sinning against you, but Lord, we have a better opportunity of understanding your true heart and every situation. We thank you and we praise you in Jesus name. Amen, and you may be seated.

What an awesome thing that we have the privilege to hold in our hands this morning some of you I noticed as I looked around some of your holding books. Some of you are holding tablets some of you even holding phones smartphones and you know, you know, you know how to tell who's holy what right because the worst your eyesight is the bigger the font you need. So, you know, I've noticed over the years that I've gone from these, you know Bibles that are this big the whole Bible because the font is like -6 to where I want large font print Bibles and now I even most of the time default to digital because I can make the font 285 if I want, you know, and and it's like a baby You know and you can follow along. But anyway, whatever it is that you use and feel most comfortable with as the word of God. I hope that you always treated as the word of God and study it study it and become a buryin I was telling the men in the pants Men's breakfast yesterday. You can't become a buryin of the word of God by coming to church. Not going to happen. You're isn't enough hours that you're in the church becoming a Berean of the word of God takes daily diligent systematic study of the word of God and that's what you need to do. Let's look at this passage this morning in remembrance of me. Now when you when we get into this passage, you're going to see a key phrase used a couple of times. Let's see if you can spot it as we go through. First of all Paul says I have received of the Lord that which I delivered to you. Now stop and think what's being said right there. Paul was not at the Last Supper. He wasn't there. He didn't witness any of this stuff. But when he went off for about 13 years just seeking the Lord in the desert and and learning, you know, he has he had graduated from the University of camellia, you know of the and and got his Doctorate in theology from the greatest hebraic teacher of his time and everything, but then when the Lord called him into the New Covenant, he went off into the desert for years and years and years and studied at the feet of Jesus.

And so when he says I received of the Lord he means that quite literally he means that Jesus spoke to his heart in some way by some form gave him this information. Supernaturally. Now what that says in a couple of different ways, you got to put a couple of footnotes their number one Jesus. I thought it was important enough and vital enough to give him that Vision or that information. However, you did it and number two if it was coming from Jesus it was accurate and it was true.

You know, you've all played the game. What do you call it? Where you pass something around telephone you all played the game where you sit in a circle and you whisper something in somebody's ear and then they whisper in that area whisper West ruined by the time he gets around it's changed. But this came directly from God himself and it was a miracle. Giving and a miracle receiving from Paul standpoint. We know a it was vitally important Jesus did it be we know it was 100% accurate. It isn't hearsay. And so that's him that's important. And now now Paul's going to deliver that same knowledge to us. that the Lord Jesus is he your lord today? Izzy Jesus Son of God God lord savior Redeemer Messiah. That's who we're talking about here. Again. We can read over these words really fast and not sometimes stop to think about the words were reading. What do they really mean Lord Jesus means Lord Jesus and that's a very loaded statement. It means he's God. It means he's our creator the heavens in the universe. It means he's the one that died for you on the cross. It means it. So he's the one that's resurrected. It means he's the one seated at the right hand of the father right now making intercession for you. It means he's the one that's coming back and we believe very soon in order to receive his church unto himself it is he that is that is your future husband. We are the bride and he is our future husband and we're looking forward to the marriage supper of the lamb and excetera. That's what that those two little words mean Lord Jesus.

And we got to sometimes slow down and let it sink in the words were reading. This is on the night in which he was betrayed. Jesus was betrayed.

He was betrayed by the plans and the evil acts and everything like that of man. But just like we're going to see you later. Jesus is greater than all the plans of men. Rather evil or good he's greater than all those plans. He was betrayed. He took bread. That you got to realize we all take bread everyday, don't we?

But think back to the Tabernacle. What was the bread there? It was the show bread the bread of life the bread of Jesus presence in the Holy place. Now he's taking that bread and he's about ready to break it that bread represents him that bread and has represented him. I might add for quite some time. This isn't something that happened now. The bread the showbread has represented the Messiah for a couple of thousand years.

And everybody in that time under knew that and understood that we've got to always remember that in our minds as well and he took that bread that represents him he gave thanks for what was about to happen.

whoa And he fully understood what was about to happen. You and I have never thank God seen a crucifixion. people in those days hat he knew exactly what was happening about to happen. He knew exactly the pain The Suffering The Egg Andy the death that was coming and he gave. Thanks.

And then he broke it. Think about that as a symbol. Jesus the Messiah Took himself up game fangs of what was about to happen to him and then he broke himself.

That's what we're talking about. And then he said take eat.

Take eat everybody. Take some of this take a morsel of this and eat it and chew it and let it get down on the inside of you. Let it form the cells and the muscles and the organs and everything like that that form you because I need to be that intimately a part of you.

This is my body. Which is broken for you, he comes back again if you missed it. If the table of showbread and everything like that didn't pop into your mind and I don't know how any of these Jews would have thought of that but if somehow you missed it or maybe put it there for our benefit because two thousand years later he knew that a lot of westernize people a lot of Gringos or whatever, you know wouldn't necessarily bring up the image of the table of showbread and all of that that that the Jews back in them days would he said this is my body which is broken for you.

And was his body broken. Yes. I've heard people correct that and say we'll know not a bone in his body was broken. That's correct. Not a bone in his body was broken, but the rest of his body was barely hanging on his bones. By the time they got done with it. Even the most gruesome movies you ever seen of a crucifixion doesn't do it justice. The Bible says he was buried you really couldn't even recognize him as being human. He was so disfigured by the what was done to him all the lashes and the beatings and excetera. Do this in remembrance of me? We're going to come back to that statement in the same manner. He took the cup after that supper saying now. What cup. Did he pick up Church?

the third cup of the Seder the third cup the cup of redemption. He took up the third cup the cup of redemption and said this is the cup.

This is the cup and they understood the significance of the cup that he was picking up. And then he goes on to say this cup is the New Covenant in my blood. She a covenant requires blood a coven. It is Way Beyond and I don't have time to go there. But but I've taught on this before in other situations, put it in that culture was not like a legally binding contract in this culture because everybody in this culture nose get a good enough lawyer. He can get you out of the contract. That's not what a covenant is a covenant is meant to never be broken a covenant is a lifetime thing. That's why the various covenants Through the Bible Covenant number 3 does not do away with government. Number two in one Covenant number three adds to Covenant one into I mean Covenant number three adds to Covenant one into they build upon each other one does not make another one go away. This is the New Covenant in my blood my blood.

My blood is going to seal this covenant. Could there be any more powerful blood in the universe? Then the blood of the Son of God ceiling is Covenant do this as often as you drink it. That means every time we come together or your anywhere else and you take communion do this as often as you drink it. Everytime take it seriously Paul later goes on and says let a man examine himself. Little later in the passage uses let a man examine himself because some of falling asleep. For taking this in an unworthy manner. Now God is giving us an age of Grace and he doesn't strike people dead for taking something in an unworthy manner, but don't think for a second that if you take in an unworthy manner you're getting away with it.

We better examine ourselves. We better know that we've got everything covered under the blood. We better know that we're redeemed. We better know that when we partake of this cup together. We are protecting of the cup. clean Redeemed blood Bots and fine with the Lord okay in remembrance of me. We're going to come back to me. As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup. Again as often as you do. A lot of churches do it once a month. Some Churches do it every single week. I've mixed it up. You know that I've mix it up and done months where we took it every single Sunday and then gone a while when we took it every other or whatever just to mix it up and make you think about it. But as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup You proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Okay, look at that sentence again. Number one you're proclaiming something. What are you proclaiming?

Just let the thought go through your heart. What are you proclaiming by the act that you're doing right this moment when you're taking communion, what are you proclaiming? And it is a statement. Notice notice the statement you Proclaim you give testimony you verify the fact that the Lord died. And you keep proclaiming the fact that the Lord died until he comes back.

Wait a minute. What does that mean? Well, he didn't bother to stay the obvious if he's coming back. He's alive.

He didn't bother dad another verse in there that says but on the third day that grave couldn't hold him and he's alive he's written. He's risen. He's seated at the right hand of the father. You know, he he left that part out, but he went from being dead.

2 returning

only the living can return.

And he's returning in Victory and he's returning is king of kings and Lord of lords.

With his name written on his thigh. Remember that and everything. So that's what we're proclaiming. Now here's that phrase that I want you to think about for a minute in remembrance of me.

Did the thought ever hit you in remembrance of me? What did we just talk about? We talked about a new covenant. We talked about his blood and boy we put a lot of emphasis on his blood as we should we talked about Calvary we talked about him being dead. We talked about him coming back. We talked about all sorts of things. And he said don't do this in remembrance of this act. Don't do this in remembrance of this Covenant. Don't do this in remembrance because of the blood that I shed don't do this in remembrance because I tell you that even though I'm dead I'm coming back. He says do this in remembrance of me.

Now that's an interesting thought if you break it down.

Jesus Is God save your lord and he is greater than man's worst laid plans and actions see this is why he says in remembrance of me because it's all about Jesus folks. A man could shed blood?

But only the Son of God can redeem with that blunt. See a man could be betrayed but but this particular case it was the son of God that was betrayed and he's greater. You see all the Sanhedrin the greatest mice remember these are not just our elected officials that don't need any qualifications. We won't go there but it's not our elected officials the Sanhedrin were highly qualified men. Like I've told you before the average person in the Sanhedrin could quote verbatim. The Torah has the first five books of the Bible. Try quoting one. Try quoting Genesis verbatim. These guys were highly educated highly intelligent highly qualified. These were the best of the best of the best if you think about Mankind at that time. But Jesus is better. then Jesus is greater than they are greater than any plan. They can come up with greater than their worst actions. They can throw at him. That's why it's important to remember. Jesus not the other acts also Jesus is God's son Lord and He is greater than all his body was broken for

What's one of the reasons we've talked a lot about his body being broken for today? healing right But what good is that if Jesus is in greater than the healing you need.

If Jesus if Jesus is in greater than the healing you need you might as well pray to me. You'll get just as much half out of me.

You see understand who's great who was fantastic who's hiring above whose ways are above our ways whose power is greater than the universe who stood there and just said, okay and drama know you're right over there. I put a whole galaxy right over there by just speaking it. That's the god were talking about and he's greater than anything is body was broken for that's why we can pray to him today and we can ask him to heal cancer or a hung toenail because he's greater than any of that. He's also greater than the New Covenant. Old man, we're all here today because of the New Covenant but folks you got to understand if he's not greater than the New Covenant that he can uphold the New Covenant.

Do you see what I'm saying? It takes someone greater than something to say. Hey, I'm going to establish this and I'm going to make sure it works.

The only reason you can have confidence in the New Covenant is because Jesus is greater than the New Covenant.

And he's also greater than all that his blood accomplishes. Pastor come on now. We're talking about forgiveness and cleanliness restoration it again, but if he's not bigger than that, how can you give that to you? And how can you make sure it's good for all eternity?

You see Jesus is bigger than all of these things and that's why he's saying do this in remembrance of me because I'm the key point. There are some really big things going down here. When you talk about the Covenant when you talk about the blood when you talk about death and Resurrection to return when you talk about all those things that this table represents there is some Heavy Hitters there, but Jesus is greater than all of them. And that's why they work is because he's greater than all of them and he's greater than death and the grave. He's got victory over death and the grave he can promise you eternal life with him. Why because he is eternal and he's going to Grant you eternal life because you're his blood bought child and he is greater than death in the grave so he can do it. I can write you a contract that says I guarantee you don't have to worry about death and the grave sign and have it notarized put it on display in the Smithsonian. When do you better good?

Cuz I don't have the power to do that, and I'm not the turtle God. And I'm not greater than death and the grave. Jesus is so Jesus can accomplish what Jesus says he's accomplishing in these symbolic things that we're about ready to partake of. Jesus can do it. So in remembrance of me. Means keep your focus on the right Focus point. Jesus Christ high and exalted lifted up God king of kings Lord of lords Xavier meshiaak You name it? That's who we keep our focus on even here. Don't focus on the cup. Don't focus on the matzah. They're symbols of what he is accomplishing. in your life praise the Lord

Right now I would like all of you.

To prepare your hearts to receive communion.

This is the Lord's table. It's not Solid Rock stable. Is that the Assemblies of God table? It's not anyone's table, but the Lord's. And so you don't have to be a member of this church to partake. You have to be a member of the body of Christ.

If you're here today and you're born again Blood Bought heaven-bound, we not only say you can take communion. We encourage you to take communion with that's his brothers and sisters. On the other hand if you're here today, and you know that you're not Blood Bought and born again, let the emblems pass by when they come to you. No one's going to think less of you. We're so glad you're here. But this table is for God's children.

And you can literally eat and drink or curse on yourself if you partake of it. without the justification of God in your life So don't do that. Let the emblems pass by.

As we pass them out in a moment if the gentleman would come up and that are going to help me. As we passed them out, please hold on to them and will partake of them together.