Matt 11:1-19 "John the Baptist Opposes Jesus"

Matt 11:1-19 "John the Baptist Opposes Jesus" Marc Transparenti / General Opposition to the King / John the Baptist; Theology of Crisis; Doubt; Jesus reassures John the Baptist / Matthew 11:1-19; Matthew 11:2-15; Matthew 11:16-19 John the Baptist has a crisis of faith when he is imprisoned, and rejects the ministry of Jesus. Good Morning Calvary Chapel Lake City! Announcement: 2021 Calvary Chapel Midwest Bible Prophecy Conference. Saturday, March 27th at Calvary Chapel Lafayette. Details are on our FB page. Pray for the speakers and the conference. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Please open your bibles to Matthew Chapter 11. As we continue verse-by-verse through Matthew, we now come to a new focus in Matthew's Gospel. Chapters 1-10 could be summarized as "The King Revealed." Starting in Chapter 11, the theme shifts to "The King Rejected." • Chapter 1: Heritage of the King, as we looked at Jesus' genealogy. • Chapter 2: Jesus' birth fulfilled prophecy, and wise men brought gifts befitting a King • Chapter 3: Jesus was announced as a King by the forerunner John the Baptist, and approved by God the Father and the Holy Spirit at Jesus' baptism. • Chapter 4 Jesus triumphed over Satan's temptations. Jesus was proven sinless, entered ministry, and choose Capernaum as His headquarters. • Chapters 5-7, we saw the Sermon of the King / The Great Constitution of the Kingdom / The Sermon on the Mount...which laid out the principals of the King for His citizens. • Chapters, 8-10 we observed that Jesus had power, the authority to back up all He said in The Sermon on the Mount. So, again, in Chapters 1-10 we see "The King Revealed." Starting in Chapter 11-12, the theme shifts to "The King Rejected," as we will observe rising opposition to Jesus. The theme for Chapters 11-12 is "Opposition to the King." • The first opponent Jesus faces strikes close to home...none other than John the Baptist...His cousin, His friend, His fore-runner. We will see today that John is in a bad place. This wilderness man find himself away from the country air, and in prison, which leads to a crisis of faith as he misunderstands the ministry of Jesus... which leads to a conflict...a rejection of Jesus. • We are going to look at the first 19 verses of Matthew 11 today, and the sermon is titled "John the Baptist Opposes Jesus." Let's Pray! Matt 11:1 "Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities." 1. Last week, we read Jesus sent the Twelve to preach "the kingdom of heaven is at hand," and after Jesus' discourse to the Twelve, Jesus also departed to continue His mission of teaching and preaching in various surrounding cities. 2. As Jesus went, and as His disciples went, they carried a message that was counter to the established religious system...the OT Law with numerous added man-made traditions that were burdening the people. a. So, as Jesus brought a new message...the new covenant of grace...He stirred up opposition, which is not suprising because people don't like change. 3. But, another reason Jesus was opposed is because there was great expectation that the Messiah would bring peace on earth, and conquer the oppressors of Israel (Rome in the 1st Century)...ushering in the Kingdom Age. They didn't understand what we understand...that Jesus had a 1st coming and a 2nd coming...that was veiled to them. a. Various OT verses speak of Messiah's 1st and 2nd coming, but the verses appear as though it all happens at once. i. We have the advantage of Jesus' words in the Gospel, the full revelation of the NT, and the historical advantage of knowing Jesus died, resurrected, ascended, the Holy Spirit came, and so when we read these OT verses, we can clearly see a 1st and 2nd coming. ii. But, in the 1st century, the Jews did not have all of this revelation, which would lead to them rejecting and opposing Jesus since He and His ministry did not meet their expectations of the Messiah they thought would come. b. They were not expecting Messiah to come lowly riding on a donkey. They expected the conquering Messiah who will come riding on a white horse to conquer their enemies. Jesus didn't meet their expectations, but He met the expectations of the Father and the prophetic word. i. Remember, in Luke 4, when Jesus read on Sabbath from the book of Isaiah? 1. Jesus read Isa 61:1-2a "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind; To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down." And, remember He said, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." In His first coming He came to fulfill that much. 2. What He didn't read was the rest of Isa 61:2, "And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn..." which would be fulfilled in His 2nd coming. a. And, there are many OT verses just like this, which greatly confused the 1st Century Jews. b. Even Jesus' own disciples were confused. They asked in Acts 1:6, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" They expected the 2nd coming. 3. As we read through this account of John the Baptist and the difficult questions he asks, it's important to have this 1st and 2nd Coming understanding, which helps us to understand why John stumbled. Matt 11:2-3 "And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples (3) and said to Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" 1. The scene starts with John imprisoned, sending his messengers to Jesus with a hard question. 2. John was a guy that spoke his mind. a. John called the Pharisees and Sadducees "Brood of Vipers." b. John said to Jesus, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" c. John said about Jesus, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! d. And, to Herod, He said "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." And, that bold statement landed John in prison. i. Mark 6:17-18 records "For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her. 18 Because John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." ii. Herodias was married to Philip the Tetrarch, whom she deserted for his brother...Herod Antipas. So, John righteously called out Herod. 1. The Jewish Historian Josephus wrote, "Accordingly he [John] was sent a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus...and was there put to death." (Antiquities 18.5.2) 2. Josephus tells us the location of John's imprisonment is Machaerus. I have some slides to better acquaint you with the Fortress of Machaerus. a. The first slide is a map, and you can see Machaerus, bottom right, just East of the Dead Sea in modern day Jordan. b. The second slide is if you were at the Dead Sea peering into the mountains. There is an arrow at the center, top, middle pointing at Machaerus. c. The third slide is a re-creation of what this Fortress may have looked like. Machaerus was built by the Hasmonean king Alexander Jannaeus around 90 B.C. and served as a treasury for the Hasmoneans, until it was destroyed by the Romans. Herod the Great rebuilt the fortress and Pliny the Elder stated it came only second to Jerusalem in strength of fortifications. (Hist. 5.71). d. The Romans abandoned the Fortress in AD 66 during the Jewish War and it was taken by Jewish rebels, until destroyed by Romans around AD 72. The fourth slide shows an aerial view of the ruins today, which you can tour. e. And, I love how this biblical account is verified by a secular historian, and the location of this imprisonment is verified by archelology...all which testifiy of the veracity of the Bible. 3. So, John is in prison for speaking against the sinful ways of Herod and Herodias. He is the last of the OT prophets, and only had a partial revelation of God's word...only the OT. He is in a unique time because has seen the Messiah, and has been the forerunner for the Messiah, but John doesn't fully understand the difference between the 1st and 2nd coming, nor has he been in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit...which happens in Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost. a. So, John, like many Jews is stumbled by this Messiah who is meek and lowly. Jews expected Messiah to usher in the Kingdom, to free Israel from Roman oppression, yet John was imprisoned. b. So, John sends two of his disciples with a harsh message to Jesus, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" i. Are you the Coming One...a title for Messiah derived from verses like Ps 118:26 "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!" 1. The Jews expected Messiah to come, but built up this image and expectation in their minds, and Jesus did not live up to the image they had deduced from their interpretation of OT scripture. a. Even John had this expectation. In Matt 3, after John called the Pharisees and Sadducees a 'brood of vipers' in Matt 3:11-12 John said, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." b. John expected Jesus to coming in Judgment with a judgment of separation to rid the nation of all the chaff...the unbelieving Romans and Gentiles that were a plague to their nation. But, Jesus didn't cleanse the nation. i. In John 12, Jesus testified He had not come to judge, John 12:47 "And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world." ii. Jesus came to save in His First Coming. He will judge and establish His kingdom during His Second Coming. 2. So, essentially Jesus was a major let down for the Jews. In their misinterpretation of Scripture, they had high expectations which led to a big misunderstanding, and we know how it ended...the Jews opposed, rejected, and killed Jesus. a. When Jesus prayed, "Father forgive them, they know not what they do." This was accurate. The Jews were spiritually blinded and truly did not know what they were doing...who they were killing. c. It's easy for us to cast stones of judgment at the Jews, but has there ever been a time, in your life, when God failed to meet your expectations? When you were disappointed because He didn't deliver you from a trial? A time you expected prosperity, but He just met your basic needs? Or a time you expected Him to open doors, but He had you wait? i. People do this all the time. We get a god-complex thinking we know what is best. We have to be very careful here. I don't know a lot of things, but I do know this...He is God and I am not. My job is to wait on Him, and go when He says go...and not to question Him when He is doing something I don't undersand. ii. Well, let's look at how Jesus responds to John's disciples. Matt 11:4-6 "Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me." 1. Jesus instructs John's disciple to return to John and remind him of all the messianic signs they observed. Numerous miracles that authenticated that Jesus was the Messiah...Jesus takes John back to the word. a. Jesus responds to this opposition from John with reassurance. He does not chastise John, but reassures John that He indeed is Messiah. God is not offended by our questioning and doubts...you can come to Him in honesty, and He will reassure. 2. John knew that Jesus was Messiah. In John 1, John testified, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" [Messianic proclamation]. Further, in John 1:32-34, John stated, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God." a. Prior to Jesus' baptism, John did not know his cousin was the Messiah, but after He saw the Holy Spirit descend upon Him and the Father testify of Jesus from heaven...then John knew Jesus was the Messiah. b. But, as John sat in prison...he began to question... "Is Jesus really the One...is He really the Messiah? Why am I in prison? Why are the Romans still in Israel? Why hasn't He established His Kingdom here on earth?" Doubts set in. i. And, even though John knew that Jesus was the Messiah, he still had this crisis of faith. Even the strongest pepole of faith can have a spiritual crisis. There are many testimonies of people in the Bible, and in the church age that have had moments of lapsed faith. ii. And, even as we recognize Jesus as Messiah...a trial may come in life that also causes us to suffer doubt...to have a spiritual crisis. And, God, will meet you where you are...just like He did John. c. John recognized and believed Jesus was the Messiah, but did not understand His ministry. 1. And, even though we have hindsight to understand the 1st and 2nd coming of Christ...even though we have the full revelation of the New Testament...even though we have the in-dwelling Holy Spirit...all things John did not have...we too sometimes doubt. 2. Sometimes we need to get alone with God in prayer and reflect back on all the stones of remembrance of God's faithfulness in our lives so we can walk in faith through the trial at hand. a. In James 1:5-6, James admonished, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind." i. Doubt will effect your spiritual resolve, your steadfastness. 3. So, even when we do not understand the ministry of what Jesus is doing in our lives, if we trust Him and trust His love for us...we can rest in the trial...we will have "the peace of God, that surpasses all understanding." 3. Notice Jesus said in V6, "...blessed is he who is not offended because of Me." a. Oh how happy is that man or woman...how blessed are they when they offended because of Me. i. Offended in Gk. skandalizō [by def. means "to put a snare [in the way] hence to cause to stumble"]. ii. In 1 Peter 2:8-9, Peter referred to Jesus as "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense." [quoting Isa 8:14 which testifies that Jesus will offend many]. They [the disobedient] stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light..." 1. Don't be offended by Jesus or His ministry...be that blessed royal priesthood that proclaims His praise. iii. So, where are you today? Does Jesus' present ministry, here on earth in 2021 offend you? When you look around at the world, the growing sin, the declining number of believers...does Jesus' ministry offend you? Does He appear silent to you? Are you offended by Him? 1. 2 Pet 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." 2. There are many Christians, including myself, who get inpatient that the Lord has not come back yet. And, Lord forgive me...it's selfish. Essentially, we are saying, "I'm saved, so come back Lord!" 3. But, God is not willing that any should perish. The Deliverer will come out of Zion after the fullness of the Gentiles (Rom 11:25). 4. So, if you are listening and you are not saved...would you please get saved? You may be that last Gentile! Matt 11:7-10 "As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written [Mal 3:1]: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.'" 1. Jesus asks the multitudes about what they went to see when they traveled into the wilderness (the desert) to see John as he was baptizing. a. Did they go to see a reed shaken by the wind? No. Tall grass reeds would have been part of the natural environment near the Jordan. When the wind blew, they would sway back and forth. John was not like this. He was steadfast, unmoveable, firm in his convictions. He did not waver. b. Did they go out to see a man in soft garments? No. John was a rough wilderness man... clothed in camel's hair with a leather belt. And, not the soft long brown coats professionals wear today. John was in the wilderness, he was not "gorgeously appareled and [living] in luxury" as Luke wrote...his version of camel's hair was likely as unrefined as he was. c. Did they go to see a prophet... 'one who speaks forth God's divine truths'? 'Yes.' John was a prophet and more than a prophet. i. Not only was John a prophet, but Scripture prophesied about him...Jesus quoted Mal 3:1 that prophesied about the forerunner to Christ. Isa 40:3 also prophesied about John "The voice of one crying in the wilderness..." Matt 11:11-12 "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 1. John was the greatest among those born of women. John was the greatest because... a. he broke the 400 years of divine silence since Malachi, b. he was the last OT prophet and the only OT prophet that beheld Messiah's 1st advent, c. he was the forerunner to Christ, d. and, he preached in the spirit and power of Elijah, Lk 1:17 e. But, John was greatest mostly because of his privlege of pointing to Christ, not necessarily his character. 2. Yet, despite this amazing calling and ministry of John that made him the greatest, even the least in the kingdom is greater than he. a. One of many paradoxical statements by Jesus...which causes you to pause and think. b. The least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John, not because of merit or character, but because of their unique placement in history...we have an even greater privlege than John. c. John died prior to Jesus' death, resurrection, ascension, and the coming of the Holy Spirit to in-dwell and overflow out of the lives of believers....these are all experiences of kingdom citizens, and not because of who you are, but because you were blessed with all these things...you are greater than John. d. So, don't get all pumped up like "I'm greater than John!" You didn't do anything to be great...God made you great because He graced you with His presence. It's all about Him! 3. Verse 12 has a whole host of interpretations, but I'll just tell you how I see it (feel free to be a Berean)... a. "from the days of John"...from the days of the OT prophets until when Jesus spoke these things... b. "the kingdom of heaven sufferes violence"... there has been persecution to kingdom citizens and there always will be violence and persecution against kingdom citizens... c. "the violent take it by force"...life is spiritual warfare and satanic principalities and powers are channeled through violent people, who hate Jesus. Violent men have never liked the message of Jesus, even the 1st Century Religious leaders wanted the kingdom to come, but not how Jesus was oferring it. Thus, they tried to stop Him, His message, and His messengers by any means necessary. Matt 11:13-15 "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" 1. V13 and Luke 16:16 "The law and the prophets were until John" are supports for why we call John the 'last of the OT prophets.' John was the end of a dispensation of time...the end of the Old Covenant...the Old Testament. Jesus ushered in the New Covenant...the New Testament, and the Church age began...the time in which we live. 2. V14 is a verse that leaves many people understandably confused... a. Jesus says that John is Elijah who is to come...if you are willing to receive it. b. Now turn with me to John 1. You may recall when John was baptizing, the Religious Leaders sent priests and Levites to investigate who he was...to see why multitudes were gathering in the wilderness to get baptized. i. Starting in John 1:19, "Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ." 21 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No." 22 Then they said to him, "Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?" 23 He said: "I am 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Make straight the way of the LORD," ' as the prophet Isaiah said." ii. The priests and Levites point blank ask John, "Are you Elijah?" and John said, "I am not." iii. Jesus says 'He's Elijah.' iv. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" indeed. 1. Which is a saying said 6x in the Gospels highlighting the importance of hearing and not just listening....internalizing, thinking about, and applying the word to your heart and mind. Not just listening...letting the word go in one ear and out the other. 3. To understand V14, one must keep in mind that in prophecy, there is a near and a far. An immediate, but partial fulfillment (the near), and a future and complete fulfillment (the far). The near is also often paired with types or "shadows of good things to come." a. The religious leaders asked John if he was Elijah, because they expected Elijah to come according to Mal 4:5 "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD." i. John answered, "No" because he was Elijah of the 2nd Coming of Christ. But, Jesus recognized that John indeed was the near or partial fulfillment of Mal 4:5. 1. In Luke 1:17, prior to John's birth, the angel Gabriel testified to Zacharias (John's Dad), "He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah..." John was a 'type' of Elijah. b. The far or complete fulfillment of Mal 4:5 is likely seen in In Rev 11 when two witnesses appear for 3.5 years having power (exousia/ authority) to stop the rain and to kill anyone who intends them harm with fire proceeding from their mouths. i. Most scholars believe Elijah is one of these two witnesses because he is named in Mal 4:5, and because he never died, and Heb 9:27 states, "...it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment..." c. And, the other witness? i. Well, it seems Enoch never died according to Gen 5:24 "And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him." Many take Enoch as being raptured just prior to the flood...a 'type' for the church being raptured prior to the Tribulation. Since all men must die once, "And scripture cannot be broken" John 10:35, there is a case for Enoch. Not to mention that Jude 14 testifies that Enoch prophesied...very interesting. So, the other witness must be Enoch. Right? ii. Of course not...it's Moses! Moses!?! Yes...Moses. Other scholars make a good case that Moses represented the Law, and Elijah represented the Prophets, and look at all the miraculous signs and wonders God performed through them. Not to mention that at the Transfiguration of Jesus, who appeared? Moses and Elijah (Matt 17, Mark 9, Luke 9). All strong points. iii. Now, I have traditionally been an Enoch fan for the 2nd Witness, but I heard something recently, in a Skip Heitzig sermon, that has me leaning towards Moses. In Jude 9, Michael the Archangel contends and disputes with devil about the body of Moses. Why would they care about Moses' body unless that body will be resurrected as one of the Two Witnesses? Interesting thought. 1. So, the answer is...we will see... when we sit in Glory at Jesus feet...Rev 21:7 says we shall "inherit all things" including the knowledge of who these Two Witnesses are. Paul said, "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known." 1 Co 13:12. d. Well, that was a fun eschtological rabbit trail, but let's get back to Matthew. Matt 11:16-19 "But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, 17 and saying: 'We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not lament.' 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her children." 1. Quickly, in Vss 16-19, we see Jesus' 2nd opponent if you will...Jesus' Generation. 2. Jesus compares the Jews of His time to kids who are calling their friends to come and play a game with them. They didn't have phones, and tablets, and game consoles, so they had to use this other creative means to entertain themselves...their imagination. A gift from God that some children fail to exercise enough. a. So, children would mimic and turn into a game two of the biggest events...weddings and funerals. b. The contrast between a wedding and a funeral is compared to the contrast between John the Baptist and Jesus. c. Like children rejecting an invitation to play a happy game (wedding) or a somber game (funeral), the people of Jesus' generation could not be satisfied. i. They rejected John who was an aesthetic (he rejected fanciful meals...he ate locust and wild honey; and he avoided society, instead chosing the wilderness). ii. They also rejected Jesus who engaged people at parties...like the celebration at Matthew's house after he followed Jesus. Jesus partook of food and drink, so they accused Him of sin...of eating and drinking too much. Neither of which were true. d. But, the point Jesus is making is that the people of His generation were childish, and nothing satisfied them. No prophet...no holy man o of God could meet their expectations. i. And, we need to be careful that we don't have expectations on life and God, and we reject Him when life or God fail to meet our unrealistic expectations. 3. Jesus closes this thought saying, "Wisdom is justified of her children." a. Despite how foolish the generation of Jesus' was, time would prove that the wisdom of both ministries (John's and Jesus's) would be justified... "proved righteous"...and they were...both ministries led many people into the kingdom. b. For you and I, no matter how foolish the world is, your ministry, testimony and righteous acts for His name's sake... in the end your life will be proven as wise and righteous as well. Light will prevail. Amen? Worship Team Come. As I reflect on this sermon, and the crisis of faith John had because he accepted Jesus as Messiah, but rejected His ministry...it reminds me that sometimes our expectations and understanding of God are off as well. We think we know better than Him, and we don't. We we need to trust that He is working all things together for our good. If you are convicted of that, I encourage you, as we take communion, to ask God for forgiveness on that point, or however else He is speaking to you. Let's Pray! Communion: 1 Cor 11:23-29 "...the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and 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." 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body." Please distribute the elements... As the communion elements are being distributed, please take a moment to individually pray and praise God... remembering His sacrifice on the cross. And, examine yourself...asking forgiveness for whatever you need to confess to take communion in a worthy manner. Once you have prayed, go ahead and take the communion elements, when you are ready. Our worship team will play one worship song, and then close us in prayer. ---------------------------------------------- If you are not saved, if you have never confessed Jesus is your Lord, you have a couple options, either let the cup pass and do not partake in communion because then you would be taking the communion in an unworthy manner, -or- the better option... if you want to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, come up to me as the ushers are distributing the bread and the grape juice, and we will pray together, and you can partake in communion today. Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 11:00 PM June 7, 2021.