210428 Communion: Joy in Repentence

If you have not already done so, please remove the cellophane wrapper on top of the wafer so that the wrapper is not a distraction during communion.

For this time of communion I would like to talk about joy, specifically, joy with regard to repentance. Turn with me if you would to Luke 15:1-7. Most of us hear the word repentance and it conjures up images of sackcloth and ashes torn clothes and shame - sometimes very deep shame.

But at its most basic form repentance involves agreement with God. When we agree with God with regard to our sin, our need, and our helplessness to save ourselves and throw ourselves at His feet for mercy and forgiveness without equivocating or excusing ourselves we are legitimately repenting. Let’s look at how God sees this. What does God think when we repent.

In Luke 15:1-7 note who comes to Jesus,

Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him.

In John 10 Jesus tells the people that He is the good shepherd and the sheep hear the voice of the Good Shepherd and they follow Him. Well here it is the tax collectors and sinners that start hearing the good shepherd.

Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He told them this parable, saying, “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? “When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying And catch this to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

How does the Lord see sin? As something which endangers and kills the sheep. What does the Lord do, He looks for the sheep and when the sheep is found He effects change in that sheep’s life. He is the one causing the repentance. What does He do when that person repents. He responds in joy. How can you please God... by repenting of your sin.

We are going to take a whole minute now for this process. Allow the Holy Spirit to spotlight sin and areas at issue.

WAIT FOR ONE WHOLE MINUTE

Close in prayer.

Dan Organ_________ will you ask the blessing on the bread?

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 ...the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

Everett_________ will you ask the blessing on the cup?

1 Corinthians 11:25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

PAUSE

1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

LETS PRAY