Come to the LORD’s Table (2)

Series: The LORD’s Supper

Texts: Luke 22:7-20; Ex 12:1-23; 1 Cor 11:27-32; Psa 139:23-24; Mk 14:32-42

Introduction: (What?)

Many churches practice what is called “closed communion”. That means that only those who are members of that particular church may participate. I find no scriptural basis for that. According to scripture, anyone who has surrendered their lives to Jesus has a personal invitation to join Him at His Passover table. We do this “in remembrance of Him”. However, this is not a “come as you are” dinner party. It requires Preparation, Examination and Participation

Examination: (Why?)

1. Preparation: (Ex 12:1-12; Luke 22:7-13)

When God established the Passover, He gave extensive instructions as to how it was to be observed.

Exodus 12:1-12 “The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month is to be the beginning of months for you; it is the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month they must each select an animal of the flock according to their fathers’ families, one animal per family. If the household is too small for a whole animal, that person and the neighbor nearest his house are to select one based on the combined number of people; you should apportion the animal according to what each will eat. You must have an unblemished animal, a year-old male; you may take it from either the sheep or the goats. You are to keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembly of the community of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight. They must take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses where they eat them. They are to eat the meat that night; they should eat it roasted over the fire along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat it raw or cooked in boiling water, but only roasted over the fire---the head as well as the legs and inner organs. You must not leave any of it until morning, any part of it left until morning you must burn. Here is how you must eat it: You must be dressed for travel, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. You are to eat in a hurry; it is the LORD’s Passover.”

Notice that the instructions were specific and not open to interpretation. When Jesus sent 2 disciples to prepare for the Passover meal, these were the instructions they were following.

Luke 22:7-13 “Then the Day of Unleavened Bread came when the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” “Where do you want us to prepare it?” they asked him. “Listen,” he said to them, “when you’ve entered the city, a man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters. Tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover with my disciples?” ’ Then he will show you a large, furnished room upstairs. Make the preparations there.” So they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.”

Again, the instructions of Jesus to Peter and John were specific, to the point and not open to personal interpretation. In the same way, before we come to the LORD’s table we must make personal preparations.

2. Examination: (1 Cor 11:27-32; Ps 139:23-24)

When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth regarding personal preparations for communion, he minced no words.

1 Cor 11:27-32 “So, then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself; in this way let him eat the bread and drink from the cup. For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep. If we were properly judging ourselves, we would not be judged, but when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined, so that we may not be condemned with the world.”

When Paul said, “Let a person examine himself...” he was referring to recognizing, acknowledging (confessing) and repenting of the sin in their lives. Failure to do so caused illness and in some cases, death. Then he said, “if we were properly judging ourselves, we would not be judged.” Properly judging oneself is saying about your sin what God says about it. We have become very good at re-naming our sins to make them more acceptable. The word “confess” means “to say the same thing”. This morning let’s first pray the prayer of the Psalmist in Psalms 139:23-24 “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.” Then be quiet for a moment and listen to God in your mind. Whatever He brings to your mind is something you must confess and turn away from. Let’s do it.

3. Participation: (Lk 22:14-20)

Lk 22:14-22 “When the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. Then he said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. (this was not the LORD’s supper cup, but rather a shared cup during the feast) For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (eat it, all of you) In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. (drink it all of you) But look, the hand of the one betraying me is at the table with me. For the Son of Man will go away as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!””

Be careful that you are not betraying Jesus by your words or your deeds. Though who claim to follow Jesus, yet don’t really do it in word and deed, are betraying Jesus today, and the woe that was on Judas is also on that person.

Application: (How should I respond to this message?)

Participation in the LORD’s Supper is a step toward personal revival. Having examined ourselves, confessed and repented of sins and participated in His supper, we are in a position for God to bless us. The prophet Joel said in Joel 2:12-14 “Even now— this is the Lord’s declaration— turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. For he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and he relents from sending disaster. Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind him, so you can offer a grain offering and a drink offering to the Lord your God.”