Acts 3:11-26 "The Proclamation in the Portico"
Notes
Transcript
Good morning Calvary Chapel Lake City!
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I’m Pastor Marc… Thanks for joining us!
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Communion & Fellowship Lunch immediately following service.
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Fri, June 10th at Pete & Lisa’s house on Packerton Rd in Claypool.
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Pete & Lisa will provide drinks & smores.
Please bring a lawn chair and a snack or desert.
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Please open your Bibles to Acts Chapter 3, where we continue verse-by-verse… covering Act 3:11-26 today.
Last time, we observed the miracle at the Beautiful Gate. As Peter & John approached the Temple in Jerusalem at the ninth hour… 3pm… the hour of prayer…
God redirected their steps… as God so often does when we approach Him in prayer, in sincerity… and when we are open to Him redirecting our lives for ministry.
The ministry on this day was a man, over forty years old, and lame from his mother’s womb. Daily, people (maybe friends or family)… laid him at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple to ask alms.
He was a picture of humanity.
Crippled by life and helpless before the gates of religious institutions.
His withered legs and hopeless condition stood in contrast to the Beautiful 45’ high gates covered in Corinthian Brass.
This was a man who was a fixture at this Gate… daily he begged there… daily people passed by him.
Very likely even Jesus had passed by... and didn’t heal him.
This man, who was a picture of humanity, perhaps even scoffed at the name of Jesus who never healed him.
Sometimes God has a different plan… which we obviously read about in Acts 3.
On this particular day as Peter and John approached the temple to pray… at this time AFTER they were Empowered with the Holy Spirit…
God moved in this man’s life… Peter didn’t walk by this man… Peter was emboldened with faith, as he said the very famous words, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
And, the man did! V7 “...immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.”
Through Peter, God healed this man in God’s perfect timing.
He was not healed prior when Jesus Himself entered the Temple. God chose to use Peter instead.
And, today, God may give you the gift of faith to boldly tell someone to rise and walk as well.
Pastor Chuck Smith, in his Acts 3 sermon... shared a story how one day a man was brought before him in a wheelchair, and Pastor Chuck received a strong notion to prayer for him and tell him to stand. The old man stood and was up and down the isles.
His family were besides themselves… he hadn’t walked in 5 years! They said, “We just wanted you to pray for his cold.”
Well, just like the man who was lame at the Beautiful Gate… expecting just a little money and received so much more… some 2000 years later Chuck Smith lifted a man out of his chair… who was just expecting prayer for a cold.
God so often exceeds our expectations… He has many great things in store for us… eternal promises beyond our wildest imaginations.
Chuck shared that was the only time he ever received the gift of faith to lift someone out of a wheelchair… and I imagine God’s purpose was to create a ripple effect in that family and Church… just like we will see a ripple effect in Acts 3.
We left off where all the people saw this man who was lame… walking and praising God… and in V10 we read, “… they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”
All this set the stage for Peter’s second sermon…
Which was not an easy sermon… not a ‘seeker-sensitive’ sermon. It was boldly spoken… in truth... in love… and it was a message the people couldn’t deny.
And, the result… thousands more would come to faith in Jesus Christ…
The title of today’s message is, “The Proclamation in the Portico.”
Let’s Pray!
Acts 3:11-12 “Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. 12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?”
Here we find ourselves at “Solomon’s Porch.”
Some bible versions call this a “portico” or “colonnade”, which are better descriptors.
By def. a portico is “a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls.”
At the Temple, Solomon’s Portico ran the length of the Eastern Wall.
V8 stated they “entered the temple” (The Court of the Women”), and now sometime later… they have come back to the Court of the Gentiles and all the people gather at Solomon’s Portico.
Picture this scene. All the Jews knew the man who was lame. He was daily at the Beautiful Gate… you would approach the gate and there he was.
But now, he was healed and he held on to Peter and John.
Those words “held on” means “to take hold of or to seize”… it could be translated as “clinging.”
And, if you didn’t walk for over forty years, and God used someone to heal your legs… you might cling to that person too!
The Jews that witnessed this miracle ran to observe, they were greatly amazed, and they began to look at Peter and John as though they healed the lame man.
At the core of every human is the need for a Savior. Some people would adamantly deny this, but it’s still there.
And, when a miracle is performed… people open their heart to the supernatural.
In the wrong hands, people are deceived.
In the future, many will be deceived... when the Anti-Christ is revealed… and the world flocks to him in worship largely because of miracles, titled in 2 Thes 2:9 “lying wonders...”
Listen to 2 Thes 2:9-12 “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
During the Tribulation, the world will worship Anti-Christ… deceived by the powerful miracles he will perform… using the Supernatural only to bring glory to himself…
And, there are many people today who have bought into the lie of self-glorification… Be careful NOT to rob God of His glory…
There’s a very sad verse in the Gospel of John. During Jesus’ ministry, after the Triumphal Entry… John recorded a teaching of Jesus where He speaks about His death, glory, and eternal life.
And then… the sad verse follows… John 12:42-43 “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
The chief rulers of the Jews believed Jesus was Messiah, but fearing they would be exiled from synagogue they would not acknowledge Jesus as Lord… because of self-glorification “… they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
Self-glorification is a form of Pride, and it is so devastating to the church… to our families… and all our relationships…
Devastating on the vertical with God… devastating on the horizontal with other people.
So, be very cautious when someone looks at you… tempted to give you credit… if it’s God’s glory… don’t rob Him… give the glory to God.
And, for a moment, here in Acts 3… the Jews at Solomon’s Portico are… looking intently at Peter and John as though they had the divine power to perform the miraculous on their own accord.
Look at V12… Peter does NOT rob God… notice how he redirects the crowd to glorify God.
“Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?”
Peter explains… the source of this miracle is not us… it’s not our power/ dumamis (miraculous power)
Nor our godliness… meaning “piety”… holiness.
Peter credits God for the miracle…
And, Peter will meet them where they are… they are Jews, so in Peter’s 2nd Sermon… he highlights many Jewish things…
Jewish Patriarchs…
Jewish Promises…
The Jewish Messiah…
And, Jewish Prophetic Scriptures…
And, two things stand out to me…about Peter’s sermon…
First, as I stated… Peter meets them where they are. He preaches a message that will resonate in their hearts.
It was an authentic and meaningful message.
And, this reminds me how important it is for us to meet people where they are, and for us to be authentic, so we earn the privilege to share something meaningful… something directed toward the eternal… a message that will be received.
And, second… Peter’s second sermon is brief.
389 words… about a 3 minute sermon.
Some of you are thinking… “I need to find a Pastor who preaches 3 minute sermons too!”
No you don’t… Keep in mind… this was a message to unbelieving Jews… and an impromptu sermon… 3 minutes was appropriate.
If you are talking to someone who does not know the Lord… be cautious about being long winded.
In Ecclesiastes 5:3, Solomon wrote, “For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool’s voice is known by his many words.”
Just as a hyperactive mind leads to dreams… a hyperactive mouth leads to folly.
Now, balance that with Rom 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Which implies someone is talking…
And, the point is simple… if you talk too much or if you don’t talk at all… either way… that’s not God’s intent.
Don’t hide your light under a bushel… But also, don’t just talk to hear your own voice… that’s pride.
Peter had a pointed, yet brief message that appropriately meets the audience where they are… he speaks bold truth in love…
And the result… thousands of Jews accept Christ, as the Holy Spirit using Peter’s words.
Let’s look at Peter’s 2nd Sermon…
Let’s re-read V12 and continue to V13…
V12 “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?…
Acts 3:13-16 “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”
Pause right there… sometimes I preach a message and afterwards… someone will tell me they didn’t expect me to take the sermon in the direction I took it…
Sometimes I hear Pastors and think the same thing…
And, as I read Peter’s message, I wonder if the people were shocked hearing what Peter had to say…
I mean… he starts talking about the healing of this lame man… then he flips the script talking about how these Jews rejected Jesus and killed Him…
And, then in V16 Peter credits faith in Jesus as the source of the healing.
It’s amazing that the people stuck with him, and didn’t shout at him.
Let’s look at VSS 13-16 a little closer…
In V13, Peter references “The God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob...”
Peter begins mentioning Yahweh… the God of the Israelites… the God of the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob- and I have a slide of their family tree somewhat abridged).
Peter was wise to start his sermon focused on God and the Patriarchs… because Jewish life was centered on God, and they honored the Patriarchs.
From Jacob… who’s name was change to “Israel”… came the Twelve Tribes of Israel… the tribes were named after 10 of his sons and 2 of his grandsons.
It was to the Patriarch’s God established the Abrahamic Covenant (which Peter will quote in V25… “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed…”
Promised in Gen. 12:3 to Abram;
Repeated in Gen 22:18 after Abram’s name was changed to Abraham…
Promised in Gen 26:4 to Isaac…
And, Promised in Gen 28:14 to Jacob…
The word “Seed” in all these verses is singular and points not to a plural nation of Israel, but to a singular seed… a singular ancestor… the Messiah… by whom all the nations (Jews and Gentiles would be blessed).
That’s what Paul wrote in Gal 3:8 “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.”
Peter grounded his sermon on Yahweh and the Patriarchs.
Very significant to the Jews, but a little lost on us, because we are not Jews…
But to these Jews… Peter now has their ear…
They just wanted to understand how the lame man was healed, but they would leave with so much more.
Peter began his sermon telling them the God of the Patriarchs glorified Jesus…
Look back at V13, “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus...”
Jesus was the Servant of God… Servant is an interesting word in Gk. pais, [paheece].
It’s not the word “doulos” which is how Paul often described himself… the lowest slave.
Pais by def. means “a child in relation to parents”… that’s why the KJV translates this word as “Son.”
But, most other translations use the word “servant” because this word “pais” as Strong’s defines it… means, “a child; specially a slave or servant (especially a minister to a king; and by eminence to God).”
As Jesus took the role of a Servant and obeyed the Father’s will to die on the cross for the sin of mankind… God in turn glorified Jesus.
Which points to all the events surrounding the cross.
Jesus came from heaven… entered into His creation (Earth)… to restore or redeem that which was lost in the Garden of Eden… perfect fellowship with God.
Jesus died to redeem mankind back to God… and God glorified or honored Jesus…
Jesus was glorified by God accepting His sacrifice…
Jesus was glorified.... as evidenced by
His resurrection,
His glorified body,
His ascension back to heaven,
His present place seated at the right hand of the Father…
And the promise of His return to rule and reign forever.
But, don’t take it from me…In Phil 2:5-11, Paul said it much better. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant [doulos], and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him [meaning to elevate above all others -or- to raise to the highest position] and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
And, so in Acts… Peter is first establishing how God views Jesus.
God glorified Jesus… also, in V15 God raised Him from the dead… in full acceptance of all He said and did.
In contrast, Peter then boldly charges the Jews of denying this same Jesus whom God approved…
This same Jesus who worked through Peter to heal the lame man…
Look at the second half of V13 “…whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.”
About two month prior, Jesus was alive, and stood on trial…
The crowd of Jews turned on Him.
Initially, they welcomed Him as Messiah into Israel for Passover… shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! [a Messianic title] ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Hosanna [Save we pray] in the highest!”
A week later. Jesus was on trial before the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate… who tried to release Jesus… but caved under pressure… fearing the Jews would riot…
After Pilate spoke with Jesus, Jn 19:12 records, “From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”
Pilate chose career and politics over truth.
In Jn 19:15, the Jews continued to press Pilate, “… they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!” [which was blasphemy]
These events would have been fresh in the minds of these Jews Peter now preaches to.
As Peter speaks… conviction must be brewing in their hearts.
Peter continues to charge them in VSS14-15… “But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer [Barabbas] to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead [the Resurrection], of which we are witnesses.”
Peter calls Jesus by 3 titles… “the Holy One,” “the Just,” and “the Prince of Life.”
The Holy One is a significant title used of God 45x in the OT… and in the NT 7x (all in reference to Jesus b/c Jesus is God)…
Isa 47:4 “As for our Redeemer, the LORD of hosts is His name, The Holy One of Israel.”
Of major significance and in context with “killing Jesus” in V15… Ps 16:10 “For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.”
Peter referenced Ps 16:10 in his 1st Sermon (Acts 2:27).
A demon used this same title for Jesus in Mark 1:24, the demon said, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
James said, “Even the demons believe—and tremble!”
The Angel Gabriel’s explanation of the virgin birth to Mary included this title, Lk 1:35 “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.”
The Just… only used 3x… all in Acts. Here in Acts 3 (by Peter), Acts 7 (by Stephen) and Acts 22 (by Paul).
It speaks of Jesus’ righteousness.. His innocence.
As in 2 Cor 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin [He was Just] to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
This title could also point to the nature of God as the Judge… the only one capable of meting out true justice.
The Prince of Life- some translations state, ‘the Author, Originator, or source of life.’
This is a title only found here in Acts 3.
God is the source of all physical life...
Gen 1:1 “In the beginning God [which is plural] created the heavens and the earth.”
All three members of the trinity are the founders of life.
And, God is the source of spiritual life… Jesus is the Prince of Life…by faith in His name we receive eternal life.
Rom 6:23 proclaims, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
God approved Jesus… The Holy One, the Just, the Prince of Life… by raising Him from the dead… and the disciples all witnessed this miracle...
But, in contrast… the words in V14… “But you denied the Holy One...” & V15 “… you killed the Prince of life...”
By def. “denied” means “to say no.”
They said no to Jesus.
If you are here today and you’ve only said “No” to Jesus… you need to repent… which means “to change your mind” about Jesus… and say “Yes!’
These are not just ‘cunningly devised fables’ we are reading… but these are the words of life.
And, in Acts… as the Jews were hearing these words, and they were beginning to change their minds about Jesus.
V16 is a key verse to answer their initial question… ‘How was the lame man healed?’ As they looked intently at Peter and John…
Look at V16 again, “And His name, [the name above every name Jesus Christ] through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness [meaning “completeness” or “perfect health’] in the presence of you all.”
The miracle was not a work of Peter, but a work of Christ.
The man was lame no more because of faith in Jesus Christ.
Now that Peter established how the miracle was accomplished... he now leads his listeners to repentance… to salvation…
Acts 3:17-19 “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it [denying and killing Jesus] in ignorance, as did also your rulers.”
“Ignorance”… interesting word… Gk. agnŏia- the root word for our English word “agony.’
It means to lack in knowledge or perception.
This ignorance may have been supernatural… in John 12 it is written “…they could not believe...” and John referenced Isa 6, “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts...”
In part this was so God’s sovereign plan of redemption would happen… they had to reject Jesus, so He could die on the cross for our sins.
And, that’s what Peter is driving at in V18…
V18 “But those things which God foretold [announced beforehand] by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled [or accomplished].”
The denial and killing of Jesus had to happen to fulfill the many prophecies spoken by the prophets of His death.
Throughout the OT… many prophets wrote of the coming Messiah and His death.
Gen 3:15, Ps 22, Isa 50:6, Isa 53:5, Dan 9:26… and many more.
Jesus in John 5:39 said to certain Jews who questioned Him, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.”
The entirety of the OT that they studied… it all testified of Jesus.
Remember what Jesus said to the disciples on the road to Emmaus?
Luke 24:25-27 “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”
For a good side study… look up all the cross references in Luke 24:27… I counted 19 OT cross references attached to that verse.
I counted 32 OT cross references in Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
These Jews would know these verses that foretold of the Messiah who would come, suffer, and die… this was not news to them…
They were now beginning to see and know the truth… the scales were being removed from their eyes… spiritual blindness was becoming spiritual sight…
And, now the call to repentance…
V19 “Repent [change your mind] therefore and be converted [converted means “to turn or return”], that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,...”
It’s amazing that this offer is even on the table. How different is God from us?
If we were rejected and brutalized, would we offer such mercy… even grace… to those who wronged us?
Listen to me… Nothing that you ever have done -or- will do can separate you from God IF you accept Jesus as your Savior.
There is NO sin committed that cannot be forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ. His death paid for all our sins…
That’s why Peter promised in V19 “… your sins may be blotted out”… erased… by def. “obliterated.”
When you have faith in Jesus Christ, here’s what God says about sins and transgressions…
To an unfaithful Israel who burdened God with her sins, in Isa 43:25, God said, “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.”
They didn’t deserve forgiveness, but in grace, God would forgive them.
Ps 103:12 states, “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
If you head east, you can continue east infinitely… and that’s the point of this Psalm in relation to how far God removes our worst transgressions.
So long as we repent and are converted.
And, prophetically… when the nation of Israel repents and converts… “the times of refreshing may come...”
Nationally, Israel did not repent and come to Jesus at this time in Acts 3.
Yet, during the tribulation they will, and afterwards… the “times of refreshing” begin.
Which points to Jesus’ literal rule and reign on Earth- His millennial kingdom.
Refreshing means “a recovery of breath.” A beautiful way to describe Jesus’ Millennial Reign.
Which Peter continues to point towards in VSS 20-21...
Acts 3:20-21 “...and that He may send Jesus Christ [at the Second Coming], who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive [speaking of the Ascension] until the times of restoration of all things [The Millennium], which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world [or time] began.”
And, then in V22, Peter quotes Moses… from Deut 18:15 & 19, which is a significant Messianic passage that these Jews would know.
Acts 3:22-23 “For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’”
Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, now professes Jesus fulfilled Deut 18:15 & 19…
Moses was both a deliverer and a judge for Israel.
And, one greater than Moses is portrayed in Deut 18… and Peter is equating that Prophet to Jesus.
Jesus is portrayed as the deliverer in V22… raised up by God as a Prophet and heard by the people.
And, portrayed as judge in V23… destroying anyone who will not hear Him.
And, this points to the choice we all have. How do you relate to Jesus? Who is Jesus to you?
Is He your deliver… or your judge?
Will you hear Him in all things, whatever He says to you? And, let Him deliver you?
Or, are you a soul who will not hear Him? If so, He will be your judge.
Peter closes with these words…
Acts 3:24-26 “Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days.”
Again, reiterating that the events unfolding before their eyes… the Messianic Age was upon them…
V25 “You are sons of the prophets [Israel is a privileged nation], and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26 To you first [“…to the Jews first and also for the Greek...” Rom 1:16], God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you [speaking Jesus’ Incarnation- He came as a blessing… ], in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”
And, that’s the divine goal… for each person to turn from iniquity or “wickedness” BY turning to God.
For a 1st Century Jew… who had heard of or encountered Jesus… His miracles and teachings…
For a Jew that was maybe even was tempted to believe in Him, but who’s cry changed from “Hosanna” to “Crucify”…
This message from Peter… some two months after Jesus’ death was exactly what they needed to hear.
It met them where they were… somewhere between Judaism and coming to completion in Christ.
V4 of the next chapter states, “…many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.”
The Holy Spirit through Peter’s sermon, yielded a great harvest of souls this day.
There was much rejoicing in Heaven!
And, as we close today, maybe like the Jews, you’re somewhere between unbelief… and faith in Jesus Christ.
You’ve heard the word today… now believe. Have a change of mind towards Jesus…
If that’s you today, see me after the Communion Reading and I’d like to pray with you for you to receive Jesus today.
Let’s Pray!
Communion Reading:
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...
Communion is a time for us to look three directions…
We look back remembering Jesus’ sacrifice… His broken body and shed blood for the remission of our sins.
His new covenant. Salvation by faith and in grace.
Look forward in hope of His imminent return… we proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. He is coming.
And, looking inward to examine yourself…and take communion in a worthy manner.
Time to do business with God.
Once you have prayed… take the communion elements individually.
Our worship team will play one worship song, and then close us in prayer.
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If you have never accepted Jesus as Lord...
...either let the cup pass and do not partake in communion -or- the better option...
...accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior today.
Pray to God and tell Him you believe in Jesus and accept Him as your Lord and Savior, and ask for forgiveness.
...then take communion. And, be sure to let us know. Salvation is something to celebrate!