Lords Supper 11th June 2022

Welcome to the Lords SUpper everyone. Well we had a great week last week. We also are having a great time in Hebrews, what a book to study.

Graham alerted me that he would be looking after His folks today and so I have literally put this together last night. Not sure of whether I will wing it like Tim did last week but I am willing to give it a go.

In Hebrews, there is not a more fitting scripture than in Heb 4:12-13. You can go there if you wish but if you are a bit of a scholar, then you will acknowlege that you have come across it at least a few times.

Hebrews 4:12-13 “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.”

Believer’s Bible Commentary (C. Christ Superior to Moses and Joshua (3:1–4:13))

This word of God is:

living—constantly and actively alive.

powerful—energizing.

cutting- —sharper than any two-edged sword.

dividing—piercing the soul and spirit, the two invisible, nonmaterial parts of man. Piercing the joints and marrow, the joints permitting the outward movements and the marrow being the hidden but vital life of the bones.

discerning—discriminating and judging with regard to the thoughts and intents of the heart. It is the word that judges us, not we who judge the word.

4:13 Unbelief is detected by the living Lord. Here things shifts from the impersonal to the personal: And there is no creature hidden from His sight. Nothing escapes His notice. He is absolutely omniscient. He is constantly aware of all that is going on in the universe. Of course, the important point in the context is that He knows where there is real faith and where there is only an intellectual assent to facts.

So this brings us back to Jesus. When we read the word of God, the Holy Spirit brings us into a state of repentance, which is a gift from God. Suddenly, we aware that we are on a journey - a journey that proves that we are not alone - we have The Holy SPirit within us. We also realise that when we read God’s word, there is something niggling at us and resisting our efforts to draw closer to God. Yes, we have an evil foe. We are in the battle. Everything is at stake, yet the victory belongs to Jesus Christ on that cross. It is Jesus that we worship, it is Jesus who has won the battle for us. It is Jesus who went to the cross as a man yet fully God, demonstrating the most expediant miracle of them all in that He as God rose from the dead. So we look at all the mockery stating that He should save Himself and come down from the cross. However, Jesus knew what was at stake. All the mockers had to swallow their pride after Jesus resurrected from the dead.

Again we see that the people wanted a miracle on their own terms. However Jesus provided miracles on Gods terms. What a witness we have in Christ our Lord. What a Saviour, not just starring as an amazing profit but demonstarting His prowess and deity as God Himself. This is remarkable and this was recorded as the greatest moment in the History of all mankind. Jesus died for us to free us from the sting of death. Through Jesus Christ, we recognise that we have been given a new Birth, a New Beginning. We have been born of Spirit and we have the utmost promise that Jesus is building a place for us where there will be no hell, no devil, no dissention, no dust or rust to distroy. Why - because He is Lord of all.

So Jesus knows what we do in secret. He knows the state of our heart. He knows every act of sin and whether we put Him first or not. He knows who are really his. Why because those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.””

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 “But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” “But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.”

New Living Translation Chapter 14

“This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many. 25 I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.”

Let us pray for the bread

Dear Lord, thank you for your abounding Holy Spirit, the One who witnesses to us, the one who convicts us of sin and provides a way for repentence. Thank you that we understand the need for you to go back to Heaven so the Helper can come. We realise that you fully accomplished what was neccessary so that we can have salvation. You reconcile us through the power of redemption that atones for our sins and provides for our sanctification. Through the stipes you bore on your body from an act of cruelty given through your own people, we understand that you have provided eternal life. Healing comes from that overflowing work of your Holy Spirit. Thank you for your body.

…pause

Finally, let us give thanks for the blood of Christ, the fruit of the vine. Loving Father in Heaven, thank you for guiding your son Jesus Christ to die in our place and restore authority back to mankind. Thank you for the blood you shed, a perfect sacrifice that empowers you to forgive sin. We marvel at the cruel shedding of blood from your ownJewish people, that the stripes you bore gave us an avenue for our healing and restoration. Thank you for forgoing evil persecution for us, knowing full well that the WOrld hated you without cause, just like they hate us. Thankyou for carrying our redemption, allowing us a pathway to restore us to the Father and to live abundantly and righteously as Heirs of God where we can rule and reign withyou for eternity.

Amen.