Preparing For Communion

I. Intended Purpose

a. To remember the sacrifice of Christ

b. To bring unity of believers

II. Wrong Practice

a. Feasting, gorging, getting drunk (formerly pagans and used this kind of worship)

b. Neglecting others

1 Corinthians 11:27–30 CSB

27 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. 28 Let a person examine himself; in this way let him eat the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep.

Self-Examination

In relation to God

A British Evangelist in the 1800-1900’s named Gypsy Smith’ told of a young fellow came to him, a fine character who had been put in a most prominent place in that particular mission. He was delegated to take the hand of every inquirer during the week long meeting and give the last word of advice and counsel. He filled his position from Monday to Saturday, and on Saturday evening he said to Gypsy Smith he wanted to talk with him on Sunday. Gypsy asked him what he wanted to see him about, thinking he wanted to see him about some special case. He said, "About my own soul." "Why," Gypsy asked, "what is the trouble?" He said "I am not converted; I have never been born again." He said, "My parents supposed I was a Christian and urged me to join the church, and I did so. My pastor supposed I was a Christian and I was made a Sunday School teacher and an officer in the church. Because they supposed and kept on supposing, nobody has ever looked me in the eye and said: "Harry, are you right with God?"

Matthew 7:21–23 CSB

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ 23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’

Matthew 7:20 CSB

20 So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.

A Changed Life?

1 John 2:15 CSB

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

2 Corinthians 5:17 CSB

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!

In the song, ’The Change’ by Steven Curtis Chapman, Chapman talks about having all of the Christian gadgets T-shirts and bracelets, Bible magnets and bumper stickers, but asks ’what about The Change?’ A Believer is a new creation there will be a change.

An Obedient Life?

1 John 2:3–5 CSB

3 This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know him,” and yet doesn’t keep his commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the love of God is made complete. This is how we know we are in him:

1 John 3:24 CSB

24 The one who keeps his commands remains in him, and he in him. And the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit he has given us.

The Bible recognizes no faith that does not lead to obedience, nor does it recognize any obedience that does not spring from faith. The two are at opposite sides of the same coin. – A.W. Tozer. Leadership, Vol. 12, no. 4

An Unashamed Life?

1 John 2:23 CSB

23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; he who confesses the Son has the Father as well.

Matthew 10:32–33 CSB

32 “Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny him before my Father in heaven.

A Life Pursuing Holiness?

1 John 3:6–9 CSB

6 Everyone who remains in him does not sin; everyone who sins has not seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who commits sin is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the devil’s works. 9 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin, because his seed remains in him; he is not able to sin, because he has been born of God.

All of us are guilty of sin. But if you can continually sin without remorse, conviction, chastisement or repentance, then you had better question the reality of your profession.

Galatians 5:22–23 CSB

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

In relation to others

“the greatest mark of a saved person is a loving compassionate spirit.” (Returning to Holiness, Frizzell, p 92)

Do you harbor hatred toward anyone?

1 John 3:14–15 CSB

14 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.

you can safely assume you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do. - Anne Lamott in Bird by Bird. Christianity Today, Vol. 41, no. 8.

Do you have unforgiveness or bitterness toward anyone?

Mark 11:25 CSB

25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing.”

Colossians 3:13 CSB

13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.

Ephesians 4:32 CSB

32 And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.

Hebrews 12:15 CSB

15 Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many.

Do you have regular fellowship with God’s people in the local church?

Hebrews 10:25 CSB

25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

Are you able to skip church attendance for weeks at a time without any conviction over it? Do you look forward to fellowship with on-fire Christians?

A backslidden Christian can stay out of church and away from other believers, but it is an absolute certainty that the true believer will never be comfortable remaining outside of God’s house.

Matthew 26:26 CSB

26 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take and eat it; this is my body.”

Matthew 26:27–28 CSB

27 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.