Communion & Passover - Get Ready

Title: Communion and Passover – Get Ready

Theme: To show the tie in between communion and Passover and how we need to get ready for the great things that God is doing.

Text: Exodus 12:1 – 22; 1 Corinthians 11:22 - 23

Note: Part of studies are done on sermon central. May see notes from other messages.

Introduction

“In a few moments, we will be partaking of the elements of Communion, which signifies the Blood and Body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Whose own body was broken, and whose blood was shed, as He laid down His life for the sins of all mankind. The act of Communion is not foreign to most believers, and it should never, never get old. It should never be done in a ritualistic manner. It can become, as many things, a "Spiritual habit," just like singing, or receiving an offering.

We recognize Communion because of the significance of the Crucifixion of Christ, and the relevance of the last supper He had with His disciples before His death. And though that particular instance took on greater meaning, there was really nothing unusual about the meal itself. It was the time for all Jews to observe Passover, which God had commanded them to do.

The Passover was merely a type and shadow of this last supper, and also of the Crucifixion and death of Christ, but was first initiated on a night of judgment, back in the land of Egypt. And there are, even for us, some very relevant and meaningful truths from that passage that I want to explore with you.”

First Day of the Month (New Beginning)

1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, (2) "This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.

The Lord spoke by Moses and Aaron, and said, "This month shall be unto you the beginning of months..." Now I like that. Right in the middle of the year, God gives them a new beginning. The relevance of course, has to do with our SALVATION. Because, it doesn’t matter whether it’s June, October, or March, when you ask the Lord’s forgiveness for your sins, and the blood of Jesus touches your heart, it is right then the first moment of a brand new life for you! I thank God for a new beginning!

New Creatures

2Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Lamentations 3:22-23 Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. (23) They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

Preparation

(3) Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: 'On the tenth day of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household.

You got to make preparation. Today that means to open up your heart to the Lord.

Do not do this Alone

(4) And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man's need you shall make your count for the lamb.

Illustration: Can you imagine the knock on the door that came from the neighbor. “Hey are you in there. I got this lamb, and it is too big for me to handle alone”. “Can you come and share with me”

Our world would be different if we learn to “bear one another’s burdens”

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Not Just Any Lamb will Do

(5) Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. (6) Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight.

1. THEY WERE TO KILL THE LAMB. This was prophetic of the death of Christ. This, as far as it relates to us, has already been done. The Lamb of God has been slain, crucified for the sins of the whole world. The sacrifice has been made, and the blood shed.

The Old Testament sacrificial system was a brutal bloody religion. It was constantly filled with sacrifices. It is incredible to read the number of sacrifices made by David and 2

King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep, which is how the king and all of the people dedicated God's Temple. – 2 Chronicles 7:5