True Cups of the Lord
The Blessings of Being Under the Blood
Coming under His blood we are found righteous. His bloodshed paved the way for us to miss the wrath of God, purchased our salvation, and enables us to enjoy the blessings of God. The Bible tells us to partake in the Lord’s Supper, Communion.
The Bible says, “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.” (1 Corinthians. 11:16) Biblically this is one very good way of showing our appreciation through obedience to the Word and telling others who observe us of Jesus’ sacrificial death upon the Cross.
The word “cup” is often used figuratively in the Bible for that which is portioned out and of which one is to partake. Thus, it can mean God’s Judgments, His wrath or afflictions. (Psalms 11:6; 75:8; Revelations 14:10) Jesus used this term regarding His sufferings. (Matthew 26:39) He also used the term cup in reference to what some of his saints would suffer. (Matthew 20:22)
In the Old Testament the cup had also been applied to the blessedness and joy of the children of God, and the full provision made for their needs. (Psalms 16:5; 23:5; 116:13)
(The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, under “cup”)
There are three cups I will talk about today. 1.) The Cup of Wrath. 2.) The Cup of Salvation. And 3.) The Cup of Blessing.
There is a source that moved Jesus Christ to willfully lay down His life on the cross, which leads us to the first cup in this teaching. There is a “cup of wrath” and it is imperative we recognize this truth as we come and partake in Communion.
The beloved John gives us this insight, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." (John 3:36) “Wrath” (orge) here is “referring to divine judgment to be inflicted upon the unrighteous.” (Zodhiates) This wrath of God is not an uncontrolled, unthinking, or a violent reaction. It is a deep, sometimes permanent, thoughtful, controlled righteous anger that is good and deals justly with all who reject Christ. (Practical Word Studies in the New Testament)
Here is what the Bible teaches: Without being under the blood of Jesus Christ, being truly Savior and Lord mankind is under God’s wrath, their sinful flesh will lead them to total destruction. Romans 1:18 says, “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness…” Ephesians 5:6 says, “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.” God’s wrath (orge) here is a “decisive anger, a deliberate anger that arises from His very nature of holiness.” (The Preachers Outline & Sermon Bible, Volume 2)
This wrath is on the “disobedient” (apeitheia) – those not surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, who willfully walk in unbelief and are not persuadable. They have an obstinate rejection of the will of God for their lives. They live in defiance….” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary {Zodhiates}; Vines Amplified Expository Dictionary of the New Testament Words; Practical Word Studies in the New Testament)
The beloved John tells us, “The wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36) In its proper context “the wrath of God ‘abides’ (meno) means to continue to live in, or rather sin remains upon or more accurately they remain in their sin. (Practical Word Studies in the New Testament; The Complete Word Study Dictionary; Vines Amplified Expository Dictionary of the New Testament Words; Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament)
People who are under this cup from God are like the burglar Walter B. Knight wrote about. They know it’s wrong but they are bound by their sin needing to be set free by Christ. In Saint Paul, Minnesota, a thief broke into a U.S.O. and stole $23.50. He left a note to Mrs. Margaret Wood, the director, which read, “I am sorry I stole this. I hate it, but I am bound to it.”
Keeping with the key truth of this portion for the message: The Prophet Isaiah tells us God the Father, “laid on Him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53) The prophet continues with “Yet it was God’s will to crush Him [Jesus] and cause him [Jesus] to suffer… by [Jesus’] knowledge… He will bear their iniquities.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 says “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us…”
It has been well written: “Till on that cross as Jesus died. The wrath of God was satisfied. For in every sin on Him was laid. Here in the death of Christ I live.” This is a religious statement supported by the many of the truths we have just talked about. – The results of the wrath of God were laid upon Christ so the wrath of God poured upon mankind may be overcome.
Jesus’ blood has power to not only wash away our sins but gives us victory over sin – the battle on the cross is a shared victory in this truth. We can only overcome the sins of the flesh, nurtured by the lures for the world and the lies of the devil because of Jesus’ victory, his shed blood on the cross. In Hebrews 9:22 we read, “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”
This is the key heart issue – while partaking in the Lord’s Supper we are to be reflecting and proclaiming the Lord’s death. So, we may rest in the “Cup of Salvation.”
Another Biblical fact is that the Lord has a “Cup of Salvation.” Psalm 116:13 says “I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.” The opening verse to Psalm 116 says, “I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.”
Salvation changes masters. “But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” (Romans 6:17-18) The Blessedness of being under the blood is that Christ paid the price for us to be set free from the old slave master, “the flesh.” A new ruler resides in the throne room of our hearts. Through the enabling of the Holy Spirit, we can obey Christ now whereas before our Salvation it was impossible.
The old life filled with not reaching the mark God has set before us, can now be overcome enabling us to reach the high goal set before us. Colossians 3:23-24 says, And, whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
When the heart is examined, set right and excited about what is being proclaimed during the partaking of Communion one can literally enjoy spiritual “times of refreshing [which] come from the presence of the Lord.” Joy replaces the religious spirit which can arise from taking Communion without first examining one’s life.
Many rejoice over the fact Jack Daniel, drugs and life lived for the selfish flesh has passed away. When Satan attacks with his lies and the world view entices, Christians live the life of an overcomer. Thus comes the “Cup of Blessings.” Psalm 16:5 says, “The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup…” The Lord is the child of God’s inheritance.
Born Again Holy Spirit filled theologians tell us there are as many as 36 passages of Scripture which explain our relation with God and the Lord as a marriage relationship. Isaiah 54:5 says, “For your husband is your Maker, Whose name is the LORD OF HOST; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of the earth.” Time and time again in the New Testament Christ is referred to as the Bridegroom and the church is the bride.
When a love relationship between a man and women is new and fresh, unadulterated by the world view of just being a husband-and-wife, which mentality nurtured by friends, co-workers and especially family members who love as grown cold. There is that excitement – she is mine and he is Her’s. There is that excitement when she where’s’ that shirt that is often warn by the husband. There is that certain pride that arises in the husband when they are seen together in public – yea she is with me! When that fades, we are told to rekindle that fire. MY ADVICE: dump anyone who moves you to accept a coldness view of being married, it is sin and missing the mark set before you by God Almighty Himself.
Having a genuine love relationship with Jesus Christ is going to birth forth an excitement, knowing he is our bridegroom fully capable, wanting to provide for us, protect us, guide us, interceded for us before God our Fathers and wanting us to be fully illuminated in His loving presence.
When we come to partake in the Lord’s Communion, is there an excitement? Like young lovers wanting to spend their lives together. Or has the temptations of the world view, trials of life and the afflictions of the devil moved your love to cool off, like they are affecting many marriages today.
A healthy marriage rekindles the fire, so they may rejoice in the knowledge, God has given them each other to face the trials of life and protect each other in the temptations of the world and overcome the lies of the devil. When we partake in Communion, in your heart be joyful, the Lord Jesus is yours, able, wanting and willing to be our provider, friend, protector and intercessor before God who never ending with His love for us.
The illuminated child of God approaches “Communion,” saying, “Let me have the love and favor of God and be accepted of Him. Let me enjoy the comfort of communion with the Lord and the satisfaction of understanding His graces and sustaining love. Just let me be captivated by His promise of eternal life and rest in my eternal state. What else is there to desire, what more can a man achieve and what surpasses the blessing of being under the blood of Christ?”
To Close: We are going to partake in communion.
The heart of the man who wrote Psalm 116, the Paschal Hallelujah Psalm, should be the heart reflection of everyone wanting to participate in Communion. The Psalmist writes, “How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me?” (Psalm. 116: 12)
In remembering the precious blood of Christ, Jesus says we are to partake of Communion in remembrance of Him. The Holy Spirit of God moved the apostle Paul to write, “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.” (1 Corinthians 11:27-28)
