Remember the Lord ( 1 Cor. 11:23–34 ) TLC Nov. 3, 2002
The passage we are dealing with this morning concerns the Lord’s Supper. The last part of verse 24 says, “this do remembrance of me.” It appears here according to our text, that it is possible for Christians to forget Christ. In fact, the Lord does not just suppose that it might happen, He is saying, do this so that you will remember me. In other words, he is saying, you will forget me. I’m mighty afraid this morning that we all too often forget about the Lord. We forget about him when we wake up in the morning, We forget about him when we lay down at night. We forget about him when we set down to eat a meal. Often times we forget about him on Sunday mornings when it’s time to be in the house of prayer.
It seems impossible that those who have been bought by the blood of the Lamb could ever forget the One that paid the price for our sins. It seems almost possible for those who have been born again and baptized with his precious Holy Ghost could forget about the one who died for us and the one who set you free. I’m glad this morning that even if we so often forget Him, he never forgets us. He promised us that he will never leave us, nor forsake us.
Not only do we forget Christ, but it is easier for us to remember almost anything else but Christ. We remember what happened yesterday in the news. Some of us can remember word for word the conversation that we had with a brother or sister this week. We can remember what time our favorite t.v. programs comes on. We can remember all kinds of gossip. Our young folk can remember a rap song word for word, but if you ask them to remember their multiplication tables… If you ask them to remember a bible verse….
As a bible believing church, we are to recognize two ordinances established by Jesus Christ for His people to observe: (1) baptism and the (2) The Lord’s Supper. (The Supper is also called The Communion). Jesus Christ took the cup and the loaf and transformed them into a meaningful spiritual experience for believers. The value of the experience of taking communion depends on the condition of the heart. If your heart ain’t right, you ought not to participate. If you have an ought against your brother or sister, you need to reconcile with them before you partake of the Lord’s supper. This was the problem at the church of Corinth. They were coming together to eat of the Lord’s supper, but their heart was not right.
It is a serious thing to come to the Communion with an unprepared heart. It is also a serious thing to receive the Supper in a careless manner. Paul says that whosoever eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinkest damnation to his own soul, not diserning the Lord’s Body.
Because the Corinthians had been sinning in their observing of the Lord’s Supper, God had disciplined them. Paul said, “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep which means have died.”
When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper we are actually remembering the Passover: The Passover was established to commemerate the children of Israel being freed from slavery:
Israel was in slavery in Egypt.
God brought 10 plagues on Egypt because of their treatment of Israel.
Pharaoh wouldn’t listen.
The last plague was the death angel that killed all of the first born in Egypt.
God told Moses to put blood on the doorposts of all Israelite houses to keep the death angel away.
That night they were to have their feast in celebration of their deliverance the next day from Egypt.
Today when we celebrate the communion we celebrate, not the deliverance from Egypt, but the deliverance from death and sin. We celebrate that we were on our way to hell, but Jesus picked us up and turned us around. We celebrate because it was Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wreck like me. I once was lost, but not I’m found, was blind but now I see. We celebrate because he lives, we can face tomorrow, we celebrate because he lives all fear is gone. We celebrate because he lives, our life is worth the living, because he lives.
In the text, we find Paul, who is speaking to the Church at Corinth, about the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is a time of examination. The key here is that we must examine ourselves and not one another. We must discern the body. Whenever you see the word Discern this morning, I want you to define it as RECOGNIZE. Why must we recognize? Well how can we confess a sin we haven’t recognized as sin? If I didn’t recognized you, one would say I’ve overlooked you. Once a sin is overlooked, in our minds it can be classified as accepted behavior. And If it is classified as acceptable behavior, we will not turn away from it. It is overlooked sin that is destroying the world.
We don’t call sin, sin anymore. We call sin a disease. WE call it Alternative Lifestyles. We call sin trying to find yourself. We call sin being politically correct. We call it doing your own thing. We call it Old Foggism. By my bible tells me that the wages of Sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. I’m glad this morning that God, in his Onipotent Mercy has provided his grace as a means of redemption.
I think that we ought to recognize this morning. Have you wasted precious time examining your brother or sister? You ought to recognize the beam in your own eye before you try to take the mote out your brother or sister’s eye.
Are you overlooking a sin that his holding you down? I think you ought to recognize. In order to remember the price of salvation, we must be able to DISCERN or RECOGNIZE our own sins and turn away from that sin that Paul says so easily besets us from running this race with patience.
In our text, Jesus is eating with the disciples himself for the last time before his crucifixion. During the meal Jesus takes bread and says: “This is my body, which is broken for you.” Our Lord was about to become the sacrifice for the sins of the world.
The bread is a very common item.
Without bread, people will die.
It can be made with or without yeast.
It is easily shared with others, you just cut it or tear it.
Jesus was born in Bethelehm, which is the House of Bread.
In John 6:35 “I am the bread of Life, he who comes to me, will never go hungry.”
Then he took the cup and said, “This cup is the new testament in my blood”. New means of a kind not seen before. In the Old Testament the sacrifice called for a 1 year old, male lamb, without a spot or blemish. In the New Testament we find Jesus that precious lamb without blemish, called to die for the sins of the world. His precious blood spread over the doorposts of our souls, so that spiritual death might Passover you and me.
The Wine.
Jesus said in John 15, I am the True Vine.
Wine is a product of grapes
In order to get wine out of grapes you have to crush it
Jesus was crushed for our sins.
This morning, I want us to examine ourselves. Reflect on the price paid for our sins.
The Lord’s Supper gives us an opportunity for spiritual growth and blessings if we approach it in the right attitude. In order for the supper to bring blessing and not chastening, we must:
First, we should look back (vv. 23–26a ). The broken bread reminds us of Christ’s body, given for us; and the cup reminds us of His shed blood. It is a remarkable thing that Jesus wants His followers to remember His death. Most of us try to forget how those we love died, but Jesus wants us to remember how He died. Why? Because everything we have as Christians centers in that death.
We must remember that He died, because this is a part of the Gospel message: “Christ died... and was buried”. It is not the life of our Lord, or His teachings, that will save sinners—but His death. Therefore, we also must remember why He died: Christ died for our sins; He was our substitute, paying the debt that we could not pay. He died willingly, meekly, showing forth is love for us.
Second, we should look ahead (v. 26b ). We observe the Supper “till He comes.” The return of Jesus Christ is the blessed hope of the church and the individual Christian. Jesus not only died for us, but He arose again and ascended to heaven; and one day He shall return to take us to heaven. He’s coming back and he’s coming back after a church without a spot or wrinkle. Today, we are not all that we should be; but when we see Him, “we shall be like Him”.
Third, we should look within (vv. 27–28 , 31–32 ). Paul did not say that we had to be worthy to partake of the Supper, but only that we should partake in a worthy manner. The Lord’s supper is for sinners. Sinners saved by God’s grace.
If we are to participate in a worthy manner, we must examine our own hearts, judge our sins, and confess them to the Lord. To come to the table with unconfessed sin in our lives is to be guilty of Christ’s body and blood. It was sin that nailed Him to the cross. It was sin that riveted his hands and rivieted his feet. It was sin that pierced him in the side.
If we will not judge our own sins, then God will judge us. If we eat and drink In an unworthy manner, we et and drink judgment to our ownselves.
Finally, we should look around (vv. 33–34 ). We should not look around in order to criticize other believers, but in order to recognize the Lord’s body. We should discern His body in the bread, but also in the church around us. For the church is the body of Christ. “For we being many are one bread, and one body”. The Supper should be a demonstration of the unity of the church.
The Lord’s Supper is a family meal, and the Lord of the family desires that His children love one another and care for one another. It is impossible for a true Christian to get closer to the Lord while at the same time he is separated from his brother. How can we remember the Lord’s death and not love one another? “If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another”.
The Communion should be a time of thanksgiving and joyful anticipation of seeing the Lord! Jesus gave thanks, even though He was about to suffer and die. Let us give thanks also.
As we observe the Lord’s supper today, let us look forward to glory. This supper is a reminder to where the death is Christ is leading us. We are children of Victory. We have been bought with a price. We are heirs of the promise. Headed for heaven. This bread and cup remins us that we are not home yet. This is not a feast, it is a sustaining meal for the trip.
I’m glad to know this morning that this old world is not my home. I’m just a stranger down here, traveling through this barren land.
I’m glad this morning that I’m not too proud to recognize that Most of all – he has saved me. I don’t know about you – but things
in this life will all pass away. It’s got perishable written on
it. But my soul is not perishable. My body will perish. My friends will perish. My family will perish. My possessions will
perish.
But my Soul ….. He has SAVED my soul.
My friends may disappear– but my soul is sa. My money may dry up– but my soul is saved.
My car may not start– but my soul is saved.
My body may give out on me– but my soul is sa
My job may end tomorrow– but my soul is saved
My loved ones may leave– but my soul is saved
My dog may die– but may die, but my soul is s
My cat may cut out – but my soul is saved.
My house may get broken into– but my soul is s
My clothes may get holes in them – but my soul is saved.
My eyes may get dim, my hair may get bald, but…
So I’m glad this morning that He saved my soul. I’m glad that he was born in a manger. I’m glad that he lived for 33 years. I’m glad that he hung on Calvary’s cross. I’m glad that he was buried in a borrowed tomb. I’m glad that he got up with all power in His hand.
I want you to know that since he has saved my should, I am just foolish enough to praise Him. I will praise the Lord at all times – His praises shall continually be in my mouth. I wish I had just somebody in this room that will help me praise the Lord – not just for what He will do, not for what he Is doing, not for what he has done on the outside, but what he’s done on the inside. He picked me up and turned me around and planted my feet on a solid foundation. That’s why I’m going to praise him in the morning, praise him in the evening. Praise him when the sun is going down.
