In January 2000, leaders in Charlotte, North Carolina, invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, to a luncheon in his honor. Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with Parkinson’s disease. But the Charlotte leaders said, "We don’t expect a major address. Just come and let us honor you." So he agreed. After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said, "I’m reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century." Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of each passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn’t find his ticket, so he reached in his other pocket. It wasn’t there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn’t find it. Then he looked in the seat by him. He couldn’t find it. The conductor said, ’Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I’m sure you bought a ticket. Don’t worry about it.’ Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket. The conductor rushed back and said, ’Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don’t worry I know who you are. No problem. You don’t need a ticket. I’m sure you bought one.’ Einstein looked at him and said, ’Young man, I too know who I am. What I don’t know is where I’m going.’"
Having said that Billy Graham continued, "See the suit I’m wearing? It’s a brand new suit. My wife, my children, and my grandchildren are telling me I’ve gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion. You know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I’ll be buried. But when you hear I’m dead, I don’t want you to immediately remember the suit I’m wearing. I want you to remember this: I not only know who I am, I
also know where I’m going." Submitted by Bill Bates
1 Cor. 11:23-34
What do we find here about the Lord’s Supper that is negative? It is not to be taken by everyone but only
those who have been born again and are part of the Lord’s body. This is not a time for the conversions of sinners but a celebration for the believer.
To partake of this rightly we need to examine our hearts in the light of what Christ has done for us. There seems to be a danger noted here in partaking of this supper for the wrong reasons.
1. Why we should examine our hearts? May we take time to think on these things?
a. The directions are so we may partake in this service freely.
b. “ know this is a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.
c. “ take time to pray and approach in humbleness. Am I worthy to partake?
d. “ come knowing what this is all about.
e. “ come with confidence and joy. When our hearts are right we do not
come in fear or feeling doomed.
f. We come with a self search to be clean with God and those around us.
I Thirst by Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos
Is it possible that He who claimed to be living water... Is it possible that He who said, “Come unto Me and drink...” Is it possible that He who told the Samaritan woman that He had water she knew nothing about...
Is it possible that this Man could mouth the words, “I thirst?” And because He did, the incarnation message of Christmas is voiced in this human cry of Good Friday. Jesus the divine Creator of life is no subject to the creation and the creature’s basic needs. Yes, Jesus, the Son of God, actually needed water. For six hours He hung from a calloused cross on a hot barren hill beneath a darkened middle-eastern sky. He was bleeding profusely and losing vital body fluids. What is more, without sleep the night before, without food or drink, He had been tortured, teased and tried before a tribunal before the crucifixion had even begun. His lips were parched. His tongue swollen as He managed to blurt out His human thirst...A thirst that spoke of His total identification with all our needs, drives, hopes and sufferings. Jesus’ physical thirst only symbolized the deeper thirsts that every human being who has ever lived has felt: the thirst for companionship, the thirst for acceptance, the thirst for immortality the thirst for end to suffering and most important the thirst for relationship with God. the Psalmist said “As the deer pants for flowing streams, so thirsts my soul for Thee, O God.” A restlessness, a panting, a thirst to end all thirsts, a thirst no water, no wine, no gall could ever quench. And for once Jesus knew that desire of all ages himself. As the bearer of all sin of all people of all time, Jesus knew the separation and desperation that all creation has known apart from God. And He cried, “I thirst.” He’s acquainted with our pain, our pressures, and our panic our plight apart from the Father. And because He’s been there, He knows how to quench our thirst.
2. How we should examine our hearts? May we take time to think on these things?
a. Do I come because of a hunger in my life created because I am a child of God?
b. Do I come because I believe that Jesus died for me and I have forgiveness of my sins?
c. Do I come because I know this is a feeding of my soul? Does this represent a fact in my
life?
d. Am I coming to this supper because I am a member of the body of Christ? These around
me are with me in Christ and I am dwelling in love with each of them.
e. Do I come because all my hope is in him and what he has done for me?
f. Do I come in remembrance of Christ and I know Him and the power of the resurrection?
My life is in him and there is nothing in my life displeasing to Him.
The Ordinary Angel: written by a Hospice of Metro Denver physician ....
I just had one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and wanted to share it with my family and dearest friends: I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and the car started to choke and splutter and die. I barely managed to coast, cursing, into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck. It wouldn’t even turn over. Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the "quickie mart" building, and it looked like she slipped on some ice and fell into a gas pump, so I got out to see if she was okay. When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs than that she had fallen; she was a young woman who looked really haggard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I helped her up, and I picked it up to give it to her. It was a nickel At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient Suburban crammed full of stuff with 3 kids in the back (1 in a car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95. I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept saying "I don’t want my kids to see me crying," so we stood on the other side of the pump from her car. She said she was driving to California and that things were very hard for her right now. So I asked, "And you were praying?" That made her back away from me a little, but I assured her I was not a crazy person and said, "He heard you, and He sent me." I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and while it was fueling walked to the next door McDonald’s and bought 2 big bags of food, some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of coffee. She gave the food to the kids in the car, who attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little. She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City. Her boyfriend left 2 months ago and she had not been able to make ends meet. She knew she wouldn’t have money to pay rent Jan 1, and finally in desperation had finally called her parents, with whom she had not spoken in about 5 years. They lived in California and said she could come live with them and try to get on her feet there. So she packed up everything she owned in the car. She told the kids they were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there. I gave her my gloves, a little hug and said a quick prayer with her for safety on the road. As I was walking over to my car, she said, "So, are you like an angel or something?" This definitely made me cry. I said, "Sweetie, at this time of year angels are really busy, so sometimes God uses regular people." It was so incredible to be a part of someone else’s miracle. And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car it started right away and got me home with no problem. I’ll put it in the shop tomorrow to check, but I suspect the mechanic won’t find anything wrong. Sometimes the angels fly close enough to you that you can hear the flutter of their wings.
3. The responsibility to involve yourself in this service.
a. Jesus said to do it in remembrance of him.
b. The bread represents His body. The juice represents His blood.
c. This is not a funeral but a supper so we are to give thanks frequently.
Ask yourself these questions: Who am I? What has He done for me? Why am I doing this?
God created the angels even before the world existed. They are spiritual beings (although sometimes they can take visible form) and were created to be God’s servants and messengers. Although the Bible doesn’t answer all our questions about angels, it does tell us that God has given them the task of protecting and helping His children. The Bible says, "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14). Elsewhere the Bible says, "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways" (Psalm 91:11). This is God’s promise to you. Although we do not see them, I believe we are surrounded and protected by God’s angels every day. Does that mean we will never experience accidents or illness? No, it doesn’t. But it does mean Satan will never be able to snatch us away from Christ if we belong to Him, and even at the moment of death the angels will take us safely to heaven. Billy Graham
