3/5/95 Lk. 22:19-20
How Do You Look At The Lord’s Table?
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The eastern large cities have elevated
trains. One of the stations is near a great
burying ground, Calvary Cemetery. For many
years, because in that part of the town there
were many more dead than living folk, the
trains did not stop at the cementery except on
request. Just after leaving the nearest
station, the intercom would say, "Next station
is Calvary. Train stops on signal only.
Anybody for Calvary?"
It is a parable of life’s train. At all the
other stations every train stops. At Market
Street, At School Street, at University
Avenue, At Main Street, at Vanity Fair, at
Broadway, at Church Street, at Home Avenue.
No special notice is needed, but to get off at
Calvary -- that means a choice and an
expressed desire.
- On the night before he was crucified He
instituted the Lord’s Table
- It crystallizes the Gospel into tangible
symbols
- Of his substitutionary & redemptive death
- Substitutionary - His body - The Bread
- Redemptive - His blood - The Cup
- We prepare ourselves as we look in different
ways at the ordinance.
1. We Should Look Backwards
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- Meditate on the God that was slain & sacrificed
- His shame & suffering
- Man says there it’s done
- Christ cries IT IS FINISHED
2. We Should Look Upward
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- Upward to the Christ who has been exalted to
Lordship over all
- Phip. 2:5-11
- The Christ who died for all sits on a throne
- Appoint Him to occupy the throne of our heart
- He alone is worthy to have complete
sovereignty of our heart
- To properly prepare for this table we
should seek to make Him Lord of our lives.
3. We Should Look Inward
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- For Him to occupy our lives there needs to
be holiness & righteousness
- None have the beauty of holiness
- Until we request Him to purge out every
attitude & ambition that is contrary to the
mind & spirit of our Lord there is no peace
- Recall His work on the cross for that very
life I live
- He became poor that I might become rich
4. We Should Look Forward
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- I Cor. 11:26 - For as often as ye eat this
bread
- Our Savior came 1st - Our Savior came
------- He comes again as Prince of Glory
- Our Savior came 1st in Great Humility
------- He comes again in Great Glory
- Our Savior came 1st in Sorrow and Shame
------- He comes again in Joy & Power
- Our Savior came 1st as Son of man Conceived
------- He comes again as Son Of God Received
- Our Savior came 1st to Occupy a Cross
------- He comes again to Occupy a Throne
- Our Savior came 1st to die for me
------- He comes again to come for me
5. CONCLUSION
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Think for a moment what were the first
recorded words of Christ?
".... Wist ye not that I must be about My
Father’s business. --- Lk. 2:49
How about His last words He spoken?
"It is finished --- Jn. 20:30
- A Backward Look is a Remembering look
- A Upwards Look is a Submissive look
- A Inward Look is a Cleansing look
- A Forward look is a Aspiring look
