Summary: A new look at the Communion Table

Communion and the 23rd Psalm

INTRODUCTION:

1.There are some things that are very important and you usually spend more time studying and delving into the history of the subject.

2.There is no more important subject in the Bible than the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the wonderful things that come from it.

3.In several of the Psalms we have prophetic insight in to the crucifixion and the victory that resulted from it.

4.Psalm 22 and Psalm 23 fit that description perfectly. I did not realize it until this study. Look with me this morning.

5.When you look at Psalm 22 you see the crucifixion better than you see it in the gospels. The opening verse begins with these ominous words from Matt. 27:46, “My God my God why hast thou forsaken me.” It seems you are watching the film “The Crucifixion of the Christ.” Every scene is vividly displayed in words. Also, we are allowed to see beyond the words into the emotions and the feelings of Jesus during the crucifixion.

6.Follow with me through the 31 verses of Psalm 22:

* Vs. 1 – “I am forsaken by God

·Vs.1 – “I am far from being helped by God”

·Vs.1 – “I am far from being heard

·Vs. 6 - “I am a worm”

·Vs. 6 – “I am no man”

·Vs. 6 – “I am a reproach of men”

·Vs. 6 - “I am despised of the people”

·Vs. 7 – “I am scorned by men”

·Vs. 7-8 – ‘I am mocked by men”

·Vs. 9 – “God is My protector from birth.”

·Vs. 9 – “God is my hope form birth”

·Vs. 9 – “God is my dependence from birth”

·Vs. 10 – “Jehovah is my God from birth”

·Vs. 11 – “God has always been near me”

·Vs. 11 – “I have had to face troubles”

·Vs. 11 – “God has been My only hope”

·Vs. 12 – “Brutal men have compassed Me”

·Vs. 13 – “Men were determined to destroy Me”

·Vs. 14 – “My life blood is poured out like water”

·Vs. 14 – “All my bones are out of joint”

·Vs. 14 – “My heart is melted like wax in the midst of my bowels”

·Vs. 15 – “My strength is gone”

·Vs. 15 – “My tongue is so dry that it cleaves to my jaws”

·Vs. 15 – “I am slain as a sacrifice”

·Vs. 16 – “Gentiles have encompassed Me”

·Vs. 16 – “The wicked enclosed Me”

·Vs. 16 – “My hands and My feet are pierced”

·Vs. 17 – “My bones out of joint cause men to stare at me”

·Vs. 18 – “My garments are coveted”

·Vs. 18 – “Men gamble for my vesture”

7.As you can see this chapter is a vivid picture in

Words of the crucifixion along with description of

Jesus relationship with God during that time.

Sermon Body

Thesis:

When we come to Psalm 23 we see the results of the

Crucifixion in the lives of the believer. Just as in Ps.22 we hear prophecy telling us exactly how Jesus was to be mistreated and crucified, so in Ps. 23 we see exactly how the believer is going to reap benefit from the great price that was paid on Calvary.

I. The first 4 verses of the 23rd Psalm spell it out what mercies we will receive from the Messiah. Then in verse 5 we are told how they will come. They will come from a table prepared for us in the presence of our enemies. The truth is things do not always go well for believers. But we have recourse at the table set before us.

A.Who set it before us? Jesus did. It is spelled out for us in 1 Cor. 11:23-30. Jesus instituted this ordinance the night He was betrayed and just before

the crucifixion. He wanted to be sure that we would

be able to have this kind of victory, deliverance and

celebration as we came together to observe and

remember what he did for us. We have really never

realized how much is available to us through the

communion elements.

B.When we look at the 23rd Psalm we see in the first 4 verses the mercies of Messiah that come to us through the Table Prepared.

1.The word “prepared” means set in order.

2.Here they are for us in verses 1,2, 3 & 4.

·There is no lack because of the table.

·There are green pasture where my family is taken care of because of the table prepared for me.

·I am lead beside still waters of the properly delivered Word of God.

·He restores my soul when I am tricked by the enemy or during the heat of the battle I backslide. “He restoreth my soul.” How we need this restoration. This is when I come to the table and partake of the fruit of the vine or the blood of Jesus prepared for me in the presence of my enemy. He knew it would happen and He has prepared restoration for me!

·He leads me in the paths of righteousness. Where does He lead? If in doubt consult His word. Not the newspapers or TV or Hollywood. When you are on a trip you consult a map if you want direction. You want to be on the right road. In this case it is the high road.

·And even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear not evil. Doctors are smart but they can only take you so far. I will do my best to help you I will hold your hand or kiss your brow but when you go through the valley of the shadow of death you want Jesus to be there with you not me.

II. When you look at verse one in the Amplified Bible it reads like this, ”The Lord is my; shepherd (to feed

and to shield me); I shall not lack.”

A.Our biggest problem is our “lack.” What do you

lack? Is it health? Is it money? Is it a favorable

decision by a judge? Is it freedom from depression

or fear?

B.No, no! That is not what we lack? What we lack is FAITH !!

III. In verse two he is telling about the body of Christ on the table that is prepared for you. He has provided it for you to be part of His body the Church. That is where you lie down in the “green pastures” and get your soul fed from the Word of God. You and your

family are walking along quiet still waters that you can depend upon for sustenance during these troubled

times when the world is literally falling apart at the

seams.

IV. “He restoreth your soul.” He is the only one who can take your soul that has been damaged by sin and

apply that blood of the table and bring full restoration to it.

A.There is nothing else that can do it.

B.Last Monday night I heard one of the most awesome testimonies I have ever heard. I was about how a church came to restoration in Christ. How did it happen? Let me tell you. Brother Keith Reid went to visited the Brownsville church in Florida. He asked God how his church could be like that church and be alive in Christ and see the miracles of God and people being saved in every service and God told him to tell them to repent of their sin and worship Him. He told his congregation that when he got back. They all came to the altar and repented and got right with God. You say, “Well Brother Ingham, we don’t need that.” That is what the church at Ephesus thought too. But God told them, “Go back and do your first works over again.” “What sins have I

Committed?” I don’t know but let me suggest a few: No faith, No love, Lukewarmness. These are a few to begin with. Jesus says if you want revival you have to repent. I am asking us all to do the same thing this morning as we prepare for Communion.

V. And to be sure that all of this will happen God has

dispatched two angels to go with you every where you

go. What are their names. Not Mike and Wayne, but

they will help me here. I want you fellows to follow me like the two angels Goodness and Mercy. You see when you preepare to partake of the blood of Jesus typified in the grape juice you can come into restoration again. Wow! I like that. Restoration. Cleansing. Sanctification.

VI. What about when we partake of the broken body? We

are invoking all the blessings of Messiah in those first few verses. And Goodness and Mercy are going to see to it that they are enacted.

A.When you have faith that this difficult situation

over here (Go to someone and touch their

shoulder and the 2 people who you have designated as Goodness and Mercy follow you the whole time) with a legal matter is taken care of and God dispatches Goodness and Mercy right there with you. Follow me angels.

B.Also, I go over here to this young husband and he

says I have a financial need in providing for my

family in today’s economy. And I see him coming to

the table prepared for me wwhere there is no lack. And

Goodness and Mercy are right with me to lead me

to the right resources and provision. And then I go

over here and I have a doctor’s appointment that

sometimes becomes a doctor’s disappointment and

He has bad news about I am going to have to live

with a serious illness and I bring Goodness and

Mercy when I take this element of the Body of

Christ and I remember that it is by His stripes that

I am healed. You see when I come to the table

prepared for me I have a point of contact when I

partake of the emblem of His body that that

illness will be taken care of. And not only is this

effective today but the Bible says all the days of

my life. Why? Because I continue to come to the

Communion Table and I have faith in His body and

His blood.

Conclusion:

1.Hey, when you have that kind of faith and that kind of blessing you will want to say with David, "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

2.You mean I won’t want to leave in the middle of the service. That’s right because all of a sudden you got plugged in. Wow! That is better that gossip and grumbling and complaining any day. Right? Let’s do it. I want you to come up after we have prayed and get your own elements and I want it to be some thing special today the elders will stand in front of the table but I want you to get up and come and when you partake let that be a point of contact for you. If you want prayer with the elder also, he will be glad to pray with you as well, but I want this to be a miracle COMMUNION TODAY!!

3.And if Satan comes against you and tries to put doubt in your heart tell him, “Hey look behind me Satan. God has set this table before me in your presence – you are my enemy - and to help me have more faith these two angels Goodness and Mercy are with me today!”

4.What problems or concerns do you have today. Get ready to bring them to the table and leave them as you receive the blessings of the 23rd Psalm.