Holy Communion

I cor 11 v 17-34


I am going to concentrate on the sacrament of Holy Communion because it is the sacrament that all Christians regularly participate in as a church.

So let me set out some basic teaching points:

There are three basic requirements for a sacrament:

1. It is ordained by Christ.
2. It is a visible sign.
3. It is a means of invisible grace.

When we look at number 1 we conclude from the New Testament that there are only two sacraments - Baptism and Holy Communion. Christ was baptised by John the Baptist and instructed His disciples to baptise and in the Last Supper He commanded His disciples to 'do this in remembrance of me...' These are the only two sacraments ordained (or commanded) by Christ in the New Testament and since Scripture is our authority in the Church we accept these two only as sacraments.

When you look at number two we see that a sacrament requires a visible sign. In baptism the visible sign is water and in Holy Communion the visible signs are bread and wine. The 'signs' or 'tokens' are signs of the invisible grace. They themselves are not the grace. As St Augustine stated: "One thing is seen and another is understood." Remember the valentine cards or flowers. One thing is seen (card) but another thing (love) is understood. The same is true of a sacrament. For example bread is seen but the body of Christ is understood. Wine is seen but the blood of Christ is understood.

The sacraments are 'badges' or 'tokens' of Christian profession, a 'sure witness of grace.' The sacraments are effectual signs of grace, and God's goodwill towards us. They are understood as the pledge, seal or a promise from God to us. Again let me illustrate that for you: when you purchase a house you receive the deeds of the house. The deed is not the house though it conveys the house to you. A sacrament is not the grace though it is the means that the grace, to which it points, is conveyed to you. In that sense we say that the sacrament of Holy Communion effects what it signifies. The sacrament of Holy Communion is a sign and symbol of Calvary. It is to the eye what the Word is to the ear of a believer.

When we look at the third point we understand a sacrament to be a means of invisible grace. We need to understand that grace is a gift of God, freely given without merit or favour. Grace is received by faith. Philippians 2 verse 13 tells us that grace is the attitude and operation of God Himself working in beleiving hearts. Grace in Holy Communion is the attitude of divine favour and a gift of the divine life to the believer. This grace is no different to ordinary grace conveyed by God to the elect.

We should remember the sacrament does not contain grace which is automatically conveyed to the receiver. Grace does not reside in a sacrament because of consecration. The grace of which the sacrament is the sign is no part of the sacrament, but is the thing of which the sacrament is the sign, the means and the pledge. Faith is necessary to participate in Christ, and is the only possible response to God's revelation in Christ. Without faith the promise of grace in the sacrament is of no effect. Faith 'takes' the grace on offer but does not 'make' that grace.

The bread is bread and the wine is wine but they signify, symbolise, and a sign of the body of Christ and the blood of Christ. The bread is on the holy table but the body of Christ remains in heaven. The bread is in the mouth of the believer and the body of Christ is in the heart of the believer. The bread feeds the body and the body of Christ feeds the soul of the believer.

Look at 1 Corinthians 11 verses 17-34. The letter to the Corinthians was written before the four gospels were written and therefore this account of the Lord's Supper is probably the earliest account in Christendom. Paul is addressing a church bedevilled with factions, gossip, and immorality. He writes this part of the letter to show them how their behaviour at the 'agape meal' is inconsistent with the original Lord's Supper and how they need to change their behaviour or face the judgement of God.

Verses 17-19 - from these verses it is appears that there was a communal meal before the 'remembrance' of the death of Christ. However, Paul has to condemn their behaviour as it is harmful to the fellowship (v17) and degrading to the communion service (v20). Their behaviour causes division amongst their fellowship and maintains clear distinctions which Christ had broken down by His death. Paul condemns behaviour which creates 'strata of status' within the Christian fellowship.

Verse 20 Paul then challenges them about how they approach the Lord's Supper. By behaving in the manner they have they nullify the spiritual meaning and effectualness of the Lord's Supper. A little later in the passage he will speak in even harsher terms as to the consequences of their actions.

Verses 21-22 here is the cause of their problems. The food was being distributed inequitably amongst the believers when they met for worship. The rich were keeping food for and not sharing with those who were poorer. Their behaviour left the poor feeling despised and humiliated.

Verses 23-24 their actions do not agree with the spirit of the Lord's Supper which publicly spoke of their unity in Christ. Paul points out to them that what he had received he had passed on to them. There is a play on words here that we miss in the English translation. Literally Paul is saying "on the night He (Christ) was passed on to the authorities...so I passed on to you..." Paul wants them to know that it is from Christ Himself that this meal originated and therefore the requirement to treat it with reverence, respect and dignity. Something they very obviously had not been doing in their fellowship.

Do you notice the four-fold action of Holy Communion? Taking, blessing, breaking/pouring and giving to His disciples. That same four-fold action is followed in Holy Communion service. Whoever is celebrating takes bread, gives thanks to God, breaks it and then gives it to the communicants. I should say at this point that it is not a re-enactment but a remembrance. That is a very important distinction. We in no way re-enact the sacrifice of Calvary in the Lord's Supper but we do remember it, recall it to mind, in the breaking of bread and pouring of wine.

Verses 25-26 the phrase 'after the supper...' link what Paul is passing on to them not only with Christ but through Christ back to the fulfilment of the Passover in which a spotless lamb was sacrificed and its blood shed to atone for the sins of the people and to protect them from the judgment of God. When Paul says that Christ took the 'cup' he is referring to the contents which symbolises the new covenant in Jesus' blood (Luke 22 verse 20). Look again at verse 26. Up until this point the believers have been reminded that they have been looking back to the death of Christ on the cross now they are pointed forward, beyond their immediate surroundings and situations to the hope of the second coming of Christ. The celebration, the administration and the partaking bread and wine in remembrance of Christ's death is a public proclamation which, is to, and will continue until He comes again. Paul is drawing to their attention the personal application of the meaning of the Lord's death in their personal testimony. Participation in the Lord's Supper is a public proclamation and identification with the death of Christ for the individual believer. By partaking of bread and wine the believer publicly declares His faith in Christ. For you and I participation in and partaking of the Lord's Supper is our public witness to being born again. By coming to take communion we are giving our testimony - we are saying that at we have been born again, saved from our sins by the sacrifice of Christ Jesus at Calvary. Think about that for a moment. It is not an empty gesture coming forward. It is of eternal significance and meaning. I know some of you realise that. I know that for some of you the very fact that you have come and received communion has been an amazing journey and step of faith for you. Sadly some have come without a thought as to what they were doing or saying and I pray that will not be so in the future.

Verses 27-32 here are stark verses for us all to take heed of this morning. There should be no irreverent or sinful participation in the Lord's Supper. It is not a light thing but a sin against the very body and blood of Christ - a sin against the sacrifice of the Son of God. Listen to verse 27 again. Please do not take participation in Holy Communion lightly. However, let me say this to you all - no one is worthy to receive Holy Communion. These verses are not saying only the worthy may come - that would be to deny grace. What they are saying is that we need to examine the attitude of our hearts, our outward conduct and to understand the true nature and purpose of the Lord's Supper before we partake of it. Self-examination is important. we all need to examine our hearts and lives before we come to partake of bread and wine because these verses warn us of the judgment that God brings on those who do so in an unworthy manner because of sin in their lives etc. There is a clear distinction between receiving in an unworthy manner and knowing you are unworthy to receive grace. The former is puffed up with pride whilst the latter is humble and contrite of heart as the Psalmist puts it. Heed the warning of these verses that in coming to Holy Communion in an unworthy manner is to open oneself to judgment and condemnation. Paul warns them, and us, that this unworthy reception of the body and blood of Christ, either through sin or not discerning the body of Christ, opens the participant to judgment which may lead to sickness and or even death. Verses 33-34 Paul finally instructs them to consider one another when they come to participate in this meal. There is no favouritism in the eyes of God and there should be none shown in their fellowship. There is obviously more to be said to them but concerning worship in their fellowship but Paul will leave that to speak to them in person. He has obviously addressed the key issues here for them and for us.

Application

I want to finish with the simple application of this being a healthy church. Participation in Holy Communion is not an option if you are a born again believer. It is a command of Christ and we should not absent ourselves from obeying it. There are two dangers evident in all churches

1. Those who stay away because they believe they are not worthy to come to the Lord's table. You should only stay away if you are not born again or at that moment you are living out of fellowship with God or others in this church.
2. Those who come whilst living a lie. I want to say I am not making a judgment on anyone who comes to the Lord's table, though as your pastor I have the right to refuse Holy Communion to those who are living openly in sin - and that does not just mean co-habiting outside of holy matrimony. There have been times in the past where certain behaviour, attitudes, lifestyles etc have been apparent, not just to me but to others, and people have continued to come to the Lord's Table - all I can say to you is read verses 27-32 and heed the Word of God of the danger that you place yourself in by such behaviour.

Lastly I want to say something about the structure of a Holy Communion service. The service of communion is structured in so that all are constantly called to examine ourselves before we come to partake in Holy Communion. At the very beginning we pray for purity, we hear the gospel summed up in the commandments and we are exhorted to confess our sins in the prayer of confession. It is wise and good to confess you're sin. We hear the Word of God read and preached and we respond by confessing our belief in the historic creed of the Christian church. We are then exhorted to come before God in the prayer of humble access in which we confess that it is only by the grace of God that we can partake of this means of grace. Our prayer of consecration reminds us that this meal is not a re-enactment but a remembrance, a memorial meal, and it follows the four-fold actions of Christ at the Last Supper. Finally when we come to receive the bread and wine the words of administration remind us that it is 'by faith' that we lay hold of the grace of God symbolised in bread and wine.

To be a healthy church, a biblical church, there are two sacraments. They are a sign and symbol of God's grace towards us and that grace is laid hold of by the exercise of believing faith. Is you're church a healthy church in terms of sacraments - If so good but let us not become complacent.

Amen.

fundamentalist

I always believe that Christianity should be fun. It should be joyful and contagious like a child's laugh but when you mix it with fundamentalism it starts to lose its joy. Fundamentalists in the whole keep to the word of God but they tend to add a rule here and a rule there until you are carrying a heavy burden. Most of them have a tattoo of St Paul on their backs and he has become their inspiration, not Christ. I am sure most of them would deny and want nothing to do with Christ if they saw him today eating and drinking with the sinners of this modern world. Yet that is were we see Christ. We see Christ in places that most of us would not enter but again that is were the lost are. In the very places we dare not enter. Sure some may say "only a fool goes where angels fear to dread" but we can all use the Bible to hide away in our safe places.

We see Christ at a well talking to a lone female. I wonder how many would frown upon that. "What a single man talking to a female alone"
Fundamentalist churches invite you in and then start to change you. Tell you what to wear, what to read, how to behave etc etc. They pour Scripture on you like hot coals but they forget that they have feet of clay.

There are many in this world who will say you are not a "good" Christian because you don't follow their ways but the truth is Christ said a Christian is someone that follows Him.
Paul has his place but not above Christ

Healthy church part 3

Matthew 6 verses 5-1

If we did a survey amongst everyone in you're church this morning I wonder how many of you would say you pray regularly. Yet let me ask you a question: What is Prayer? That seems to me to be a fundamental question when we come to look at the topic of prayer. If someone were to ask you what you are doing when you pray, how would you answer? . If you are to be a healthy church then a key ingredient is prayer. The purpose of this post is not to persuade you that you ought to pray but to actually persuade you to pray. If you already pray then the purpose of this post is to encourage you to keep on praying. If you are struggling to pray then it is my desire and prayer that this post will help you in your prayer life.

Luke 11 verse 1 - here is an interesting question asked by the disciples of Jesus. This is Luke's account of the passage from Matthew 6 The disciples could have asked Jesus many questions but they asked him to teach them to pray. For three years they follow Jesus. For three years they watch him perform miracles, raise people from the dead, feed 5000 with loaves and fishes and calm a raging sea. For three years they listen to him teach amazing stories which confound the religious intelligentsia but are understood with those who have ears and hearts of faith. They see him transformed before them and when they have the opportunity they ask him to teach them to pray. Why? Well, I believe the one thing that is pretty clear in the four gospels is that Jesus is a man of prayer. No doubt he followed the Judaic practice of praying three times a day. It is pretty clear that he often withdrew from the crowds of people, and even from the disciples, to seek his father's face in prayer. When Judas comes to betray him he knows exactly where Jesus will be in the garden of Gethsemane. Do you think that is an accident? I am more convinced that it was a regular place of prayer for Jesus and Judas knew this to be so. He is also certain that at such a time as the Passover Jesus will go to this private place of prayer. There is a pattern and practice of prayer in the life of Jesus that we could all do well to follow.

look to Matthew 6 and hear what Jesus taught his disciples concerning prayer. Look at verse 5 and the words of Christ: "when you pray..." There is an assumption that his disciples, his followers, will pray. He assumes that prayer will be part of their daily lives. So the first thing we learn is that Christ expects his followers to pray.

He then sets down simple guidelines for them when they pray. The first thing is they are to go somewhere private and quiet. Their sole concern should be God. This is in stark contrast of the religious leaders of their day who made sure everyone saw them pray. Their concern is to be alone with God their Father - nothing else and no one else matters. So find a quiet place to pray. Now I know that might be difficult but be honest how much time do we make for other things in our lives and yet we do not go to the same effort to find that quiet space for prayer. If it is a priority we will find the time and the place. You know I have found walking a great opportunity to pray. So find a quiet place. Please notice the promise that Jesus attaches here - your heavenly Father will hear you when you pray. That is a promise to us all - God hears our prayers - so be assured of that this morning because Christ himself has promised it.

Verse 9 - Relationship. When Christ begins his model prayer he addresses God as Father who is in heaven. This was a traditional means of opening a Hebrew prayer. Christ followed a pattern known to his disciples since childhood prayers in their homes, the synagogue and Temple. What pattern of prayer are your children learning from you? Our Father is a personal address to God. Here is an important lesson for us all - at the very core of prayer is a personal relationship with a personal God. At the heart of prayer Christ says, is a relationship of sons and daughters with a 'Father.' Christ begins prayer with an intimate term of endearment - 'Abba.' There is nothing impersonal about prayer - it is the most personal and intimate relationship between Almighty God and his children. Please note how Christ taught his disciples to address God - 'Our Father...' please don't be flippant about how you address God in prayer and please note it is to the Father that we pray. Yes we pray in the power of the Holy Spirit through Christ, God's only begotten Son, but it is to the Father that our prayers are directed.

Christ Jesus then lifts his voice in adoration of his Father - stating the holiness and otherness of God. Again this is part of traditional Hebraic prayers of the day. Once again Christ is not departing far from what His disciples have learned as children and is familiar to them, after all it was to the God of Israel that they were praying but in a new relationship through His Son. God is His Name - Exodus 33.19 - when Moses asks to see the glory of God - God says 'I will make my glory pass before you and I will declare my name...' God is His Name and in Scripture your name was more than what you were called it referred to your whole character and being. God's name is holy because He is holy - and we are instructed to call him 'Father.' This is why the commandment tells us that God's name is not to be taken in vain.

It is because God's Name reveals his character - holiness and it is not to be taken lightly because holiness is not to be taken lightly and I wish we as a people would learn that again. So when we come to pray remember before whom it is that you come in prayer - He who is holy, who is purity in and of himself and who cannot, will not, have sin in his presence. You and I have no right to be in his presence save by the blood of Christ shed for us and atoning for our sins - so do not take prayer lightly and do not enter his presence flippantly. Address him correctly because His name is holy and he will not hold you blameless for taking it in vain, even in prayer.

Verse 10 note what comes next in this model prayer - God's will and God's kingdom. Why had Christ come - to do the will of the Father. What should be our primary concern in life? The will of God our Father and his kingdom. That should be the basis of all our prayers - what is God's will in this situation and what will further God's kingdom in my life, in the life of my family, church and this situation. How different our prayers would be if this was our priority in prayer. So take note - a healthy church will have the will of God the Father and the furtherance of his kingdom as its priority - especially in prayer.

Verse 11 - now we enter upon our needs in this model prayer. There has been a lot of teaching on this phrase over the centuries and I don't wish to go into the detail in this post. However, notice the simplicity of this phrase. Notice what is not being asked for. Christ assures them that God, their Father, is concerned about their daily needs - after all not even a sparrow falls to the ground without their heavenly Father knowing. It is their daily bread, the basic things of life that they are to ask for. Friends ask yourself this morning - what are the basic food needs of your life? Haiti has been on our TV screens for over two weeks now. Maybe you can remember famine scenes from the past - daily bread means what to you compared to those in such situations? When I read this phrase in prayer I am caught up by God's Spirit to get a right perspective on my daily bread. My prayers so often move from basic necessities of life to the luxuries of life in the west - how tragic is that? Or should I say how blasphemous?

Verse 12 - Christ now moves in his model prayer to forgiveness of sins. They were to ask God, their Father, for forgiveness but do you notice there is an onus on them to offer forgiveness also. Christ has elsewhere taught parables on forgiveness - the unforgiving servant for example and the healing of the man lowered down through the roof. When I know forgiveness of my sins, and how great they are and at what cost, then I am motivated in my prayers to forgive others. So in prayer I not only seek God's forgiveness but I seek to forgive others. Prayer changes me as I pray - is that not part of the teaching of this phrase?

Verse 13 - again I want you to take a moment and ponder these two prayer requests. We ask that we might be spared the trial of temptation and delivered form the 'evil one.' Do you notice also that these phrases are not individual but plural (group) - 'give us...forgive us...lead us...deliver us' Whilst we pray as individuals prayer is also corporate in nature. My concern is for my brother and sister in Christ also to be spared from the trials of faith for protection against the evil one in this world. Why would Christ pray such a phrase? Read Ephesians 6 verse 12. Here is the battle that we seek deliverance from and protection in. In prayer we are involved in a spiritual battle and we wrestle against powers in the spiritual realm that we have no real understanding of and no power against save the blood of Christ Jesus.

To conclude read - Romans 8 verses 26-27. Traditionally people have understood these verses to mean that the Holy Spirit takes our hearts cries and intercedes before the Father for us. Yet that does not do true justice to the text. Paul is saying that the Holy Spirit comes to our aid to help us pray aright. Sometimes we do not know what to pray for (out of ignorance) and sometimes we do not pray well. So the Holy Spirit comes and puts into words what we ought to pray and enables us to pray aright - since he already knows the will of the Father. So even in our weakness, in our inability to put into words the deep longings of our souls God in his desire to communicate with us has given us the Holy Spirit who intercedes because we are unable to do so. One writer said this of this work of the Holy Spirit: 'this prayer is the very breath of the soul.' I think that is a wonderful description of this work of God's Spirit in our lives.

This post has really only scratched the surface of the Bible's teaching on prayer. Here is the essential point though - pray - actually pray. Get alone with God and pray. Call on him as your Father because he has promised to hear you and answer you. Lift your voice to him in prayers of adoration, confession, thanks and supplication (request). Pray, pray and pray again. Pray as an individual and with others. Put prayer requests in the prayer box. Come together with others in you're fellowship and pray. Without prayer you're church will die. Without your prayers you're pastor cannot pastor each week. It is the prayers of the saints that powers the church forward. So if you want to be a healthy church you need to pray. Not talk about it but pray. Not just preach about it but pray. Not just read about it and learn about it but actually pray. So you want to be healthy, spiritually healthy -then pray. Finally - note what Christ says at the beginning of today's post - it is not about your elegant words, nor the vain repetition of them - it is about a relationship with God that enables you, his child, to come to your heavenly Father and he promises to hear and answer - so pray.

Amen.

JWs are doorstepping and winning souls

There is no doubt in my mind that so many people are being lost at their very doorstep. A very good friend was approached at his door by Mormons and after a few months of regular contact, he joined them. Another good friend who had fell from his own church was approached by JWs and again after regular contact he joined them.
My neighbour who is a JW is out doorstepping in all weathers puts Christians to shame.
So what is the excuse?

1. Its a waste of time doorstepping?....well its working for JWs and others
2. Don't have the time!.....well my neighbour has the time or at least makes the time

Maybe sitting in churches waiting for passing trade is some peoples idea of evangelising but I don't think thats biblical.

Sunday sermons are they too long

At one point I was all for 45 min-60min sermons but in truth most folk do turn off after 20 Min's. Even the most "holy" of people have limited attention span. I am sure even those brought up in the Christian faith would agree that 45 Min's plus is just a little too long.
Real Christian growth does not come by sitting listening to a sermon on a Sunday morning (yes it is part of it) But I believe the real growth comes within the smaller weekly groups.
It is within these groups that good Christian friendships are made
It is within these groups that people are more actively involved and more likely to ask questions


Just a thought


Be blessed

Great weekend

This has been a great weekend. I had Jude over and we spent time in the park playing army games. At least this time I was on his side and I had all the best weapons. Normally he has the best weapons and I get beat lol. We ended the evening off with a dvd and a few board games.

During the week I have a couple of Jws coming up for a Bible study. I am interested in what they have to say and I expect this will be an encouraging time.

Hope everyone is reaching their full potential

Can you forgive

My brother wronged me in a deep and hurtful way. So much so that we had not spoken for nearly 3 years. I think if we had come face to face in the first few months after he hurt me, we would have fought and being someone that did muay Thai, I could have really hurt him as I was so angry. Over the past few months we have started talking. So far just through email but its a start. The real test will be when we meet up at some point. I must admit I can still feel the pain that he caused me and I can taste the anger I felt but I put it to death each time it rears its ugly head.

FORGIVE FORGIVE FORGIVE FORGIVE is the message of Scripture. But just saying I forgive you does not take the pain away, nor does it mean that we forget the wrong that has been done to us. He has never said sorry for what he has done but the key point is that I had to forgive him. If he had said sorry a day or a week or a month after he hurt me I would not have cared, I would have hit him.

The point I am trying to make is that when we are wronged, we are the ones that need to forgive. We are the ones that need to accept what has happened and ask God to forgive and heal us. (as well as them) Try praying for someone that has hurt you, its very difficult, believe me.

Try forgiving someone that is not willing to offer you an apology.


One other point I will make is, you dont have to be best pals with the person you forgive. In fact you may not even see them again but for you're own spiritual life forgives has to come.

Be Blessed