Communion - it is a sweet time - to remember, recognise, and respond. A message preached at Church For You, Elizabeth Park, South Australia, on 17 May 2020. www.cforu.net
[0:00] At the time of communion we take time to do some things.
[0:18] Number one, we take time to remember. There are truths to be reminded of that we would do well to take heed of. Truths to be reminded of right here at the table as it were of the Lord.
[0:30] We see memorials, we see these striking emblems, we see as it were a signpost pointing back to the crucified one. Graphic reminders of bloodshed, of violence.
[0:43] We take that time to remember. And we do well to remember our Lord, what he has done for us. Remember the cross, remember his great love, remember his devotion, remember that sacrifice that he is the author and finisher of your faith.
[1:00] Secondly, we see that we recognise some things. Not only do we remember, but secondly we recognise some things. We recognise there's truths to take heart of here.
[1:12] This is the Lord's Supper. We recognise, we discern the Lord's body. We recognise his supreme sacrifice that was the full payment for our sin.
[1:24] We recognise the body of Christ, the unity of his body. The very Church of God today is the body of Christ. We recognise that oneness in Christ, that unity of faith, of teaching.
[1:36] So, we remember, we recognise and thirdly we respond. These are truths to personally face up to.
[1:48] These are truths that we need to take an individual response to. To respond individually to the Lord, to his invitation. If he is not your Lord, why not?
[2:01] Can you trust him? Trust him now. Examine yourself. The Bible says that there's a personal response called for. Examine yourself. I like to think, well really we're not looking at everybody else.
[2:14] We're looking at the person in our own shoes. Examine yourselves, it says. As we make that personal response, we're acknowledging his great love for us, of our relationship with him, our gratefulness to him, our thankfulness for his mercies and grace.
[2:35] There's a sense where we take a blood bath, as it were. We're washed in his blood. There's a sense where our sins are washed away. We're made completely pure and clean before him.
[2:46] Not by virtue of this memorial as such, but by virtue of what he has done 2,000 years ago. We're not re-enacting it as some mistakenly do. We are remembering.
[2:59] We're recognising. And we're responding. And so the question is, have you received his forgiveness? It's not by virtue of the bread and cup, by going through some religious acts.
[3:10] But this recognition, this response of receiving his forgiveness is by that heart's trust in him, in his work at the cross. And you can do that right now. Even by faith, as you might gather around this screen to gather together with other believers and take that time of prayerful meditation, of prayerful reflection, to acknowledge, to remember what the cross is all about, to remember that it was for you, to recognise that there at the cross everything was done for your saving, and to respond, to respond to him in thankfulness and gratefulness, and in rededication, in that personal reflection, and that personal acquaintance with your Lord, as you would take time to come before him and worship him today.
[4:03] Thank you.