1 Corinthians 11:23-24 – I Reaffirm – Bible study

1Cor 11:23-34 I Reaffirm (The Lords Supper) 1/11/2015 PM Through the years, we have noted on that the Lords Supper is not a mere ritual. 1. It is a ritual that shows our union with Jesus. 2. It is a remembrance that demonstrate what Jesus has done for us. 3. It is a right (privilege) afforded the saved. 4. It is a reminder to stay in the proper relationship with God. 5. It is a routine that reminds us of Jesus coming. But to what end is this practice? Why does the Lord want us to do this? I believe the end is that we might rededicate ourselves to Him, that we might reaffirm our relationship with Him. I can only deduce two possible reasons. 1. Perhaps there is some merit to keeping the Lords Supper. a. I reject this possibility mainly because of Israel. b. Israel was a nation steeped in ritual. (1) Many of the places in Israel were named to remind people of what He had done for them in that place. (Bethel means "house of God," Ebenezer means "Place of Gods help.") In fact, many of the peoples names were reminders of events or thoughts (Joshua means "Jehovah saves" and Ichabod means "The Glory is Departed." (2) God established memorials, usually built of stone, to remind people of Him and His works. (3) Most all of the Jewish holy days were essentially reminders. (4) Even the sacrifices reminded the people of Gods willingness to forgive and renew. c. Yet, all of the reminders seemed to come up short. Israel, as a nation almost to the last man and woman, turned away from God and God set them on the shelf. d. They earned no favor or merit. 2. Perhaps the Lords Supper is to have an effect upon us. a. I believe this is the key. b. God wants the Lords Supper to do somethingnot for the lost for they have no part in itbut for the saved! c. Hence, God gave to us a different kind of reminder. It is a reminder with very few rules. (1) There is no date or day on which this reminder must be done. (As the pastor, I have selected to do this three to four times each year. Hopefully that is enough to keep our hearts stirred but not so much that we grow tired of it.) (2) There is no Biblical itinerary of what we are to do when we are practicing this exercise. (3) No Bible passage is required, no songs must be sung, no specific words must be read, no particular ritual must be practiced. (4) God has left the practice entirely in our hands. d. There are very few commands of conduct that must be meet (save only we should be right with God). e. All of this means the service is completely in our hands. If the way we do this does not suit you tonight, we can change it the next time. f. The meaning then cannot be in the service but must be in the results of the service. g. I judge that the performance of the ritual is not what is of utmost importance to God, but that as we perform this service, we reaffirm some things to our God. What things does God want us to reaffirm tonight? I. I affirm my faith in Jesus and Jesus alone. Phil 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. A. I will not trust human works, human abilities, or human religion for salvation. B. I will trust what Jesus did for me as the human Sacrifice. 1. I will trust that He was and is God. 2. I will trust that He was born and lived without sin. 3. I will trust that He offered Himself willing on the cross, taking my sin upon Him. 4. I will trust that He was buried as proof of His death. 5. I will trust that He arose in power to give me a new life. C. On the other hand. 1. I will acknowledge that I was/am unworthy of any of Gods mercy and goodness. 2. I was/am just blessed to receive Gods gift of salvation! 3. As I thought on this, a song came to mind. Thank You, Lord, for Your Blessings on Me. As the world looks upon me, as I struggle along They say I have nothing, but they are so wrong In my heart Im rejoicing, how I wish they could see Thank you Lord, for your blessings on me Theres a roof up above me Ive a good place to sleep Theres food on my table And shoes on my feet You gave me your love Lord And a fine family Thank you Lord, for your blessings on me Now I know Im not wealthy, and these clothes , theyre not new I dont have much money, but Lord I have you And to me thats all that matters, though the world cannot see Thank you Lord, for your blessings on me 4. I like this song as far as it goes but thought it should go further so I added another verse and altered the chorus. You came to this world, as we struggled along. They said You were no one, but they were so wrong. You din our place, O how I wish they could see. Thank you, Lord, for your blessings on me. Theres a mansion above me, A place You will keep. Theres food on Your table, Crowns to lay at Your feet. You gave me your blood, Lord, and e-tern-i-ty. Thank you, Lord, for your blessings on me. II. I affirm my need to examine my soul for sin, both known and unknown. 2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. A. We have a wicked heart with two tendencies. 1. We sin and hide it. 2. We sin and dont even know it. B. Tonight, God has given us a command to examine ourselves to see what is going on within. 1. \#1Cor 11:23-27\ Paul describes the Lords Supper as the Lord gave it, but in \#1Cor 11:28-32\, Paul explained how we are to practice it. a. I see five verses in that section which speak of the examination we are to give ourselves! b. We must open the closed doors, turn on the dim lights, and look in the dark corners for we cannot be what God wants with sin in our life. 2. We are to take the Light of Gods Word in the hand of the Holy Spirit and let Him show us who we are and what we are doing, both right and wrong. a. How are we spending our time? b. How are we treating our families, friends, co-workers? c. How are we responding to our problems? d. How are we caring for the strangers, the poor, the hurting? III. I affirm my love for Jesus. Re 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Mt 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. A. I do not want to have the cold heart toward Jesus. B. I see the danger of a heart that does not love. 1. We may have duty and ritual, both of which are good to carry us when our emotions are faltering. 2. But neither of them are enough! C. I want to have feelings for my God and I want my God to have feelings for me. 1. I want to love Him. a. Duty can demand obedience but love does more. b. Love can produce trust, loyalty, understanding, longsuffering. 2. I want to appreciate Him. 3. And I want to feel that He loves me. a. I want that motivation, that satisfaction, that comfort. b. The things that only love can give! 4. I want I feel that that He wants me. IV. I affirm my determination to be obedient to Word of God. James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: A. While I want to feel God over obedience, I do not want to have feelings with no obedience. B. Obedience is a rather a large topic. 1. The Bible has many commands in it, so many, it is hard to remember them all, let alone do them all. 2. However, since the Holy Ghost is within us, the only thing we must do is what the Holy Spirit tells us to do. 3. Jesus said the Holy Spirit would bring to remembrance the things that He (Jesus) has taught us. 4. So while I want to be obedient to all of the Bible, I will concentrate on the things that the Holy Spirit is dealing with me about. C. There are two more things I need to remember to obey. 1. I must stay in the Word so that the Holy Spirit will have something to remind me of. 2. If I do not feel the Holy Ghost reminding me of things to do, something is wrong with me. V. I affirm my duty to share the gospel with a lost and dying world. Matt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. A. While this would also come under the topic of obedience, for myself, I need to consider it individually. B. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. That was His purpose. 1. Jesus was the first and the best Missionary and Evangelist, but He is gone. 2. The only way that others will come to Christ is if someone take the gospel to them. 3. I must be part of that team. 4. I reaffirm that I will.