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Lighthouse Baptist Church
The Lord's Supper
[music] >>Thank you for listening to this message brought to you by the Audio Ministry of Lighthouse Baptist Church. It's connected in New York. For more great content, please visit us at LighthouseBaptist.org. Now let's open our hearts and minds to the Word of God. [music] >>Turning in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians, chapter 11, 1 Corinthians, chapter 11 this morning. As we normally do, we're not just going to look at this one passage, we're going to look at some other ones as well, as we are reminded of our Savior's sacrifice. I wish you could see what I see. It's like children flying everywhere, I don't know what's going on out there. But I get very distracted, so 1 Corinthians, chapter 11, let's all stand, let's read a few verses here, and then we're going to dive into the message. So let's stand out of respect for the reading of God's Word, and then we're going to dive into the message this morning. 1 Corinthians 11, I'm going to move this back, I'm going to totally smoke that, and then it's going to fall over. So, B distraction now, verses later. Okay, 1 Corinthians 11 verses 24 and 25 is what we're going to look at. So 1 Corinthians 11 verses 24 and 25, it says this. But when he had given thanks, he'd break it and said, "Take, eat, this is my body, which is broken for you. This do in remembrance of me." After the same manner also, he took the cup when he had stopped saying, and when he had stopped saying, "This cup is a New Testament in my blood. This do ye as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me." Obviously, today we're doing the Lord's Supper, and so it's a very applicable message this morning. We're going to talk about our Savior's sacrifice. We're going to talk about his body and his blood this morning. And I encourage you, as I open up with a word of prayer, that you will ask the Lord to speak to you in a new way about the sacrifice that your Savior really went through on the cross of Calvary. Can we pray that together? All right, let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you, Lord, for your word. Lord, this morning we are really thankful for the tremendous sacrifice that Jesus went through for us. But I ask that today, that we'd be once again reminded of just really what he went through. Lord, to make it a little more special this morning as we open up and we have our Lord's Supper this morning. What I ask that you'd use this message in our lives. But if there is someone under the sound of my voice this morning that does not know you as their personal Savior or that this message would draw them to yourself, whether it even or this morning, or they would come to know you as their personal Savior. What do we ask that you would work in a mighty way? Use this message however you deepen fit in our lives. We pray this all in the wonderful, precious holy name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Thank you, you may be seated. Of course, as we talk about our Savior's sacrifice, I think we can all recognize this morning that our Savior went through a great deal for us. Can we agree to that this morning? I want to talk about what he went through. And some of it is going to be rather intense because he did go through intense agony for us on the cross and I think it's a good thing for us to be reminded as we get ready for the Lord's Supper this morning. Of course, the Lord's Supper is really what? In remembrance of him. And so this morning, point number one, his body. I've got to move because I look at the time. It's 11.32. And they're going to be up here in 23 minutes. So we got to move. And so his body. So take your notes quick if you can. Pay attention quickly. Listen quickly, whatever it is. First of all, with his body. I want you to understand that Jesus Christ was beaten. He was beaten. Matthew 26, we're going to be in a lot of different passages. If you can't get to all of them, I understand. Maybe write down the references and you can read them even later on this morning. But Matthew 26, verse 67 is what we're going to look at first this morning. Matthew 26, 67. It says this, "Then did they spit in his face and buffeted him and others smote him with the palms of their hands." I want to understand what it means buffeted. They smite him. They smote him. It means to strike with a firm blow. Remember, the people that are doing this are not just the average guy. These are hardened Roman soldiers. When they hit Jesus, they gave him everything they had. So even in this first part, which is nothing compared to what he's going to go through later, he already is suffering pain. I want you to understand that his body was beaten. He was smote in his face. He was punched in his face. But then look at the rest of this verse. "And others smote him with the palms of their hands." They smacked him in the face. We've never been smacked before. It's not a really pleasant feeling. Anybody? Nobody? Okay, nobody's with me. Okay, we got a few. Okay. It's not a pleasant feeling, is it? Of course, Jesus was smacked with open hands, with the palms of their hands. But that's not all he went through. Go to John chapter 19, verse number one. This is probably one of the most intense pains that Jesus went through on the cross. What we find is that really it's only mentioned in like a few verses. It's really not a major focus of what Jesus went through. But first of all, we have to understand he was beaten. Second of all, he was whipped. And we've got to understand what this is. We want to talk about this for a bit and kind of understand what he went through and why. John 19, verse number one, says this, "Then Pilate therefore took Jesus and scourged him." When I talk about whipped, it's not like somebody took a branch off a tree and whipped him. That's not what we're talking about. This was brutal. The Romans used what was called a flagrum. This was a whip. It would have had pieces of bone, glass, or even metal tied to the ends of the scourge. Historians tell us that most of the time there would have been two soldiers taking turns. As they did it. This would ensure that the criminal would have had no relief at all. This would literally rip the flesh off of Jesus' back, causing his ribs or even his organs to be visible. I want you to understand that when it says he was scourged, it was brutal. It was brutal. But why did he go through this? Why was he whipped? Why was he scourged? Could Isaiah 53? Isaiah 53. This is a powerful passage of course. It's talking about Jesus and what he was going to do on the cross. It's a prophecy. But in Isaiah 53 verse 5, we see something that is amazing. Why was Jesus whipped? Why was this part of what he went through? Isaiah 53 verse number 5. It says, "But he was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him. And with his stripes we are healed." Do you see why he went through it? Because we needed him too. Why did Jesus go through this? Because we needed him too. We needed healing. We needed him to intervene. We are sinners. Why did he go through this? Why did he go through this sacrifice? Because simply put church, we needed him too. If you go back to Matthew, Matthew 27 now, Matthew 27 verse 30, I totally were going to be all over the place. And I'm keeping to it. Matthew 27 verse number 30. Of course, this is not the end of what Jesus went through. He wasn't just beaten. He wasn't just whipped, but he was driven. The crown was driven into his head. And as we look at Matthew 27, 30. Actually, let me look at this. I did not include a verse. Matthew 27. Let me get this here. Matthew 27. You're all there. I'm not. I know. I'm catching up now. Matthew 27 verse number 29. You're like, "Pastor, if you didn't have so many verses, you won't have to do this." But anyway, it's good. It's good to have the Word of God, right? Matthew 27 verse number 30. Let's look at verse number 29 first. "When they had plated a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head and a reed in his right hand. And they bowed the knee before him and mocked him, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews." And they spit upon him and took the reed and smote him on the head. Do you see what happens here? They mocked Jesus. They make a crown of thorns to put on his head because what was the accused of being the king of the Jews? They gave him a reed, a stick, to hold it, a strong stick. As I put this crown on his head, they didn't just lay it on his head and just mock him, but they took that crown, they took that reed, and then they banged it into his head. The thorns that Jesus has now driven into his head are not just your average thorn. They were big. They were huge. They would have no doubt caused massive amount of blood to float on his face. If you ever had a child that has hurt their head, what happens? Blood comes gushing out, right? My son, we were at a share-a-thon, which you guys don't know, but it was when we raised money for our radio station, and he was kind of running around as a little kid, and they had a banister, but it was sharp on the edge, okay? And he's kind of, you know, having fun, he was like one, tipped over, don't write in his head, just blood everywhere. It's amazing how much your face can bleed, but can you imagine having these huge thorns that are not just laid on your head, they are driven into your head. The pain that he went through, the blood that was pouring down his face at this point, Jesus went through a great deal for you. But this is not the end of his body, is it? His body was not just beaten, but he was pierced. Mark chapter 15, verse 24, Mark 15, 24. It talks about, really, his crucifixion. Now, it doesn't talk about nails, but we, of course, know what happened with the crucifixion. Matthew 15, verse number 24. Matthew 15, 24. Mark 15, what am I saying? Mark 15, sorry, I'm all confused. Mark 15, 24. I said, Matthew, so much now, I'm all confused. Mark 15, verse number 24. You're like, oh, we're going to Mark. No, we're going to Matthew. No, we're going back to Mark. Mark 15, 24, says this. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. So when we talk about crucifixion, one of the most terrible parts about it, I guess we can say, is that his wrist and his feet were literally nailed to the cross. These nails were seven to nine inches long. These weren't like the little tiny nails, the little finishing nails that you see. These were huge, huge nails. His wrists were pierced. His feet were pierced. Why? So that he could hang on a cross for you and me. First Peter 2, 24, it tells us something great. I want to go there as we finish up this first part about his body, and I know we're moving, and I wanted to spend more time. But I want to make sure that we have enough time to examine ourselves this morning and really do the Lord's upper right. But I want you to understand Jesus' entire body was broken for you. From the top of his head to the soles of his feet, it was all broken for you. First Peter 2, 24, one of my favorite verses in scripture, it tells us an amazing fact. Why did Jesus go through this? Why was his body broken for us? First Peter 2, 24 says this, who his own self, speaking of Jesus, bear our sins in his own body on the tree that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness by whose stripes you are healed. Do you get it? Do you get the point? Why was his body broken for you? Why did he hang on a cross to bear your sins? Bear your sins and mine on his own body. Why did Jesus go through this? Why was he going through so much pain? Because that's exactly what we needed. The Bible is very clear church, all of us are sinners. And because of that, there is a very real price that has to be paid. And that is separation from God forever in a literal place called hell. But God commended, he demonstrated, he proved his love toward us. And now while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Why is it that we're so focused in on outreach as a church? Because that is the whole point why we're here. Jesus Christ came to save sinners. Why are we here to reach others with the gospel? Why is this church here in Schenectady? Because it is our job to reach our community with the gospel. If you don't know Jesus has your Savior this morning. Can I tell you something? Jesus did this for you. All of what we're going to talk about, and we're not done yet. All of what we're talking about, he did it for you. Why are we going to remember? Because he did it for us. We've got to get this. You understand what I'm saying? We've got to get this. For us to remember, we've got to remember why he came. And that was because we desperately needed him too. But that's not all that we see, is it? As we go back to 1 Corinthians 11, you don't have to go there, I'll read it to you. Because when he had given things, he'd break it and said take eat, this is my body, which is broken for you. This due in remembrance of me. After the same manner also, he took the cup when he had stopped saying, this cup is a New Testament in my blood. This due ye as off as ye drink it in remembrance of me. So he's seen his body and how it was broken. It's like a moment we have to understand his blood. First of all, when we talk about his blood, it was shed. We looked at the things that Jesus went through. It was shed when he was buffeted, when he was beaten. A Roman soldier beating Jesus mercilessly, guess what would have happened? Blood would have been shed. When he was whipped, when he was scourged, guess what happened? His blood was shed. When they drove the crown of thorns into his head, his blood was shed. When the wrists and its feet were pierced through with those nails of seven to nine inch nails, his blood was shed. As he hung on the cross, his blood was shed. Why did he do this? 1 Peter chapter 1. 1 Peter chapter 1 verses 18 and 19. I want all of us to go there this morning. 1 Peter 1 verses 18 through 19. If you don't have a Bible, we have Bibles in front of you. Use it, take it, look at it. If you don't have one, take it with you, we'll find some more. 1 Peter 1 verses 18 through 19. Why did Jesus go through this? Because once again, catching a theme, we needed him to. 1 Peter 1 verses 18 and 19. Look at what it says. For as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold. Aren't you glad you didn't have to bring a bunch of gold to come to know Jesus as your savior? From your vain conversation, received by tradition of your fathers, from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as will land without blemish and without spot, you were redeemed because of his shed blood. That is the truth. The Bible tells us that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. He had to be shed for us to be saved. His blood is crucial to everything that we do. But that's not the whole point of why we're here, is it? We're here to remember. We're here to really think about what he did, and that's going to be the main focus of this message this morning. All of that was to remind us of what he did. But now, let's look at point number 3, our remembrance. If you don't remember point number 2 is blood. Point number 1, his body. Now, let's talk about our remembrance. This is where we're going to be in 1 Corinthians 11. This is why we're doing this. 1 Corinthians 11, verse number 26, first of all, we have to understand our clear purpose. When we talk about our remembrance, we can come in here and we can be like, well, it's great to remember. But we have to understand that our remembrance, God expects some very clear things for us as we come to remember. 1 Corinthians 11, verse number 26 says this, "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you do show the Lord's death till he come." Do you see the clear purpose? That you show the Lord's death. Here's what I want you to understand. Part of you showing the Lord's death is not just coming to church. It's sharing it with others. Of course, we are showing the Lord's death. We are demonstrating what he did and we're remembering what he did. But that's not where it ends church. This isn't just a ritual that we do as a church. It's not just something that's like, oh great, we're having the Lord's supper again. No, it is a reminder that we are to show the Lord's death. We are to share it with others. Can I share this with you too? We needed to commit it to share it with others. And also we need to commit to living like we're actually changed. If I just come in here and I just do the Lord's supper and it's like, oh whatever, in the rest of my life I live like a heathen. What's the point? What's the point? To others. Commit to sharing with others and then to ourselves. Commit to living like you are changed. Of course, there's a very clear warning. We're going to talk about that later. About how God wants us to come this morning. But we have to understand that this is a commitment to show the Lord's death till he come. Do you see its duration? There is no requirement to tell how often we do it. Some churches do it every Sunday. Do you know that? Some do it once a month. I think we're going to do it this way. We're going to do it quarterly. Okay? Why? Because I want it to be special. I don't want it to be just something we do. I want it to be special. But we're also going to do it on special holidays, like Thanksgiving. What more can I be thankful about than the death, burial and resurrection of my Savior? We're going to do it at Christmas because that's the reason why he came. We're going to do it on Easter. That's an obvious one. We're going to do it throughout the year. We're going to do it more than quarterly. But why? Because the important thing is that we remember what Jesus did. That's why we do this. But do you see the duration? How long should we do this? Look at verse number 26 again. For as often as you drink this bread and drink this cup, you show the Lord's death what's those last three words? Till he come. The duration is we do this till he comes back. Of course, it's a reminder that Jesus isn't in some grave somewhere. He is alive and he is coming back. It's a promise. Whenever God promises something, he will fulfill it in his time. We also have to understand this morning there is a very clear purpose. But there's also a very clear warning in this passage. 1 Corinthians 11, 27. Look at what it says. "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord." Pretty heart statement, isn't it? When you look at 1 Corinthians, 1 Corinthians is a letter to a church that is all kinds of messed up. They were doing all kinds of things wrong. And I encourage you at some point read through 1 Corinthians 11 and you'll figure out what all they were doing. But it's kind of ridiculous how they looked at the Lord's Supper. And Paul is very clearly pointing out error, but we also have to understand to us today that we need to come and worthy. Of course, I am not worthy of the blood that Jesus shed. I'm not worthy of his body being broken for me, but I need to be living like there is a change. Here's what I want you to understand. With this unworthily includes you and I getting right with him. We need to spend time this morning confessing our sin to our God and we will do that this morning. And I want you to make it, I want to make this very clear that when we talk about sin, the Bible talks about sin and there are some sins that we don't really know we committed. If Paul talks about that when we do something without faith, it is what sin. Okay? To him that know it to do good and do it to him it is sin. But there are a lot of sins that we do that we know we did wrong. And sometimes we get a little stubborn. Is there anybody else stubborn in here? Anybody? Okay, I'm stubborn. Sometimes we get stubborn and we don't want to confess our sin. We need to get it right before him today. 1 Corinthians 11 verses 28-32, look at what it says, "But let a man examine himself." By the way women you're not off the hook. Okay, that includes you too. "And so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause for this reason many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep they are dead. For if we judge ourselves we should not be judged. But when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world." Here's what I want to ask you. As we spend time examining ourselves ask the Lord to make it clear where you've done wrong. Ask the Lord to open up your eyes. When he does confess it, forsake it, move on from it. Don't just be like, "Okay God, I'll get it right so I can partake." No, get it right, make the changes and live differently from now on. We kind of look at this. There's a couple other things. I want to make it clear. There's not just a unworthy participation where like you have unconfessed sin, but there's also an unworthy reasoning in this passage. Look at 1 Corinthians 11 verse number 33. "Wherefore my brethren, when you come together to eat, terry one for another, it's not about you." Sometimes we look at the bread and we're like, "Ooh, I want the big piece." Or we look at the juice and we go, "Wow, I want the one that's a little more filled than the others. You will live." Okay? Don't do it. Don't make this about you. It's not about you. It's about remembering your Savior. Look at verse number 34. "And if any man hunger let him eat at home, that they come not together unto condemnation, and the rest I set in order when I come." Don't just come to the Lord's Supper just to eat or just to drink the little juice. It's not about you. This morning we have looked at our Savior's sacrifice. It is very clear that Jesus Christ came into the world to save you. But what we're about to do in the Lord's Supper, it is not about you. It's not about me. It's not about how great you look in front of others if you partake. It's not about that. It's about your Savior. It's about remembering Him. So I encourage you, what we're going to do right now is we're going to spend some time examining ourselves. I don't want to be in a rush this morning. That's why I preach my sermon fast because I want to make sure that we are actually spending time really examining ourselves. In this passage, Paul could not have been more clear than when you come unworthy to the Lord's Supper, you will suffer consequences. So we need to spend time examining. I also want to make this very clear. That this morning's Lord's Supper will be available to all saved individuals who have been scripturally baptized by immersion and are right with him. Now they're going to bring up the children here in a minute. Okay? Let me hear. I want them to be in here. But here's what I encourage you to do. Okay? You as a parent, you know your kids better than I do. You know whether your kid has place or faith in Jesus Christ or not. You know whether or not they have followed him in believers baptism. You know whether or not they understand what they're really doing and how serious this really is. So I encourage you exercise wisdom. Some of us should say, hey kid you're not going to be a part of it. It's all right. Because we know that we're protecting them. Examine your walk with God. If you don't know Christ as you say here, get my attention this morning. If you do and you know if sin in your life that is unconfessed, get it right this morning. Spend some time doing very real business with God and we're going to do that right now. So everybody, you don't have to stand. We're going to have our pianists come back up I think. Come back up. Play some songs. We're going to have a time of examination. You don't have to stand. I'm not asking you to come up here. If you want to, that's fine. Do business with God this morning. God is very clear. When we come, we are to come worthily. Meaning we have done very real business with him. Okay? So let's do business with him. Talk to your God. Thank him for what he's done. But also ask him to make it very clear whether or not you need to get certain aspects in your life right with him. Alright? Let's do business with God this morning. We hope that message was an encouragement to you. To stay up to date with us, please follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook and LBC's Connect today. If you would like more information on how Heaven can be your home, please visit LighthouseBaptist.org/TheGospel. [Music] (gentle music)