Creek Community Church, Pastor Dave Martin Feb 7, 2010

“Spiritual Celebration”

1Co 11:23-32  (Page 812 in chair Bible)

Welcome to Cross Creek, we’re glad you are here with us this morning…

1 Corinthians 11:23-32 ²³ For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." ²⁵ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." ²⁶ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. ²⁷ Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. ²⁹ For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. ³⁰ That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. ³¹ But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. ³² When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

1 Corinthians 11:26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Three Steps to Celebrate the Lord’s Supper…

1. 1.      Spiritual Reflection… do this in “remembrance” of me, do this in “remembrance” of me

Reflecting on Jesus…

• Reflect on Who is He?  Either a liar, a lunatic or Lord of the universe…

•  
  • We live in an age of religious pluralism and moral relativism. The popular spiritual philosophy today is that all religious belief systems, as long they are “heart-felt”, are equal. Pick one and follow it sincerely, and you’ll get to Heaven… Jesus is not a way among many…
  • Jesus is the long awaited Messiah, predicted many passages by the Old Testament Prophets
  • Jesus is 100% God and 100% Man – The God Man… virgin born, Immanuel - “God with us”
  • He knew no sin, sinless… miracle worker… mighty teacher… Life giver… world changer…

• Reflect on Why Did He come to Earth? (Jn 6:38-40)

•  
  • Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
  • Reflect on the reason Christ came… He came to save our souls…

• Reflect on What Did He Accomplish on the Cross?

•  
  • 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
  • Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
  • 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,

• Reflect on Is He Alive and is He Coming Again?

•  
  • Seen by over 500 people after His resurrection… 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 ³ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

Reflect on 1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

•  
  • We are not playing some game… weighty, heaven/hell/eternal destiny hangs in the balance…

We reflect of Christ, we also…

Reflecting on Yourself… v28, Let a man examine himself…  How do you match up to God’s standard?

• Have you been spiritually reborn? – A moments decision… an eternal consequence/destiny

John 3:3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

• How has Christ Transformed your life? – Difference He has made in your life…

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

• Are you Growing and Bearing Spiritual Fruit? – Stuck in a rut, Hot/Cold, Yo-Yo, Struggling

Colossians 1:10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

SACRIFICIAL DEATH – GLORIOUS RESURRECTION – ETERNAL LIFE

Three Steps to Celebrate the Lord’s Supper…  #1 Spiritual Reflection…

1. 2.      Spiritual Release

• Christ offers Freedom…

 John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

1. Pattern of sinning, burdens you’re carrying, baggage in your life, bondage to addictive habits?
2. Preparing for the Lord’s Supper… be released from what weighs you down… get FREE

Philippians 3:13-14 ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

• Freedom by Letting go of my…

Past – Forgetting what is behind… Abusive person… nasty divorce… illness or death of someone close 2 U

•  
  • Grief, hurts, pains, sorrow is all a part of life.  Everybody experiences loss and deep hurts

Ill: “Fifty years ago industrialists thought they could just bury toxic waste and it would go away. We have since learned it doesn't just go away. It makes trouble. It leaks into the water table, contaminates crops, and kills animals. Buried grief and hurts does the same thing. Raw time doesn't heal a thing. Buried pain leaks into our emotional system and wreaks havoc there. It distorts our perceptions of life, and it taints our relationships. That contamination happens subconsciously.”   Bill Hybels, "A Better Kind of Grieving," Preaching Today, Tape No. 108.

1. Perhaps deep hurts will become our dominating factor and we begin building walls in our lives.

•  
  • God often uses pain to produce spiritual growth… we can grow bitter or better Jam 1:2-4
  • Maybe someone hurt you deeply and just can’t forgive them… 

Matthew 6:14-15 ¹⁴ For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Guilt – about something you did that just keeps haunting you… The Devil loves to keep reminding you

•  
  • Some people refuse to accept the forgiveness of God… keeping you prisoner, in the penalty box
  • Scars are real even if you were an innocent victim in something… Can’t forgive yourself…
  • Living with regret carrying the burden with you… maybe it was an abortion, loose lifestyle, drug use, maybe it was words that destroyed a relationship…  Give it to the Lord! 

Psalms 32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord"-- and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

Sins – If you have never trust Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you need to be saved from your sins

•  
  • Carrying the heavy load of sin is overwhelming… Call upon the name of the Lord, and be saved…
  • You can die and try to convince God why you didn’t need Jesus… or you can fall on His grace
  • As  a believer, it’s all about keeping a short lease on sin… walking upright with your Lord…

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1. Our Sin, our guilt, the baggage from your past can hold you in Bondage…
2. Burdened by the heavy weight that only Christ can lift… God’s grace sets us Free!

BONDAGE – GRACE – FREEDOM

If you are not saved… would you take this opportunity to experience God’s grace and Freedom…

Heart prayer… Heavenly Father, thank you sending Your Son Jesus, to die for me.  Forgive my sins and I ask you to come into my life and save my soul.  Cleanse me of my sins and shame… Thank you Jesus for dying for me, Thank You for Your promise of forgiveness and Freedom, Thank you for a brand new life now and eternal life forever...

Three Steps to Celebrate the Lord’s Supper… #1 Spiritual Reflection… #2 Spiritual Release…

1. 3.      Spiritual Renewal – Commitment to living daily in Personal Revival

A Transformed life can be yours…

2 Peter 1:3-4 ³ His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Romans 12:1-2 ¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. ² Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

DECISION – SURRENDER – CELEBRATION

Come to the table… Enjoy “Spiritual Celebration”!

• Calm your spirit - REFLECT
• Confess your sins - RELEASE
• Commit your life - RENEWAL

If the men would come at this time… 1Co 11:23-26

Get your tickets for our upcoming Aaron Shust/Down Here/Laura Story Concert $10 March 19^th 7pm…

Many New Life Groups beginning… Select your group… “Sign up before it fills up”

Lobby or Website!