Communion - Pastor Marv

[0:00] And Ethan, thank you for your presentation this morning. I appreciate very much what you had to say. And I admire the courage of you and your colleagues for going out and about and doing what you do.

[0:13] Because frankly, most people would be absolutely terrified in a setting like that. So it takes some real spiritual moxie and conviction to even be willing to undertake such a thing.

[0:30] So I commend you for that. And I appreciate your being willing to do that. It's not an easy thing to go out in a situation like that in a strange setting.

[0:42] Talking to people that you do not know and have never seen before. But you know that most of them have a conviction that is contrary to your own. And you have a responsibility to provide them with the kind of information that will allow them to reconsider their position.

[1:03] And I cannot stress it enough how important information is. Because information is the fodder that allows people to think.

[1:17] And nothing happens and nothing changes until somebody starts thinking. But they need content to think about. And sometimes when that content is completely contrary to a position that you hold and have always believed, it makes pretty tough sledding.

[1:39] So we really want to commend you for that. And I think the very least that Grace Bible Church can do in a situation like this is to see that this effort is fully and generously funded.

[1:54] And there's entirely possible that some opportunity for that may come out of the business meeting this evening if the elders have already discussed it. But it's something that certainly ought to be considered.

[2:07] And I don't know of anything more worthy of supporting than the whole principle of life itself. And I really like the new look to this auditorium.

[2:20] And I've seen it before, but I've never seen it from the pulpit until now. And I really like it. And my hat's off to those decorating gurus.

[2:32] And I'm sure they were probably 99% female that were responsible for this new facelift. It really, really does look nice. And it's very pleasing.

[2:43] And I appreciate their efforts so much. Thank you for whoever was involved in that undertaking. As we were singing the last hymn about there's power in the blood, every time I hear that song, I'm always in question and quandary as to, is there anybody listening to that song and seeing those words, maybe unfamiliar with it and they're wondering, what is this?

[3:16] Power in the blood. What is this all talking about anyway? And we tend to think very often in negative terms of blood.

[3:29] But we ought not to do that. We ought to think in very positive terms of blood. After all, it is coursing through your veins and arteries right now. And it's that thing which keeps you alive.

[3:41] And there is a spiritual significance to blood and there is a physical significance to blood. And I'm amazed. I remember reading one time, this was long before I even became a Christian, but I was kind of stunned by the fact.

[3:56] The man's name was William Harvey. And he was credited for discovering the circulation of blood. Everybody knew that you had blood in you because enough people had been subjected to some kind of a wound, no matter how minor or how major.

[4:18] And they know that if you poke your skin, you poke a hole in your skin somewhere, you're going to leak. And what you leak, of course, is blood. And up until that time, and this is quite amazing to me, up until that time, they thought that your body was just kind of like a jug, kind of like a human jug that was just a container and it was filled full of blood.

[4:44] And when you poke the hole in the jug, it leaked. And William Harvey, I'm not sure about this, but I think it was like 1627 or maybe 1657, only about 500 years ago did he discover this earth-shaking new thing that the blood in your body moves.

[5:05] It courses all throughout the body. I mean, everywhere. It touches every bit. And actually, it is that which nourishes all of the tissue and all of the organs and everything.

[5:16] And without it, you'd be in big trouble. In fact, when people are suffering from some kind of a malady, a serious illness, or a wound, they're very often a candidate for a blood transfusion.

[5:30] And sometimes it makes all the difference in the world in saving the life or losing the individual. And they actually take somebody else's blood, which of course is of the same type, and it took them a while to find that out too, and they infuse the hurting, wounding person with someone else's blood, and it makes all the difference in the world.

[5:52] And in that hymn that we were singing about, there is power in the blood, power in the blood. And doctors have told us, and patients have felt it, that after they have received, depending on how low they are, but after they have received one or two injections or infusions of blood, it's just almost like they feel like they're alive again.

[6:16] And the weakness that was there because of the loss of blood is restored almost immediately into a newfound strength. So there's something physical about there is power in the blood.

[6:31] And it is a physical power, but there is a spiritual power too. And even as that physical blood courses throughout our veins, it serves to cleanse the body of impurities and allows you to discharge them because they are elements that your body cannot use and does not need.

[6:52] So it's a purifying thing. It's just an absolutely fascinating concept if you really get into the subject. And medical students can tell you how fascinating it is. And it is truly remarkable.

[7:03] And then there is a poetic side to it too. And one of the first expressions we find of that is in the book of Genesis. Genesis. And the first murder had been committed.

[7:20] And Cain, first man born on the face of the earth, became a murderer. Human race is off to a great start, huh?

[7:32] And you know why he did that? How he was able to do that? His own brother? There's a dynamic called volition. Cain was imbued by God, like everyone else, with a will, the ability to make decisions.

[7:49] It's called volition, from which our word voluntary comes. And Cain, for whatever motivation he had, murdered his brother.

[8:02] And when he was confronted by our Lord, and I think this was a Christophany, but we won't stop there and explain that. But he said to Cain, where's your brother?

[8:12] And Cain said, I don't know. I have no idea. Am I my brother's keeper? And the Lord said, the blood of your brother Abel cries unto me from the ground.

[8:38] What a tremendous statement. There is a poetic use of the blood. And you know as well as I that the Bible has lots and lots of poetry.

[8:52] And it has a lot of prose, but it has a lot of poetry, too. And poetry is used to emphasize and give a flavor and a different dimension to what's being said. And when you say, like, the blood of your brother cries unto me from the ground.

[9:09] Well, blood doesn't cry. Blood doesn't have a voice. But it does when you put poetry to it. It gives it another dimension. It gives it another punch.

[9:21] It forces the hearer to think more deeply about the subject when poetry is used as opposed to just plain prose. So blood is an absolutely fascinating, fascinating thing.

[9:36] And when Jesus shed his blood, he did it for you and for me. We who were not even thought of 2,000 years ago.

[9:48] But I would have you to understand as we come to the communion table and prepare ourselves shortly. And he said, finally, that what happened on that cross when he who knew no sin was made to be sin on our behalf so that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

[10:16] And he did that voluntarily through the shedding of his blood. And that speaks, of course, of the finality of death.

[10:29] Jesus didn't swoon on the cross. He really died. He died a death he did not deserve. And he did it for those who did deserve it.

[10:42] That's called the grace of God. And it does not compute in accordance with our natural way of thinking.

[10:53] But it does with God's way of thinking. Grace is a God thing. Pure justice is a human thing. You get what you pay for.

[11:04] You pay for what you get. And you're just desserts. And this is what you earned. And blah, blah, blah. And that's the way that works. That's the way the world works. That's the way life works.

[11:16] But grace is a commodity of the divine. It is the provision of something based solely on the giver's generosity and love, not based on the recipient's desserts.

[11:34] That's what makes it so stunningly different. And let me tell you, that also is what makes it a hard sell sometimes.

[11:45] Because people know that's not the way it works. But let me tell you, that's the way God works. And the difference is truly remarkable.

[11:58] Greater difference than we can explain. And it's all motivated by his love and his care for us. For God, so loved means God in this way, so loved the world.

[12:14] You, that he gave his only begotten son. So that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

[12:28] Greatest transaction in the world. And as I've told you a number of times over the years, that what happened on that cross between 12 noon and 3 p.m. in the afternoon on that fateful day that Jesus was hanging there, those three hours became the centerpiece of the universe.

[12:53] Don't ever forget that. Don't ever forget that.

[13:25] It's the only way that God reminds us and is intended to remind us of the body of Christ. And the cup reminds us of the blood of Christ.

[13:38] And we are told that we are to do that in remembrance of him. you know as I was thinking about that saying many years ago as a much younger man I thought I don't know that that's all that necessary really to have these elements for reminders who in the world could possibly forget something like that something like the crucifixion who could forget that I'll tell you who could forget it you could and so could I after all it is far removed from us a couple thousand years anyway historically removed from us geographically removed from us just easy to forget and as I debated within myself would it really be that easy to for something that monumental are there other instances where God has provided something for mankind so that he would be able to remember and not be able to forget what would they be well I didn't have to look far you look at the children of Israel coming out of the land of Egypt what did God provide for them one undeniable miracle after another started with the ten plagues on the Egyptians that did not touch any of the Israelites at all started and continued with the opening of the Red Sea so that they could pass through on dry land how miraculous is that could anybody experience something like that and forget that the God of heaven was in charge no nobody could forget that oh but they did and it wouldn't be long until they're going to be griping and complaining about oh why would we be brought here in the desert and there's nothing to drink and there's nothing to eat and they complained what were they doing they were forgetting what God had already done for them the miracles that he had already performed but you couldn't forget well they did they did and that's that was the basis of their griping and complaining and their moaning and yeah we just brought us out here oh that we could return to Egypt where we had the onions and the leeks and the garlics at least we had something to eat we're going to starve to death out here what was their problem they forgot they forgot they dismissed what God but what have you done for me lately you know they forgot and as you go on through with water out of the rock and all of the miracles one after another and it's just as if

[16:21] God could not possibly do enough to convince these people and keep them from moaning and groaning and complaining and belly aching and he had rescued them out of slavery for crying out loud brought them out of Egypt as slaves and now here they are and finally after all of that rejection and unbelief God in his incredible long suffering and patience finally had enough and I'll tell you when God is fed up up to here somebody's in big big trouble long suffering and patience of God does have an end and sometimes I think the human race keeps racing toward it looking for it but it will come to an end and on behalf of the Israelites they came right up to the border of the promised land and they thought we'll send in 12 spies to reconnoiter the situation and find out just what we're up against because we know there's a bunch of people living there and they're not going to take kindly to us coming in there so we're going to send out 12 spies and they go in and search out the land and they'll tell us about their defenses about their fortresses about their strength it was a it was a secret operation and out of the 12 10 came back and said better forget it these guys are too big their walls are too heavy too thick too high we can't penetrate them we'd never be able to take them we just better forget about it and out of the 12 there were two men two men

[18:25] Joshua and Caleb said yeah their walls are high and they are thick and the people are big I tell you they make us look like midgets they're big people but they don't have our God and we can take them let's go in and they took a vote and the vote was no this is another case where the majority is not always right they were wrong now it doesn't mean the majority is always wrong but it means the majority can be wrong even though there are more of them and they were wrong this time and God's long suffering came to an end he said alright I've had enough you won't go into the land even though I have led you this far and I decided and promised you that I would protect you and look out for you and you still forget what I've done for you and you have not believed so you are going to stay right here in this wilderness and wander around in circles for 38 years and when the older know-it-all generation dies off

[19:42] I'll bring their children into the land what a waste what a travesty all because they forgot they just didn't reckon on what God had done two out of the twelve did Joshua and Caleb said yeah but I'm sure they probably used that as an argument look there was this time and there was this and God bailed us out and there was water out of the rock and there was a quail and for heaven and all the rest of it we can do this we can trust the Lord God is with us he's taking care of us and they were voted down all because they sold God short so we have these elements here and we partake of them not because they provide any grace or merit on our part you do not necessarily at all become a better

[20:43] Christian and you certainly don't become a Christian at all by partaking of these elements that comes from believing on the Lord Jesus Christ as an act of your will apart from anything like this but what is this we do this in remembrance and just holding a physical cup and a little piece of bread reminds us in a way even if you don't particularly care to be reminded you can't hardly help it because you've got something physical and we are physical people so it serves as a reminder the bread reminds us of that precious body that knew no sin that loved the world in such a way that he gave himself and the cup reminds us of his blood and it's just marvelous every time every time we get together and celebrate this I'm reminded of what I've already told you and

[21:44] I'm sure I've told you this before probably a number of times over the past 50 years but like the gospel I never tire of telling it I hope you never tire of hearing it it's the most amazing God loving God honoring thing in the world that Christ died for our sin my oh my when Gypsy Smith who grew up was born into and grew up with a band of gypsies back in the 1800s late 1800s came to faith in Christ and as a young man it just absolutely revolutionized his life and he began preaching at the tender age of 14 or 15 years of age and after some 60 or so years of ministry and holding campaigns preaching all over the country he was being interviewed and the interviewer asked him

[22:59] Gypsy Smith what what is it that kept you going and kept you dedicated to this missionary ministry of evangelism for all of these years what was the driving factor and he thought for a moment and he said I guess it's because I never lost the wonder I never lost the wonder think of that he never got over the fact that Jesus Christ loved him and gave himself for him have you lost the wonder or have you ever embraced the wonder partaking of these elements will not do it they are a reminder for those who have already embraced Christ as their savior but I would encourage anyone here who has never really made that firm definite decision to seriously consider who Jesus

[24:11] Christ is what he did why he came and why it matters so much because let me tell you nothing in this world or in the world to come is more important than a personal relationship to Jesus Christ would you pray with me father we've talked about things that are revealed in your word and we can scarcely imagine the awe and the wonder in the hearts and minds of those who were on the receiving end of seeing with their own eyes these miracles that we've described and yet there is no miracle that can begin to compete with what you did for us and your marvelous resurrection back to life and you're imparting your very own life to us in a way we don't understand but can accept and appreciate and our prayer for each and every person here is that that reality may be true of them but in case there is one even just one here who has never really come to grips with that would you be pleased to open their hearts and minds even now and allow them to understand your love for them and your availability to them and all they need to do is acknowledge their lostness acknowledge their being apart from you and are unable to save or justify themselves and even right now say

[26:07] Lord Jesus there's much about this I don't understand but I understand one thing like everyone else in the whole wide world I am a sinner and I cannot save myself and I believe that Jesus died on that cross to take my death upon him and give me life in its place and I want that life I want the work of Jesus to be applied to my case so that I become one with him and I shall thank you from now through eternity Lord Jesus here's my heart and my life and my all I give it to you I thank you for doing for me what I could never do for myself in Christ's wonderful name amen if you made that decision be sure to let someone else know about it before you leave today they want to be of encouragement to you now we'll prepare ourselves for the table and if the elders will come forward please thank you

[27:45] The night the Lord Jesus was betrayed, he was meeting with his apostles in the upper room.

[28:11] And after they had had the meal and Judas had gone out, Jesus made a rather stunning statement that did not compute at the moment. They were wondering exactly what this meant.

[28:25] Looking back on it, of course, it becomes very clear. But that night, Jesus took bread and he broke it and he said, Take, eat.

[28:37] And it was a common loaf, what we would call a loaf. It was kind of like a large pancake. And he passed it around and each one was to break off a piece of that loaf or that pancake and eat it.

[28:50] And Jesus said, Take, eat. This is my body which is given for you. Can you not imagine the quizzical look on the face of the apostles as he said that?

[29:04] And the frowns in there saying, What did he mean by that? What was that all about? And I said, I don't know. But they ate it.

[29:16] And, of course, afterwards it would become as clear to them as it is to us what he meant by that. This did not become his body, but it did represent his body.

[29:27] It is that signal for it. So it is with that in mind that we partake of the elements. So it is with that in mind that we are going to be able to do it.

[30:03] Let's see. Which twenties they étaient out, bro. But I've got another one for me.

[30:17] heard of your mouth will be able to spread it after showing up a podcast. And I'll try this one without telling them that we need to target it first. You have not heard about it.

[30:27] I kind of heard anything before that it is about a lot of YOU. apple Thank you.

[31:28] Thank you.

[31:58] Thank you.

[32:28] Thank you.

[32:58] Thank you.

[33:28] Thank you.

[33:58] Thank you.

[34:28] Thank you.

[34:58] Thank you.

[35:28] Thank you.

[35:58] Thank you.

[36:28] Thank you.

[36:58] Thank you.

[37:28] Thank you.

[37:58] Thank you.

[38:28] Thank you.

[38:58] Thank you.

[39:28] Thank you.

[39:58] Thank you.

[40:28] Thank you.

[40:58] Thank you.

[41:28] Thank you.

[41:58] One of the people, Father, Thank you.

[43:28] We ask that you, Thank you.

[44:28] Thank you.

[44:58] Thank you.

[45:28] Thank you.

[45:58] Thank you.

[46:28] Thank you.

[46:58] Thank you.