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[0:00] So, we are gathered here this morning, and one of the things that we intend to do is remember Him. And you will note on the front of the table there that it says, This do in remembrance of Me.

[0:17] We call this communion. We have bread that we eat that symbolizes His body, and the cup that we drink from that symbolizes His blood.

[0:33] So, where and how and when and why did this all start? That's what we're going to talk about, but ever so briefly, and I do have, as is often the case, some propositions that I want to share with you, because these elements here that are going to be used worldwide today, maybe in some different fashions and different modes, but essentially they all point to the same thing.

[1:13] We do this in remembrance of Him. And we ought to know something about the big picture. When and where and how and why this all began.

[1:26] Because it didn't begin at Calvary. It didn't begin in the upper room. It didn't even begin with the resurrection. It didn't even begin in Bethlehem. It began long, long before that, when there was nothing and no one that existed but the infinite eternal deity, subsisting in a trio of individual personalities, yet comprising a singular being of God.

[1:59] with no earth, no planets, no universe, no stars, no heavens, no anything, with nothing of any kind of material substance at all.

[2:17] There was simply this eternal existence of this God who is immaterial and spiritual, not physical.

[2:31] And subsisting as He did in three persons, three distinct persons, comprising not three gods, but one God.

[2:44] In His immateriality and spirituality existed in a form that we cannot really fathom. All three of these persons were spirit beings.

[2:59] Father, Son, Holy Spirit. And because there was no flesh involved, this was before the incarnation.

[3:12] This is in eternity past, before there was ever a Bethlehem or the incarnation took place. Their existence has always preceded time and space.

[3:26] Now, I want you to try to get your brain around this as much as you can. And I know it's difficult because I've tried to do it a number of times and I can only go so far and then I just have to mentally drop out because I can't, I can't perceive any further.

[3:42] We just cannot escape from thinking in terms of time and space. Time and space are things that are needed to accommodate something that is material and physical.

[4:00] But God in His essence and character and nature and makeup is not a material being. He is not physical. This is what Jesus was talking about when He mentioned to the woman at the well in John 4 and He said, God is spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

[4:26] Well, how do you do that? How do you worship God in spirit? You do that with the immaterial part of your being which is not physical.

[4:39] we're all very fully aware of a physical body, arms and legs and eyes and all the rest but the Bible makes it very, very clear that you have a component about your being that is not physical, it's not material and it does not occupy space.

[4:59] It is your human spirit. And if this is correct and I don't know that it is because it cannot be proved empirically or any other way but my suspicion is and this is just a Wiseman opinion may not be worth anything.

[5:16] My suspicion is that your mind dwells in your human spirit not your brain.

[5:28] Your brain is an entirely different thing that is physical, it's material, weighs about three pounds described as a gelatinous mass of putty-like substance.

[5:43] That's the physical brain but the mind is different. You don't worship God with your brain. You worship Him with your mind. The brain has other functions that it fulfills and I realize that I'm on I guess I would say dangerous ground today with the neurophysicists some of whom go so far as to say the human mind does not even exist.

[6:13] All you have is a brain and that's it. And the brain is responsible for creating all of the immaterial sensations that you may have that you do not have a mind you have a brain.

[6:26] But interestingly enough the Bible never uses the word brain but it repeatedly uses the word mind.

[6:38] And it has to do with that immaterial part of your being where thought processes take place where other things dwell as well in this human spirit and if we understand it correctly and I'm not certainly not an authority on this but in your human spirit there also dwells intelligence imagination creativity temperament norms and standards a value system and all these other immaterial things ideas imagination nobody's ever seen an imagination nobody's ever seen an idea because they're not physical but they're real personality is real temperament is real but nobody ever sees these things and the most we can do is demonstrate them through body language and through speech and things that we communicate to other people that gives them an idea of what's going on inside of us the apostle Paul talked about this when he said what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which dwells within him and this means that each and every one of us have this little private compartment in our being that is completely off limits to everyone else nobody else can get in there that's your own private territory you know things in your mind that nobody else knows

[8:18] I don't care if you have been married to her for 50 years she doesn't know that and she's got things in her mind that you don't know and never will be able to know unless she tells you because that's that little private domain that's the human spirit and it is absolutely fascinating but it is it is so difficult to pin down because we can only deal with things that we can weigh and measure and evaluate and see but none of these things you can the human mind the human mind has never been seen by anyone the brain of course can be removed preferably after you die and it's very physical and everybody knows about that but where is this thing called the spirit or the mind because we cannot put it under a microscope not even an electron microscope and say aha there it is we cannot operate on someone surgically and look into the brain and see ideas floating around here comes an idea here comes a thought there goes a personality trait all of these things are immaterial this is part of our being fearfully and wonderfully made so Paul says what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of man which is in him so so long ago and I can't even use the term years because when you use years you're talking about time we're not talking about time and we're not talking about space we're talking about a a God who is eternal and infinite who always existed in spirit form not physical form and out of this out of this creative

[10:18] God energy non-physicality physicality came material came this means of course and requires that the spiritual is superior to the physical your spirit is superior to your body your spirit is that part of you that was converted to Jesus Christ when you believed on him and that's the part of you that was regenerated and made new in Christ and when you die that's the part of you that spirit that is going to leave your body and it will be finished with your body and this is what James was talking about when he said the body without the spirit is dead and that leads me to believe that the spirit is the animating principle of your body your spirit energizes your body the body takes orders from your spirit from your mind in your mind you decide that you want to do certain things and you send you send that signal in your mind through the brain and I have no idea how the brain and the mind work together but I just suspect that they do because we know how everything is connected with the brain all the body parts and the nerves and it's just absolutely mind boggling and you send this message this impulse to your arm and your hand and it moves at the request of your spirit and your mind and enables you to scratch your nose when it itches and that's something and sometimes something happens of a physical nature like an injury or some kind of deformation at birth and the system doesn't work right and the signal doesn't get through and we call these people paralytics they can't walk or they haven't got the use of their arms or something like that because that area that is supposed to send and receive the signal is damaged and it doesn't get through this is fascinating stuff and every one of us has all of these components it's part of being part of being human so this god existed from eternity past in an immaterial way and he requires no time and no space as does the physical if you can understand that please explain it to me afterwards because I certainly can't this spirit being comprised of non-matter chose to bring other non-material spirit beings who were finite into existence now he himself is infinite that means he has no limitations he possesses all power and all wisdom and is everywhere present omniscient omnipotent omnipresent this is who this immaterial non-physical spiritual being called

[14:10] God is and he is referred to as the one who inhabits eternity it's mentioned just one time in the Psalms we cannot say how long ago it was that this non-material God decided to create other non-material beings and bring them into existence and the reason we can't say how long ago this was is because that would involve time which did not exist these spirit beings are referred to as angels cherubim and seraphim and they have no physicality either they are spirit beings what does the spirit look like it doesn't look like anything because it can't be perceived with the human eye remember it isn't physical so you can't see it but that doesn't mean it has no objective reality it just means that it isn't detectable to us through our ordinary five senses we cannot say where this occurred because that would involve space and there wasn't any space there wasn't any time we have no idea how many spirit beings the bible calls angels were brought into existence or precisely why they were created other than that verse in revelation four that says they were created for his good pleasure god created simply because it pleased him to do so and that was all the rationale he needed

[16:07] I think that's revelation four eleven these angelic beings were created as volitional beings possessing an ability to exercise their will in compliance or non compliance with their creator now just in case you are wondering well what in the world does all of this stuff you're talking about have to do with the communion table my answer is everything absolutely everything we're talking about the origin of this communion table and of these elements I mean to say what I'm talking about now is the origin of it yeah that's right absolutely most definitely these angelic beings created as volitional beings means they were they were entrusted with a will that enabled them to obey or disobey as they chose and one of those in particular referred to as

[17:24] Lucifer identified in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 as the king of Tyre and the anointed cherub led a revolt against the creator and recruited a significant number of other angels to join him how long ago was that well we can't say because that would involve time and we're talking about an eternal kind of situation our best guess is that those created angels that eventually rebelled against the creator and used their will in a negative way have since become the demonic beings that are found in scripture especially in the gospels we do not know that for sure but it appears to be the case because biblical theology will not allow for

[18:24] God to in any way shape or form be a part of the creation of evil for he is not he is a holy God and he cannot be charged with having created evil but he can and should be charged with creating a potential for evil in that he endowed his creatures with a volition that did not lock them in to being obedient to him but it made them free moral agents they could obey or disobey and the record as we indicated earlier from Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 where he is called the anointed cherub that over shadowed and the king of Tyre and the type thereof fell in exercising that will and this creation of and the rebellion of these angelic beings constituted the origin of the cosmic conflict or as some refer to it the invisible war this is a war that began between

[19:47] God and the powers of evil in eternity past before there was any matter created there was no Mercury Venus Earth Mars Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto none of those existed nor did any other planets exist nor were there any other solar systems there was no other universe of any kind there was nothing but this immaterial spirit essence so the creator then determined to resolve the angelic rebellion and conflict by creating lesser beings you and I are the B team we are lesser in many ways we are lesser in power and wisdom and understanding than angelic beings even our Lord was referred to as having been created a little lower than the angels and he was in his humanity of course he is king of kings and lord of lords and so far superior to the angels as the whole book of

[21:17] Hebrews makes so very very clear but in his humanity he became one of us and I want to share with you a few verses that refer to this in Ephesians chapter 3 verses 7 through 11 and I must watch my time because I told you this would be an abbreviated message Ephesians 3 beginning with verse 7 Paul is talking about the Gentiles and himself being an apostle to the Gentiles and in verse 7 he says of which I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace which was given to me according to the working of his power to me the very least of all saints this grace was given to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ now listen listen carefully please and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things why to what end what was it all about listen listen carefully in order that and in the

[22:35] Greek this is called a purpose clause in order that or to the end that the manifold wisdom of God or variegated wisdom or unlimited wisdom of God multifaceted wisdom of God might now be made known through the church that's you that's all other believers everywhere and anywhere throughout the world who have existed from the time the church began might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places who are they they are these angels of whom we spoke angels constitute a higher order of created beings but they are spirit beings and they are not subject to redemption the death of

[23:43] Christ is not applicable except to human beings might be named known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places this was in accordance with the eternal purpose which he God carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in him he is the one that we are remembering as we come to this table one being of the three and by the way all three of these beings in the Godhead Father Son and Holy Spirit were all immaterial beings they were all non-physical beings Jesus didn't have a body before he obtained one through the

[24:47] Virgin Mary born in Bethlehem up to that time the Son was a spirit being Father was a spirit being Holy Spirit was a spirit being and as best as we can determine this Son who was the eternal Son and no time when he was not the eternal Son assumed a humanoid like existence and this may sound far-fetched and I'm sure some would consider it such but I think that this is the way it was I think that this spirit being Son assumed a human like body it was not a human body it was a human like body it will not be a truly human body until the incarnation but prior to that time he assumed a physical like human body and I think that is the one that stooped down on the earth and got on his knees and literally physically fashioned from the dust of the earth a big lump of clay that contained arms and legs and head and feet and all the rest and he made this being this first being into this physical mass of potential humanity that didn't have any life to it and the record says that God breathed into the nostrils think of that

[26:44] God breathed into the nostrils of Adam the breath of life and Adam became a living soul now for those who have difficulty with that and say oh your literality is going too far it's just not well okay what's the alternative I suppose he could have just said presto and the dust particles would have formed into the human body but the text indicates that man was formed fashioned put together does this mean like a like a child making a clay figure out of dirt yes just exactly that I know I can't account for the physicality and the blood vessels and the organs and all of that but I think the point is being made is that we are made of the earth and the word human comes from the latin humus h-u-m-u-s and you are decayed vegetable matter if you will that's human that's our origin and as I've pointed out to you in the past it is not a coincidence that the chemical composition of our bodies is the same as the chemical composition of the earth because we were taken from it and we returned to it and when this being when this pre-incarnate

[28:28] Christ that I refer to as a Christophany made man in his image he needed a pattern he needed a prototype what was it going to be I think it was himself I think it was this human-like form that he assumed before he made man and even though he was not what we would call a legitimate or full-fledged human being he was one who simply assumed this identity with two arms and two legs and two ears and two eyes and one head and so on and so on when the text says that Adam that man was made in God's image I think that's what it means he used himself as a pattern and it was this one who walked with Adam in the garden in the cool of the day and it was this one who spoke to Adam when he said Adam where art thou it was this physical manifestation and when he created

[29:30] Adam he made him to look somewhat like his own body and then in order to make Adam not only in his image but also in his likeness and both words are used image and likeness I think the image refers to the physicality of Adam and the likeness refers to the spirituality that God gave Adam a spirit something of himself in addition to the physical body and this spirit and this body put together the text says and Adam became a living soul and the point I've insisted on and will until the day I see the Lord is this you do not have a soul you are a soul you are a soul that has a physical body and a non-physical spirit and when you die the spirit is finished with the body it leaves and absent from the body present with the Lord and the body goes to the ground and the spirit goes to be with the Lord assuming that you know the Lord and then years later 4,000 years later 4,000 years later this spirit

[31:01] Jesus took unto himself a real physical body and was born of a woman conceived by the Holy Spirit and birthed from the womb of the Virgin Mary and he still is this one in the Godhead is locked in to his humanity he will always be the man in the glory think of that and when he took upon him that physical body he did so in order that he would have a body like yours and mine that could suffer pain and heartache and death and this all goes back to that original rebellion and the resolution of the angelic conflict and we still see it going on today but we know what the outcome is going to be because he has already gotten the victory unto himself so when we gather together as we are this morning we are to do this in remembrance of him and it isn't just his death burial and resurrection but it's the whole package this thing goes all the way back that's the origin of this communion service and when we remember

[32:26] Christ we remember him from who and what he was before he ever came to Bethlehem this is all part of the grand plan of redemption and it is just absolutely mind boggling would you open your hymnal please to number 312 and we'll sing verse 2 and as we sing appreciate the elders coming forward and we'll prepare to serve communion 312 just verse 2 the stripes that he bore and the thorns that he wore told his mercy and love evermore and my heart bowed in shame as I called on his name and

[33:37] Calvary covers it all Calvary covers it all my past with the sin and stain my guilt and despair Jesus took on him there and Calvary covers it all grace grace bible church we practice what is commonly known as open communion and that means that anyone who is with us today who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is welcome to partake of the elements with us in remembrance of him and we consider this both a privilege and an obligation to partake of these elements so if you are not a member of grace bible church but you are a member of the church which is his body by faith in

[34:48] Jesus Christ then this is the Lord's table and you are welcome to it we would appreciate your participating with us so the fact that you are not a member of grace has no bearing upon that at all these elements are reminders of what happened when Jesus came and took upon himself that physical body no longer just a Christophany no longer just providing a prototype for Adam no longer providing a physical being to appear with the others to Abraham in Genesis 19 or to Jacob at the Brook Jabbok or to Joshua all of these were Christophanies but when he came and was born of Mary that became a finalized kind of thing and he is still the risen ascended Christ the man in the glory incarnation the enfleshment of deity is what we are talking about and it is just absolutely mind numbing but this is the record of scripture and apart from it we have no other answers we have no other real clues but what has been provided there is sufficient and it's on that basis that we gather today together today to celebrate and it is a celebration because he has gotten the victory unto himself and because he lives we too shall live pray with me please father we do not have the ability to express the gratitude that you deserve but as much as lies within us we want to once again come to this table with the recognition that what these elements portray is a demonstration of an absolutely incredible kind of love and care and mercy poured out upon us through what

[36:58] Jesus Christ did on that cross we can never get over it and we never hope to we'll still be amazed when we are in your presence that that kind of love extended to us we are so grateful that it did and that it continues so as we partake of these elements just remind us whatever way you choose that we are amazing objects of your love you've demonstrated it in such a wonderful way thank you for it all in Christ's name Amen you love cup up to you baby home only first is you will be out in you and you can you come every you can

[38:13] Socier Amen. Amen.

[39:13] Amen. Amen.

[40:13] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[40:24] The night Jesus was betrayed, he took bread, and when he broke it, he said to his disciples, Take eat, this is my body which is given for you. Amen.

[40:35] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Back Banner. He took the cup right after we sing hymn number 312 in verse 3.

[40:49] How matchless the grace when I look on the face of this Jesus, my crucified Lord, my redemption complete, my redemption complete, fell at his feet, and Calvary covers it all.

[41:22] Calvary covers it all. Calvary covers it all. My past with its sin and stain, my guilt and despair, Jesus took on him there.

[41:43] Calvary covers it all. Calvary covers it all. Calvary covers it all. It's 이상ely grep直ookienda. We werecipitation, and tragically 모 as you shall know, hae a glory of his body.

[42:05] Not down rồi. It was again, so potabению steroids con mis wärmer fire không åt zía. Not down here. And he's great to know to do something. Amen.

[42:44] Amen. Amen.

[43:44] Amen. Amen.

[44:44] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[44:56] Amen. Our Lord said, this cup is the new covenant in my blood. As often as you eat of this bread and drink of this cup, you do show forth the Lord's death until he comes.

[45:14] Amen. Amen. Amen. Ordinarily, we would receive an offering now, a free will offering for a benevolent fund.

[45:26] I'm going to dispense with that this morning simply because we took a free will offering last week and you gave so very generously to the Craig family that was here.

[45:38] Almost $1,000 that was given for their ministry. And we appreciate your generosity so much. So we're going to forego that offering this morning. Should some kind of an emergent need arise within the congregation that needs to be addressed, the elders would be able to dip into the general fund if that would be necessary.

[45:59] So we'll not be receiving an offering this morning. But for a musical benediction, we'll sing that last verse of number 312. If you will stand with me, then we will be dismissed.

[46:10] Number 312, verse 4. How blessed the thought that my soul by him bought shall be his in the glory on high, where with gladness and song I'll be one of the throng, and Calvary recovers it all, recovers it all.

[46:50] My past with its sin and stain, my guilt and despair, Jesus took on him there, and Calvary recovers it all.

[47:11]  Why don't we... Why don't we...