WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:00.880 Amen. 00:00:01.120 --> 00:00:10.400 All right, so we're in Luke chapter 22, and it says the festival of unleavened bread, which is also called Passover, was approaching. 00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:17.519 The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the people's reaction. 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:20.480 Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot. 00:00:20.559 --> 00:00:23.039 We're going to come back to that, but I'm going to read this passage first. 00:00:24.079 --> 00:00:28.480 Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples. 00:00:28.640 --> 00:00:36.000 And he went to the leading priests and captains of the temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. 00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:39.039 They were delighted and they promised to give him money. 00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:46.640 So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him when the crowds weren't around. 00:00:46.719 --> 00:00:49.200 Remember, Passover, it is packed out. 00:00:49.359 --> 00:00:53.439 Like there's people from all over the place in Jerusalem at that time. 00:00:53.679 --> 00:00:56.079 Verse 7, now the feast, excuse me, let's go. 00:00:56.159 --> 00:00:56.960 Yeah, first seven. 00:00:57.039 --> 00:01:01.920 Now the feast of unleavened bread arrived when the Passover lamb is sacrificed. 00:01:02.079 --> 00:01:09.120 Verse 8, Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, Go and prepare the Passover meal so we can eat it together. 00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:10.719 Where do you want us to prepare it? 00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:11.439 They asked him. 00:01:11.599 --> 00:01:16.879 He replied, As soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. 00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:19.519 Follow him at the house he enters. 00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:26.079 Say to the owner, the teacher asks, Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples? 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:32.000 He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up, that is where you should prepare our meal. 00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:34.079 This is like kind of a fun one for me. 00:01:34.239 --> 00:01:38.079 Imagine you just walk up and there's a guy walking with a pitcher of water and you just start following him. 00:01:38.159 --> 00:01:39.519 It's not creepy at all. 00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:40.159 Right? 00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:45.920 You and you and your friend, you're just following a guy with a pitcher of water all the way to the house. 00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:47.359 Anyways, verse 13. 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:51.120 They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said. 00:01:51.200 --> 00:01:53.200 And they prepared the Passover meal there. 00:01:53.359 --> 00:02:05.920 Verse 14, when the time came, Jesus and his apostles sat down together at the table, and Jesus said, I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:11.520 For I tell you now that I won't eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:14.800 Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. 00:02:14.960 --> 00:02:22.400 Then he said, Take this and share it among yourselves, for I will not drink wine again until the kingdom of God has come. 00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:25.280 He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:32.960 Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, This is my body which is given for you. 00:02:33.280 --> 00:02:35.199 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:49.759 Verse 20, after supper he took another cup of wine and said, This cup is the new covenant between God and his people, an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you. 00:02:50.319 --> 00:02:55.840 But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me. 00:02:56.000 --> 00:03:01.919 For it has been determined that the Son of Man must die, but what sorrow awaits the one who betrays him? 00:03:02.159 --> 00:03:06.400 The disciples begin to ask each other, which of them would ever do such a thing. 00:03:06.639 --> 00:03:10.319 They begin arguing among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. 00:03:10.400 --> 00:03:11.840 That's a shift in conversation. 00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:13.439 Who would betray Jesus? 00:03:13.599 --> 00:03:16.719 I don't really know, but let's talk about who's the best, right? 00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:19.439 That's a that's a gear shift. 00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:23.840 They begin arguing among themselves who would be the greatest among them. 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:31.840 And Jesus told them, In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet are called friends of the people. 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:34.080 But among you it will be different. 00:03:34.319 --> 00:03:37.840 Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:39.039 I'll read that again. 00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:46.000 Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:50.240 Who is more important than the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? 00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:53.599 The one who sits at the table, of course, but not here. 00:03:54.080 --> 00:03:56.960 For I am among you as one who serves. 00:03:57.199 --> 00:04:10.719 You have stayed with me in my time of trial, and just as my father has granted me a kingdom, I now grant you the right to eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:14.080 Okay, a lot going on, but I wanted to keep this in context. 00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:16.560 So we start off with Judas. 00:04:16.720 --> 00:04:22.959 We understand that Jesus is like, we're getting into hours now, not days, but hours before he's going to be crucified. 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:26.480 The end is drawing near before the sacrifice happens. 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:30.800 And the festival of unleavened bread, the Passover, remember, the Passover is what? 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:34.240 It's the remembrance of when the Exodus occurred. 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:40.639 It remembers the night where they had to take the children of Israel when they were enslaved in Egypt. 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:44.000 They took the blood of the Lamb and they marked their doorposts. 00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:47.759 And the angel of the Lord passed over and left them alone. 00:04:47.920 --> 00:04:52.319 But every firstborn that didn't have a doorpost marked with blood was killed. 00:04:52.399 --> 00:04:55.439 And then the Pharaoh's heart said, I gotta get rid of these people. 00:04:55.519 --> 00:04:59.279 And they were released, and it began their exodus, right, from captivity. 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:00.720 So this is what's being remembered. 00:05:00.800 --> 00:05:03.680 The Passover meal is being remembered. 00:05:05.279 --> 00:05:07.680 Verse 3 is a wild verse. 00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:10.160 It's one that I think we should take note of. 00:05:10.399 --> 00:05:18.319 It says, Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the 12 disciples. 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:21.199 Then Satan, that would be highlightable. 00:05:21.439 --> 00:05:26.800 Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the 12 disciples. 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:30.800 I think it's interesting that Luke notes that he's one of the 12, right? 00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:32.720 This guy's been walking with Jesus. 00:05:33.040 --> 00:05:34.079 He's in the 12. 00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:35.600 He's in the group. 00:05:35.920 --> 00:05:45.839 And yet he's at a point in life where things have gone on enough in his heart that he's become vulnerable and open the door that Satan enters in to make a mess. 00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:46.720 Right? 00:05:47.040 --> 00:05:48.000 And I get curious. 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:49.839 I'm like, well, how did this happen? 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:58.480 Can Satan just find somebody, anybody he wants, and enter in and begin possessing them? 00:05:58.800 --> 00:05:59.120 No. 00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:04.720 A door has to be open to give access into somebody's heart for the enemy to mess around in there. 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:10.240 We've talked about possession before in the church, and I don't know if you've heard about it or you've been here when we've talked about it. 00:06:10.399 --> 00:06:14.879 But most people hear possession, they get really freaked out about all the horror movies and somebody's going to crawl the wall. 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:17.839 The possession means influence, right? 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:24.720 So if you leave the door to your house and a robber goes in, he has influence to mess things up or steal things or vandalize, but he doesn't own the house. 00:06:24.879 --> 00:06:25.680 You own the house. 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:27.600 But you've given him influence. 00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:34.480 And Judas had done something in his life that opened the door enough that now the influence of Satan, he had aligned himself. 00:06:34.560 --> 00:06:39.279 Let's say it like this: he had aligned himself with the desires of hell. 00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:40.480 Right? 00:06:42.079 --> 00:06:44.319 How does this even happen? 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:50.399 This is not the main spot where I want to look at today, but we can't pass by it with just listening to this. 00:06:50.639 --> 00:06:54.720 It's rare that people have a full collapse of faith suddenly. 00:06:55.040 --> 00:07:00.720 You read in scripture, it's rare, almost never, do you see anybody just completely collapse in their faith? 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:02.160 It's generally a progression. 00:07:02.399 --> 00:07:04.879 An offense is where it normally begins. 00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:07.519 An offended heart is where it normally begins. 00:07:07.759 --> 00:07:22.480 Matthew 11, 6, there's a point where uh John the Baptist, he's in prison, death is coming for him, and he had been proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah, and he's getting nervous because his life's about to be lost, and he's wanting to make sure that he didn't spend his life on something that was wrong. 00:07:22.560 --> 00:07:25.759 And he sends his disciples, go ask Jesus, are you really the one? 00:07:25.920 --> 00:07:29.040 And he knew that he was just a person like you and me. 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:37.040 And Jesus says to his disciples, Tell John what you're seeing, what you're hearing, that the blind see, that the lame walk, right? 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:41.680 Like all these signs it would say about the Messiah, they're being fulfilled in my life. 00:07:41.839 --> 00:07:43.279 I'm doing them, I'm working out. 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:46.800 God is showing me to be the one who you prophesied would come. 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:56.720 And Jesus says something in Matthew 11, verse 6, and blessed is the one who isn't offended by me. 00:07:59.600 --> 00:08:01.439 How would you be offended by Jesus? 00:08:01.600 --> 00:08:03.120 I mean, it's Jesus. 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:08.959 You get offended when Jesus doesn't do what you want when you want the way you want. 00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:10.959 Just me? 00:08:11.519 --> 00:08:11.839 Right? 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:18.879 So like I get frustrated when I've been praying about something and it doesn't occur the way that I wanted it to occur. 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:24.079 When I want God to move in a very specific, like Burger King style, you feel me? 00:08:24.240 --> 00:08:29.199 Like I want it, like I want pickles, but I don't want onions, and I want ketchup, but not a lot of it, right? 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:30.959 Like, and you just get real specific. 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:33.919 God, this is how you have to move in my life to show that you love me. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:34.879 No, no, no, no. 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:36.080 I serve Jesus. 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:39.200 Jesus is king, he doesn't serve me, right? 00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:40.879 But you'll get offended. 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:48.320 So Judas has now gotten offended because he wanted the Messiah to come and remove Israel from Rome's authority. 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:53.440 He wanted a king to come in to overthrow and topple the political system that was in place. 00:08:53.600 --> 00:08:58.080 And Jesus is overthrowing and toppling the spiritual system that's in place. 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:02.879 He's changing things not just for that community in that day, but for the world for all times. 00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:06.720 But Judas isn't happy about that because he can't see the big picture. 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:15.840 So what happens is offense will come, and if you let offense stay long enough, and if you don't deal with offense, what eventually happens is you find yourself in a place called bitterness. 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:19.840 Now, in my heart, I can't think about you without being mad at you. 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:26.000 I can't be around you without being irritated because I've let offense take root in my heart. 00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:32.879 And bitterness will eventually end up into a place where you find yourself isolated because you don't want to be around that person. 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:35.200 Or you alienate that person. 00:09:36.080 --> 00:09:37.919 And then it becomes betrayal. 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:48.960 I know I'm talking about a moment where Satan enters into Judas, but I just want you to know Satan really wants to enter into your life too, if you'll open the door and let him. 00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:54.559 If you will not deal with the offenses in your life, bitterness will rise up. 00:09:54.639 --> 00:10:01.840 Listen, I've been to a lot of churches, I've been to a lot of places, I've met bitter Christians, not better ones. 00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:03.519 Bitter ones. 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:11.759 And they are crunchy and crusty, and like I don't want to be, it feels, it feels, it feels icky, it feels the opposite of the gospel. 00:10:12.799 --> 00:10:16.720 And I, man, it's make your skin crawl. 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:26.000 And because they've allowed an offense to come, never dealt with it, and become bitter, and now they're working in opposition to the gospel. 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:33.519 You can be a Christian, not deal with offense, and before you know it, you're aligned more with hell than you are heaven. 00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:39.919 You show up in church, but cause division. 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:46.240 Or you go to a party, you go to you go to work, it doesn't matter where it is, listen, and you cause division. 00:10:48.559 --> 00:10:51.440 Unity doesn't mean there's no problems. 00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:53.759 Man, we got to get past this idea. 00:10:53.840 --> 00:10:55.279 I wasn't gonna teach on this at all. 00:10:55.440 --> 00:11:00.720 Unity doesn't mean that there are no problems, it means that we love each other enough to talk about the issue at hand. 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:02.960 And that we're gonna we're gonna lead with grace. 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:04.320 I'm gonna try to hear what you're saying. 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:05.759 You're gonna try to hear what I'm saying. 00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:11.039 If we can't hear, we'll bring another person in to help us say, hey, what do you hear so-and-so saying? 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:11.600 Right? 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:17.039 We'll we'll come together in this, and on the other side of it, we'll persevere and be unified together. 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:18.000 Right? 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:20.639 Listen, like just just cool. 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:24.559 Okay, I'm not I'm not this is not what I'm supposed to be teaching about this morning, but just wanted to. 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:38.480 So I'll I'll I'll I'll put it this if you're offended by somebody, or if you're offended by God, first thing you need to do is identify that you are, the next thing you need to do is address that you are. 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:41.840 And sometimes your offense, you don't even have to go to that person. 00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:43.440 Sometimes it's just between you and God. 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:48.559 You might be offended at somebody that's already died and they can't ask for your for uh for your forgiveness. 00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:51.440 Or maybe even if they were alive, they still wouldn't. 00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:55.679 And if you hold an offense to someone like that, you still need to deal with it. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:57.120 God, I choose to forgive. 00:11:57.200 --> 00:12:02.480 Forgiveness is not saying what they did is okay, it's valuing relationship with God over justice. 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:06.159 I value being close to you than being right in this situation. 00:12:06.480 --> 00:12:10.960 I can be right in this situation or I can be close to you, but I can't have it both ways. 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:13.440 I can be judged or you can be judged. 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:16.639 But when I'm judged, I can't live in forgiveness. 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:20.799 Or let me say it like this: when I'm judged, I can't be forgiven. 00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:23.039 Okay, cool. 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:24.159 All right. 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:28.559 So this happens to Satan, Satan, uh excuse me, this happens to Judas. 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:30.639 Judas wanders off, he finds the temple garden. 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:32.639 They discuss how are we gonna get Jesus? 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:35.360 And they're all like tapping their fingers like it's real mischievous. 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:38.639 Somebody's got a monocle, and it's like, how will we get him, right? 00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:40.639 It's a guy in the corner smoking a pipe. 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:41.840 We I don't know, right? 00:12:41.919 --> 00:12:47.039 Like it's there's a uh a big fluffy cat walking around because they're just the worst. 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:47.840 All right. 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:51.039 There had to be a cat there when they're planning. 00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:52.799 Somebody eating dark chocolate, all the things. 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:54.399 A Cowboys fan. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:00.799 I just got done talking about unity, it's wild. 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:03.759 That's crazy. 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:06.240 So that they're figuring it out. 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:07.200 Verse 7. 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:16.960 Now, I want you to remember that Luke has just written about this, and I feel like the the the order this happens and unfolds is very intentional. 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:18.399 So you read about this. 00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:20.799 Now the festival of unleavened bread has arrived. 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:22.960 Jesus sends Peter and John, this is the whole thing. 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:25.600 They follow the God pitcher water, they get to the house. 00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:31.519 Hey, my master wants to have a room here, and they're like, okay, boom, here's the room, and now it's dinner time. 00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:33.919 Verse 14. 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:39.759 When the time came, Jesus said, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. 00:13:39.840 --> 00:13:40.639 This is verse 14. 00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:50.159 Verse 15, Jesus said, I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. 00:13:52.320 --> 00:14:03.440 When Jesus wanted to explain to his followers that his death was coming, he didn't give them some theory. 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:11.039 When he wanted to explain to his disciples what his death was coming and what it was going to be about, he didn't want to give them some random theory. 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:13.759 He gave them a meal. 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:25.679 He says, For I tell you now that I won't eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:27.360 We've talked about the kingdom of God a lot. 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:28.799 Luke focuses on it. 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:31.600 The kingdom of God has come and is coming. 00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:33.679 It's fulfilled and being fulfilled. 00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:35.120 It's both and, right? 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:39.519 Verse 17, then he took a cup of wine and he gave thanks to God for it. 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:46.399 And he said, Take this and share it among yourselves, for I will not drink wine again until the kingdom of God has come. 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:49.440 He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:56.000 Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, This is my body which is given for you. 00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:57.679 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:14:57.919 --> 00:15:00.639 Did they have full understanding of what was going on at this moment? 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:02.000 No, but they would. 00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:14.720 After supper, he took another cup of wine and said, This cup is the new covenant. 00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:17.200 That's highlighable, that's underlinable. 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:24.480 Whatever you need to do to mark that in your Bible, this cup is the new covenant between God and his people. 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:30.720 An agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you. 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:33.519 There can't be forgiveness of sins unless blood is spilt. 00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:34.080 Yeah? 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:38.159 And up till that point, it was lambs that were sacrificed and offered up. 00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:47.840 And they had to happen all the time, all the time, all the time, until Jesus comes and he makes the sacrifice as the final lamb. 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:48.559 Yeah? 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:51.600 But Jesus, now he's given them bread. 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:55.519 He's broken the bread and he said, This is my body given for you. 00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:59.120 And some versions might read, This is my body broken for you. 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:01.840 I just want just a just a quick clarification. 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:10.000 Given is a better translation because we understand by Jewish law that a sacrifice could not be acceptable if it had a broken bone. 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:13.519 And Jesus never had a broken bone, even though he was brutally beaten. 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:15.360 Because there could be some confusion in that. 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:17.200 I don't know, just where my mind goes. 00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:20.799 But but so is this my body given for you? 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:22.799 All right. 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:26.799 The Greek is strong. 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:28.000 It's stronger. 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:29.840 This phrase, my body is given for you. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:31.840 The Greek it reads much stronger. 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:36.000 It says, My body is being offered up on your behalf. 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:37.200 Right? 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:39.039 You say, Oh, yeah, yeah, okay, you're given. 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:39.600 No, no, no. 00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:41.440 My body's being offered up on your behalf. 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:48.000 And the language gives this kind of scenario is that it implies the sacrifice had already begun. 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:50.639 Is that it had already begun happening, right? 00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:53.679 And Jesus wasn't on the cross yet, but the sacrifice had already begun. 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:56.559 But Isaiah 53, 5, I want you to remember this. 00:16:56.799 --> 00:16:59.519 It says, but he was pierced for our rebellion. 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:01.360 He was crushed for our sins. 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:04.240 He was beaten so we could be whole. 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:07.200 He was whipped so we could be healed. 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:08.000 All right? 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:14.400 We look at all these things and we have to remember when we come to communion, this is not a symbolic time. 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:17.119 It's not just like a little thing you do because you're a Christian. 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:20.559 No, Jesus says, do this in remembrance of me. 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:23.680 You're not remembering just some old thing that happened long ago. 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:35.359 You're remembering a day, listen, just as they had gathered for Passover to remember when God set them free from Egypt, when their freedom had been bought from captivity and slavery. 00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:42.799 We eat of this, remembering that our freedom has now been bought with a new covenant from sin and slavery, right? 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:44.880 We are no longer captive to hell. 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:46.480 We are no longer captive to sin. 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:48.319 We're no longer captive to shame. 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:52.079 When we receive this, it's a proclamation, a declaration. 00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:54.160 This is a sermon. 00:17:55.279 --> 00:18:06.720 When you receive, you are taking place, you're taking part in a sermon that says, This is what has happened, but this is what is happening right now. 00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:08.480 Does it make sense? 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:14.559 This is not some old just just lifeless moment when we come to the Lord's table. 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:21.680 I love you guys. 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:22.960 You're awesome. 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:30.480 1 Corinthians, chapter 11, verse 26. 00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:33.039 1 Corinthians is a wild chapter, by the way. 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:46.319 We'll get into a little bit more of it in a minute, but verse 26 of chapter 11, 1 Corinthians says, For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord's death until he comes again. 00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:47.920 What are you announcing? 00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:58.480 You are declaring to the powers and principalities of the world that Jesus died on the cross and was raised on the third day and is present and he is now at work. 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:03.839 When I receive communion, I'm announcing till he comes again. 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:06.000 I'm putting basically, listen, check this out. 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:07.599 What if you take it in this concept? 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:12.160 When you receive communion, you're putting hell on notice that Jesus has won. 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:18.640 The powers and principalities of this word, I you could be sick, receive the bread. 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:21.920 I believe that there is something in the receiving. 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:27.440 Catholics would believe that it becomes the literal body and blood of Jesus, transubstantiation. 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:28.720 I don't go that far. 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:37.200 I don't know that there's uh like a principle for that in scripture, but what I do believe is that as you receive, there is power in the receiving. 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:51.920 It's not some kind of magical pill you take, but there is something in the honoring of what He's asked you to do and the remembrance of what He's paid for, that as you receive it, there's a moment of a power encounter between God and you. 00:19:53.920 --> 00:20:01.839 This is this is, man, it we we have to raise the standards of expectation when we come to the Lord's table. 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:07.279 As I was reading this and studying this, I was like, man, like, do this in remembrance. 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:14.640 The word remembrance doesn't mean you have a vague memory of a past event, but rather that a past event has become present. 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:18.000 And let the present event remind us of the future. 00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:26.640 So, like, a past event has happened, but when you receive this, I want you to imagine that Jesus just went on the cross and was just raised from the dead. 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:31.200 I want you to imagine that you're receiving it with the disciples in real time. 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:36.559 The other thing I want you to recognize is this when you receive it, you're taking it communally. 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:39.119 There's a power in that. 00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:44.640 When he gave this, he gave it to each one, but he took it together in community. 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:52.240 There's a declaring as family that our king has paid the price. 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:56.400 He was beaten for our transgression, he was wounded for our iniquity. 00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:58.720 By his stripes we are healed. 00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:00.640 I receive the bread. 00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:05.839 There's times I receive the bread for my healing, and there's times I've received the bread for somebody else's. 00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:14.880 There's times when I receive the cup to remember you have paid the price for me. 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:18.559 But I do not want to forget that you have paid the price for this world. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:22.319 And so let me be on mission to share that hope with this world. 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:24.079 You with me on that? 00:21:24.880 --> 00:21:29.119 Communion declares the sacrifice Jesus made then. 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:36.880 His grace and forgiveness he is supplying right now, and it secures our future for us with him forever. 00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:39.680 Let me say that one more time. 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:45.599 Communion declares the sacrifice Jesus made, then we're remembering the sacrifice that he made. 00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:50.319 But that his grace and forgiveness is in supply right now. 00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:59.759 And as we receive his grace, as we receive his mercy, there's a confidence in my heart, then my future. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.359 Future is secure. 00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:06.559 So my present, any worry has to be crushed because my future is secure. 00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:11.680 This is a side note. 00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:15.519 What you feed the most in your life will grow the most. 00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:19.039 Social media has a desire to grow fear, not peace. 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:29.279 I would say there's small pockets of faith that are trying to turn the tide, but by and large, the algorithm promotes fear regardless of who you are. 00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:32.160 It promotes worry, it promotes concern. 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:34.960 We talked about the end times last week. 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:37.119 Listen, end times are going to come. 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:42.079 The presence and power of God will pour out more and more over his sons and daughters. 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:48.720 We know that in the end, our king comes back on a white horse, victorious. 00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:49.440 Amen? 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:56.160 If you allow yourself to be inundated with the stresses of this life, you will become focused on this life. 00:22:56.240 --> 00:23:00.799 But if you remind yourself, even as you receive communion, that your king has overcome. 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:05.920 It will change the way that you live your daily life. 00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:10.240 We need a community that sees a church changed by the grace of God. 00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:14.880 My family needs to see a father that's changed by the grace of God. 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:19.440 My friends need to see a man that's changed by the grace of God. 00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:22.559 That's why it concerns me when we come to Father's Day. 00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:31.519 And listen, I know it's a few weeks away, but it concerns me when I find out statistically that it's always the lowest attended Sunday of the year. 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:42.640 It shows me this that in the men in this country, at least, it has not become a priority to them to say our family is going to the gathering together, the fellowship, which is what the Bible calls us to, by the way. 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:45.920 Our family's going to do this. 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:47.359 And this is the proclamation. 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:52.480 For me and my house, as I receive communion, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:54.240 I'm serving the Lord. 00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:58.400 I'm not serving the extra day where I can rest or get to the golf course or get out fishing. 00:23:58.640 --> 00:24:04.799 Nothing's wrong with any of those things until it becomes the idol and the priority in your life above your relationship with Jesus. 00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:12.480 He gives us things that are recreation, but we have in our culture right now, currently, a habit of idolizing recreation. 00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:43.440 In the same way that the Jews would have a Passover meal to celebrate the Exodus from Egypt, celebrating that night, the disciples were ushering in and they were celebrating, and they didn't even recognize to the fullness that this new covenant was being established, and it was celebrating their exodus from sin, death, hell, and the grave. 00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:50.640 After supper, he took another cup of wines, verse 20. 00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:52.319 This cup is the new covenant. 00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:56.960 The old covenant pushes us to the new covenant. 00:24:58.079 --> 00:25:00.079 We can't be good enough on our own. 00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:05.119 My best efforts, scripture says, are as filthy rags. 00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:14.160 I can't do it well enough on my own. 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:16.160 And listen, I want to say this to you. 00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:22.160 When you come to the Lord's table, it's not because you are worthy enough to come and receive. 00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:26.799 You come to the Lord's table because he makes you worthy as you receive. 00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:32.720 This is not a merit-based moment of eating, of fellowship. 00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:36.799 This is not a merit-based, like only the most elite can come to this table. 00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:43.920 I remember going to a wedding one time and there was one side of the family that was was Catholic. 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:46.799 And the woman marrying into the family, she was not. 00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:49.759 And we sat in this huge, beautiful church. 00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:51.440 It was incredible. 00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:52.880 I mean, it was just gorgeous. 00:25:53.039 --> 00:26:00.640 And when the time of communion came, because she wasn't Catholic, her husband received communion, and everybody that was Catholic received as she stood there and watched. 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:14.640 I'm not berating them, but I recognize this. 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:21.279 When this becomes so liturgical that it becomes about what you've earned and not what God's done, you're flawed in your receiving of it. 00:26:28.559 --> 00:26:33.200 Every time you eat this bread and you drink this cup, you're announcing the Lord's death. 00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:38.000 Communion is a meal that is a message. 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:42.319 It's a sermon that reminds me the price that my sin has been paid in full. 00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:46.640 Jesus the Messiah has brought my deliverance from sickness and death. 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:50.400 And now here's what gets me. 00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:54.559 Verse 21 comes into the conversation. 00:26:55.119 --> 00:27:03.039 But here, Jesus is talking, but here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me. 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:06.000 Judas is sitting at the table. 00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:10.079 Judas got to receive communion. 00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:20.960 Judas gets his feet washed by Jesus, and when you read in the other gospels, Judas receives communion. 00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:24.640 Jesus says to him, He knows. 00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:29.119 Listen, we already read in scripture, we know that Satan entered into Judas. 00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:33.359 We already know that he's in the process of betraying Jesus, and Jesus knows it. 00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:39.920 That's why Luke, the way it's laid out, is amazing to me because it lets us all in on the story of what Judas is doing. 00:27:40.079 --> 00:27:49.279 And then Judas still gets to come in the room, and then Jesus still explains to Judas and all the other disciples that I have come to die for all the sins of the world. 00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:54.319 Judas, you're sitting at the table and you're about to do something that nobody could imagine. 00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:57.359 All the other disciples are like, who would betray you? 00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:58.480 That's insane. 00:27:58.559 --> 00:27:59.279 We can't continue. 00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:01.119 It's such a crazy idea. 00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:03.119 We're just going to talk about who's the better. 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:06.640 We're not even going to waste time on that because that doesn't even make sense. 00:28:06.960 --> 00:28:07.920 That doesn't even compute. 00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:10.079 How can somebody betray you, Jesus? 00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:16.400 And Judas is sitting there in real time thinking, What can I do to get this man killed? 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:23.519 And Jesus, with that man sitting at the table, says, Here is my body given for you. 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:26.319 This is my body offered up for you, Judas. 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:30.240 Receive this cup of a new covenant. 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:33.279 The old covenant is killing you, Judas. 00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:35.599 Receive this cup of a new covenant. 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:38.880 That my blood is poured out for your sins. 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:41.279 Listen, you have to understand this. 00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:47.920 If you don't believe that the cross was big enough to cover Judas's sin, it's not big enough to cover any sin. 00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:56.000 So you have to, you have to, in your head, you recognize, and I believe I look at this, and we know that Judas ends his life. 00:28:56.160 --> 00:29:03.279 He's grief-stricken after Jesus is arrested, after he's murdered, after he's crucified. 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:07.039 He throws the money that he's been given back on the on the floor of the temple. 00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:09.200 He goes off, kills himself. 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:15.119 And I look at that, I'm like, yeah, but there was a plan of redemption for that man. 00:29:15.599 --> 00:29:21.440 Many people will read it and say, nah, man, that was it would have what a terrible burden to have been Judas. 00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:30.559 Remember this, Jesus says. 00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:34.000 Do this often in remembrance of me. 00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:39.759 I wonder what would have happened if Judas would have just in his grief and his pain. 00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:45.519 Remember that Jesus didn't talk to me about a theory, he gave me a meal. 00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:47.440 That I can remember. 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:52.799 That I was never worthy to receive this in the first place, but his blood makes me worthy. 00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:04.880 I've been in ministry 24 years. 00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:07.200 You're like, Joey, you look so young. 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:08.640 It's incredible. 00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:10.079 It's incredible. 00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:11.200 It's because of my shirt. 00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:14.319 I know you're thinking, where can I get a shirt like that, Joey? 00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:15.680 This was the last one. 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:16.880 You can't get it. 00:30:18.400 --> 00:30:27.440 And those of you that know me, when when the pastor shows up with ferns on his shirt and crimson, he means business. 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:30.880 If he's wearing a shirt that's got wooden buttons, watch out. 00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:39.680 I used to, I used to preach in a and I would be in service. 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:54.960 And uh when it would time come for communion, I'd say, hey, listen, for for all those that are are followers of Jesus, that have received him as your Lord and Savior, this is a time to come to remember what he's done for you. 00:30:56.400 --> 00:31:03.519 And I would say, if you if you've not made him Lord and Savior, there's not anything yet to remember. 00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:12.240 And so there was a time in my ministry very early on where I did not invite those who did not know Jesus. 00:31:12.319 --> 00:31:13.599 I did not invite them to the table. 00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:16.640 Some of you might be, well, Julian, that makes sense. 00:31:17.119 --> 00:31:19.440 Except for that Judas was at the table. 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:42.480 There's a man that uh there's a man that really ministered to me when I was young pastor, and um I got to spend time with him. 00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:46.400 His name's Jack Hayford, he's he's gone on to be with the Lord years ago. 00:31:46.799 --> 00:31:51.759 And one day he was talking about communion and who can receive it. 00:31:52.640 --> 00:32:02.319 Um he compared keeping an unbeliever from communion is like withholding food from a starving person until they get over their malnutrition. 00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:08.480 Who more needs to know the grace of Jesus? 00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:28.319 Than somebody who more needs to experience his love, than somebody that doesn't know it, who more needs to come to the table, than somebody who's not yet aware that their shame has been paid for, that their guilt has been paid for, their sins have been removed. 00:32:28.480 --> 00:32:33.359 Listen, upon their confession of faith that heaven is waiting to say, come in. 00:32:33.839 --> 00:32:44.880 We get the image of Jesus when he tells about the prodigal son, the father waiting and looking on the horizon for the son that has sinned to come home so he can run and embrace him and restore him. 00:32:45.680 --> 00:32:49.680 Who more needs to come to the table and receive than a person like that? 00:32:50.400 --> 00:32:54.240 So in this church and this house, when you say, Joey, who's welcome to come to the table? 00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:56.240 All are welcome to come to the table. 00:32:56.480 --> 00:33:04.640 If you've walked with Jesus for years, know that when you come, it is not a funeral, but it's a celebration of the price he paid. 00:33:04.720 --> 00:33:10.160 It's a declaration of what he has done for you, he's done for me, he's done for us communally. 00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:19.359 And if you are an unbeliever and you come to receive, come with an expectation of saying, I am going to open myself up to this, this one they call Jesus. 00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:25.759 I'm gonna dare to step into this moment. 00:33:32.799 --> 00:33:41.440 I really had to battle through with this because 1 Corinthians chapter 11 talks about us coming to the table with clean hands. 00:33:41.759 --> 00:33:56.480 1 Corinthians chapter 11, verse 27 says, So anyone, anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord. 00:33:57.119 --> 00:33:58.799 Mika, would you come up for me, sis? 00:34:02.640 --> 00:34:09.360 That is why, verse 28 says, that is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:11.599 And Jesus is talking to believers here. 00:34:11.760 --> 00:34:13.280 He's talking to church folk. 00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:23.199 For if you eat the bread and drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, without honoring what this moment is, you you didn't earn it, you didn't deserve it, he paid the price. 00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:32.239 There were people that would come together, they would celebrate and they would take communion, and they listen, the poor wouldn't get to have a seat at the table to receive communion. 00:34:32.400 --> 00:34:37.039 They would just come and drink all the wine and get drunk, and they would gorge themselves on food. 00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:39.440 This is the early church, this is what's happening. 00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:42.239 And they're missing the mark on what communion's about. 00:34:42.400 --> 00:34:43.119 Check this out. 00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:52.239 It says in verse 29 if you eat the bread and drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you're eating and drinking God's judgment upon yourself. 00:34:52.719 --> 00:34:55.280 That is why many of you are weak and sick. 00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:58.800 Check this out, and some have even died. 00:35:00.880 --> 00:35:03.840 It's not games that we're playing here. 00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:05.760 This is significant. 00:35:05.920 --> 00:35:07.599 This is, this is this is powerful. 00:35:07.760 --> 00:35:12.960 This is this is a deep holy moment when we come to the Lord's table. 00:35:13.679 --> 00:35:22.159 It's not something on the box that I check off that it was, it was this time this month, now I got communion done, and I'm a good Christian for the month. 00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:25.760 Recognize you can take communion as often as you would want. 00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:32.719 You can take it in your home, you can take it with your family, but we love to do it often that we can have it as a family in community. 00:35:34.239 --> 00:35:40.960 But if we would, verse 31 says, but if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. 00:35:48.400 --> 00:35:56.079 I uh I think a lot about how do we come to the table the right way. 00:35:58.000 --> 00:36:02.159 When I examine myself, I remember my worth is not what makes this meal possible. 00:36:02.400 --> 00:36:04.079 Jesus makes me worthy. 00:36:04.320 --> 00:36:08.880 I don't defile the meal by receiving it casually or without expectation. 00:36:09.119 --> 00:36:13.679 I don't receive it pridefully as though I earned it or am owed it. 00:36:15.119 --> 00:36:18.239 I didn't earn this meal and I'm not owed this meal. 00:36:18.480 --> 00:36:22.639 It's by God's grace that this table is set for you and for me. 00:36:22.960 --> 00:36:24.320 You with me on that? 00:36:26.639 --> 00:36:30.880 I receive it in celebration and in humility. 00:36:33.519 --> 00:36:35.119 That's why I'm not stressed out. 00:36:35.280 --> 00:36:42.000 Listen, when a child would come up and they don't maybe get the words right or they drink the juice before they eat the bread. 00:36:44.079 --> 00:36:45.599 Are you gonna die? 00:36:49.039 --> 00:36:50.559 It's crazy. 00:36:53.039 --> 00:37:01.199 But I celebrate because it's opportunity to sit with our children and say, you know why we do this? 00:37:06.559 --> 00:37:08.639 You know why we receive this? 00:37:11.679 --> 00:37:16.239 You're so valued by God he wanted to have a relationship with you. 00:37:16.960 --> 00:37:18.639 So he sent Jesus. 00:37:18.880 --> 00:37:26.719 And this body, this bread you're receiving represents his body that was given up for you. 00:37:28.559 --> 00:37:35.039 So that your body wouldn't be the one beaten, that your body wouldn't be the one sacrificed. 00:37:35.280 --> 00:37:41.280 And as you receive that, if there's sickness in your body, believe that as he healed then, he still heals now. 00:37:41.519 --> 00:37:44.159 I've seen people receive communion and get healing. 00:37:44.320 --> 00:37:57.519 I've seen people receive communion and not, and I don't have a solution or an answer for why that happens, other than when I come to the table, I'm gonna come with the expectation that he is the God who heals, and I'm gonna receive it with expectation. 00:37:58.000 --> 00:38:08.000 When I come to the table, if I've had a terrible week and I feel like I've done so much wrong, or I've just been angry and over the top, just not honoring God in whatever ways. 00:38:08.159 --> 00:38:12.159 Like, if I come to the table, I'm like, man, I grade myself as failing this week. 00:38:12.320 --> 00:38:21.599 I still come with a confidence that it's because of this blood and not my past week that I am redeemed. 00:38:21.840 --> 00:38:32.239 And so I come and say, God, I have dirty hands, and I ask you to cleanse me, and I thank you that you did, and that your blood poured out for me on the cross took care of all my sin for all time. 00:38:32.400 --> 00:38:39.840 And so I come in the confidence of your blood set before me, and I just receive it and I just, God, thank you. 00:38:41.440 --> 00:38:48.480 Thank you that the price has been paid, that you saw me and wanted to have a relationship with me. 00:38:48.960 --> 00:38:54.800 And I celebrate as the Jews celebrated the Passover and the Exodus out of slavery. 00:38:54.880 --> 00:38:57.679 I celebrate an Exodus out of the slavery of sin. 00:38:58.239 --> 00:39:04.480 It doesn't mean that I'll always get it right or always be perfect, but I know that He is working in me. 00:39:04.800 --> 00:39:08.719 And this time next year, I'm gonna look more like Jesus and less like Joey. 00:39:10.159 --> 00:39:14.559 I would encourage you today, this is not a funeral, it's a celebration. 00:39:17.280 --> 00:39:20.880 As communion is not isolated, but it's communical. 00:39:22.079 --> 00:39:25.920 I want to ask you right now, how is your relationship with others? 00:39:28.400 --> 00:39:34.320 I think it's an appropriate time as you come to remember that you've been forgiven, to take an opportunity to forgive. 00:39:36.079 --> 00:39:43.519 Just sit, close your eyes for a minute, and just even if you need to come, get the bread and the juice, and you need to sit down for a minute. 00:39:45.679 --> 00:39:46.639 Is there somebody? 00:39:46.800 --> 00:39:49.760 Am I living an offense somewhere in my life? 00:39:50.079 --> 00:39:52.880 Am I living offended somewhere in my heart? 00:40:00.239 --> 00:40:01.920 Let's man, let's do that right now. 00:40:02.079 --> 00:40:02.800 Let's do that right now. 00:40:02.880 --> 00:40:04.639 Just close your eyes really quick. 00:40:07.440 --> 00:40:11.760 Is there somebody that you need to say, God, I need to forgive them? 00:40:16.400 --> 00:40:17.360 Can I encourage you? 00:40:17.440 --> 00:40:20.079 This is not something you have to feel to do. 00:40:20.719 --> 00:40:23.519 You don't have to feel like forgiving to do it. 00:40:55.920 --> 00:41:04.159 Just ask yourself, man, man, is there somebody I need to I need to declare right now, God, I I want relationship with you more than being right. 00:41:05.920 --> 00:41:07.760 I choose to forgive them. 00:41:08.639 --> 00:41:13.199 Your flesh, even as you say it with your will, your flesh might be like, No, I don't. 00:41:14.559 --> 00:41:17.039 Man, I've had that so many times. 00:41:17.840 --> 00:41:19.119 God, I choose to forgive that person. 00:41:19.199 --> 00:41:22.559 My flesh is like, mm-mm, no, I'm gonna hang on to that longer. 00:41:25.840 --> 00:41:28.400 But I don't let my emotions get the rule of my life. 00:41:28.480 --> 00:41:29.599 God's given me a will. 00:41:29.760 --> 00:41:31.599 So I engage my will and say, No, no, no. 00:41:31.679 --> 00:41:33.599 I choose with my will to forgive them. 00:41:33.760 --> 00:41:38.079 I don't have to feel like it's happened, I don't have to feel any different, but I'm choosing. 00:41:38.239 --> 00:41:52.159 I'm feeling uh I'm forgiving that person who lied about me, I'm forgiving that person who abused me, I'm forgiving that person that cheated on me, I'm forgiving that person right now that took advantage, uh, that lied, whatever it is. 00:41:54.239 --> 00:41:56.880 I'm forgiving the person that betrayed me. 00:42:01.840 --> 00:42:07.199 And you might need to come and say, and Lord, I as I come to receive from your table, I come to remember that you've forgiven me. 00:42:07.360 --> 00:42:10.079 And there might be something that you're dealing with right now, Lord. 00:42:10.159 --> 00:42:14.239 I just thank you that you would you would you would help me walk in freedom in this area of my life. 00:42:14.480 --> 00:42:31.920 If there's an addiction you're dealing with, if there's a struggle you're battling, to come and say, Lord, I just I confess right now, this is anger has gotten me, or or or porn addiction has gotten me, or drugs have gotten me, or or lying has gotten me, or whatever it is, and just confess it to the Lord. 00:42:33.039 --> 00:42:36.239 Don't let it hide in the dark in your life. 00:42:36.960 --> 00:42:39.360 Let the Lord bring healing and wholeness. 00:42:54.639 --> 00:42:56.960 Rob, would you go get a jest for me? 00:42:57.039 --> 00:43:01.360 Because I I wanna I want to close with some singing as we respond in this. 00:43:03.519 --> 00:43:11.440 As you make your way up, as you make your way up, Sheila's got the the bread. 00:43:12.159 --> 00:43:14.400 Nora's got the juice. 00:43:20.000 --> 00:43:23.360 And I want you to remember Jesus looking at his disciples. 00:43:23.840 --> 00:43:26.719 Gosh, and please remember Judas at the table. 00:43:27.199 --> 00:43:30.159 He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. 00:43:30.480 --> 00:43:36.800 He broke it into pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, This is my body which is given for you. 00:43:38.400 --> 00:43:40.400 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:43:42.719 --> 00:43:44.880 You're gonna grab the cup of juice as well. 00:43:45.280 --> 00:43:54.719 And remember that Jesus said, after supper, he took another cup of wine and said, This cup is the new covenant, praise God, between God and his people. 00:43:55.119 --> 00:44:00.159 An agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you. 00:44:00.400 --> 00:44:05.199 Thank you, Jesus, for the sacrifice you made for us. 00:44:07.440 --> 00:44:13.199 If you're coming to the table today and you need healing in your body, come with an expectation that he's gonna heal. 00:44:13.840 --> 00:44:17.519 If you need forgiveness in your life, come knowing that he forgives you. 00:44:18.559 --> 00:44:24.000 But I want you to, as you make your way, know that you're stepping into a sermon, you're stepping into a message. 00:44:24.159 --> 00:44:35.599 This is not one I'm preaching, this is one you're preaching, because you're gonna pick up the bread, you're gonna pick up the juice, and that's you physically declaring, Jesus, you have the victory over it all. 00:44:35.840 --> 00:44:37.840 You're putting hell on notice. 00:44:39.039 --> 00:44:44.880 Every power, every principality, every line that says you are not good enough to be loved, you're not good enough to be forgiven. 00:44:45.039 --> 00:44:46.000 You're like, you know what? 00:44:46.159 --> 00:44:51.039 I am not, but Jesus was on my behalf, and I am forgiven under him. 00:44:52.400 --> 00:44:54.800 His blood covers me and makes me right. 00:44:55.039 --> 00:44:56.960 Not my works, not my effort. 00:44:57.039 --> 00:45:04.400 And because I'm loved, now I operate from that love to show the world his goodness, his grace, and his mercy. 00:45:04.639 --> 00:45:09.519 So, can we come with an intentionality today to know that this is holy ground? 00:45:10.639 --> 00:45:14.960 And if you don't know Jesus, I want to ask you, come and receive. 00:45:17.360 --> 00:45:26.800 If you don't think, if you don't have things right with Jesus, you knew him back when you were a kid, and maybe it was your parents' faith or your grandma's faith. 00:45:27.519 --> 00:45:32.800 Jesus doesn't want to have a surrogate relationship with you through somebody else, he wants to have a relationship with you. 00:45:33.599 --> 00:45:34.239 Come. 00:45:34.880 --> 00:45:35.679 Receive. 00:45:35.920 --> 00:45:40.559 For some of you this morning, this is a returning to that covenant. 00:45:41.440 --> 00:45:44.400 A returning to King Jesus. 00:45:47.920 --> 00:45:49.760 Can we just close our eyes one more time? 00:45:49.840 --> 00:45:53.360 And I just want you, as you feel ready, I'm just gonna give a moment. 00:45:53.440 --> 00:45:54.880 We're not gonna rush this. 00:45:56.239 --> 00:45:59.199 But I want you just to come and just begin to receive. 00:45:59.440 --> 00:46:06.880 If you want to take it back to your seat and wait for a moment and just just savor the flavor and just sit in this, you're welcome to do that. 00:46:07.039 --> 00:46:12.000 As you pick up the bread out of out of out of the out of the plate, you can go ahead and receive it right then if you want to. 00:46:12.079 --> 00:46:15.119 And receive the juice right then if you want to. 00:46:15.519 --> 00:46:17.440 Either way is fine. 00:46:17.840 --> 00:46:30.400 But come with the boldness and a heart of celebration and a declaration, knowing Jesus died for us, yes, in the past, but his grace is work in our present. 00:46:30.800 --> 00:46:33.920 And it is securing and giving us a hope for the future. 00:46:34.159 --> 00:46:36.960 I encourage you, as you're ready, come now and receive.