We have a table…

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Communion

Sunday 10/25/20

Series: Do we REALLY believe?

MESSAGE: We have a table…

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We have been looking at 1 John as a way of working through some of the truths we saw in Philippians – which I know might have lost you so I am going to bring you back up to speed by reminding of what we are learning and why.

We began several weeks ago examining Paul’s letter to the Philippians to illustrate the things we learned in our 30,000’ view of Salvation – that Salvation is all about God, His rule and His reign and His heart of love for His creation – it is also about oneness with God because – since He loves us, He also desires unending intimacy and union with us. 

So we looked for some of those key points showing up in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Then we reached a point where 1 John served our study well by illustrating WHY Christ has to be formed in us and that is because God IS Who He is. 

John tells us that God is LIGHT and in Him there is NO darkness at all. So our ability to fellowship with God is limited to the amount of darkness we still have in our hearts and lives. John confirms something we learned in our lessons on a 30,000’ view of salvation and that is that salvation is a progressive work. John says it this way – “The darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.”

Just before covering some questions about living as lights in a world of darkness, we read in 1John 2 where it says, “Love NOT the world – meaning the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life” BECAUSE they are not of the Father but are of the world.

That is important because we are seeking to have Christ formed in us and so we must not walk in darkness and have fellowship with or agreement with the things in and of the world.

Now we also addressed two of the three questions last week with the promise that this week we’d look at the third which deals with communion, but I wanted to quickly review in some simple phrases what we learned last week which addressed some questions you all had regarding how our walking in the light might affect our interactions with the world – especially in the arena of politics.

  • We do not seek to force righteous behavior in the unrighteous by legislation.
    • Example – demanding that the nation only views marriage as between a man and a woman.
    • While we agree with this view – forcing it’s acceptance on a lost world is not Christian. We are to be lights IN THEIR DARKNESS NOT dictators.
  • We are to love those in the world and not treat them like they have the plague. If a gay person wants a cake – bake them one. In fact the admonition of Christ about walking two miles with a soldier who requires you to walk one may be in order. BE the blessing! You are NOT agreeing, but you are providing a human service to another human and being a witness. Nothing about baking them a cake or selling them groceries makes you in agreement with their sin NOR a participant in it.
  • DO NOT go against your conscience. If you can’t without seeking other employment – then seek other employment.
    • Example of the Christian actor in the early church. (Gay based performances – so the church took care of him until he could find other employment)
  • The only things I could think of which might appear as exceptions are:
    • Company policies – like paying for abortions – Hobby Lobby. At that point I think it could be logically argued that providing insurance which would cover murdering a baby would be to participate in their sin.
    • For a minister to preside over a gay wedding.
    • To vote for someone who advocates abortion. This is different than limiting the freedoms of the LGBT…etc. community in that abortion is not a freedom of lifestyle issue which is restricted to the person living in the sin. Abortion effects another life and our society has already determined that murder is wrong – we are only doing what we are asked when voting against it since it is a request that we voice our take on an issue. We agree with God Who calls it murder SO we seek to include abortion in the nationally accepted definition of murder.

In the end though, since these issues in election years are also attached to the incumbent – while we should still vote our conscience – God is sovereign in the affairs of man and our vote has no influence nor veto power over God’s choice.

True Christians will NEVER see eye to eye with non-believers and even in areas where we might appear to agree – like regarding stealing, the agreement is barely skin deep. Ours is due to submission to the character and ways of God. For them it is largely a matter of practicality.

And THAT introduces this week’s lesson on how being in the light or being in the darkness, affects communion – meaning the table of our Lord.

As we have said, Light cannot fellowship with Darkness. In fact, those in the darkness actually hate those who are in the light. Perhaps not always consciously, but internally they are opposed to the light that is within them and will find themselves acting contrary to it sometimes with hostility.

Now today I am going to show you WHY the table of our Lord IS truly restricted to those of His children who are actively walking in communion with Him. 

Communion is a Light versus darkness issue

John 3:16-21 [Holman],  “(16) For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. (17)  For God did not send His Son into the world that He might judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. (18)  Anyone who believes in Him is not judged, but anyone who does not believe is already judged, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God. (19)  “This, then, is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. (20)  For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. (21)  But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

John 3:18-21 [Wuest], “(18) He who places his trust in Him is not being judged. He who is not believing, has been judged already, and is as a result under judgment, because he has not put his trust in the Name of the uniquely-begotten Son of God, with the result that he is in a state of unbelief. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the universe and is here, and men loved rather the darkness than the light, for their works were pernicious. For everyone who practices evil things hates the light, and does not come and face up to the light lest his works be effectually rebuked. But he who habitually does the truth comes and faces up to the light in order that his works might be clearly shown to have been produced by God.”

This hostility between darkness and light also includes an inability to enter into a shared experience with each other. That is one of the reasons why communion has the restrictions on it that it does.

I don’t know if you caught it or not but what I said earlier was not that communion was restricted just to God’s children – but specifically those of His children who are ACTIVELY walking in communion with Him.

As stewards over this sacred meal, we as the church, should restrict participation in it to those God allows – as much as we are able. 

In reality – anyone who is NOT God’s child and is NOT walking in active communion with Him is NOT REALLY even ABLE to have true communion with Him. All they would be capable of is simply pretending to partake of a table they have no right to be at – and depending on their understanding of communion it may very well cost them dearly.

Now let’s begin looking at this topic of communing with our Lord at His table.

Communion is perhaps one of the most intimate things a child of God can enjoy with their Lord this side of heaven – WHEN they enter into it with knowledge.

2Cor. 6:14-18, “(14) Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship [communion] does light have with darkness?  (15)  What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?  (16)  And what agreement does God’s sanctuary have with idols? For we are the sanctuary of the living God, as God said: I will dwell among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people. (17)  Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you. (18)  I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.”

Notice God’s condition of fellowship with even His children is who they spend their time fellowshiping with.

Now you may ask – isn’t the word “communion” different from the word koinonia or fellowship? Well, I’m glad you asked… Let’s look at…

1Cor. 10:13-22, “(13) No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it.  (14)  Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.  (15)  I am speaking as to wise people. Judge for yourselves what I say.  (16)  The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not [the communion of the body of Christ] a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?  (17)  Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for all of us share that one bread.  (18)  Look at the people of Israel. Are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar?  (19)  What am I saying then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?  (20)  No, but I do say that what they sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons!  (21)  You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord’s table and the table of demons.  (22)  Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?”

Heb. 13:8-10, “(8) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  (9)  Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by foods, since those involved in them have not benefited.  (10)  We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle do not have a right to eat.”

Deal with blood of Christ cleaning us from all sin

1Cor. 11:27-34,

“(27)  Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy way will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord.  (28)  So a man should examine himself; in this way he should eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  (29)  For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself.  (30)  This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep.  (31)  If we were properly evaluating ourselves, we would not be judged,  (32)  but when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord, so that we may not be condemned with the world.  (33)  Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.  (34)  If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that you can come together and not cause judgment. And I will give instructions about the other matters whenever I come.”

So with that in mind we will take communion between ourselves and the Lord – a shared experience where we declare a life of union shared with God and each other by partaking of the shared resources of His body and blood.

1Cor. 11:17-34,

“(17) Now in giving the following instruction I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse.  (18)  For, to begin with, I hear that when you come together as a church there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.  (19)  There must, indeed, be factions among you, so that the approved among you may be recognized.  (20)  Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not really to eat the Lord’s Supper.  (21)  For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others, and one person is hungry while another is drunk!  (22)  Don’t you have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you look down on the church of God and embarrass those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I do not praise you for this!  (23)  For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: on the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread,  (24)  gave thanks, broke it, and said, “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” (25)  In the same way He also took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” (26)  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.  (27)  Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy way will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord.  (28)  So a man should examine himself; in this way he should eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  (29)  For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself.  (30)  This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep.  (31)  If we were properly evaluating ourselves, we would not be judged,  (32)  but when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord, so that we may not be condemned with the world.  (33)  Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.  (34)  If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that you can come together and not cause judgment. And I will give instructions about the other matters whenever I come.”

God Bless!

I hope this message will bless you richly…not because I taught it, but because it reveals Christ. He alone is our blessing and if in any way – whether big or small, 100% accurate or even just partially so – I have revealed our great God and Savior to you in a relationally knowable way, then this was time well spent on both our parts.

We at Living Grace Fellowship encourage you to place your trust in Jesus Christ, deliberately choosing Him and bowing the knee to Him as your Master and Lord, so as to come to realize Him as your Savior.

You have a special place in God’s family & kingdom. The fact that you exist… that you are His creation, says you were in His heart, you are His delight!

If you do not know Him, please reach out to us. Give us a call at the number located on every page of this website or use our ‘Contact Us‘ page. We would be deeply honored, if you gave us the privilege of introducing you to the Lord. Neither money nor attendance at our church will EVER be mentioned.

If you HAVE been spiritually fed by this ministry and WANT to give, we truly appreciate that and you may do so here, but please understand that all the outreaches of this ministry are FREE for you and anyone to enjoy at no cost.

Blessings!

Pastor Mark

View posts by Pastor Mark

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!