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Worship That Is AliveAs we have seen in our ongoing studies of 1 Corinthians, we have seen the church in Corinth had some problems. They were divided over leadership, they allowed blatant sin to go unchecked in their fellowship, they didn't understand about living holy before God. Now in this section starting in chapter 11 Paul talks about the right ways to worship. He starts with leadership/ headship having godly balance in the ministry of men and women. Now he moves into an area they were really blowing it. Communion, the Lord's table, should be the most awesome time of worship as we remember and proclaim what Jesus has done. We remember his body and his blood as the elements that brought us to a right relationship with God. But the Corinthians were blowing it. Lets consider some of their problems and lets consider what communion should be for all of us. Then at after the service we have some communion set up in the back of the church for you to partake of. Communion, (koniania in the Greek) literally means fellowship with the Lord. Communion is one of two ordinances the Lord Jesus Christ imparted to the church. The other is baptism, we partake of only once, Communion is the common bond between the churches throughout history. It is what links us with our brothers and sisters across town and around the world, it is what connects us with Christians in ages past. It is important today and it was important in the first century church. Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. The priorities of the early church, a devotion to: The word of God – fellowship – communion -- and prayer. The same priorities that empower us today. When someone is struggling in their relationship with the Lord, I usually ask them. Have you been in the word of God? Have you been in fellowship of the saint? Have you participated in the most excellent form of worship, the Lord’s table? And have you been in prayer? When a Christian is not participating in these areas often times they find themselves to be without joy, without victory, judgmental of others, and without zeal in their faith. I encourage you today, the Lord is wanting Koinonia with you, are you seeking Koinonia with him? READ THE TEXT 1 CORINTHIANS 11: 27-32 WORSHIP THAT IS ALIVE. John 4:23 (Jesus said) …A time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. The church in Corinth were not rightly worshiping in the table of the Lord. They had error in their love feasts, so Paul chastens them, corrects them, and gives all believers the right perspective for communion, when we heed his teaching, the result will be worship that is alive.
These guys were making huge mistakes, what they were doing was dividing instead of uniting. Communion is the great uniter of all believers. It unites us with our Lutheran brothers, it unites us with our Baptist friends, and it unites us with past generations of believers all over the world. We all partake of the bread and the wine, we are all united in Christ as we remember his death. But their in Corinth, instead of unity there was division, some would come in and scarf down the bread, others would suck down the wine, and as the kjv says, they were eating in an “unworthy manner”, eating and drinking judgment on themselves. So Paul gives them the directives he received from the Lord. Three things I would like you to see in our text as we consider propriety in worship, how we are to worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth. #1st. Participation. #2. Examination. #3. Instruction.
We see a powerful warning in the participation of communion or worship of the Lord. The warning is clear, that anyone who participates should do so knowing what they are doing. For the adult, participation in worship is an individual matter, as you study the scriptures it appears to me that all the Apostles partook of the Lord’s table, all of them had their feet washed by the Lord, even the one who would betray him Judas Iscariot. Yet Paul gives us a clear warning that if we participate in an unworthy manner we are guilty of sin. Not unlike the Church in Corinth, many are weak because they approach worship in a cavalier manner or an irreverent manner. As we consider the overall theme of worship and not just communion, I think it would be a good time to ask ourselves - how often are some of us guilty of sinning against the Lord in the irreverent in our approach to worship. Some of you are saying what are you talking about Rich? Worship is defined as: Reverent honor and homage paid to God. Worship is our devotion to the Lord. Worship is not about church attendance or singing songs. Rather worship begins at home in our personal lives then carries into our work, our play, and our church membership. Rom 12:1-2 ….I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind….. Worshiping in Spirit and in Truth starts in my daily life then continues into my church attendance. Here in church we worship from the opening prayer to the benediction. The opening prayer, we worship the Lord as we ask him to speak to us today. Some people just think of that as a formality instead of participating in the prayers. Praying with the person, being in agreement with what is said and adding your own personal thoughts. Next, we worship the Lord with song as we lift our voices, our hearts, and our hands to the Lord in adoration. Some people, maybe even you, think this boring, just some music, and so they get absolutely nothing out of singing praises to the Lord. You know what, singing praises to the Lord has nothing to do with music, or the beat, or musical styles. It has to do with participation. When we go though the motions instead of participating, we are not worshiping and we are left wanting. Lift up your heart and your hands, sing out to the Lord let him know how much you love him and he will minister to your heart. Notice the words, confession of who God is, what he has done, our need for him, and our reliance on him. Then worship continues with the study of God’s word as God speaks to us though the word. Rom 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. The spoken word of God that comes from God in teaching and preaching will penetrate our hearts and cause us to grow in our faith. . If you want more faith - participate in the going forth of the word of God. Take notes be an active part of this part of this element of worship. Worship continues with the final song, giving thanks to God for what he has spoken to us today, then the closing prayers and the benediction as we ask God to bless our homes, our week, our families, and our lives. First Paul warns us against participation in an unworthy or irreverent manner, we are to be active participants in worship at the Lord’s table. First participation.
Self examination. We practice open communion in our fellowship, that is open all believers in Christ. Some people say that if you are struggling with a certain sin or wrestling with a particular temptation, you can not partake of communion. But communion is a place of healing, a place of restoration, where our faith is once again confirmed in our hearts. Denying a believer communion because that are not 100% right with God, is like denying a sick person a doctor. The doctor saying, “get well then come and see me”, or the soup kitchen saying, “go gain some weight then we'll give you a meal.” Notice Paul tells say that each one should examine themselves to see if they recognize the complete work of Jesus Christ. It tells us that when a person comes before God without recognizing the body and blood of Christ they are eating judgment on themselves. The result was for the church in Corinth, many people were sick, and weak and some had even died. Paul never says to examine others, but to examine ourselves. We are never told to examine others in fact. Gal 6:1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. Restore the one who is in sin, examine yourself. Now in the fellowship we ask the parents to make sure their children understand the meaning of communion and that they know what we are remembering. But each worshiper is to examine their own heart, to make sure they recognize the body and blood of the Lord. That his work was complete, his sacrifice was sufficient. A time of looking inside of yourself and see what the God is telling you. Self examination is how we grow in our faith and how we come closer to our God. Far too often people want to examine others, have you ever found yourself thinking, “Oh I wish Betty was here, man Fred should have heard this one, he really needed it.” That is examining others instead of examining ourselves. I am reminded of the story that Jesus told in: TURN TO LUKE 18:9-14 …. Two men coming to worship God, one is self-righteous, the other self critical. One came believing he was right with God because he did many things, maybe he was real involved in church, taught Sunday school, helped with worship, we know he was a Pharisee and that meant he held a position of authority in the congregation. This man comes to worship and he even thanks God - but not for his grace, rather he thanks God for his own piety. Intently even in his prayers, he begins to judge the other man who is having a real encounter with God. The story is told of a businessman known for his self righteousness once announced to writer Mark Twain, "Before I die I mean to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. I will climb Mount Sinai and read the 10 Commandments aloud at the top." To which Mark Twain replied. "I have a better idea, you could stay here in Boston and keep the 10 commandments." This Pharisee was self righteous, Paul says examine yourself, not other people and insure you are participating in a worthy manner. The second man who has come to worship was a despised tax collector. But he is humble before God, he knows his need he desires to meet with God. Ps 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit ; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. This is how the tax collector come to God, broken by sins pain, honest in his heart. And Jesus affirms his self examination and declares that this man, not the religious man, leaves that place touched by God. “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Are you humble before God? Do you come here and just go thorough the motions when in reality we can’t wait to go fishing, or get home to watch the game. Or do we come with a spirit of observation, looking deep down inside and saying: “God – I love your grace, and I love your mercy. When we enter worship with anticipation of God speaking to us, when we actively participate, and self examine, that is when filled with exceeding great joy – and as Jesus said. John 7:37-38... "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." State employment officials in Tucson, Arizona, posted an interesting sign over a full-length mirror. Directed to all job hunters, it read, “Would you hire this person?” In another office a mirror and sign posed this question: “Are you ready for a job?” Self-evaluation was what the apostle Paul called for in 1 Corinthians 11. Believers are to judge themselves. 1 Cor 11:31-32 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. The word for discipline (kjv = chasten) is a word that means to train up a child, to educate, to instruct, learn, teach. God wants to instruct us to teach us, to grow us up. Communion becomes a great teacher in the lives of believers. Church, be self examining, have a introspection, if not we could, like Corinth fall into judgment of sickness and even death. First we saw participation, second examination finally.
Paul gives specific instruction about communion, even reminding us that he received it from the Lord. When did he receive these instructions? Most likely during the time he spent in the wilderness, Arabia, where after his conversion Paul went to learn / and unlearn many things. 1. THE NIGHT JESUS WAS ARRESTED. Passover was the night, no greater picture of Jesus is there in the bible, when the angel of death passed over any home in Egypt that was covered with the blood of a spotless lamb. So it is for us, when the blood of Jesus covers our hearts our sins are forgiven and the wages of sin, death passes over us. But think of the love Jesus poured out that night, he said. Luke 22:15 ... "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. The weight of the cross was on him, the burden of one of his own betraying him was with him, the thoughts of the loneliness of Calvary was upon him, yet he eagerly desired to partake of Passover and institute communion for the church. Wow, the love of God poured out, in an amazing way, how much more should we love one another? 2. BREAD FIRST. The bread came first, in March we are going to have a Passover Seder reenactment with the elements seen in-light of the fulfillment in Jesus Christ. But knowing his body would be beaten, knowing the suffering he would take, and that Isaiah said, by his wounds we are healed. Jesus took the break, broke it, symbolizing his body broke for us, and said. Do this in remembrance of me. 3. WINE New Covenant in his blood. What can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus – what can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh precious is the flow that makes me white as snow, no other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus. 4. PROCLAMATION. 1 Cor 11:26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Other translations say, you show the Lord's death, you announce his death, you remember his death. Communion is the great remembrancer of God's plan. The proclamation is to the world, to others, that I am a believer in Jesus Christ. But even more it is a proclamation, or reminder to myself, of what God has done in me. He has taken me from the miry clay and placed me on the rock of salvation. He has shown me grace and mercy so when I partake of communion I can be reminded to show grace and mercy to others. 1. WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE. 1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. The ministry of what Jesus has done, bore our sins in the cross, delivered us from the power of sin, made us right with God, and brings healing to our lives, souls and relationship with God. With communion we proclaim the sufficiency of Jesus Christ for our lives and truly he is the only way, only truth, and no one comes to the Father but by him. But there is another proclamation we bring as we partake in worship in communion. And so many miss this important thing, we proclaim that Jesus is coming back. 2. HE IS COMING AGAIN. We proclaim, we remember, we announce, we show his death, until he comes. Jesus is coming when he taught about his return, he told us to be watching and waiting for that day. He told us that it was sure and just like he spoke of his resurrection, so his return would happen. Every time you partake of the bread, remember Jesus is coming back. Every time you drink the wine, make it a personal proclamation of Maranatha! The Lord is coming. Propriety in worship, be that sharing in the Lord’s table, or corporate worship in the church setting, or offering my body to God. Proper worship comes when we live a life of self examination, being self critical and introspective on who we are, and how we live. Propriety in worship comes with: Participation, examination, and heeding instruction that God brings into our lives. PRAY INVITE – BENEDICTION – SING Series: 1 Corinthians -Through the Bible |
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