Communion

Communion
NTC Ballynahinch Youth Weekend – Sunday 09/08/12

Luke 22:19-20 / 1 Corinthians 11:23-25

Notice here how simple the request is… “Remember me” – Jesus asks them simply one thing… To remember! Jesus knows all things, from the beginning to the end and he knew the hearts of the disciples, He knows our hearts… And His heart, the night before He was crucified said … “Remember me” – Remember this body broken and this blood shed. – Isn’t it true that we so quickly forget Him!! James 1:23-24. We hear the request, the command to remember Him but we so quickly forget… We forget Him, His love, His provision, His sacrifice… Psalm 103:2-4 The psalmist goes on to list so many wonderful things that truly… we forget! To our own detriment! Matthew 14:29-30 – How quickly…

… So let’s spend some time remembering Him!

John 1:1-3 – He is God! He truly did become wholly man. Jesus truly walked this earth and experienced our life. – Psalm 139:1-6 He is acquainted with every area of our lives! He knows your heart, He knows your heartache! He knows your thoughts, , your affections, your desires… He knows!! He doesn’t just know about them… He truly understands how you feel! He knows your temptations, He truly knows your failings… And this Jesus loves you!! He loves us! Let us remember this!

Let us also remember us. We fall so short of His glory! Romans 3:23 This truth alone should humble us and remind us of our low estate… How undeserving we are… Do we stop and remember this? Right now, right here… Do we remember how short we fall of His glory? How undeserving we are of any blessing at all! And… How wicked we actually are without Jesus! Not because of what we’ve done or what we do but simply because we were born in sin! Psalm 51:5 Completely deserving of God’s wrath and judgement. Because you were/are sinful by nature! Some may think “Oh I never did much wrong before I was saved…” But to think like this is to miss the truth completely. A young child who is born again must realise/recognise how utterly sinful and selfish they are without Jesus – Otherwise this gospel is only true for those who are “bad enough”! – Let’s be honest before God! Honesty before God is the surest step towards communion with Him(not the only step).

Now consider the heart of God! 1 John 4:16 tells us that God is love! He is love! He is desperately in love with you! Desperately! He covets your heart! He covets your affection, your desire, your time!… He is jealous of you!… Consider that! Take time consider how God describes Himself in His word! Exodus 20:5-6 Let us think about this and remember Him!

Man was created with a free will. A choice! Man freely chose to love God back. Adam gave that freedom away. From Adam until now we are born as slaves to sin and slaves to the devil! We read this in Romans 6:16-18 Not able to love, not free to choose… But Christ died and rose again! Hallelujah!! Setting us free!! Setting us free to love!!

Matthew 22:37-40 – In this book we have history, prophecy, teaching, types, examples… It is a wealth of wisdom and knowledge! BUT Jesus tells us here, he quotes Deuteronomy 6:5, that everything in this book rests on these commandments! Everything in God’s precious word is for this purpose – to teach us what love is and to teach us how to love!.. Think about it… God almighty in a very simple, yet profound, way is longing for us to choose to love Him back! And even that He knows we cannot do without Him! John 17:26 in this whole chapter Jesus prays for His disciples but His crescendo, His closing statement is one desire for communion with us! … But how quickly we forget!

Let me finish off with this thought for us… Jesus loves you. He gave His life to teach you, He gave His body to be broken for you, He shed His blood wilingly, taking your sin and God’s wrath upon Him in your place! He gave His word to guide you, He gives Himself in continual intercession on your behalf… And this is no fairytale! Do we get this?! Is it real? This is why we must stop… and remember Him!!

So let us remember Him this morning. Let us remember Christ. Thankful, rejoicing, truly thankful for all He is, all He’s done and that we can trust Him for all that is to come!!

1 Corinthians 11:26-28 – And in the light of all we remember let us examine ourselves and confess, repent and make right what we need to!