Communion Message
(Wait for one another)
February 6-7, 1999
Pastor Leighton Sheley

From the familiar passage we find in 1 Corinthians chapter 11 we read, For I have received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me. In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

As we gather together each week for communion, we look at this passage and other passages that relate to our time of communion together and the Lord's supper, and we try to find fresh new treasures buried therein. The last number of weeks if not months I've been pondering this last verse. Verse 33. Sometimes we don't even read it, but it really is a part of the communion message. Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, tarry or wait for one another. As I was with my family last Sunday evening my wife had turned to Touch By An Angle special, 2 hours, and it told the story of a political prisoner in China. You know Christians in China are considered political prisoners because they acknowledge that there's an authority higher than the communist party and the communist government. Wait for one another. What does that mean? Well it means to be thoughtful of one another. It means to be considerate of another. It means to regard the interests and the concerns of another. It means to take an interest in others. It's distinguished from just when you want you take it, and don't bother thinking about anyone else. The scripture tells us to think about others, and I don't think it's limited to this particular room, this particular time. I think that it behooves us to think outside of our own comfort zone and recall that there are Christians in other nations of this world who don't enjoy the same freedoms that we do. There's a passage that Paul writes recorded in Philippians chapter 3 verses 8 and following in which is written, Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ. And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to that resurrection from the dead. And the fellowship of His sufferings. You know in America I don't think we understand the depths of the meanings of those words. Because we haven't really suffered for our faith in America. Those words did get penned by Paul, and Paul knew what it was to suffer for Christ. For often times he was cast out. Often times he was stoned, and three times he was left for dead. He knew about the fellowship of sufferings in Christ. Two-thirds of the Christians that live in our age live in nations where they can be arrested, imprisoned, tortured, and even murdered because of their faith in Jesus Christ and the proclamation of that faith. As we gather together with the elements of communion, I invite you to tarry, to wait, to pray for those Christians in those parts of the world.

If you are physically able, I invite you now to kneel in the presence of our Lord. Lord, as we bow this day we listen to the rain and the storm outside and we find ourselves warm and comfortable within. Lord we also tarry for those believers this day who don't have such comfort. They reside in dark, dank, moist, cold cells because of their faith in You as Lord and savior. Lord we pray this day that Your Holy Spirit will minister to them encouragement. Give them strength that their testimonies might be bright and shinning lights that lead men to You. Lord as we hold these elements we're reminded of the great price that You paid and the great love that You have for us. And we're reminded of how holy You are and how unholy we are. Lord there's not one in our midst this day who has not sinned this week. Each and every one is desperately in need of Your forgiveness, Your mercy, Your salvation. As we hold the elements we're reminded of the price that You paid to redeem us from destruction. If we confess our sins You're faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. That's what Your word says Lord. And this day we confess our sin. Thank you Lord for Your forgiveness and for Your cleansing. Let's partake of the bread and also the cup. Thank you Lord. Let's say that together. Thank you Lord. Let's say it again. Thank you Lord. Let's say it again. Thank you Lord. We say thank you Lord. The words are totally inadequate. Thank you Lord. In Jesus' name we pray and together the saints say, amen. Let's stand and greet those who've come to worship with us today, shall we?