Communion Message
(Contend with ourselves)
July 31 - August 1, 1999
Pastor Leighton Sheley

Reading from the Scriptures in 1 Corinthians chapter 11; 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. 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, judged, with the world. In these two verses is found three different words translated judge. The first word is diakrino, the second and third is krino, and the forth is katakrino, sometimes interpreted condemned. The first word is diakrino and it means to contend with. So you could read this Scripture, if we contend with ourselves then we would not be judged. What is the contention that Paul is speaking about here? Well we find Paul writes in Romans, he talks about the contention within between the old nature and the new. He says, that which I would do, the things that I know are right to do, I don't do those things; and the things which are wrong and I don't want to do, those are the things I do. O wretched man that I am. And there's a contention that takes place within us between the old nature and the new. Now, people who have not been saved do not have a new nature and therefore there's not the contention within between the old nature and the new, for there is no new nature. But we who are the temple of the Holy Spirit, who have been saved, often times stumble and fall because the old nature defeats the new nature and we sin. We are so blessed to have a loving Creator and heavenly Father who is not quick to judge but who is patient and merciful to us; and if we come to Him and we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I invite you now if you're physically able to join with me as we kneel in the presence of our Lord and examine ourselves. Lord as we examine our self today Your spirit reminds us of how sinful and in need of Your salvation we really are, for we have thought, and said, and done things this week that displease You. Lord forgive me, I pray, and I thank you that I can leave this place forgiven and cleansed because of the dear sacrifice of Your Son. Lord I don't look upon Your mercy as a license to sin because these elements remind me of the price that was paid for my sin. Thank you Lord that You loved me so much that You sent Jesus Christ to pay the wages of my sin. Each one of us here can say the same prayer. Thank you Lord. Let's partake of the bread and also the cup. O thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Let's say thank you Lord together. Thank you Lord. Let's say it again. Thank you Lord. Let's say it again. Thank you Lord. O thank you Lord for Your great love for us. We worship You this day with everything within us for You are worthy of nothing less. In Jesus' name we pray, and together we say, amen. Let's stand and greet our neighbor, shall we?