Communion Message
(The table of peace)
June 9-10, 2001
Pastor Donald Sheley

For I have received from the Lord that which I also delivered unto 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 oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me." For as often as ye 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 the blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

Paul writes to the Christians at Colosse about Jesus. He said He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn overall creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones our dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And he is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead, that is, that in all things He may have preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

From Sunday to Sunday we give designation to the communion table, sometimes it's the table of reconciliation, the table of forgiveness, the table of love. Today I want you to think of it as the table of peace. Paul in reminding the Colossians as to everything else that Christ is, Creator, the sovereign Lord of the universe, the One who holds the world together, the head of the church. It says that in Him it pleased the Father that everything should dwell, and by Him He made peace through the blood of His cross. Now peace is something for which all of us cry for. Some of us today seek for peace amidst the confusions and the frustrations of a turbulent world in which we live. Some of us come from homes that are filled with anguish and we would so pray that God would bring peace to our home. Some of us have relationships that are tangled and coming apart, and we would pray dear God somehow give us peace in this relationship. But each of us today find the need for peace in various areas of our life, and the communion today reminds us that it was at the cross He made peace for us through the blood of His cross. And I want you to kneel with me and whatever that search, whatever that longing is in your heart for which you're calling out today to God, made this be a time when we just open our hearts and let Him flood us with His peace. Let's kneel together, shall we?

Lord Jesus we kneel in Your presence and the Scripture passage that we have read today reminds us that it was at the cross You procured that peace that all of us long for; not only at peace with You dear God, but a peace that passeth all understanding, a peace that surpasses the turmoils of life through which we are passing. In this beautiful moment in Your presence as we kneel before You dear God, by the power of your precious Holy Spirit would You minister to us. We wait in Your presence. Thank You for Your promise Lord Jesus. You said My peace I give to you; a peace that the world does not give, but My peace. And we by faith receive that today, and we take these elements of communion knowing that it was at the cross that You secured that peace for us. Let's take the bread together, shall we? And then the cup. Thank you for hearing our prayer dear Christ, and thank you for Your peace. And everybody said, amen. Let's stand and greet one another, shall we?