Communion Message
(Prayer for Beverly)
June 23-24, 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. 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.

In these words of admonition concerning the Lord's Supper, Paul had to address the problem in the Corinthian church, and it was a problem of a lack of consideration of others. In the early days of the church there were two meals served. During the worship time there was the communion, and then following the worship time there was the general meal served to all the congregation. And the reason being, is that historians tell us that in the Roman Empire during the times of Paul there were 60 million slaves serving others. And in the early church many of those slaves came to a personal knowledge of Christ, and thus, within a worship service they sat side-by-side with their master, which was very unique situation in the culture of that day. But there was something wrong, and that is, the wealthy people would bring their meal for the after meal, which was for all, and yet they would settle off and locate away from those in need. They discriminated against the poor and withheld them food, and Paul said, this should never be. You must consider all people.

And in the closing words of this admonition here: Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another; in some versions of the Scripture it's says to pray for one another, to give concern and care for one another. We want to do that at this communion. You who worship with us know that every communion service is different. But I want you to join with me as we join in a prayer for someone in our family who at this time we need to care for and we need to pray for. And I'm going to ask you, Beverly, if you'll come and join with me; and this has all been prearranged. Beverly and I have talked about this. And Beverly came to Christ some months ago, but Beverly has a problem that she wants to share with us, and we all as Christians want to join with her. Beverly, tell us what your prayer is.

(Beverly speaking)
My prayer is: As a girl of 13 years old I became addicted--27 years of using drugs. I've been coming to this church for a year and a half. I was baptized here. I've had the help of my friends, my family, my sister more than anybody. And I can't shake off the desire and the urge, so I'm coming and asking you all to pray for me, and with me, that the Lord can lift the desire and the urges that I have that I can't shake off alone.

What Beverly is saying to us, she loves Jesus with all of her heart. I think one of the things, Beverly, that I've observed over the years of ministry is that sometimes when people become a Christian almost immediately (snaps fingers) God takes that addiction, whatever it is, from them. My father smoked four packs of cigarettes the day and he gave his life to Christ one night. He didn't think much of his cigarettes, but the next morning when he took his first cigarette he got so sick they had to take him home from work. God did something inside that man that turned his whole system around and he rejected tobacco, but he never had that problem ever after. And others like you, you love Christ, and I mean that past hangs on and sometimes those habits clenches of tightly. You're one of us.

You're our sister. And I'm going to ask the number of the ladies to come. I'd like for you, Tom, to come just a minute. I want you to give three words of testimony of encouragement to Beverly. Would you do that Tom? Thomas was a drug addict, you know, for many, many years too Beverly. And of recent years God has transformed Thomas into a child of God. Just say three or four words Thomas. I know you want to preach, but just...(congregation laughs).

(Thomas speaking)
I learned from the best. What can I say? I just would like to testify to the fact that I know from my own life and from the lives of many others of God, He has a plan for us, and that God wants to take what's the worst in our life and turn it to the best, and take what's been holding us down and make it to a testimony of His grace to us. And I know He has given us a way for that, and He's given us steps and ways to approach Him, and to change that we can receive His grace. That's all I can say now.

(Pastor speaking)
And He's changed you. Yours is all taken away. All gone.

(Thomas speaking)
Absolutely. And I've seen it in many other people as well. (Congregation claps)

(Pastor speaking)
Now what I want--this is family now--if you're a guest with us, we just part of the family. I want to the least a dozen ladies here in the congregation just to come and gather around Beverly, and we're going to pray that this is the day of victory for Beverly. Amen? I would like for you all to stand.

Lord Jesus, we join with Beverly today in this need. She loves You, but the past is so hard to get rid of. And at times she feels she has victory for a few days, and then comes the urge and comes the temptation, and then failure. She doesn't want that to be that way anymore. Today, right now dear Jesus, take this habit from Beverly forever and set her free. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Jesus. Amen.

Now Beverly, every time you're tempted I want you to see this scene of all these ladies around you. They're praying for you. And when the tempter comes, you take strength in this beautiful scene: 'I know people are praying for me, and by God's grace I'm going to have a victory.' Amen? We're behind you Beverly. God bless you. God bless you.

Let's take our communion. We're going to kneel as we do. I know this church was never made with kneelers and it's a little inconvenient, maybe just bow your head at the pew in front of you. Now Beverly, I want you to know that all of us as your family, hundreds of us, are behind you. And I'm going to ask you in one month from today how victory has come, and I'm going to believe for victory. Amen?

I think it's so wonderful when you can be so honest and just say God, this is my need. And we reach out to Beverly today, don't we? Jesus, we don't want to be a congregation that becomes inconsiderate of our family needs. Today we've joined with Beverly and we've claimed victory. Thank you for this beautiful moment, and thank you for these elements that bespeak Your love for us dear Jesus. The bread, Your body, a substitute for us. You who knew no sin became sin for us so that we could be made unto Your righteousness, O God. This cup, symbolic of Your precious blood that cleanses from all sin. Thank you so very much, dear Jesus, for dying for us. We love You and we know You love us because these elements tell us that You love in dimensions far beyond our ability to grasp. Thank you Jesus. Let's take the bread together, shall we? And then the cup. Wonderful Jesus, matchless Redeemer, all mighty God, our Savior-we love You. Thank you for this moment in Your presence, and everybody said...amen. Let's stand and greet one another, shall we?