Communion Message
(The answer to life's question)
February 10, 2002
Pastor Donald Sheley

For I have received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night on 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 the blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

We come to this moment of worship, each of us, from a different pathway. For some of us the week has been a great time of joy and victory, for others, we have wrestled with some of the difficult tensions of life. Some of us who stand here today are Christians that have known Jesus as Lord and Savior for many years, and the joy of serving Him only becomes richer by the day.

Others stand here with us and you're just commencing your Christian journey. It's only been of recent days, recent weeks, that you've realized the love of Christ and the available salvation that He made possible at Calvary, and so you've become a follower of Christ. Others of us standing here today, and this is true in almost every service, there are people here today searching. You don't know exactly how to define the feeling inside, but you're here because you're looking for an answer to life's questions. The proclamation, the gospel of Jesus Christ, is that He's the answer.

2000 years ago He went to Calvary's cross and there's He paid the penalty for mans' sin. For you see, back in the early moments when God began to deal with man, He made it very clear that the man who sins will die. And thus, the consequences of sin is death. Jesus Christ went to the cross to take that penalty for our sins. He died for all of us as our substitute, and in dying for us, He provides for us the gift of life eternal. So if you'll put your trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and seek His forgiveness today, you'll become a new creation in Christ Jesus, and this can become a life changing experience.

You know, Sunday after Sunday, as we kneel before the Lord, many people make spiritual decisions, deal with their own spirituality, and come to a new relationship with God. It happens every Sunday on our knees. We invite you today while we're kneeling and praying just say, Jesus, I'm here and I open my heart and by life to You. A divine miracle will take place -- the gospel, the gospel of forgiveness.

Some years ago I was away for a time of prayer and I took with me CDs and some tapes, and I listened to the great worship choruses. One afternoon I heard this song -- it's the gospel in song, and I want you to kneel with me and let's listen intently as the singers sing the gospel in beautiful melody. Let's kneel together.

(Music plays)

Amazing love. Jesus, we never get tired of hearing the story over and over again. You left heaven's glory. You came to this earth to die for us so that we could live forever with You. Our hearts bow in adoration and love today. Amazing, absolutely amazing, Your love for us dear Jesus. As we kneel before You today, none of us would claim any perfection whatsoever; we're sinners.

We've wandered down pathways of disobedience. We've been rebellious at times. We've sinned. We failed You, and we're sorry dear Jesus. We ask You to cleanse us and forgive us, wash us afresh

These very emblems that we hold in our hands remind us that's exactly what You want to do. The bread bespeaks of Your body which became the substitute in death for us. You who knew no sin became sin for us, amazing, so that we might be made the righteousness of God.

The cup bespeaks, Lord Jesus, of Your precious blood that washes away all of our sin. So we hold in our hands the promise that You've heard our prayers. We're sinners and we need You. Let's take the bread together, shall we? And then the cup. We worship You, O wonderful Christ, our Savior and our God, and everybody said, amen. Let's stand and greet one another, shall we?