Communion Message
Spiritual Blessings in Christ
April 17, 2005
Pastor Leighton Sheley

We've used some words today in our expressions of praise such as praise, such as worship, and other such terms, and those are all Bible terms. In fact we find many of those terms of the book of Ephesians in the very first chapter wherein which the apostle Paul writes: Praise, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment-to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory." To the praise of his glory.

May God bless the reading of His Word.

God is good. God has a purpose. God has a plan. If He created you, He has a purpose and a plan for your life. And God is gracious and patient with us. Oftentimes we fail Him and we are unfaithful to Him, but He is always faithful to us. And He invites us to come when we have been unfaithful and He says, if you confess your sin, He is faithful and just. He'll forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I'd like you to bow your heads for just a moment - because the Scriptures say at times like this we should examine our self.

Lord we thank you that we can come into Your presence clothed in a righteousness that is provided by Jesus Christ. Lord we are thankful that we can come and we can ask forgiveness for our sins and, You desire to forgive our sins and to cleanse us. Your provision for us is incredible, Lord. Thank you for going to Calvary's cross and there paying the wages of our sin.

The elements that we hold remind us, remind us of Calvary's cross, remind us of our sin and its cost, remind us of Your love and Your provision for us. We partake of these elements in remembrance of You. Let's partake of the bread, and also the cup.

And Lord, beyond redeeming our souls from destruction You've chosen to adopt us into Your family, Your eternal family, and You have told us to pray in thus fashion, and we pray together:
Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Amen. Let's take a few moments and greet those who've come to worship with us today.