Today on the Prayingforyou Ministires teleconference Sunday Evening Worship Service, Senior Pastor Dale Anthony DeGroat rendered an eyeopening message titled Are We There Yet? (A message on Communion) taken from 1 Corinthians 11:17-34. Its not too late to partake of this wonderful message. Simply dial 1-605-475-4099## and be fed the Word coming through Pastor DeGroat. Pastor Dale opened by reading the text while intermingling a breakdown of the scripture. Paul, while speaking to or reproving the Christians in Corinth, spoke to them saying hed heard (and somewhat believed) of there being division among the people. Paul was speaking of when they came together in meeting as a church for the Lords Supper, which occurred after the Love Feast. [Sidebar: I read a little about the Love Feast and found that it was a communal meal shared by the Christians to express friendship and observe religious feast. These meals occurred when they met together for fellowship and the Lords Supper. The term Love Feast is used only in Jude 12.] Some would go ahead with their own private supper without waiting for all to be served and partake, humiliating those who may not be served and were without. These were usually the poor being excluded. This act caused division within the church. Although this division had taken place during the Love Feast, the act of carrying out the Lords Supper, however, would still take place with these same participants. Paul needed to remind the Christians of Corinth the significance of partaking the Lords Supper, which is believers announcing that we, as born again believers, acknowledge the sacrifice that Christ made on the Cross on our behalf. We are proclaiming that we understand, that our sins and former way of life died on the cross when Christ was crucified. By informing them and revealing to them the meaning and reason for the Lords Supper, Paul also let them know that whoever eats of the Lords bread and drinks of the Lords cup in an unworthy manner, is guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord. This is why it is critical for everyone to examine themselves BEFORE they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. Eating and drinking of the Lords bread and cup without discerning the Body of Christ, as well as self examination, are eating and drinking in judgement of themselves, causing the body to be weak, sick and some to even fall asleep/die. This indicates the seriousness of eating and drinking unworthily. Pastor Dale shared that vs 131-32 is the light at the end of the tunnel. Because we are of the family of God, we will be disciplined or chastised, (Heb 12:6), for our actions, but we will not be condemned as the world. Pastor Dale invited us at this time to examine ourselves and encouraged us saying, no matter what you may have done that may be separating you and making you uneasy about partaking of the Lords Supper, whatever it may be, keep in mind that what Christ did on the cross is powerful enough to release you from the laws of death. Christ went to the cross on our behalf and stayed there enduring all of the suffering, beatings and humiliation for us so that we, ourselves, may be able to come to God. The key word for all of the sacrificial offerings given in Leviticus is ...and they shall be forgiven. God is ready and willing to forgive sins. Lest we forget, we do need to examine ourselves so we can continue to strive to walk upright. Even before we slip, and get side tracked, God made provisions for us to get back to Him. 2 Chronicles 7:14. God is listening to our prayers! One of my AAH-HA moments was when Pastor Dale brought to our attention of how we examine ourselves. When we examine ourselves, we usually think of the wrong we have done. Phil. 3:13-14, Paul is not talking about what he has done wrong, hes past that...over all those habits and hang ups. Paul is now striving to do and examining all those things that God had empowered him to do as a son of God. Just like Paul, we must examine our press toward the mark. Pastor Dale asked the question, Am I there yet, have I reached the mark?... and encouraged us to respond with just a little further We must continue to check the GPS, checking with God, checking with Jesus Christ to see if you are in the position where God wants you to be. God knows where we are...so we must continue to check with Him because there is more to life than what we know. Paul was opposed to the name of Jesus Christ and was persecuting others who believed to the point of imprisonment and even death. Acts 26:14-18 Paul was in a supernatural conversation with Jesus, where Paul was liken to an ox kicking against a goad in an attempt to release himself. In the conversation Paul was told of the mission that God had for him. Share with others (being of no respecter of persons) about His love and His forgiveness. On the road to Damascus, Paul was brought from darkness into the marvelous light of Christ. Sometimes the things that we dont want to happen are the things that will put us on the right path that will make you look at things that will cause you to change what you are doing for the better. Its turning around for me! Hopefully youve gotten to this point, and if youve gotten to this point, Im quite sure there is something here that have sparked your desire to deepen your understanding and strengthen your relationship with our Savior. There was so, so much more that you must experience for yourself. And you can do just that by dialing 1 605-475-4099 access code 101176##. Dial in and be blessed! Thank you Pastor Dale for this message reminding us that we must continue to check and see if we are pressing toward the mark for the prize of a high calling of God in Christ Jesus... Are we there yet?... press just a little further!
Posted on: Mon, 02 Jun 2014 07:22:13 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015