Communion: Remembering the Cross, Renewing Our Love

All right. Good evening.

Good evening. Come on in. Come on in.

You guys good?

Good. Good. Good.

It's Wednesday. I don't know about you guys, but has it, it's been so busy that it's Wednesday. You would think it's like, shouldn't it be a Friday by now? Right. So tonight, um, and I'll I'll I'll repeat this a few more times as people make their way in, but um, so tonight as it's the first, uh, Wednesday of the month, we don't always keep this schedule, but as much as we can, we do. And that is the first Wednesday of the month, we depart from our normal church activities. We even uh just change up the timing of things on these first Wednesdays of the month and we have a time of communion and we have a time of worship and we'll have a time of praying together and just seeking the Lord's comfort and care that he gives um through one another and in doing that uh it's just it's just very different and we love that heart.

This is something tonight, if you're new here, it's something that uh we have done since we were a home Bible study. And um it's just a sweet time together. But the reason why people will always ask, why don't we do communion on Sundays? Because there are many non-believers that come on Sundays and that would open up to them uh some bit of apparel in a sense where communion it's amazing because so much of course that what a church does is is open to to believer and non-believer a Sunday morning for example. But communion, baptism, these are things strictly reserved for the believer. And the Bible makes clear that in 1 Corinthians chap 11 that even if a Christian is in a gathering like this and there's communion that is being conducted that even the Christian who's not walking right with the Lord should not partake of communion. That's how serious it is. And I think in our culture, we've lost so much reverence because we haven't paid close attention to what God says.

So if you believe that God is real, if you understand what he tells you in the word um about who he is and what kind of person personality person he is, um if you don't know that, then you can just glaze right over it or run right past him. And you don't want to do that. Um, I love what Awtoer says. He says, "God is in perfection what we are in imperfection." You say, "What does that mean?" Well, Toto Toer goes on to explain, "We're the only thing that God created that is in his image. Angels are not in his image. God gave you and I moral likeness." His his moral likeness. We can decide. We can choose. We have that agency. And in a way, there will be people who want to argue this next statement, but it's actually it's it's it's beyond argument. And that is God has actually built into every one of us um a a a level a capacity of sovereignty. And what I mean by sovereignty is this. You decide if you want a hamburger or a hot dog. You decide if you want to go to the mountains or to the beach. How do you decide that? Because you're not pre-programmed to do that. You make a choice. God built you with that ability to make a choice. Why is that important? Because God who is the person created us in our personalities and we can relate to him and he can relate to us unlike anything else he has created. That's how precious you are in his sight.

Think about that. You've seen people, right, with their animals. We're all guilty to some degree, but social media now, we know people are like, "Okay, right, really?" But, you know, um their their little their little poodle, you know, has scrambled eggs in the morning with a sausage and it has orange juice and that it's dressed up and it's like, really? Well, what's going on there? Well, I'll be nice about it, but um the the owner of the poodle is trying to relate to this individual. And I guess it's better that way than the owner of the dog, them crawling around in the backyard, right? So, what what do they do? They take this animal and they they they're they're trying to lift the animal up into like a human status. Well, think about that's a very bad analogy, but think of it this way. This person is trying to relate to this animal on on human terms. Well, for God to relate to us, he sent his son.

He didn't have to pretend. He did. His love for you is so great and his desire for you to have a relationship with him personally on an ongoing intimate basis. It's so important to him that he he beckons you. He invites you. The old uh Puritans used to call the Holy Spirit the hound of heaven because he would be barking, chasing you, coming after you to invite you into the family of God to get your attention. And so tonight with communion, the reason why non-believers are not allowed to partake of communion is because they don't understand. They don't know. You may be here tonight and you're not a Christian or you're not a Christ follower as I like to say it. And you've been thinking maybe I want to follow Jesus. Yeah. Well, we would all cheer you on with that. But we can't make you make that decision. Nor would we. I want you to think now. If we were to hold something to your throat and tell you confess Jesus Christ, that that would be spiritual rape.

That's not God. He's given you the ability to choose if you want to love him or not. But how can you love him if you don't know what he's done for you? That's why we as brothers and sisters are commanded to tell others about the Lord so that they might have the opportunity to know him and then fall in love with him personally because that's all he'll listen that's all he's going to settle for nothing less. He wants your life to be shared with his life. And in that, he shares his life with your life. And all other relationships on earth are a very faint type of what he wants you to experience with him in perfection. that he would stoop down and tell us, "I want your life to be made new. I want you to give me your sins. I want you to just get alone with me and you tell me. I want to hear it from you. Don't Don't confess. Don't nail don't grab me in the parking lot and say, "Pastor Jack, I need to confess to you because I want to meet Jesus." I think on the book of Hebrews is very clear on this. Even priests have to go to God and ask for forgiveness.

So why would you go to a person when the Bible tells you there's one mediator between man and God? And that is the man Christ Jesus.

Wow. Wow. And so tonight, as we prepare our hearts, I I want you to come tonight with expectation. I want you to come into the sanctuary. And I know it's hard for those of you that are joining us streaming or online right now um because you're you may not have this atmosphere where you're at. But if you're at home right now or if you're in your small group, then turn down the lights like our lights are dimmed and go get some bread and some juice or milk or it doesn't matter what it is and get ready to have communion with us. Just make sure of this number one thing. Just make sure that you're in the family, that you know him. Maybe tonight you want to know him. I've been meeting people these last few Sundays. It's amazing. It's happening all over. Still happening here. is people are coming and they're saying, "I Googled church in my area and I I looked to see what time church church was and and I've come here." Look, some of you have been coming here for years and we've never met. That's on you. I was standing out there and I met new people last week on Sunday coming for the first time ever. So, if they can do it, you and you and I can meet up. Okay. But here's the thing. This is epic, of all things, there was a young man that came up last Wednesday, last Sunday, just before Buds. Buds was at 4:00. This guy came and he was in a hurry. He came and he's and I'm walking by and he said something like, you know, "Am I going in the right direction or something?" And I go, "Yeah, you're going the right direction." I just assumed the guy went there, but he was just turned around or he's just Where's Buds? I don't know. But I stuck out my hand to shake his hand. And um he said, "Uh, yeah, I'm I I saw I I saw I I was looking online and I saw that uh this afternoon I saw there's a four o'clock service here, so I'm coming. I've never been to church before." This guy's about 35 years old. He said, "I've never been to church before in my life, so I thought I'd come to the four o'clock service." And now there's only men in here. So, I don't know what, you know, and I I told him, I said, "This is a, you know, this is our men's group getting together." And he didn't care. He didn't care.

He just came flying in here. And but he said, he said, I just I have I have been in just intense sensation of having to go to church uh since Charlie Kirk was shot. And I said, "Oh, did you did you follow Charlie Kirk?" "No, no, I heard about him in the news." Okay, so this is bizarre people. This is not this has nothing to do with Charlie Kirk anymore.

This is God. This is God grabbing people and stirring up their hearts to cause them to be curious about God. This is a God thing and it's happening all over America, if not the world. And so we celebrate tonight the life of Jesus, the death of Jesus, the resurrection of Jesus. But I find it fascinating if my memory serves me correct. Today's October 1st, is it not?

Yes.

And I think today is Yum Kapoor.

Yes.

So Jews are celebrating all around the world. And I want you to know tonight that what we're celebrating is that our atonement, our salvation has been provided for in the life of the Messiah. And that's not our opinion. That is pure, the purest theology of the Bible. And that's why tonight we gather together with great hearts of affection for him. Because, hear me out, because he's the one that has told us in his word, you cannot be good enough to get to heaven. You might be thinking tonight, well, what kind of good news is that?

It's the best news.

You want to know why? Because if you could get to heaven by being good, then Jesus wasted his time

at the cross.

And all of a sudden, my morality, though, though greatly appreciated by your neighbors, has no economy, no currency. before the presence of Almighty God because you and I have been tainted by our sin. We were born sinners. I was witnessing Monday to a woman and we got on this topic and I mentioned to her, I said, "If you've had children, how many times did you have to sit your children down to teach them how to tell a lie? How many times did you teach your child how to steal a cookie?" She never did that. I go, "Why didn't you teach them? You should have taught them." She said, 'I didn't have to teach them. They already knew how to do that. I said, 'You just answered my You just answered the whole question. We're fallen. Because she was offended that I mentioned that we're all fallen.

But then when you put it that way, we have to learn good.

Bad comes automatic. You say, 'Well, can you laugh about that? That's a terrible thing. It is a terrible thing if you leave it there. It's a wonderful thing if you realize. You see why Jesus came? Do you see why he paid the price that he did? Because we can't save ourselves.

And the moment you realize that salvation was purchased by him and then because he bought it with his own blood in his own life, that he's the one that turns toward you and offers you the choice to take it. Take it.

Take him up on his offer. To as many as received him. To them they received the power to become sons. That is sons and daughters of God. Let's bow our heads in prayer right now. Maybe you want to accept him tonight. Wouldn't that be great? You accept him tonight and you get to have your first communion all in the same night. And uh and then if you want to go get baptized, we'll put you in the fountain up there. Somebody will. Um let's pray. Father, we thank you for this evening. Father,

we thank you for the time that we've canceled out the world. We have said uh no more. This is our time with you right now as a family. And so, Father, we ask you, Lord, that what you've been doing in the lives of individuals that have brought them to this moment here personally, physically, and those joining from afar. Their heart has been stirring. You've been prodding them. You've been challenging their thinking. You've been questioning them. And they're searching. And we know that they cannot do that without your sovereign work. And maybe tonight's the night. Now's the time. They may be apprehensive. They might be a little bit nervous. But they know that something's up. Something's different. They can't explain it. And as I interrupt this prayer, friends, as we remain in an attitude of prayer, maybe tonight you realize that it's time for you to open the door and to let Jesus Christ in. He says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. And if anyone will open that door and let me in, I will come into him and s, eat, dine with him. That's a Middle Eastern thing. I'll become one with them. I'll be so close, so inside of you that we will fellowship together from here on out. I hope you find that attractive, friend. I hope you're willing to be honest enough to say, "I have sinned. I've broken the Ten Commandments." And you might say, "Well, I've only broken three of them." You you broke them. To break one is to break them all. And uh cheer up. We've all broken the first one. We have all failed at loving God with all of our heart. I love the fact that he puts the biggest one up front because you you don't need to get to number two or three. You can't even get past number one. And friend, listen. He wants you tonight to have absolute forgiveness, the assurance of eternal life, and to get ready to meet him. Well, heads are bowed and eyes are closed. Maybe this is you tonight. I'm kind of describing you and you're saying, "Okay, I mean, just you saying what you're saying. How do you know what's going on inside of me?" Well, I don't know you, but he knows you. And Jesus said, "If you acknowledge me before men, I will acknowledge you before my father. If you deny me, I must deny you also. I can almost hear him have a crackle in his voice with maybe emotion. I must deny you. I It is certain from scripture he does not want to do that. If there's anyone here tonight and I'm looking, I'll be public enough. I'll be the one that you can allow to see your hand go up. And it's not the hand going up that saves you. You are saying in your heart and in your soul, I I'm asking him to come into my life. I'm asking him to make me a brand new person. If that's you tonight, will you put your hand up high and maybe you can look at me so I can have you put your hand. I see your hand right there. God bless you. Anyone else? Awesome. Oh my. Many hands. See, this is God moving in this in this culture right now. This is many hands are up. Yes. God bless you and you and you and you. Awesome. And in the back. God bless you. You. You. You and you and you. God bless you right here. God bless you. Yep. God bless you. God bless you and you and you. Yes, you. You. You and you on the end in the back against the wall over here. Black shirt. God bless you. Yes. God bless you on the aisle. Hands out. Hand in the very back. God bless you. How precious is this? You say, "Well, who sees?" You're the only one seeing, pastor. God bless you. No, I'm not the only one saying God is seeing this.

He's seeing this. Angels are seeing this. You can put your hands down. Isn't it amazing? Father, we thank you for the moving of your spirit in our lives and in this gathering tonight. You're so good. Church family, will you join in this prayer? As those of you who raised your hands, will you pray this? And look, it's uh it's a common prayer. I mean, it's beautiful. It's uncommon, I mean, but it's we're going to pray it together. What makes any prayer precious to God is that you personally mean it. So, those of you who raised your hands and church body, will you join in with them because it's beautiful. Will you repeat this after me if you mean it? Because the scripture says, "If you'll call upon the name of the Lord, you shall be saved." Isn't that amazing? I love that because he's not asking you for your money. He's not asking you for your time. He's not asking you for uh labor. He's asking you to open up. How precious is that? So, will you pray this?

Dear Lord,

I come to you now.

In Jesus name.

I want to thank you.

for dying for me.

on the cross.

And being resurrected.

from the dead.

I'm asking you now.

to write my name.

in your lamb's book of life.

Make me your own.

As I commit my life.

to you tonight.

Because I confess.

Jesus Christ.

crucified.

and resurrected.

for my forgiveness.

Thank you Lord.

in Jesus name.

Amen.

Now, so here's the thing tonight with what you just decided is that when we partake of communion a little bit later, when when the when the elements go by, when the when the plate goes by, when the cups go by, take them. You see, Jack, I just but I just accepted Christ. That's exactly right. The thief on the cross accepted Christ and he was crucified and moments later he's in paradise with Jesus.

Wow. Oh yeah. Isn't that amazing? That ought to tell you so much about the heart of our God.

Yeah. You are absolutely qualified to partake of communion tonight. If tonight you're not a believer, then don't take it. If you're not sure, don't take it. And look, let's be honest. Let's be accurate. If you're a Christian and you've been goofing off and you've upset God and you know it, either repent of it now, takes a second, you know, if you mean it, and then partake of communion. But 1 Corinthians 11 says if you don't repent as a believer don't partake of communion because uh you and God you're not talking right now. I mean you're in his family and you're his child forever. But right now the relationship is kind of messed up because you've been a stinker and he's saying you can't do that anymore and us uh you know you can't come and ask me what's for Christmas. So acting like this, but you can change that in a second, you know. And so on this night, we're going to worship. Keep this in mind. As you prepare your hearts in worship, listen to the words. Be blessed. We have a We have a treat. I don't know about you guys, but I love this guy. I'm in for a treat. It's been too long since Danny Donnelly has been here. I love this guy. In fact, we're going to we're going to make sure that uh he didn't bring any product because he's too humble. He's the sweetest guy. He loves the Lord. I love him. But um I don't know how you can buy his stuff. You can buy his stuff on maybe I don't know how do you do this stuff? But buy his stuff. He'll never say it himself. That's why he's so skinny. He doesn't eat. He needs people to buy his stuff. But um yeah, just give a warm welcome and then just settle your hearts in because he's going to lead you into the presence of the Lord. He'll be leading worship tonight. And uh so give a warm welcome to my dear friend Danny Donnelly.

Well, let's stand together.

[Music]

My foes are many. They rise against me. But I will hold my ground. I will not fear the war. I will not fear the storm. My help is on the way. My help is on the way. My foes are many. They rise against me. But I will hold my ground. I will not fear the war. I will not fear the storm. My help is on the way. My help is on the way.

Oh my God. He will not delay. My refuge and strength always. I will not fear. His promise is true. My God will come through always. Always. Trouble surrounds me. Chaos abounding. My soul will rest in you. I will not fear the war. I will not fear the storm. My help is on the way. My help is on the way. Yeah. Oh my God. He will not delay. My refuge and strength always. I will not fear. His promise is true. My God will come through. Always. Always.

Always. I lift my eyes up. My help comes from the Lord. I lift my eyes up. My help comes from the Lord. Comes from you, Lord.

I lift my eyes up. My help comes from the Lord. Comes from you, Lord. I lift my eyes up. My help comes from the Lord. Let's see that. Oh my God, he will not delay. My refuge and strength always. I will not fear. His promise is true. My God will come through. Always Always, always, always, always, always, always, always.

Yes. always. Your love is deeper than any ocean higher than the heavens reaches beyond the stars in the sky. If you know that love, let's sing it out. Your love is deeper than any ocean. Higher than the heavens reaches. Beyond the stars in the sky. Beyond the stars in the sky.

[Applause]

You know those times when you have your Bible open and and all of a sudden there's just one line or maybe it's just one word and it and it just uh kind of knocks you down and uh in a good way though. It's like the very thing you needed to hear that day to pull you through. And um

I love the first first verse of this song and it's just one word. So here we go. Just one word. You calm the storm that surrounds me. Just one word. The darkness has to retreat.

Oh, just one touch. I feel the presence of heaven. Oh, just one touch. My eyes were open to see. My heart can't help but believe. There's nothing that our God can do. There's not a mountain that he can't move. Oh, praise the name that makes a way. There's nothing that our God can't do. Oh, just one word. You heal what's broken inside me. Just one word and you revive every dream. Just one touch. I feel the power of heaven. Just one touch. My eyes were open to see. My heart can't help but believe in God. There's nothing that our God can do. There's not a mountain that he can't move. Oh, praise the name that makes a way. There's nothing that our God can do. Oh, there's nothing that our God can't do. There's not a mountain that he can't move. Oh, praise the name that makes a way. There's nothing that our God can't do. Oh, praise the name that makes a way. There's nothing that our God can't do. Oh, there's nothing that our God can't do. I will believe for greater things. There's no power like the power of Jesus. So let faith arise. Let all agree. There's no power like the power of Jesus. I will believe for greater things. There's no power like the power of Jesus. So let faith arise. Let all agree. There's no power like the power of Jesus. There's no power like the power of Jesus. There's nothing that our God can't do. There's not a mountain that he can move. Oh, praise the name that makes a way. There's nothing that our God can't do. Oh, there's nothing that our God can't do. There's not a prison wall can't break through. Oh, praise the name that makes a way. There's nothing that our God can't do. Oh, there's nothing that our God can't do. There's nothing that our God can't do. Oh, nothing that our God can't do. Oh, nothing that our God can't do. Oh, there's nothing that our God can't do.

[Applause]

Looks like Pastor Jack's going to let me sit out here for a while.

[Applause]

I love you. And I just was Is he not Is it It's not great. Love it. You can be seated. I'll call you back out in a moment, my friend. On the night that Jesus was betrayed, the disciples were absolutely so understandably heavy-hearted. They did not understand what was going on. When you read the Gospels, it's very clear there's tons of confusion in their heart and fear. The evening was really the the midpoint of what had been a grueling week and what had been a grueling day. When you look back at the harmony of the gospels, it's called when you overlay that day of betrayal. The ministry of Jesus started very early and it's almost as though he was finishing up the witness or the business at hand before he would suffer. And what's amazing about this, the Bible teaches us that God at just the right time sent forth his son. Think about that. Timing. Timing is a big deal in our lives. So glad I got there just in time. Or if we would have gone through that intersection a moment earlier, it would have been death for us. Boy, what timing or maybe it's a musical score and the timing is perfect. Well, listen, God's timing is perfect. If there's ever perfect timing, it's God's timing. He's never early and he's never late. We have our opinions on that, but that's because we're guided by emotion and we don't know what we're doing. And so, while that band of brothers, the disciples, we're seeing this night unfold. He gathers together the disciples in the upper room and they're going to celebrate the Passover and they're reclining back in those days. Um they reclined at table it's called and that is they sounds crazy to us but for them to relax it was not only the way of relaxing but it was also uh the ancient way where those who had finished a job when a job was finally done they reclined. We've all heard the word recline. We we talk about going and buying like a recline. Does it recline? Does the church recline? Does the the chair recline? Well, when you hear the word recline, you think of of rest. And so you should. When they reclined, uh they would recline from their elbow, right up to about their shoulder. The table that they're reclining at is imagine taking your kitchen table and cutting the legs off the table so that the table is at 18 in. off the floor and then you would lay down on cushions and pillows and blankets type tapestry. You know what do um not tapestry? Well, I guess so. Tapestries, you know, like carpets and they would eat and they would pass the food one to another. They all ate out of the same uh plates. And it's still awesome. If you go to a Middle Eastern home today, they'll still do that. It's so fun. I've we Lisa and I have done this in uh many of our Jewish friends in Israel. We've done this with some of our Muslim We have some Muslim friends in in Israel as well. And you and you you you just pull from the same bread and the same dipping in the hummus and you're talking and it's just life. It's so awesome. And uh eating a meal is a big deal. And so they're celebrating the Passover and they go through all that it is uh been throughout the centuries and then Jesus does something that had never happened before and Jesus takes the bread and he institutes what we call communion. So he takes the bread and he says, "This bread, this this bread, this bread is my body that's going to be broken for you." And they're like, "What's going on?" In fact, they they just went through moments earlier, they went through a big shakaroo because he said, you know, with dipping our hands in the food in the cups, um, one of you is going to betray me. Can you imagine? We're having this wonderful ancient celebration that Israel has had practiced since the night or the night before they left Egypt, the Passover lamb. And they had done it every year from that time forward. So, it's a beautiful celebration, thankful celebration, God providing you know the lamb. But they were about to get a lesson. He says, "One of you is going to be betray me." And each of them began to say to each other, "Is it me? Is it me?" They all thought it was themselves, which by the way is a very healthy thing. It would have been quite a bummer if you're reclining at that table and somebody says, "Yeah, I think it's James over there." Wouldn't that have been a bummer? It's like, why do you guys think it's me? I didn't do anything. But you know how organic it must have been? Because you know how Peter throughout all those years, Peter was the one always messing up everything.

Yeah. They didn't even say it's look uh the that the statistics indicate there's a high probability it's going to be Peter now they all said is it is it me that's a great thing you know what it tells us it tells us that they were keenly aware of their own failure and their own weakness But can you imagine? I can't even imagine the the fear that must have spiked in their heart to think he's never told us a lie. He's never done anything wrong. And he's telling us that one of us at this table is going to betray him. I mean, there's only 12 of us here. Man, I hope it's not me. But then they had hung out for each with each other for three years day and night. They must have loved one another. You wouldn't have hoped it was John. So, what in the world's going on? Your mind is scrambling. Jesus hands the bread to Judas and he says, "What you do, do quickly." And Judas leaves. And then Jesus, the Bible tells us, girded himself. That means he took out his he took off his outer garment and he would have wrapped around his waist something like um you know something like a a towel. What is that? He's assuming the apparel of a servant. You got to remember the God who flung the universe into existence with the word of his mouth was the God now washing the feet of these mere mortals that he had loved so much. The Bible says even before time began, he loved them. And so he's washing their feet. And then when he's done, of course, Peter, he doesn't totally disappoint. Jesus goes to Peter to wash his feet. And Peter said, "Not so. No. Uh-uh. Not going to happen." And so Jesus said, "If I don't wash your feet, then you'll have no part with me." And because Peter is an emotional guy, his answer is insane. He says, "Oh, then then not only my feet, but start at the top of my head." Isn't he classic? I'm so glad he was there all the time. And he Jesus says, "Peter, just me washing your feet's enough. That'll be good enough." And so from that moment, the evening moves over to the slope, the eastern facing slope of Mariah, the mount. They dip down into the very slender valley of the Kidron. Um, wow. The Kidedron Valley, it would the the slope coming down and going up would fit in the sanctuary. Comes down like this, goes up like that. They come down the east facing side. They go across. They go up to the Mount of Olives, which faces west, to the Garden of Gethsemane, the Garden of the olive press or Gethsemane, the the garden of crushing. That's where they would crush out the olives from those amazing olive trees there. And so they go there and Jesus says to them, "Okay, here's what we're going to do. You guys are going to pray. I need you guys to pray." And I'm going to go on a little bit of ahead of of you guys. Peter, James, John, I want you to come with me. You know the Peter, James, and John that has always been the three that have gone over to some other thing with him. Peter, James, and John. Let's go to the mount of transfiguration. He tells the boys, "Stay there. I'm going to go a little bit further." Peter, James, John, let's go. Jesus goes to encounter this situation. He tells the boys, "I want you to stay there. Peter, James, John, I want you to come with me. You say, "I thought I thought God didn't have favorites. They're always being exposed to these special events." It's it's true. They were exposed to these special events. See, well, that's not fair. Peter, James, and John, they that was the special ed group. They needed extra attention. They needed specific teaching. The rest of the guys got it. Peter, James, and John, they needed to have summer school. And he says to them, "All right, you guys, you pray. Don't and don't fall asleep. Just pray with me, please." He goes ahead, a stones throw away, to pray alone. And he's praying. And you know the Bible records, the Holy Spirit records the agony that Jesus goes through. Listen friends, especially for those of you who accepted the Lord tonight, this is what he was doing. He was thinking about you and Jesus and his humanity. Remember this. This is the moment of the great kinosis. The word in Greek for kinosis is only reserved for God. But it's odd because it requires for it requires the setting for God to choose to choose to be weak. So, how's that possible? It's impossible unless God becomes incarnate in human flesh and he allows himself to become weak.

None of us would sign up for weak. He signed up for weak and he experienced what he's about to experience in his full humanity and he says, "Father, if there's any way that this cup can pass from me, then let's have it pass." He's agonizing. The Bible says that he began to pray with such an intensity and I don't know and I c even if I knew it I couldn't pronounce the word. It's so huge. There is a word a medical term when it says that Jesus began to pray and he agonized that his sweat became as it were. I'm I'm going to upset some of you right now. But the Bible says his sweat became as it were great drops of blood. Do you know what that means? It means he wasn't bleeding. I know you've seen the movies and he's praying and you see the blood coming down from his forehead. That's not what the Bible says. The Bible says that he prayed with such intensity that his sweat was as great drops of blood. That mean it wasn't blood, but it was very viscous. It was very um thick uh almost um almost mucousy like sweat coming from his from his head. And that is an actual medical event, physiological event when a person is under rare, extremely rare, horrific stress. He does this three times. Each time he goes back, they're sleeping. And he says to them, I I asked you not to for one hour. Could you not pray for one hour with me? Just I just ask you to pray. Can you imagine how horrible they must have felt? I'm going to go again and pray. You guys pray. Watch. Don't enter into temptation. Watch out for temptation. He goes and prays. The third time he goes, he goes and prays and he says this, "Lord, if this cup can pass for me, I want it to pass. I'm asking for you to relieve it from me, but nevertheless, not my will, but your will be done." The Bible says in that instant, angels came and ministered to him. Guess what? He got up. He went back to the disciples. They're sleeping and he says, "It's time to go. Let's go." And he he gets them up and going. And shortly after that, Judas brings the brigade, the ptorium guards, the Romans to arrest him. And again, here goes Peter. Judas kisses Jesus on the cheek. That was the deal. He told them, "It's going to be dark in the garden. It's going to be hard to see. Big trees, all these shadows. Don't worry about it. I'll betray him with a kiss." That's how you'll know it's him. Judas, he's got the plan. They've worked it out. But when the group comes, a guy by the name of Malchus, he comes and he's with the group and Peter grabs a knife and lunges forward. The Bible tells us he's going to protect Jesus. I guess poor guy. He hasn't learned a thing yet. He's going to protect Jesus. He misses Malcolm Malchus' head and cuts off his ear. Can you imagine that? He's I mean, he's he's not I'm sure Peter's not going for the ear. He's going for the face. going for the eye, going for the mouth. He's not like, I'll cut I'll give him a warning shot. I'll cut off his ear. I don't think so. And that guy's ear falls to the ground, the Bible says. And Jesus stoops down and picks up the guy's ear and plugs it back onto his head and then says, "Peter, put your sword away." Here, listen. kinosis. He just went from being weak deliberately, intentionally allowing himself to suffer, puts that guy's ear back on his head, turns to Peter and says, "Put away your sword. Do you not know kinosis? I could pause this kinosis business right now and call down 12 legions of angels. I don't need your help, Peter. I know exactly what's going on here." The moment Jesus had prayed, "Not my will but thy will be done." From that moment on, he was in total absolute charge. You know what that tells me? It tells me that your salvation was settled in that garden.

You say, "No, how about at the cross?" It was determined in the garden.

That's why Jesus is crucif he's beaten. We'll I'll skip all that stuff. brutally mutilated, crucified. And that's why he never opened his mouth. He never said this is not just, this is not fair, he didn't say anything because the book of Isaiah said like a sheep is silent before its shears, so the Messiah will not open his mouth. So 743 years later, Jesus did not open his mouth. David said they'll pierce his hands and his feet. A thousand years before Jesus is pierced through his hands and his feet. And so from that moment on, Jesus says, "Father, forgive them. They know not what they do. Just that act alone proves that he's God. Can you imagine being treated if you don't? I mean, the Bible says in Isaiah again that he was so beaten that he did not resemble a man. We don't even know what that looks like. The only thing I can think of is is putting hamburger meat in a blender and then reassembling it in the shape of a human. The scripture says he was marred more than any man. We have such a sterile picture of Jesus, do we not? On a cross, little bit of blood here and there along the way. Crown of thorns, beard. Isaiah chapter 50 says they tore out his beard. All for you. All for me. And so when Jesus in the communion said, "Do this in remembrance of me." That's what tonight's all about. We're pausing to remember what he's done for us.

We renew our love tonight for him. You know, you know, when you go on a date with your wife or your husband and you kind of renew your love for one another. When we have communion like this tonight, we are we are we are renewing our love and devotion to him. It's beautiful. So tonight, I'm going to ask the ushers and the pastors to come forward as we are going to hand out the elements to you tonight. And so if they would make their way. Um I'm going to make sure that you guys um do this as they pass the elements by. as as the plate goes by, will you just keep passing it down, right? Will you do that? And are you guys going to come or did I didn't Did you guys get the memo? Let's So, Danny, if Danny can hear me, come on out. But don't stand up and worship because as they're handing out the elements, uh, if you stand up, you'll you'll mess it all up. And and as as they get as you guys get it, hold it. Okay? Will you hold them and then we'll do it together. Okay? So, you're going to stay seated. You're going to pass the plate. You're going to keep the elements. And then we'll do it together. Okay. All right. Father, bless this night.

Isn't that something? We have to come. We want to bless you, but we have to come and ask you to bless us so we can bless you back. That's how bankrupt we are. We're like little kids coming to you right now. We've got like a frog in our pocket. We got a broken flower. It's the best we've got, but we mean it. Thank you, Lord, for loving us. Thank you for displaying that love. And so, Lord, receive our worship in Jesus name.

[Music]

You are good. You are good when there's nothing good in me. You are love. You are love on display for all to see. You are light. You are light. When the darkness closes in, you are hope. You are hope. You have covered all my sins.

You are peace. You are peace. When my fear is crippling, you are true. You are true. Even in my wondering, you are joy. You are joy. You're the reason that I sing. You are life. You are life. In you, death has lost its sting. And oh, I'm running to your arms. I'm running to your arms. The riches of your love will always be enough. Nothing compares to your embrace. Light of the world forever reign. You are more. You are more. And my words will ever say you are Lord. You are Lord. All creation will proclaim. You are here. You are here in your presence I made whole. You are God. You are God. Above all else I'm letting go. And oh I'm running to your arms. I'm running to your arms. The riches of your love will always be enough. Nothing compares to your embrace. Light of the world forever.

My heart will sing no other name. Jesus. Jesus. My heart will sing. No other name. Jesus. Jesus. My heart will sing no other name but Jesus. Jesus. My heart will sing. No other name. Jesus. Oh Jesus. And no, I'm running to your arms. I'm running to your arms. The riches of your love will always be enough. Nothing compares to your embrace. Light of the world forever rain. Oh nothing compares to your embrace. Light of the world forever rain.

Wounded and forsaken, I was Shattered by the fall, broken and forgotten. Feeling lost and all alone. Summoned by the king into the master's courts. Lifted by the Savior and cradled in his arms,

I was carried to the table, seated where I don't belong. carried to the table, swept away by his love. And I don't see my brokenness anymore.

When I'm seated at the tables of the Lord, carried to the table. The table of the Lord.

Fighting thoughts of fear, wondering why he called my name. Am I good enough to share this cup? This world has left me lame. Even in my weakness, the Savior called my name. And in his holy presence, I'm healed and unashamed. I was carried to the table, seated where I don't belong, carried to the table, swept away by his love. And I don't see my brokenness anymore when I'm seated at the table of the Lord caring to the table. the table of the Lord.

You carried

My God, you carried me. You carried me. My God, you carried me. You carried me. My God, you carried me. You carried me. My God, you carried me.

[Music] Oh, you carried me, my God. You carried me. You carried me. My God. You carried me.

[Music] [Music] You are here moving in in our midst. I worship you. I worship you.

[Music] You are here working in this place. I worship you. I worship you. You are here moving in our midst. I worship you. I worship you. You are here working in this place. I worship you. I worship you.

For you are way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness. My God, that is who you are. Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness. My God, that is who you are.

You are here touching every heart. I worship you. I worship you. You are here healing every heart. I worship you. I worship you. You are here turning lives around.

[Music] I worship you. I worship you. You are here mending every heart. I worship you. I worship you.

Oh way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness. My God, that is who you are. You are way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness. My God, that is who you are. That is who you are. That is who you are. That is who you are. That is who you are. That is who you are. That is who you are. That is who you are. That is who you are.

[Music] Praise you, Lord.

[Music] >> That's such a great song. >> You know, listen, let's partake together here in a moment. And maybe Danny, we can jump back into that song in a moment. So so good. But friends, as you hold the bread in your hand tonight, this is not the body of Jesus. It's not magically transformed into his body. It's bread just like the bread was back in that day in that upper room. It's unleavened bread. It's very flat as you can see. It's has no yeast. It's unleavened. Yeast is a symbol of sin. Yeast causes things to rise. It causes, so to speak, infection. Sin does that in our lives. Causes infection of the soul. And uh we celebrate Jesus tonight because he set us free by his own blood because we were once sin positive. Yes.

>> And um by his blood, the scripture says, we have been forgiven. His atonement, God the Father saw the perfect offering of God the Son on behalf of us. And God forgave us. God forgave many of you tonight, by the way. And welcome to the family of God, my friend. And we're so glad you're here tonight. to those that have joined us from the home away groups throughout the US.

[Music] The bread is pierced through. This matzah has been prepared since the days of the Exodus. The bread is burned. You can see the heat marks on it. By his stripes, we have been healed. He was wounded for our transgressions. The chastisement of our peace was laid upon him. Lord, we thank you. And I pray for my brothers and my sisters tonight. I know this is a big group and I know it could seem impersonal, but I'm asking you, Jesus, to do a miracle tonight. Cause this place to feel very, very small. And in so doing, I'm asking you, Lord, your will be done. But we are obedient to your word to pray. And I ask with this communion tonight that those that are here, those that are afar, that they would experience physical healing, Lord, with this worship, their cancer would be gone, Lord, that their disease would be gone. I pray that with this communion, you would send forth the touch of your healing hand to remove these ailments, these diseases. I ask you, Lord, that with this communion tonight that you would heal the broken heart, the crushed spirit, the wounded, tormented mind. God, send forth your healing. Magnify, Lord, your name in the midst of us tonight by doing what we cannot do for ourselves. Lord, take away the addictions with this communion tonight. Take away the fears with this communion tonight. Lord, will you baptize us a fresh in the power of your Holy Spirit? May you stir our hearts, Lord God, that we might stand this night willing to do anything and everything that you ask of us because we know that you love us. And so tonight we partake of the bread in Jesus name. And Lord, we thank you for your blood that your Bible tells us that when you died on the cross, that when you rose again from the dead on the third day, just as the prophets foretold, just as you said you would, just as the world watched, the Roman Empire watched, all of your haters watched, as the disciples watched, and we wept. Your scriptures tell us that after your resurrection, you appeared to many. At some point in time, we know from the book of Hebrews that it says that you presented your blood on the mercy seat in heaven above. for our salvation. And we want to thank you, Lord, that the greatest treasure that we have is our salvation. And it's safe in heaven where moth, rust, thief cannot take, cannot steal. That you are our high priest. No high priest on earth. No, none of that. Our high priest is in heaven where it counts. I'm thinking about Charlie tonight and thinking about what he sees. It's awesome, Lord. There's just with with the passing of every person that we know who loves you into the the kingdom of your love and your presence, there's it causes heaven for us to be a little bit more desirable and more intense. And I think about how many times Charlie and I stood right here and and we sat here and we had services together and we had happening now events and and now he's looking around. He's seeing angels. He sees Noah. He's already talked to Noah. There's no time there. So, he's I was going to say he had the time to talk to Peter, but there's no time. It's eternity. So, he's probably met everybody by now. Wow. We can't wait to get there.

>> I just pray that Lord, make sure we don't fumble. Oh, we're so goofy. Lord, we're our own enemies. We can ruin our own lives. Lord, if you keep me away from me, I'll be just fine. But I can't wait to see so many from this church who've gone ahead of us, friends, family, Charlie. It's going to be great. So we thank you for that blood that has paved the way. As we sing tonight, way maker, yes you are. Let's partake of the cup together. Going to ask all of you to stand if you would. Are you going to break all those together? Is that what we're doing? Wait, wait, wait, wait. Be real quiet. That sounds kind of cool. From here, we've never done this before. Somebody started it over here. So listen as Danny uh leads us in our closing song or songs, whatever.

>> But can we go back to the way maker song? >> Yeah, Danny, we love you, brother. You're so good. You're so good.

[Music] You are way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness. My God, that is who you are. Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness. My God, that is who you are. Yes, that is who you are. That is who you are. That is who you are. That is who you are. That is who you are. are. That is who you are. That is who you are. That is who you are. Even when I don't see it, you're working. Even when I don't feel it, you're working. You never stop. You never stop working. You never stop. You never stop working. Even when I don't see it, you're working. Even when I don't feel it, you're working. You never stop. You never stop working. Never stop. You never stop working. Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness. My God, that is who you are. Make it way. maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness. My God, that is who you are. That is who you are. That is who you are. That is who you are. That is who you are. You're my way. maker, miracle worker, the promise keeper, the light in the darkness. You're the way maker, miracle worker, the promise keeper, the light in the darkness. One more time. Yeah. Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness. My God, that is who you are. You are way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness. My God, that is who you are.

[Applause] [Music] Lord, I ask, >> Father, I pray and Lord, I ask that you would pour out your spirit upon these precious people. Lord, all this week, >> may they be very aware of your nearness, Lord. Especially for our brand new brothers and sisters tonight, invade their thoughts. I mean, they are in for it. Lord, you're going to be speaking to them. You're going to be interrupting their thought process. You're going to reveal yourself so good. It's so great. And Lord, we pray too that um that you would single out this body of believers, Lord, as I I always pray privately, so I pray this publicly for them, Lord. That you'd spoil them with your affection, >> God. That you'd single them out for your grace. Thank you, Lord. >> I pray, Lord God, that you would cause them to experience all of the goodness >> that you want to bestow upon them. >> Thank you, >> Lord. May they know that they're loved by you. And when the enemy comes, the enemy will come. He sure is faithful to come and to tell us, "God doesn't really love you." Or, "Why would God want you?" And all the stuff that he says is just evidence that he's lost us. >> That the enemy has lost us forever >> because the Lord of glory >> has rescued us and saved us from ourselves and from this world. And until that time comes, Lord, when we see you face to face, may we be busy about our father's business. And we pray tonight also. We pray tonight for our good friend Ray Comfort as he'll be at Cal State Fullerton tomorrow speaking to a speaking to a lot of people that uh that would want to challenge him who would want to mock you. And Lord, I thank you for Ray. Fill him with your Holy Spirit. >> God, as TPUSA with Ray tomorrow at Cal State Fullerton uh will represent Jesus tomorrow. God, we pray that there'd be many, many students and faculty that come to Christ tomorrow >> at Cal State Fullerton. And we pray it now in Jesus name. And all God's people said, >> "Amen." God bless you. We'll see you Sunday.