June 12, 2005
Scripture:
Scripture:
I’d like to read a well known verse in 1 Corinthians 11; it is v. 26. We know the context, but I want to think of the precious time we’ve this morning and a have a note to finish on. In 1 Corinthians 11 we get the confirmation of the Lord’s Supper. Let us go back to v. 23, by way of introducing this; For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. (Vv. 23-25) Now v. 26 came before me; For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. Six words, “the Lord’s death” and “till He come”. To be able to put Lord and death together is quite remarkable; “In Him was life”. The life-giver died for us. Not only did he die, He rose triumphantly and victoriously. The other 3 words remind us that He is coming again. What we have done this morning will terminate; what we do here is remarkable, it is the way God made for His people from generation to generation to do in remembrance of Him. It is like the feast of the Passover: the Passover was to be held annually be the Israelites, in remembrance of their flight from Egypt. Whether they held it or not is a different matter, but the Lord held it at the end of His life here. The Passover gave way to that which we have confirmed by Paul. And here, on June 12, 2005, the Lord has seen it fit to let us remember Him with a loaf and a cup. Those few words span thousands of years, but soon we will have Him instead of the emblems, and have joy for eternity. What mighty words that speak to our hearts!
EG Hymn 323 – There’s a friend for little children Prayer Proverbs 4:23 – Darby says, “Keep thy heart more than anything that is guarded.” • Proverbs 4:20, 21 – We can keep our hearts by listening to the word of God, the Bible, and applying it. • Psalms 119:11 – If we have the Word hid in our hearts, it will always be with us to guide us in what we do. • “Either the Word will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Word.” • Proverbs 23:19 – The Lord gives strength to keep our heart in the way, but do we have the will to do so? • V. 26 – The Lord asks for our entire heart, not just part of it. If our hearts are full of His word, we will be safe. • V. 17 – As we go through the world, we will be enticed, but it is important to be obedient to God.
"Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long." Proverbs 23:17
When you think, when you speak, when you read, when you write
When you sing, when you walk, when you seek for delight
To be kept from all wrong when at home or abroad,
Live always as under the eye of the Lord.
Whatever you read, though the page may allure,
Read nothing of which you are perfectly sure
Consternation at once would be seen in your look,
If God should say, solemnly: "Show Me that book."
Whatever you think, never think what you feel
You would blush in the presence of God to reveal:
Whatever you say, in a whisper or clear,
Say nothing you would not like Jesus to hear.
Whatever you write, though in haste, or with heed,
Write nothing you would not like Jesus to read:
Whatever you sing, in the midst of your glees,
Sing nothing that His listening ear could displease.
Wherever you go, never go where you fear
Lest the great God should ask you, "Why camest thou here?"
Turn away from each pleasure you'd shrink from pursuing
If God should look down and say, "What art thou doing?"• “When you think…” Philippians 4:8 • “When you speak…” Matthew 12:34 – what you think about is what you will want to talk about. Psalm 19:14 • “When you read…” There are many things written to allure us, but we should stay away from them. • When you write…” What you think about is what you’ll write about. • Wherever you go…” If you want to do wrong, you will go to places where you can do so. Our desires should be right. • Colossians 1:10 • These are ways our hearts affect the things we do.
Hebrews 4:1-7 • This rest is only for those who are saved. • As the children of Israel went to their rest in the Promised Land through the wilderness, Hebrews shows us our wilderness path and our future rest.
• The writer is writing to a group who professes Christianity, but who are not all saved; not all of them had rest ahead. • Unbelief hinders our rest. If you don’t believe, you will never get rest. Wanting from the world also hinders rest. If you want the World, your heart’s too big (for it to fill); if you want Christ your heart’s too small, it will be running over! • God gave the 7th day for rest; it was on that day that God rested. But soon His rest was disturbed by the 1st man, Adam. God now finds His rest in the 2nd man, Christ, and He will not be disappointed. We can find rest there too. • V. 5 – There is a reference to Psalms 95:11. Psalm 95 is a psalm of praise to God. This Psalm begins with praise and ends with a warning. The provocation is when the children of Israel provoked God in wilderness. • V. 7 – The writer is quoting from the Psalms, but “today” means today for us too, for those who are professing and not possessing. • V. 8 – Jesus is actually Joshua. Rest for the Jews is in the millennium, but for us, rest is in glory. • V. 11 – Labour - Darby says diligence. “Keep thy heart with all diligence.” Diligence is an area that is easy to fail in. Unbelief - Darby says not hearkened; the same in V. 6. God’s work was spoiled, but His word shall ever endure. • Verse 11 ends part 1 of chapter 4, God’s rest. Hymn 362 – Two little eyes to look to God, Prayer