(Clip) The Power of Communion

And that's why we have communion available too. So communion is going to be available during the closing worship. And communion is a time where we remember, quite simply, you remember the blood that was spilled. And that's what each one, you just pick up this, pick up both of them, and the element, the little wafers underneath, this is a reflection, this is a reminder of his body. The body that was broken, the body that was bruised. I don't know why he had to go through all that. It's just incredible when you look at the magnitude. And it was spit on, hit, mocked, ridiculed. The body was ripped open for you and for me. And you remember that body. And then you remember the blood that was shed. Without the shedding of this blood, there is no remission of sin. There's no removal because a penalty had to be paid. So when we know the Bible talks about the wrath of God is being poured out, and we are under that wrath, we're under the condemnation of God, what's the penalty a sinner can pay? My own blood? No way. The blood of Jesus. And so we remember both of these at communion. And you take it during worship, you can come up at your leisure. But the Bible also says, make sure to examine your heart first. And this is so important because many people, they're going to hold on to that bitterness. Maybe somebody in the church, this church. I don't care. I'm going to hold on to that bitterness. I hate them. I hate them. Have you ever felt that way? Nobody? I'm going to give you one more opportunity. Maybe I'm ashamed to admit it, but I have. I have. If you went through what I went through, you'd hate some people too. But you can't stay there. You say, Lord, that's a wrong thought. If you forgave me, how much more? You say, love your enemies. If you love a believer, what good is that? Everybody does that. But love your enemy. And you take that thought captive. Say, Lord, that's wrong. And I repent. And you change your mind about that situation, about that person. Very, very quick, very easy. Will it try to come back again? Sometimes, especially if they're a thinker. Right? They keep probing you. And they keep messing with you. My biggest thing I have to do with this area is those armchair quarterbacks and those critics who are nasty. They don't even live here. And they're just nasty, mean people. Say things about my wife, or my kids, or church, or me. That hate just comes up. Boy, I hope I don't run into you somewhere. It might be old school Shane Idleman. I don't know. Lord, that thought's wrong. Help me. Lord, that's wrong. That's the flesh. Lord, please. And as you do that, joy comes. Have you ever been there? Joy comes. And you love them. How do I just go from there? How do I love them now? And I'm praying for them. I love them. I truly do. And then they post something mean in a couple weeks. And then here comes the hate again. But when you take communion, Paul said, examine yourself. Examine your heart. And don't take it in an unworthy manner. So be like me saying, you know what? I do hate that person. I don't care. I hope they go to hell. I'm not cussing. I'm just saying I hope they go. I don't care. And I take in communion. That's an unworthy manner. Because I'm unrepentant. I'm unrepentant. And I'm taking the blood that's supposed to clear the record and clear my heart. I'm taking the blood in an unworthy manner. So I think it's so important to get our hearts right. Or don't take it. I mean, be honest and don't take communion then. If you're saying, Lord, I'm struggling through this. I can't get there right now. I cannot forgive that person. Then I wouldn't take it. Because Paul goes on to say, that's why many of you are sick and have died. Whoa! But I can see that. And it wasn't 2,000 years ago, somebody named Ananias and Sapphira. God didn't play. They lied in the early church, gone. And I can see somebody coming in every time we do this. I hate them. I don't care. I hate them. I don't care. And they just keep, a couple years go by, and that bitterness will destroy you from the inside out. That hatred and that sin. Or what about, you know what? I know I shouldn't be doing what I'm doing. I'm living with my girlfriend. But I don't care. And I'm going to live with her tonight. And we have no plans. And they go through communion? That's an unworthy manner. He says, check your heart. I can keep going down the list if you want. I can get you a zip code at some point. Let me think here. How many people come and take communion and have no real desire to give up their porn habit? Don't take it in a worthy manner. Get your hearts right before communion. It's so powerful. Do you know why I have them put this up here now? It's a reminder. Do you know this used to be up front in the early church for hundreds of years? Not this. Everything, the whole service was centered around communion. And you can research, I think, the reformers and the pulpit became the primary. Which, you know, it's probably not in itself a bad thing. But we drifted away from the whole reason why we're here. Communion is central. It's powerful. No other promise. So that tells me if it can make me sick or lead to death, could it also bring healing? There's power in the blood. There's power in the blood. Take it in a worthy manner.