Repentance
Sermon
HOLY COMMUNION IS ...
Thirteen Communion Messages
A young soldier, who had just been promoted to the rank of sergeant, wanted to impress a private who came into his new office. The private saluted the officer and was about to speak when the sergeant said, "Just a minute soldier. I have to return an important phone call to the General." He picked up the telephone, dialed a number and said, "Hello General Johnson, I'm returning your call ... oh, you need my advice? You'd like for me to meet with you and three other generals?
At 2:00 today? ... Yes, I'll try to be there." Putting down the phone and with a smug look on his face, he turned to the private and said, "Now, soldier, what can I do for you?" The new recruit replied with a smile, "Nothing sir, I came to do something for you ... I came to hook-up your telephone."
Needless to say the sergeant did not talk to the General nor did he make a good impression on the soldier. I'm sure that all his pretense was stripped away in that moment of eternal embarrassment. When you and I come to the Lord's Table for Holy Communion, we can come with pretense - pretending to be someone we are not - or we can come with sincere and humble repentance - acknowledging ourselves to be the sinners we are.
Christ invites us to come not pretensiously but penitently. In 1 Corinthians 11:27-28, the Apostle Paul gave the following instructions about Holy Communion: "Whoever therefore eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup." The Scripture calls us to honestly examine ourselves - not by comparing ourselves to other worshipers - not according to the standards of our society - but in the light of God's expectations of us as his children. We are to prepare for communion by calling to mind our dishonest deeds, our dishonorable thoughts and feelings, our less-than-gracious words, and lay them before the Lord with an attitude of repentance.
All of us would do well to remember that repentance is more than simply stating with our lips that "We're sorry, Lord." Repentance means showing with our lives that we are sorry. The word "repentance" is derived from a Latin word which means to "turn again" or "turn around." It implies a spiritual U-turn in life. A turning away from sinfulness and turning toward righteousness in the full knowledge that God promises to forgive the past and strengthen us for a new future.
A good example of this can be seen in John 8:1f. A woman had been caught in the very act of adultery - all her pretense was stripped away, to be sure. She was caught in her sin and was about to be stoned to death by the Jewish leaders. Jesus spoke to those who were about to execute her and said, "Let the one among you who has never sinned cast the first stone." When all of them left, Jesus said lovingly to the woman, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more." That's what repentance means - going away from a sin and with God's strength, not returning to it.
When we go to the Lord's Table, we should go as repentant sinners. Realizing that God has caught us in our sins. He knows how we act behind closed doors. He knows how we speak to our spouses. He knows how we dishonor our parents. He knows how we treat our children. He knows how we act on the job and at school. He even knows the secret thoughts and desires of our hearts. Realizing that God caught us in our sins should strip away our pretentious attitudes and leave us with penitent hearts. We go to the altar as sinners in need of forgiveness. We go to the Lord's Table as beggars who have nothing to offer but contrite, repentant, humble hearts ... and indeed, that's all he wants from us.
It is most appropriate therefore, that we demonstrate the position of our hearts by the posture of our bodies. When we enter the presence of the King of Kings, those who are able should fall to bended knees in humble praise and adoration.
When Jackie and I had the privilege of touring Israel a few years ago, we were quite impressed by the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. One of the unique features of that massive sanctuary is the very small entrance way. The main door into the church is only about three feet high. It is almost necessary to crawl in. Our guide explained, "Like the wisemen of old, when we approach the birthplace of Christ, our Lord, we do so on bended knee."
It is quite fitting and proper that we kneel in the presence of our God. But the posture of the body should only be indicative of the position of the heart. Don't come to the Lord's Altar with pretense - pretending that you have no sin to turn away from, because you do. Don't come pretending that you are worthy of this sacrament, because you're not. Don't let your attitude be of a pretentious nature, but of a repentant nature. When you come to the altar, be aware of your sinfulness, be aware that you have not lived up to God's expectations of you as a Christian, be aware of your need for his gracious, loving forgiveness. When you eat the bread, remember his body hanging on that cross of agony, tearing, bleeding, writhing in pain. When you drink the wine, think about his blood oozing down his brow from the crown of thorns and pouring from his spear-punctured side. Focusing our hearts and minds on the fact that it was our sin - not his - that put Jesus on the cross, remembering that he endured that agonizing death to forgive you and me, should strip away all our pretense and bring us to our knees in genuine repentance.
The story is told of a young boy who was the only son of very faithful Christian parents. From the days of his early childhood, he was taken to Sunday School and worship. Both at Church and at home he was taught right from wrong. But when he became a teenager he fell in with the wrong crowd of friends. He began to tell lies and use profanity. He and his friends stole a car and became deeply involved with drugs. One evening his broken-hearted father sat down with him and tried to reason with him about how he was ruining his life. He said, "Son, don't you care that the language you use and the life you live do not at all reflect your Christian up-bringing?" The boy brashly replied, "No, Dad, I don't care!" The wise father then drove his son to the church where his parents had faithfully taken him as a child. He led the boy to the altar where there was a cross with a figure of Jesus hanging on it. He asked his son to kneel with him at the foot of that cross. The father pointed up at the figure of Jesus and said, "Son, tell him you don't care!" The boy looked up at the cross and said, "Jesus, I don't ..." The words seemed to stick in his throat. Again he started, "Jesus, I really don't ..." and again he stopped. Breaking into tears he said, "Jesus I'm sorry for what I've become. Please forgive me and help me become who you want me to be."
As that young man examined his sinful life in light of the love Christ had for him, the sacrifice Christ made for him, all of his pretenses were stripped away. He saw himself as he knew God saw him and that led him to repentance and change. When you come to the Altar this morning and kneel in the presence of the Lord, let the posture of your body reflect the position of your heart. Come, not in pretense, but in penitence.
The Lord already knows the sins of your life, your tongue, your mind, and your heart. He has caught you in every sin you've committed, and surprise of surprises ... he still loves you with all his broken heart. So come, God wants to forgive you. Come, God wants to strengthen you to change. Come into the special presence of Jesus Christ. Come, not in haughty pretense, but in humble penitence.
At 2:00 today? ... Yes, I'll try to be there." Putting down the phone and with a smug look on his face, he turned to the private and said, "Now, soldier, what can I do for you?" The new recruit replied with a smile, "Nothing sir, I came to do something for you ... I came to hook-up your telephone."
Needless to say the sergeant did not talk to the General nor did he make a good impression on the soldier. I'm sure that all his pretense was stripped away in that moment of eternal embarrassment. When you and I come to the Lord's Table for Holy Communion, we can come with pretense - pretending to be someone we are not - or we can come with sincere and humble repentance - acknowledging ourselves to be the sinners we are.
Christ invites us to come not pretensiously but penitently. In 1 Corinthians 11:27-28, the Apostle Paul gave the following instructions about Holy Communion: "Whoever therefore eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup." The Scripture calls us to honestly examine ourselves - not by comparing ourselves to other worshipers - not according to the standards of our society - but in the light of God's expectations of us as his children. We are to prepare for communion by calling to mind our dishonest deeds, our dishonorable thoughts and feelings, our less-than-gracious words, and lay them before the Lord with an attitude of repentance.
All of us would do well to remember that repentance is more than simply stating with our lips that "We're sorry, Lord." Repentance means showing with our lives that we are sorry. The word "repentance" is derived from a Latin word which means to "turn again" or "turn around." It implies a spiritual U-turn in life. A turning away from sinfulness and turning toward righteousness in the full knowledge that God promises to forgive the past and strengthen us for a new future.
A good example of this can be seen in John 8:1f. A woman had been caught in the very act of adultery - all her pretense was stripped away, to be sure. She was caught in her sin and was about to be stoned to death by the Jewish leaders. Jesus spoke to those who were about to execute her and said, "Let the one among you who has never sinned cast the first stone." When all of them left, Jesus said lovingly to the woman, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more." That's what repentance means - going away from a sin and with God's strength, not returning to it.
When we go to the Lord's Table, we should go as repentant sinners. Realizing that God has caught us in our sins. He knows how we act behind closed doors. He knows how we speak to our spouses. He knows how we dishonor our parents. He knows how we treat our children. He knows how we act on the job and at school. He even knows the secret thoughts and desires of our hearts. Realizing that God caught us in our sins should strip away our pretentious attitudes and leave us with penitent hearts. We go to the altar as sinners in need of forgiveness. We go to the Lord's Table as beggars who have nothing to offer but contrite, repentant, humble hearts ... and indeed, that's all he wants from us.
It is most appropriate therefore, that we demonstrate the position of our hearts by the posture of our bodies. When we enter the presence of the King of Kings, those who are able should fall to bended knees in humble praise and adoration.
When Jackie and I had the privilege of touring Israel a few years ago, we were quite impressed by the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. One of the unique features of that massive sanctuary is the very small entrance way. The main door into the church is only about three feet high. It is almost necessary to crawl in. Our guide explained, "Like the wisemen of old, when we approach the birthplace of Christ, our Lord, we do so on bended knee."
It is quite fitting and proper that we kneel in the presence of our God. But the posture of the body should only be indicative of the position of the heart. Don't come to the Lord's Altar with pretense - pretending that you have no sin to turn away from, because you do. Don't come pretending that you are worthy of this sacrament, because you're not. Don't let your attitude be of a pretentious nature, but of a repentant nature. When you come to the altar, be aware of your sinfulness, be aware that you have not lived up to God's expectations of you as a Christian, be aware of your need for his gracious, loving forgiveness. When you eat the bread, remember his body hanging on that cross of agony, tearing, bleeding, writhing in pain. When you drink the wine, think about his blood oozing down his brow from the crown of thorns and pouring from his spear-punctured side. Focusing our hearts and minds on the fact that it was our sin - not his - that put Jesus on the cross, remembering that he endured that agonizing death to forgive you and me, should strip away all our pretense and bring us to our knees in genuine repentance.
The story is told of a young boy who was the only son of very faithful Christian parents. From the days of his early childhood, he was taken to Sunday School and worship. Both at Church and at home he was taught right from wrong. But when he became a teenager he fell in with the wrong crowd of friends. He began to tell lies and use profanity. He and his friends stole a car and became deeply involved with drugs. One evening his broken-hearted father sat down with him and tried to reason with him about how he was ruining his life. He said, "Son, don't you care that the language you use and the life you live do not at all reflect your Christian up-bringing?" The boy brashly replied, "No, Dad, I don't care!" The wise father then drove his son to the church where his parents had faithfully taken him as a child. He led the boy to the altar where there was a cross with a figure of Jesus hanging on it. He asked his son to kneel with him at the foot of that cross. The father pointed up at the figure of Jesus and said, "Son, tell him you don't care!" The boy looked up at the cross and said, "Jesus, I don't ..." The words seemed to stick in his throat. Again he started, "Jesus, I really don't ..." and again he stopped. Breaking into tears he said, "Jesus I'm sorry for what I've become. Please forgive me and help me become who you want me to be."
As that young man examined his sinful life in light of the love Christ had for him, the sacrifice Christ made for him, all of his pretenses were stripped away. He saw himself as he knew God saw him and that led him to repentance and change. When you come to the Altar this morning and kneel in the presence of the Lord, let the posture of your body reflect the position of your heart. Come, not in pretense, but in penitence.
The Lord already knows the sins of your life, your tongue, your mind, and your heart. He has caught you in every sin you've committed, and surprise of surprises ... he still loves you with all his broken heart. So come, God wants to forgive you. Come, God wants to strengthen you to change. Come into the special presence of Jesus Christ. Come, not in haughty pretense, but in humble penitence.
