We've been looking at what Jesus has done for us–this is the outer court experience, now we're going to look at what Jesus does in us. HP experience.

1Cor 11:17-34.

First thing. When you come together it does more harm than good. Why? They come together as a church how do they come? With divisions, factions. What function do the factions serve? To show who is approved among them. I've gotten very curious about this concept of showing who's approved. In the church are some more approved than others? On the one hand, Paul could be saying that as long as there are false brethren, there will be divisions.

On the other hand he could be saying, "You all divide up into your little groups trying to show that God approves of you and not the rest of the church. Knowing what you do about the Corinthians, which do you think Paul is saying? The were a factious group. They were following different leaders in chapter 1 and three. Nowhere does Paul suggest that some of them are false believers, even though they are immature, he declares that the spirit of God lives in them. So it's very likely that Paul's being "tongue in cheek" here and saying, No wonder you've got divisions, they are your way of showing who's got God's approval!

What effect does Paul say coming together with factions has on their communion service? He says, "When you meet together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat!"

Folks, did you know that you can come together and drink grape juice and eat unleavened bread and say the prayers and sing the songs and not be observing the Lord's supper? He says it right here, "When you meet together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat!" The menu does not make the Lord's supper the Lord's supper. Just having the right recipes does not make it an acceptable meal.

Then what does make it acceptable? What is the missing ingredient here among the Corinthians? Relationships. The people coming together were estranged from each other. They had let their differences reach the point where they were not even ashamed to go through line quick at the potluck before everyone else eats all the food! In order for it to be the Lord's Supper we must have more than the right food, we must have the right spirit among those participating.

What happens if we do not have the right spirit or participate in an unworthy manner? v27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

If we discerned the Lord's body broken for us, we would not divide it up now. Jesus body today is His people, and we should not be divided. But those who don't see that it was broken for them at the cross, break it anew now by their factions and division.

30For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

NKJV

Was God causing people to get sick and die because of the disunity of the church? Well, possibly, but most likely he's pointing to the delay. Look at the bigger context. Starting in 1cor 10:1 Paul outlines the wilderness experience of the Israelites as an example for the Corinthians. The same problem existed in the wilderness. The people were not unified at Kadesh Barnea when the 12 spies went in, so many got sick and died in the wilderness, not because God made them sick but because of the delay. We today are in the same situation. We need to come to agreement and unity in for God to take us in to the promised land. We need to be able to eat the bread and drink the blood in the right spirit.

How do we get the right spirit? Well what is the Lord's Supper all about? By it we proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. We must be united in proclaiming the Lord's death until He comes.

How are you feeling about the Lord's death today? If you don't believe it's for you, you will look down on others who you don't think are "approved" and you will divide from them into factions. Some translations say, "Heresies." I believe that's because this whole business of division is based on heresy. The idea that you and I can be Christians, and we don't need to get along is a heresy. It's based on the supreme heresy that I somehow by my lifestyle can make myself more acceptable to God than you, and therefore I have a right to exclude you and keep myself pure and holy by not coming into contact with You.

If you believe it's for you, that you are so depraved that you needed to have the God of the universe come and die for your justification, and there is no other way for you to be saved than through accepting His death on your behalf then you are entering the kingdom the same way everyone else is, and you are ready with all of us to proclaim Jesus death through this ceremony.

Application:

How's your attitude. Anyone repenting? Anyone accepting Jesus death as their own death this morning? Are there any divisions that need to be broken down? Only one thing can break them, not your willpower, not Your skill, but Jesus Christ who in His flesh abolished the enmity and made the two one. Look around at Your brothers and sisters in Christ this morning. Do you realize that Christ died for them as well as for you? This morning I want to give you opportunity to do something toward the unity of this church. Stand up, and turn to someone near you or someone far from you that maybe you need to say this to, and say, "Christ died for you. And He died for me too. I guess that make us family." Can you do that? This isn't being irreverent, we're about to get up and go in the other room to wash each others' feet, and we're not talking about worldly things and visiting or just greeting each other. I want you to affirm and proclaim the death of Christ this morning to each other in the spirit of Communion. When you are through, make your way to the designated place for foot washing. Men, women, couples. If anyone is not able or ready to participate you may stay here. Music? Go ahead.

EMBLEMS: We practice open communion. That means we allow any believer to participate with us.

BREAD: Prayer, Elder.

Me: I'd like you to listen as I read from 1 Cor 11:23, 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." NKJV

CUP: prayer elder on right,

Me: 1 Cor 11:25, 26 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. NKJV

Let us pray: Heb 13:20-21Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen KJV