Note for 2024/05/14

‭1 Corinthians 11:17-34 KJV‬

[17] Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. [18] For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. [19] For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. [20] When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. [21] For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. [22] What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. [23] 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: [24] 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. [25] 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. [26] For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. [27] Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. [28] But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. [29] For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. [30] For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. [31] For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. [32] But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. [33] Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. [34] And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

https://bible.com/bible/1/1co.11.17-34.KJV

‭Shalom friends,

Since I am writing mostly to those that believe, I assume you are already familiar with the Lord's Supper. So today we look at a smaller subsection of the highlighted text and it is this:

[30] For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. [31] For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. [32] But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

This too you should know, if you partake of the Lord's Supper. And once again, it is not I, some stranger and ordinary man that wrote it, but it has been kept through the generations as part of God's Word to us. Do we judge ourselves? Do we truly consider the scale of consequences of our words and deeds?

Yesterday, we briefly spoke on this too, how it comes as nature to wish to defend yourself with excuses and justifications for your own actions. And if we loved others as we love ourselves, at least we would permit them that too, since we permit it for ourselves then. But let this rather not be at all, judge yourselves, especially before you partake of the Lord's Supper.

I say judge yourself, even as you go; for who knows if the Lord may come midweek? I ask you then, what does Paul mean when he speaks of, "and many sleep?" When our bodies cease among the living, and we are laid to rest, is it not written that we "sleep in Christ?" Now while we are still waiting on the Lord's return, a long time now, did many not go to sleep? The Lord said, the Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. What then if we are met by that sleep, before we partake of the Lord's Supper next?

It is thus wise indeed to judge ourselves as we live, as we walk and as we talk. But, in finding that we stood in error, to confess and correct with haste. Confess before the Lord repenting. Don't you know that self-control is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit? Judge yourself in the Truth. Don't you know that is the way you prevent yourself from bringing false accusations against those you should love? Better yet, and this is self-control, you judge your word and deed before you do or say it. For then you have truly found the way unto righteous living. For man alone this is hard to do, but we are not alone, are we? Are we not guided and even corrected by the Holy Spirit of GOD in us?

When we fail, we fail in ignorance. We may fail for a lack of knowledge, but once discovered we can correct immediately in repentance. Do not leave it off until the next time you sit down to partake in the Lord's Supper. No, do it as you go so your walk may be in the Spirit, set apart and Holy. Judge yourself harshly without blindspots of being biased, but also remember the Love that Christ Jesus and The Father have for you and others. Be merciful then, even to yourself, but do not ignore nor tolerate sin in you. Cast it away from you, so you may swiftly walk the way of sanctification. So, we wash our garments then, in agreement with the Word of GOD.

Is our Father not swift to forgive us when we repent, is He not patient with us? For almost 2000 years the return of our Lord has been delayed. Don't you know that to be a mercy too? For GOD so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever shall believe in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. He died for us, so we may live. That is Who we remember as we partake of the Lord's Supper, our Savior.

So, it is not a light matter, or just a common practice. Neither is it a light thing to claim you are one with Christ as a believer and partaker in this Blood Covenant. Our walk and words are to be separate in nature from those of unbelievers. For we are in this world but not of it.

Yes, friends, these words seem familiar because they come from the Word of GOD as ordinary speech and not just quoted from the word to state my case. And what is stated here, I do to the best of my ability, in gratitude to our Father for the Holy Spirit in whom I am blessed and kept. It is the Love of GOD that saves us, and keeps us, and sustains and protects us. It is in Christ that we become a new creature. That is the process of sanctification, that is the way of our deliverance, and it is a daily way of life until we are redeemed.

So, you can walk in this world, in Christ, set apart, while you are not of the world, yet in it. Light is meant to shine in darkness, to push the darkness back. So, others may see too. Do you understand yet?

Shalom

Verse of the Day

(YouVersion Bible App)

‭Romans 10:14 KJV‬

[14] How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.10.14.KJV

Expanded

‭Romans 10:12-15 KJV‬

[12] For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. [13] For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. [14] How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? [15] And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.10.12-15.KJV

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