Friday 7/19/2013 Last Supper

Dear Father in Heaven, we lift You in praise this day for all things good.  We praise You and give You all honor and glory for another night's rest and for Your waking us this day.  Today I ask You to comfort Donna and Dennis as they suffer from the passing of their little Boomer. Lord, how we love those animals that You have given to us.  Lord, thanks for the great load of food we brought in again last night.  All honor and glory to You, and thanks for "Cindy" who helped us each night with the lines dropping off food.  Lord, be with each one on our prayer list and we ask for healing of them.  Lord, again we thank You for bringing Grant and Wanda into our lives.  They indeed are Your servants and honor You by helping others.  Lord, some folks are calling for a day of protesting on Saturday, tomorrow, Lord.  Please help it be peaceful, please, dear Lord, protect Your people.  Now, dear Lord, help me today, help me with this special event we call communion, and Lord, help me then dispatch the message.  In Jesus' Name, I pray.  Amen.

Pastor Dan's Safety Tip:  Don't be a lane jumper, cutting from lane to lane.  You have all seen them this day and age.  Don't get involved in it, for it will, IT WILL, cause road rage.

Good morning, dear brothers and sisters.  Thanks for all those who have sent us notes about Martin's passing.  On this same day our friends Donna and Dennis' little Boomer also passed from this heart.  He was 14.  I do want to make this note for all to know.  We have this order in our lives.  Jesus first, people, all people, spouse, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, meaning family and friends come after Jesus, and then after that come our beloved pets.  While we are heartbroken over the passing of Martin as he was with us so long and was part of our family, it does not measure up to the passing of a beloved family member.  Praise God we have not had any of our children taken from us, others have, and I will never say I know how they feel, because I don't, but it must be the worst of all things that can happen in one's life, and all I can do is pray for those folks.  And in this note I do not know how anyone would get by with the passing of a loved one if they did not have Christ in their lives.  Who do they lean on?  Folks, I need to get to the message.  I love you and again, thanks for all your well wishes about Martin.

Luke 22:14 - When the hour came, Jesus and His apostles reclined at the table.  15 And He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.  16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the Kingdom of God."  17 After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you.  18 For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God comes."  (NIV)

Jesus was very eager to eat the Passover with His apostles, or disciples, as they are also called.  He knew this would be the last time He would be with them, all of them together for a Passover here on earth as we know it now or as they knew it then.  This is where the term "The Last Supper" comes from, for it was indeed the last supper Jesus had with them.  Jesus tells them that "He will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the Kingdom of God.  I believe this to mean until we have total peace, which is after the Lord comes and gets us out and to be with Him, and even later when we are all together, then we will have the meal again.  Also we as Christians must remember that Jesus is/was slain on the cross, and one of the things we no longer need to do is slay a lamb on the Altar.  Jesus became the Lamb of God.  These are all messages for another time when I can go into full detail.

When Jesus gave thanks while holding the cup, then He had His apostles divide it among them ... So they had the fruit of the vine at their place at the table.  And now after we pray and give thanks we will pick it back up in scripture.  Please prepare yourself now for communion with our Lord.

Dear Father in Heaven, I give thanks today for all things.  I give thanks today for the fruit of the vine, which becomes the blood of Jesus for us this day, and I give thanks for the bread which becomes the body.  Lord, bless these emblems and bless all those who take of this today.  And Lord, now please forgive me and all who ask of their sins so we can come to Your table clean.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Luke 22:19 - And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them saying, "This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of me."  (NIV)

Please now take your bread, the body of Christ Jesus, and break it and eat it.  Thank You, Jesus.

Luke 22:20 - In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My Blood, which is poured out for you."  (NIV)

Take now your fruit of the vine, and think about it as you drink of the Blood of the New Covenant, the Blood of Jesus which was poured out for you.  Drink now.

Dear Father in Heaven, thanks for going to the cross for us, thanks today for the reminder of how Your Body was broken and Your blood spilled out for us.  Thanks for giving us a way to get to heaven.  In the name of Jesus, I give thanks.  Amen.

Brothers and sisters, this ends our communion service today.  Thanks for taking part.

Now go forth and share your blessings, and folks, every chance you get to tell one another you love them, share a hug with them and do all you can to walk each step of your life with Jesus.  I love ya.  Pass it on.

Pastor Dan