THE LORD’S SUPPER

1 Corinthians 11:23-34

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:

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.

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.

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

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.

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.

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.

Chant:  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen!  Amen!

Sunday School lesson for April 5, 2020:
Seeking a Champion of Justice-Background Scripture:  Isaiah 42-Print Passage:  Isaiah 42:1-9

Devotional readings for April 6-12, 2020:

Monday – Mark 16:1-8

Tuesday – Acts 9:1-9

Wednesday – Romans 5:12-17

Thursday – I Thessalonians 4:13-18

Friday – I Corinthians 15:24-28

Saturday – I Corinthians 15:50-58

Sunday – I Corinthians 15:1-8, 12-14, 20-23, 42-45

In this time of global turbulence personified by coronavirus, COVID19, stock market in decline, businesses closed, employees laid off, unemployment at the thirty percent level and no cash flow, how does one not crack up in the crisis?  If that’s where you are dear one, I have a word for you.  That word is, you need help from another world.  If you had been able to fix “it”, whatever “it” is, you would have done so.  Therefore how about seeking help from Him who can do all things but fail.  “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”  (Proverbs 3:5,6)

Our finite minds cannot grasp the totality of all that is going on, nor do we know how long this pandemic will continue, but let me assure you that our heavenly Father is aware of everything that transpires in the earth realm and He is working all things for our good.  God works out all things – not just isolated incidents – for our good.  Of course you know that everything that happens to us is not good, but God is able to turn it around for our long range good.  So Dear Ones, trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart.  And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.  God knows what is best for us.  In the midst of the turbulence we are experiencing, we must acknowledge God in all we do.  Father, thank you for your perpetual presence.  For in your presence is the fullness of joy, your loving hand will guide us through these adversities into the place you have for us.  Thank you for removing the obstacles that now confront us.

Be encouraged.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

A question that each of us must answer is the question that the LORD posed to Abraham in Genesis 18:14:  “Is anything too hard for the LORD?”  The obvious answer is, “Of course not!”  This question reveals much about God.  We must appropriate the answer into every aspect of our lives.  Insert your specific needs into the question.   Is this coronavirus too hard for the LORD?  Is finding a cure too hard for Him?  Are the subsequent financial issues resulting from the Corrective actions taken too hard for the LORD?  Again Dear Ones, the obvious answer is, “Of course not!”  Asking the question this way reminds you that God is personally involved in your life.  Please consider the text.  The angel tells Abraham in verse 10:  “I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.  And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him:”  Now having a son is not so much out of the ordinary.  Women do it all the time, however, verse 11 gives us more information.  “Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.”  Physically unable to bear a son, and the thought of that scenario caused Sarah to laugh, and respond “Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?”  “And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as He had spoken, for Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which GOD had spoken to him.”  (Genesis 21:1,2)  Is there anything too hard for the LORD?  Answer:  Of Course Not!

Be encouraged.

Pastor J. Amos Jones