I'm going to ask you to take
your Bibles and turn with me to the passage of Scripture that
we read, 1 Corinthians 11, that we read when we observe the Lord's
table. 1 Corinthians 11. The Apostle Paul It says in 1
Corinthians 11 verse 23, For I have received of the Lord,
I have by an oral transmission to the mind, is what that means.
Paul is saying the Lord spoke to me, and I heard Him in my
mind. I've received of the Lord that
which also I delivered unto you." That which I formerly, he had
told him before, I also delivered unto you. That the Lord Jesus,
the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread. And when he had given thanks,
he break 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 often as you drink
it, in remembrance of me." This New Testament, this superior testament, a covenant. There was an old covenant and
it was ratified or it was shown to be valid or established by
God by the blood of bulls and goats. But this new covenant,
this new testament, that covenant that is ratified and confirmed
by His blood is what we are here this evening to remember. We're here to remember the Lord's
death. Now, the word that the Lord used
when he spoke to the Apostle Paul, this do in remembrance,
does not mean acknowledge, though we do acknowledge it. We acknowledge
the Lord died. But demons acknowledge that the
Lord died. They're not a demon. It's on
this earth today. They wouldn't acknowledge that
the Lord died. Man by nature, he'll acknowledge,
historically, he's heard of it, that the Lord died. I believe
that George Washington died, much as I know about him. I can
acknowledge based on what I've read and heard from history books
that he died. But the word remember, this do
in remembrance of me, that word remembrance means to recollect
with appreciation. I want to recollect in my new
man, in my heart, with appreciation what the Lord has done for His
people, yes, but for me. I want to be able to recall what
the Lord has done for me. You see, I need to hear preaching
that gives me some hope. I understand, I understand some
truth out of this book. I understand that man's totally
depraved. I know that. But I'm going to
tell you something. Total depravity, and I'm getting
ready to bring some of that truth out here in just a second. Total
depravity is an absolute fact. But you know what, friend? That
doesn't give me any hope as far as salvation. I need to hear
something of what the Lord has done for me. I need to hear something
of life. I need to hear something that
gives me some peace. I'm going to stand before God
and you are too. I just want to be able to settle
down. Tell me something, give me some hope. As we remember the Lord, and
this is what He said for us to do, this do. We're getting ready
to eat a little piece of bread and drink a little cup of wine.
And those two elements has got tremendous significance. Tremendous
significance. You say it's just a piece of
bread and it's just a glass of wine. Well, no, it's not. It's why we're taking it. Why? It's the remembrance. It's the
recollection with appreciation of what the Lord has done for
me. For you. That knowing Now I got three
questions, three vital questions. And these three vital questions
has great significance on remembering the Lord. Here's my first question. Am I a sinner? Am I a sinner? You know, that question and the
answer to that question might seem very obvious. But still, this is the question.
Am I? The Scripture declares all men
to be so. Here's what Romans 3.23 says,
For all have sinned, all have erred, and come short They've
missed the mark of the glory of God. What do you mean? All have sinned and come short
of the glory of God. What's that last phrase? I mean,
I understand all have erred and missed the mark, but what does
it mean concerning the glory of God? Here it is. All have
missed the mark on being able to glorify God by our love for
Him, by our submission to Him, by our obedience to Him. All
have sinned and come short of glorifying God. That makes it
easier for us to understand. So I know that all are sinners. There's no doubt about that.
That's a given. But the question in remembering
the Lord is this, am I convinced that I'm a sinner? I know everybody, well everybody
sins. Well that just sounds like to
me an excuse. That just sounds like to me for
an excuse to excuse myself for the rebellion of my own heart.
Well, everybody sins. That's not what I'm asking you.
I'm asking you this. I'm asking me this. This is what
I'm asking us. Are we sinners? Are we sinners like that publican
in Luke 18, 13? God, be merciful to me, a sinner. I looked it up. I wanted to know
what does that mean? I don't want to sit here and
just excuse it and just say, well, you know, everybody does
it and I'm as good as the next person, probably better. And
I'm not as good as some, but I'm better than most. I want to know something. I know this, that this is a vital
issue. And here's why it's a vital issue. It was for sinners that Christ
Jesus came into this world to save. 1 Timothy 1.15, this is a faithful
saying, worthy of all acceptation, Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners of whom I am chief. Now I want to know, who
did He come to save? Because Mike, if I'm going to
remember Him tonight, He came for a reason. And this is who
He came to save, sinners. What does that word sinner mean? What does it mean? Here's what
it is. Now listen. I'll ask myself,
you ask yourself. One devoted to sin. I'm devoted to it. One pre-eminently sinful. One that does nothing but think
and do that which is evil and contrary to God. God saw that
every thought of the imagination of man was evil. Continually Bill. Continually. Continually. It was never... totally, no part of my being
untouched in its depravity. That's a sinner. That's a sinner. I'm talking about one that has
no excuse. He's the scum of the scum. Paul said, I'm the chief. I'm
the chief of sinners. for all who are helpless dregs
of iniquity, who has nothing to say except, God be
merciful to me, a sinner, a sinner. For all that are found to be
spiritually impotent, I'm going to tell you something. You're
a blessed person because it's just such a person that Christ
Jesus came into this world to save. So tonight, as we remember
Him, this is who we're remembering, the one who has mercy on sinners. Now, if you're not a sinner,
if you're not as bad as somebody else and there's, you know, well,
I'm not talking to you. But I'm talking about a sinner. Here's my second question. Who is the Lord Jesus Christ? Who is
He? And here's what He said, as often
as you eat this bread and you drink this cup, you do it in
remembrance of Me. Here's my question, Neil. Who
is he? Somebody said, well, that's a
disrespectful question. Well, Paul asked him. Saul of
Tarsus asked him. Who art thou, Lord? Who are you? I'm not concerned about what
the world says who He is. I'm not concerned about that.
I'm here to remember the Lord. He said, you do this in remembrance
of Me. I want to remember Him. Who does God say He is? He told Paul on the road to Damascus,
I'm Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. Now listen, is it
not a miracle of God's grace that he would show us the error
of our way? Saul? Marvin? Why are you persecuting me? Who are you, Lord? I'm Jesus. Jesus of Nazareth, whom you're
persecuting. And it's hard for you to kick
against the bricks. How many are left to the error
of their ways that are doing this very thing of persecuting
the Lord and perish justly in unbelief? I want you to listen. Turn with
me to Acts 4. Acts chapter 4. He said, you
do this in remembrance of me. This is my question. Who is He? Who is He? And the only authority
that we have is God's Word. This is it. This is it. Aren't you glad that we can be
here this evening and consider these scriptures? But let me
tell you something, it's coming today and the whole world is
going to hear this. Everybody is going to hear this.
Stand before God and this Word right here, this Book, God's
Scriptures, is going to be the basis of judgment. And to hear
it then, man listen, The Lord is so compassionate to us. We're
here tonight. We're still in the day of grace.
Acts 4, chapter 4, verse 10 to 12. Be it known unto you all,
and all the people of Israel, by the name of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead,
even by him doth this man, a man, have been healed. Stand before
ye hold." Stand here before you hold. This is the stone which
was said it not of the builders, which has become the head of
the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other. Now you
listen to this, for there is none other name under heaven,
given among men, whereby we must be saved." Who is He? Now, we're here to remember Him.
Who is He? Well, I can tell you this based
on that scripture we just read. Number one, He's God come in
the flesh. He's God. He's the cornerstone
upon whom His church is built. He's the cornerstone. The true
Messiah, sin of God, but rejected by those of Israel who saw themselves,
according to the Scripture, as faithful and capable builders.
What were they doing? The builders that rejected Him,
you know. Well, the stone said it not. of you builders." What were they
doing? Well, they were declaring by
the obedience to the law and by the tradition of the elders.
That was the way God's kingdom was being built. Who is He? He was the one taken and crucified. Now listen to this. According,
the scripture declares, according to the determinate counsel, Acts
2, the determinate counsel, that is the marked out boundaries
and the limits. This is what God said. You will
be able to take him according to my counsel and will and purpose. You'll be the means according
to my determinant counsel. I'm gonna set the lines on how
far you go. This is what you can do. And
they did exactly what the determinant counsel of God marked out. Who is he? This is God's Lamb. This is God's Christ. And there's
salvation in none other. I thought this was so Revealing. The Scripture says in Acts 4
verse 12, neither is there salvation in any other. For there is none other name
unto heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Now, neither
is there salvation in any other. Do you know what that means?
Not even in you or me. Not even in you or me. Well,
I thought I could know. There's salvation in none other. None other name, not even mine,
not even yours. None other name given on men
whereby we must be saved. Who is he? Look at Philippians
2, 5 to 11. Philippians 2, 5. Let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ Jesus. Now you listen, listen to this.
I was reading this today and I was thinking to myself, next
time Marvin you, you, well why are you doing it right now? Why
are you doing it right now, Marvin? Why are you doing it right now,
Marvin? Let this mind Be in you. Now you think of who came into
this world. Let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ Jesus. Who is He? God. He's Messiah. He's the cornerstone. Who being
in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with
God. And what did He do? but made himself of no reputation
and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the
likeness of men. And being found in fashion as
a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even
the death of the cross, wherefore God also hath highly exalted
Him, given Him a name which is above every name, that at the
name of Jesus every knee should bow, things in heaven, things
in earth, things under the earth, that every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God." Who is He? I'll tell you who He is. He is
God, who humbled Himself to be the
lowest of all servants. You know what I've got to say
about myself? Lord, would you put a watch on
my tongue? Let all the earth keep silence
before Him. Be quiet. Just be quiet. I tell you who we're here to
remember. We're here to remember God. in human flesh that humbled
Himself before God. The One that was given all power
over all flesh that He should give eternal life to as many
as the Father had given Him. I love election. I love election. You know why? Except the Lord
of Zeboeth had left us a seed, we'd all been just like Sodom
and Gomorrah. He's God's Lamb, that's who He
is. We're here to remember Him. One who laid down His life for
the sheep. And I'll tell you this, and I'll
read my last question. Of all those that the Father
gave Him, He said in John 18, 8, of them which thou gavest
Me, I have lost none." Oh, He's who I want to remember.
Why? Because I believe the Lord taught
me that I'm a sinner. That's what I am. I'm a sinner.
I'm just like you are. But it was for sinners that He
came to save. So here's my last question. Do I rejoice that He
gets all the glory and all the honor and all the praise for
man's salvation? Let me ask you this, you that
know Him. Don't you rejoice that it's not
by the deeds of the law? that a man, a flesh man, a fleshly
man is justified. Aren't you glad that it's not? Everything I've ever said is
foolish. That's all I've ever done. I'm just a foolish, foolish
man. I say foolish things. I do foolish
things. I think foolish things. But He
came into the world to save foolish people. He humbled himself. And I don't
deserve, I don't deserve any praise, I don't deserve any recognition. That God Almighty would even
look on me in mercy. I don't even know how to say
thank you. I don't know how to be appreciative. I'm so thankful that the Lord
would allow me to even be in your presence. A Pharisee went with a publican
into the temple one day to pray. That publican that said, God
be merciful to me, the sinner. And this is what the Pharisee
said, I'm not like other people. I'm glad I'm not like other people. Extortioners. Unjust. I'm not like those unjust people. Adulterers. I fast twice in the week. I give
tithes of all that I possess. But here's what God said about
him. Because he exalted himself. He went down to his house unjustified. unjustified before God. He lifted
up Himself, He exalted, lifted up Himself with haughtiness and
empty pride. Pride. There's one that Almighty God
has glorified based upon His own merit, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus prayed in closing
in John 12, 28, Glorify thy name. Glorify thy
name. What does that mean? Cause the
dignity and worth of your person to become manifest and acknowledged
before men in me. That's what the Lord said. And
the father answered, I have both glorified it and I will glorify
it again. God glorified His name, He showed
His pleasure to save His people by sending His Son into this
world. He glorified Himself by the Lord
Jesus Christ being made flesh, incarnation. And He said, I will
glorify it again, and did. supporting the Son in His death,
raising Him from the dead and exalting Him at the Father's
right hand. And I tell you this, He's glorifying
Himself tonight in calling out His sheep, calling out His people,
giving them life, teaching them under the Scriptures, under the
Word. So the Father has given Him all
honor. My last question was this, Do you rejoice that He gets all
the glory, honor, and praise? The Father has given Him all
the honor. The resurrected and glorified
saints in heaven, here's what John saw on the Isle of Patmos.
I'll read this for you, Revelation 5, 11. It says, I beheld and
heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the
beasts, and the elders, and the number of them was ten thousand
times, ten thousand, and thousands, and thousands. Oh, I want to
be found in that number. I want to be there. I want to
be in that number. Saying with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb
that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and blessing. And every creature which is in
heaven, on the earth, and under the earth, and such are in the
sea, and all them heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory,
and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the
Lamb forever and ever. And four beasts said, Amen. And
four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth
forever and ever." I don't deserve that in myself. I am so thankful. that the Lord would give me a
heart. The Fathers glorified Him, giving Him all the glory. That God would keep me from thinking
that I deserve some glory? Because I ain't going to get
it. Knowing this, not by works of
righteousness, which we've done, but according to His mercy, He
saved us. By grace, you're saved through
faith. And that not of yourself. Gift
of God. Knowing that, let's eat and drink in remembrance
of Him. The Savior who saves sinners
and gets all the honor and glory and praise for it and His people
say Amen. Oh.