“O Worship the King”

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14

C.I.: A Meal with the King

We are in the midst of a series on worship. – Worship = “The decision to come into the presence of God.” – Last week, “Getting Worship Wrong!” – But for these next two weeks, “Getting Worship Right!” - This decision re: Worship, isn't just one we make, it is also one that God has made. – Today we are going to discuss how God has made the decision to invite us to a feast for His Son!

•  The Preparation, Participation, and Proclamation of the Lord's Supper

•  Our Preparation

1. That Jesus inaugurated the Lord's Supper on the night of the Passover celebration is significant.
a. Those who would like to attend the feast - must first have been invited.
1) Explain the reasons for the Passover memorial (430 years in bondage, 9 plagues, blood on doorposts).
2) But the Passover was a memorial that only held meaning for the Jews, ( Ex. 12:3, 45 ), “Speak to all the
congregation of Israel , saying, ‘On the 10 th of this month they are to take a lamb for themselves according to their
father's households…'- A sojourner or a hired servant shall not eat of it.”
3) So only the Jews were invited by God – to partake of the Passover meal.

b. In the same way the Lord's Supper only has significance for the Lord's people.
1) When the Communion was inaugurated, Jesus said, ( Lk. 22:29-30 ), “…just as My Father granted Me a
kingdom, I grant you that you may eat & drink at My table in the kingdom.” – So Jesus received a kingdom.
2) Only those who are citizens of His kingdom – have been invited to this meal, ( Matt. 26:29 ), “I will not
drink of this fruit of the vine from now on - until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.”
3) ( Jn. 3:3, 5; I Pt. 1:23; 3:21 ), “Truly, truly… cannot see the kingdom … truly, truly, unless you are born of
water and the Sprit….” – “You have been born again, not of seed…,” – “Baptism now saves you – not the…”
4) Therefore, as we partake of this meal – it has great and importance & meaning to us! – Which is
why we don't give them to our children to “snack on,” or to “keep spiritually them quiet,” etc.!

2. We must also prepare ourselves by being properly dressed for the occasion, i.e. “…dressed in wedding clothes.”
a. Not physically (although we should be at our best in His presence) – but spiritually dressed right!
1) Proper attire for kingdom citizens, ( Quote Gal. 3:26-27 ), “For you are all sons of God … for as many …”
2) ( Rev. 19:7-8; Eph. 2:8-10; Rev. 19:9 ), “…the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made
herself ready. / – And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the
righteous acts of the saints. ( Eph. 2:8-10 ) / – And he said to me, ‘Write, Blessed are those who are invited to the
marriage supper of the Lamb.'”
3) Therefore, as saints of God, His people are called to prepare ourselves each week – by living the kind
of lives that God desires of us.

b. Therefore, only those who have accepted God's invitation and are properly attired may enjoy a meal w/the King.

B. Our Participation

•  Not only the “WHO” (those in the kingdom) - but also the “WHAT” (emblems) of the Passover are significant to those who participate in the Lord's Supper!
a. The unleavened bread of the Passover – had a message the participants of this meal.
1) ( Ex. 12:20, 19) , “ You shall not eat anything leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread …
whoever eats what is leavened, that person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel.”
a) Leaven was used as an illustration of sin. – Because like sin it can grow and spread.
b) So in the Passover the Jews were reminded that deliverance demands their repentance!

•  In the Lord's Supper the unleavened bread we take also has a message to us as well…
1) First, that our Lord Himself is like the bread, (i.e., unleavened = w/o sin – I Pt. 2:22 )
a) ( Matt. 26:26) , “ Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to His disciples,
and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.”
2) Second, like the Jews learned that their deliverance demanded repentance – the same is true of us…
a) ( I Cor. 5:8, 7) , “ Let us celebrate the feast, not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and
wickedness , but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth … Clean out the old leaven, that you
may be a new lump [ of dough], just as you are in fact unleavened.”

TAKE BREAD HERE

2. When the Lord saw the blood on the doorposts of the Jewish homes – He “passed over” them & didn't destroy.
a. ( Ex. 12:23 ), “For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; when He sees the blood on the lintel & the 2
doorposts, - the Lord will pass over the door & will not allow the destroyer to come into your house to smite you.”

b. Jesus then used the idea of this “blood of the Passover” to teach His disciples (us) another valuable lesson…
1) ( Matt. 26:27-28 ), “When He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them saying, ‘Drink from it all of
you; for this is My blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

TAKE CUP HERE

2. While we participate in this meal with our King – there are some things we are admitting…
a. We are acknowledging that while Jesus was w/o sin (Bread = My body ) - we are sinners and therefore need His
blood to be shed for us, ( Matt. 26:28 ), “…this is My blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the
forgiveness of sins.”

b. We are acknowledging the greatness of God's love for us, ( Jn. 3:16; Eph. 5:1-2 ) – God “gave” His Son to be
our sacrifice! – “Walk in love just as Christ also loved you & gave Himself for us as an offering & as a sacrifice.

c. We are acknowledging that we should be unified, ( I Cor. 10:16-17 ), “Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a
sharing in the blood of Christ? – Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? – Since there is one bread,
we who are many are one body ; for we all partake of the one bread.”

C. Our Proclamation

•  Our participation in this meal carries with it certain responsibilities…
a. By our participation in this meal - we are proclaiming that Jesus died for us and is coming back for us.
1) ( I Cor. 11:26 ), “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until….”
2) “THE MESSAGE IS IN THE MEAL!” – All God wants us to know is proclaimed by this meal!!!

b. Since God has done so much for His people – it is only right for us to proclaim Him…, ( I Pt. 2:9 ).
1) This message has the power to save all who receive it, ( Rom. 1:16 ).
2) But people must believe it and be willing to act upon it, ( Mk. 16:15-16 ).