Title: “Faithful, No Matter the Cost” Part 2

Text: Acts 5:33-42

FCF: We struggle remaining faithful when it may cost us much to obey.

Prop: Because God sovereignly determines the fate of His church and honors those who suffer for Him, we must remain faithful.

Scripture Intro:

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 5. In a moment we will read starting from verse 33. I’ll be reading from the Christian Standard Bible. The text will start on 1235 in the pew bible.

Last week we saw God’s sovereign hand proving once again that He is able to deliver His church from any fate and equip them for what He has commanded them to do. Nevertheless, it is still the church’s responsibly to obey and remain faithful no matter what the cost may be to them.

It is difficult to know when you’ll have a two-part sermon and when you won’t. This week’s sermon will serve as a continuation and expansion on all we discussed last week.

We kind of left everything at a cliff hanger in the narrative. Peter has just responded to the three charges of the High Priest. His response was both to show that all three charges are invalid and also to present the gospel to the Sanhedrin as a whole. But we don’t know yet, or at least those who haven’t read ahead don’t know yet what the outcome of Peter’s defense will be.

Today, we’ll see what happens.

Please stand with me both out of reverence for and to focus on the reading of God’s Word.

Transition:

[Slide 2] Have you ever learned something much later in life than you should have? It is kind of embarrassing right? What is more embarrassing is when you have spent a good deal of energy and time defending something that turns out to be exactly the wrong thing. I very recently learned about the zipper method for a closed lane. I was always the guy getting irritated by the jerks speeding down the closed lane only to cut in front of everyone else. Then… I learned that the exact opposite was true. If you use both lanes up to the point that the lane is closed… and take turns entering the one open lane… it actually cuts traffic by as much as 40%. WOAH! And Whoops! This is just one example of many where we assume something works one way and it turns out to work the exact opposite. Today we’ll see that in the Kingdom of God – things work much different than the kingdom of this world. And many times, like the zipper method, something we think is bad or terrible… is actually a great honor. Let’s look and find out what it is.

I.) God sovereignly oversees the fate of His church, so we must remain faithful. (33-39)

a. [Slide 3] 33 – When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.

i. Coming out of last week’s sermon and hearing Peter give his rebuttal to their accusations, we might be a little perplexed by the Sanhedrin’s reaction.

ii. Peter, very clearly and concisely refuted their charges against the apostles and laid out why they were teaching in the name of Jesus.

iii. In short, they were teaching in the name of Jesus because He is the next and final name of Judaism.

iv. Like Moses, or Jacob, or Isaac, or Abraham before… now Jesus is the next and final funnel point of all of Judaism. All of Israel’s history and indeed all of mankind’s history funnels to the name of Jesus.

v. To the extent that the only thing that matters any more is what you do with the name of Jesus.

vi. God has raised Him, exalted Him, He is now the prince, the Savior and offers repentance and forgiveness to Israel.

vii. But how could such an answer illicit such anger from the Sanhedrin? Shouldn’t they have been overjoyed to hear that their Messiah had come?

viii. The fact that they were enraged to the point of desiring to kill the apostles should remind us of their madness concerning Jesus at his 3 illegal Jewish trials. In reminding us of how they treated Jesus, it should also clue us in to what was going on in their minds.

ix. The one thing that could have potentially stirred them to such rage that they desired the death of the apostles – was blasphemy.

x. There is no question that what Peter said was either true or blasphemous. There really is no middle ground either.

xi. Either Jesus was raised, elevated, and given authority and power, like the Son of Man prophesy from Daniel…

xii. Or they are committing blasphemy.

xiii. As mild and non-confrontational of a gospel presentation as Peter’s was – it was not the messenger that was so enraging to them… it was the message.

b. [Slide 4] 34 – But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the men to be taken outside for a little while.

i. So, the natural question that arises here is, who is this guy Gamaliel?

ii. Gamaliel is mentioned only twice in the scriptures. He is mentioned here and also in Acts 22.

1. From Acts 22, we find Paul defending himself before the Jerusalem mob and identifying himself as a Jew who was thoroughly taught by Gamaliel in the law of Moses.

2. From extra biblical sources we understand that Gamaliel was the leader of a particular school of Old Testament interpretation within the Pharisee party. The school was called Hillel. The other school that opposed Hillel was the Shammai.

iii. Other than that, we only have what is mentioned here.

iv. We know that Gamaliel was a teacher of the law and was well respected by all the people.

v. Perhaps even the Sadducees respected this man for his gifted teachings.

vi. Him standing up in the Sanhedrin and ordering the apostles to leave the chamber for a time indicates that he was on the Sanhedrin council and held a good deal of influence, even though he was a member of the minority party.

c. [Slide 5] 35 – He said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful about what you are about to do to these men.

i. We see Gamaliel speak boldly to this council.

ii. He warns them that they need to be careful about their actions going forward.

iii. Why must they be careful?

iv. A large part of the reason that they are where they are now is because they killed Jesus. This obviously didn’t solve the problem of Jesus claiming to be who He was.

v. Indeed, the church has ballooned to somewhere around 10,000 people in a matter of weeks.

vi. Killing Jesus didn’t help. In fact, the argument could be made… that it actually hurt.

vii. Although Gamaliel does not cite this reason, where he goes next implies this historical event.

viii. Gamaliel will take them to the recent history of other people who claimed to be important, gifted, or people sent from God.

d. [Slide 6] 36 – Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and came to nothing.

i. Josephus records for us a man named Theudas who convinced a great number of people to go to the Jordan river where he promised to divide it and allow them to walk safely to the other side.

ii. There are some irregularities with the chronology of Josephus’ and Luke’s accounts regarding both this example and the next. I don’t have time to deal with it this morning but the next time we gather on a Wednesday night for bible study, we can get into it if you want.

iii. Assuming Josephus and Luke are talking about the same person, Josephus describes this man as a charlatan.

iv. And that is exactly Gamaliel’s point.

v. This man was killed, his followers scattered, and we haven’t seen anything of him since.

vi. Comparing this to Jesus of Nazareth… there is an obvious disconnect. The followers of Jesus grew rapidly in number after his death instead of dispersing. Perhaps this is indication that Gamaliel looked kindly on the Christians. But more likely, this is an ironic point that Gamaliel doesn’t see but Luke does.

vii. Gamaliel submits another point of evidence.

e. [Slide 7] 37 – After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following. He also perished, and all his followers were scattered.

i. Gamaliel raises another example of another man who during the time of the census raised an insurrection.

ii. From this we understand that the Sanhedrin were concerned with both religious purity and insurrection. The examples of Gamaliel prove as much.

iii. Theudas rose up as a religious false teacher.

iv. But this man named Judas from Galilee raised an insurrection. He was ultimately killed. His followers were scattered.

v. And although Gamaliel doesn’t say it – the implication is clear.

vi. We have heard nothing from them since.

vii. So now Gamaliel seeks to apply his 2 examples and the hidden third example in Jesus of Nazareth and his followers.

f. [Slide 8] 38 – So, in the present case, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will fail;

i. Gamaliel recognizes that the plans of men to lead others religiously astray or to overthrow power or influence, are ultimately doomed to failure.

ii. Gamaliel recognizes and affirms the sovereignty of God in this. Mere men cannot undo what God has willed.

iii. He makes the case here to let the apostles alone. To wait and see. To allow time to sort it out.

iv. If they indeed are in doctrinal error and are leading an insurrection – and they are doing this in their own power and wisdom – they will be overthrown.

v. And the implication is that God will providentially see to it that this happens.

g. [Slide 9] 39 – but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.”

i. But if not…

ii. If God is at work here in this movement. If God is the one doing this – then the Sanhedrin will be powerless to stop it.

iii. And worse…

iv. If it is of God, they may actually find themselves opposing the will of God.

v. The irony of course is that they have been opposing God this whole time.

vi. Nevertheless, because of Gamaliel’s argument…

h. [Slide 10] They were persuaded by him.

i. They were convinced.

ii. Now what were they convinced of, that remains to be seen. We’ll get to that in our next point.

iii. But his advice is convincing.

iv. They did nothing to stop Judas and Theudas… and yet in each example it came to nothing.

v. Therefore, rather than killing the apostles and risking the fallout that could come of it – it seems much easier to simply let it run its course and hope it dies out.

vi. The interesting thing here is that the Sadducean party as a whole would reject the doctrine of the Sovereignty of God. So, either Gamaliel’s particular packaging of his advice escaped their theological notice, or, more likely, the Sadducean party saw the wisdom of following the minority party’s position.

vii. It would be wise to unite against the apostles rather than divide. And it would be wise to not further alienate the people from them by rejecting both the apostles and the Pharisees. Remember the Pharisees were the people’s party.

viii. In fact, historically – the Sadducees often yielded to the minority party in the Sanhedrin council. There was no danger of them losing power except in the event of a people’s revolt and the Romans replacing them with new leaders.

ix. Their persuasion then has less to do with the strength of Gamaliel’s logic and more to do with the fear of losing power.

i. [Slide 11] Summary of the Point: Although it may seem like the themes Luke is giving to Theophilus are on repeat, we see once again the absolute sovereignty of God over the fate of His church. The apostles obey the Lord in spite of the cost. Because they obeyed it appeared certain that they would lose their lives. But in the providence of God, through the delicate workings of political intrigue, God saw to it that theology and politics collide to provide safe passage for His apostles. We see a parting of the red sea here. These two parties controlling the fate of the apostles divide to allow them to pass through. God sovereignly oversees the protection and provision of His church to accomplish His commands.

Transition:

[Slide 12 (blank)] So with God’s sovereign hand, it looks like the apostles are going to get away Scot free again! Or… maybe not. Let’s look.

II.) God honors His church when He allows them to suffer for His name, so we must remain faithful. (40-42)

a. [Slide 13] 40 – After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them.

i. Here we see the extent to which Gamaliel’s counsel was received.

ii. They were not convinced that the apostles may be correct.

iii. They were not convinced to do nothing.

iv. They were not convinced that their doctrine may be in error.

v. They were not convinced that Jesus was any different than Theudas or Judas of Galilee.

vi. They were merely convinced that they did not need to take the risk of killing these men and incurring upon themselves the people’s rage and the Roman’s displeasure.

vii. They were convinced that the situation was not so dire as to need to throw away their own reputations or future power.

viii. Gamaliel’s advice simply convinced them that this was not a hill they needed to die on.

ix. Remember the three charges they brought against the Apostles?

1. They disobeyed a direct command of the ruling party of Jerusalem

2. They filled Jerusalem with dangerous and blasphemous teaching

3. They were purposefully trying to get the people to lose respect for and distrust their leadership.

x. Their response shows us that they did not budge on any of these charges.

1. They beat the apostles because they judged them guilty of disobeying a righteous order from the ruling body of the Jews in Jerusalem.

a. This was not a tame punishment.

b. They were permitted by the law to whip an individual 40 times. 40 was a number that was significant to the Jews. It signified the completion of punishment. It signified the end of exile.

c. Since the law set the maximum of 40 whips – the Jews would often whip 40 minus one. The idea behind this is perhaps the one doing the whipping should lose count and accidentally whip the person 41 times. To be safe they whipped one less than the maximum.

d. Such a whipping would have been extremely painful and most likely would have produced deep welts and even scars. Marks they would bear on their bodies for many days and possibly years.

e. It was also a public event. All of Jerusalem would be able to see them being whipped like criminals. This would be a very shameful experience for the apostles.

2. They commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus because they judged them guilty of spreading dangerous teaching. Teaching that was in error.

3. The third charge the high priest issued was that they intended to rouse the people against them as murderers. We may be convinced that the Council releasing the apostles is an acquittal of that charge. But I would suggest to you that it is the opposite of that.

a. They released them to secure their own reputation and influence among the people of Jerusalem. To keep them in prison or kill them would surely damage their honor among the people. For it would both go against the Pharisee position and the people who greatly favored the apostles.

b. Releasing them is a calculated risk based on the logic of Gamaliel. That if the apostles are in error, as the council is sure they are, then they will eventually die out.

c. In other words, releasing them is the only option they have to maintain their current influence over and respect they have from the people.

xi. Christians on a cursory reading of Gamaliel’s advice wonder if he was a believer or sympathetic to the Nazarean sect (which is what the Jews called Christians). But I hope I have made it clear enough that there is no reason to believe Gamaliel was a believer based on what he said here.

xii. He is not defending the Apostles. He is defending the status quo. He is defending the reputation and authority of the Sanhedrin. He recognizes that they risk much here if they come down with too harsh a ruling.

xiii. And I hope we see the hard hearts of the Sanhedrin. Peter gives what I see as a passionate and loving call of the gospel to them. Peter defends the actions of the apostles against all three of the charges brought against them. He does so without aggression.

xiv. But the Sanhedrin still find them guilty on all counts.

xv. The Sanhedrin are no longer ignorant murderers of their own Messiah my friends. They are knowingly hard-hearted deniers. They neither see their need to repent nor their need for forgiveness.

xvi. They do not need a Prince or a Savior. They still would confess as they did on that day several weeks before… There is no King but Caesar.

xvii. This is why the next time a member of the church is brought to trial before them… the tone of that gospel presentation is much more aggressive and condemning. We’ll get there in chapter 7.

b. [Slide 14] 41 – Then they went out form the presence of the Sanhedrin rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name.

i. Let’s deal with the back half of this verse first.

ii. They were treated shamefully. They were disrespected. They were dishonored.

iii. These statements in our culture ring somewhat hollow. We live in a guilt/innocence culture not an honor/shame culture.

iv. To translate what happened here, the apostles went in knowing they had the truth, knowing they did nothing wrong, knowing they were completely right, and knowing that the Sanhedrin was ultimately selfishly motivated.

v. But the outcome to this was that they were pronounced guilty and publicly punished as criminals.

vi. That hits a little harder for us in the west. In essence it is saying the same thing but for eastern minds. To be publicly shamed by the Sanhedrin for their belief, is to discredit their belief and present them as undesirables.

vii. And to be publicly humiliated for the sake of the Name. The CSB capitalizes this because it is obvious to whom this refers.

viii. This is Jesus. The Messiah. The Prince. The Savior. They have received shame because of associating with and preaching in His name.

ix. Now back to the beginning of the verse.

x. They leave the Sanhedrin… rejoicing. Why?

xi. They were counted worthy to share in the sufferings of Christ.

xii. To be counted worthy is to be honored. Do you see how the economy of the Kingdom of God works? They received honor by being dishonored for the name of Christ.

xiii. Doesn’t that seem backward? And yet… there it is.

c. [Slide 15] 42 – Every day in the temple, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

i. And there you have it.

ii. The apostles did not break stride

iii. They continued in the temple, in homes, every single day teaching believers and proclaiming the good news to unbelieving Jews.

iv. And what is that good news?

v. That Jesus is the Anointed one of God. He is the Son of Man. He is the Prince. The Savior. The Prophet greater than Moses. The Priest who did not need His own sacrifice. The Eternal King promised to David’s line.

vi. He is the funnel of all Judaism. All must believe in Him to be saved.

vii. As the ark was the funnel to save all humanity so Jesus is the funnel to save all the Jews. As all men outside the ark died, so all Jews outside of Christ are no longer God’s people.

viii. That is why this is a message of hope… there is no further need for sacrifice. No further need for Military might. No further need for new revelation.

ix. It… as Jesus said… is finished.

d. [Slide 16] Summary of the Point: As a piggyback off of the previous point, to carry us a further step. It is absolutely true that God has sovereign rights to protect His church, but when he doesn’t and He allows His own to suffer… it is a gift of blessing and honor to His church. We don’t naturally see it that way do we? The apostles rejoiced. And not because they were looking at what could have happened to them and were thankful it didn’t happen. No! Luke tells us plainly why they rejoiced. They rejoiced because they were counted worthy, they were honored, they were favored… to suffer dishonor for the sake of the Name of Jesus. When God allows His church to suffer for His name, it is an honor to them.

Conclusion:

So CBC, let’s do the work to narrow down these two points into one doctrinal takeaway this morning. What have we learned and how shall we live?

Doctrinal Takeaway:

[Slide 17] Combining together the fact that God exercises sovereign control over all that comes upon His church with the idea that when God allows His church to suffer for His name it is an honor, we come away with the truth that as God’s people, there is absolutely no reason for us to fear what men may do to us. Not only can they not harm us if God does not allow them, but if they are able to harm us for His name’s sake – then it is a gift of honor and blessing from God to us in that we share in the sufferings of Christ. What does that mean? It means that we are without excuse for obeying the Lord and remaining faithful to Him… no matter the cost.

But let us improve on this doctrinal takeaway. Let us make plain what it is we must take from this passage to think and live rightly before our God in this world.

1.) [Slide 18] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must believe that it is an honor from a sovereign God to be counted worthy to suffer for His name.

a. Wow this is not what we naturally believe.

b. This is, in fact, the crux of the whole book of Job.

c. It was GOD’S idea for Satan to go after Job. It was God’s hand that removed protection from Job. It was God that allowed up to the point of death, everything else to be taken from him.

d. Why?

e. Because God saw him as His servant, and there was none like him on the face of the earth. He was a righteous man.

f. Job had his own lessons to learn, and some humbling to undergo, by in the end – he was more than vindicated. He was honored above and beyond what he was when he began. He wondered if it was better for him to not have been born. Yet in the end he fared better than he had been before.

g. Every single apostle suffered for the name of Christ. Almost every single prophet suffered for God.

h. And we, as Kingdom citizens, we look at them with great respect and great honor. For they gave all for the cause of Christ.

i. God who is sovereignly in control of all things could have prevented their suffering. But He counted them… worthy.

j. Worthy to suffer for his name.

k. We must change our perspective my friends.

l. For all the people who consider it a great blessing to be financially provided for, or to have many children, or to have a large family – my friends… on that list of blessings… does suffering for the name of Jesus appear?

m. Most of us, I’d dare say, would put suffering for Jesus in a different category. Certainly, we would not see it as a blessing.

n. Perhaps someday soon… some of us will suffer for His name. It is time that we confess and believe that it is an honor from God to suffer for the name of His Son.

2.) [Slide 19] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that God never desires His church to suffer.

a. There is a teaching prevalent in some charismatic circles.

b. It takes on several forms but generally speaking it encourages the hearers to believe that it is always Gods will to heal them, give them abundant wealth, and vibrant prosperity.

c. They are not only taught to pursue this, but assured that if they are faithful to God – He WILL give them these things.

d. Their leaders are typically very wealthy and prosperous – although they are not always healthy.

e. My friends this text absolutely decimates such teaching.

f. Indeed, the bible as a whole decimates this teaching.

g. God’s most faithful people have suffered all manner of abuses throughout the course of human history.

h. Many of the Old Testament prophets were tortured and killed. All 12 disciples were treated very poorly and most of them martyred.

i. Jesus, the Son of God, in whom the Father said, “this is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased!” was crushed for our iniquities. If it was the Father’s will to crush His beloved Son… we must never assume that God could not will something similar for us.

j. Even today the church suffers great persecution in many places around the world.

k. It is simply untenable to believe that God always wants His church to be healthy, wealthy, and prosperous.

l. Instead, Jesus said, you will have trouble. Instead, entire books are written in the New Testament on how to endure suffering.

m. Instead, here, it is an honor to suffer for the name of Christ.

n. My friends, it is not always God’s will for you to be healthy, wealthy, or prosperous. But it might be God’s will for you to suffer for His name. And if that is God’s will for you… then you are honored above those who never suffer for Him. For you were counted worthy to share in the sufferings of Christ.

3.) [Slide 20] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don’t naturally do or aren’t currently doing?” We must remain faithful to obey all that God has commanded in spite of what it may cost us.

a. Since the worst men can do to us is grant us honor for suffering for His name… and since God ultimately decides what happens to us…

b. We must remain faithful to the Lord.

c. We don’t have any excuse. And we have nothing to lose.

d. There is nothing God asks of us that costs too much. Nothing to which the price is too steep to obey.

e. This short application brings us quickly to what we must stop doing…

4.) [Slide 21] De-Exhortation: “What actions should we stop doing” or “What behaviors do we naturally practice that this passage tells us to stop doing?” We must not fear what men may do to us.

a. We are in good hands. The strong and mighty hands of our loving Lord.

b. He will not allow us to fall unless He considers us worthy to fall. He will not allow us to die unless He has appointed that time for us.

c. This doesn’t give us license to throw away our lives… but it does give us confidence that God will uphold us as we face uncertainty in obedience to His commands.

d. What can men do to us? Shall they take away all we hold dear? It was never truly ours in the first place. Shall they remove our health, our wealth, our prosperity – all have been gifts from God that He has every right to remove from us.

e. Shall they take our very lives? The sting of death is gone.

f. For us to live is for Christ and to die is to our gain.

g. We are honored in suffering for Him.

h. Fear has no place when we believe these things my friends.

i. We can boldly do as God has commanded. For He has us.

j. And that leads us to comfort.

5.) [Slide 22] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” All things happen as God has willed them to happen.

a. Our God never sleeps

b. Our God never slumbers

c. Our God always watches

d. Our God always holds us

e. Our God’s will cannot be thwarted

f. Our God’s timing cannot be changed

g. Our God’s ways are perfect

h. Our God’s plan is still plan A.

i. My friends… when all that happens is in the will of God. We can take great comfort in and even rejoice in all that happens to us. Thanking Him for all the good… and rejoicing in all the suffering.

j. He has made this very day and all that is in it. And even if today we die… Today is a good day.

k. We need not fear… instead, we must be content and at peace.

l. God is good always. And always, God is good.

[Slide 23] Let me close with a Puritan Prayer. Let’s pray

My God

You have helped us to see that whatever good be in honor and rejoicing, how good is He who gives them and can withdraw them;

That blessedness does not lie so much in receiving good from and in you, but in holding forth your glory and virtue;

That it is an amazing thing to see in a creature your Deity speaking, acting, filling, shining through it;

That nothing is good but you, that we are near good when we are near you, that to be like you is a glorious thing;

This is our magnet, our attraction.

You are all our good in times of peace, our only support in days of trouble, our one sufficiency when life shall end.

Help us to see how good your will is in all, and even when it crosses ours teach us to be pleased with it.

Grant us to feel you in fire and food and every providence and to see that your many gifts and creatures are but your hands and fingers taking hold of us.

You, bottomless fountain of all good, we give ourselves to you out of love - for all we have or own is yours; our goods, family, church, self, to do with as you will, to honor yourself by us and by all that is ours.

If it be consistent with your eternal counsels, the purpose of your grace, and the great ends of your glory, then bestow upon us the blessings of your comforts;

But if not, let us resign ourselves to your wiser determinations.

In Jesus name we pray… Amen.

[Slide 24 (end)] For the last several weeks we have been shown in the book of Acts that God is actively providing, empowering, enabling, protecting, provisioning, growing, spreading, and guiding His church. Though it may be His will that we will suffer for His name, we have the promise that He will never leave us and that suffering for His name is an honor to us.

Today, we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. A feast designed to communicate all of this to us. That in the bread the Lord Jesus comes to us as the curtain torn to give us unlimited access to the very throne room of God. That we can come boldly to His throne to receive mercy and find grace for help in a time of need. In the cup we find our washing deluge of the blood of Christ. The crimson ink that signed the New Covenant into effect. The will and testament initiated upon His death to bring us intimate peace and love with God.

In the Lord’s Supper we find that our Lord has never left us. That He is still with us. We find Him there and we eat of the atonement which His body and blood purchased for us. We are sustained by His promises to safely transport those who believe to eternal life.

In the Lord’s Supper, by faith, we eat and drink the truth of the book of Acts. That God is with us still. Though Christ ascended… He has not left us. Though He is at the Father’s right hand, He is our mediator there. He is our advocate. Though He is physically there for us, we may eat of Him spiritually here and live on Him. As the Israelites lived on bread from heaven… we too are sustained by bread that is from heaven. As the Israelites’ thirst was quenched by water that flowed from a rock, so too we are satisfied and sustained by the blood that flowed from The Rock of our salvation.

At this time the praise team will come up and close out the service with the song Communion. After the song is finished… the praise team will play it again. That will be your cue to make your way upstairs for the Lord’s Supper celebration. If you are a believer, who is not actively holding on to a sin that you will not forsake, who sees the Lord’s Supper as a means He uses to strengthen and sustain us… then I invite you to join us. If you are missing any of those, I’d encourage you to not partake today. If you are not partaking and not attending, I’d encourage you to leave quietly and not distract any who are approaching the table this morning.

So go ahead and stand with us as we sing.