What Is The Motive For Taking The Lord’s Supper
Today I would like to share with you 4 Motives for Taking The Lord’s Supper.
1.It is a Means of Adoration
1 Cor 11:23 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,
The keywords there is “the Lord Jesus”. It is a time of Adoring the Lord Jesus.
2. It is a Means of Appreciation
1 Cor 11:24 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
We should be giving him thanks for all he did on that Cross for us. Truly and truly there is nobody who loves you more than him and would do what he did for you.
We need to show our appreciation for him.
3. It is a means of Celebration
1 Cor 11:26 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Now, I’m glad that he chose a feast—I’m glad that he chose a supper—to illustrate the whole thing, because, dear friend, salvation is something glorious and something wonderful.
You don’t need to feel sorry for a person when they become a Christian.
Feasting speaks of celebrating. When we have our own celebrations at home there is a lot of feasting. It is done willingly because you love that person.
4. It is a Means of Anticipation
1 Cor 11:26 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
We are anticipating that Christ will return . By Taking part we are saying this.
Now I would like to share with you 5 reasons for doing this. The Purpose of The Lord’s Supper is:-
1. To remember the Presence of The Lord
1 Cor 11:20-24 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter! 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
Now, when we say, “in remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ,” we’re not talking about remembering someone who has died and has gone from us but to remember someone who is now present with us.
Jesus Christ was speaking to those who were in His presence, and He said, “This do in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24) It wasn’t that He was away from them when He said that. He was with them when He said that to them.
Now remember this about the Lord’s Supper tonight: we are remembering His presence. What we’re doing tonight is not a moment of silence for the dead; it is an act of fellowship with a friend. Jesus Christ is here tonight.
This is His table. He is the host. We are fellowshipping with the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. To Remember the Provision of The Lord
1 Cor 11:24 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
Think what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for you and what He has provided for you. Why did He do it? He did it for you.
We say, “Christ died for my sins,” and that is true. But, try saying it this way: “Christ died because of my sins.”
We say, “Christ died for me.” Say it this way: “Christ died instead of me.” “This is my body, which is broken [because of] you.
3. To Remember the Passion Of The Lord
1 Cor 11:26 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Here is an Interesting Illustation that Adrian Rogers used in his sermon.
A man had gone out fishing, and he had taken his dog with him fishing—just an ordinary dog. And, the man was an avid fisherman, and when it looked like the fish were about to bite, somehow the dog moved in the boat and made a barking sound.
And, the man felt that the dog somehow had scared away or frightened the fish. The man was a vile man and a wicked man, and he cursed the dog. And again, the dog in this boat did something that irritated this man. This man took the dog, took one of the dog’s paws, and put the dog’s paw on the gunnel of that boat and took his woodman’s axe and chopped the paw from that dog, which fell into the water.
Then, he put another paw up there and chopped that one off. And then, another—the hind paw, chopped that one off. And then, the last one—he chopped that one off, and then flung the dog, bleeding, with no paws, off into the water to try to swim.
And, the dog drowned. And, that man told that story, and I sat there. And, I have to admit that I was repulsed and I felt my heart going out in pity toward that dog. And, I felt a sense of indignation toward that man.
Then, that preacher said, “I have just told you, before I told you the story of that dog, the story of Christ dying on the cross, but I have seen more reaction in this congregation from the story that I told about that dog with his paws chopped off.
I’ve seen more on your face—more grimaces, more revulsion—than I have seen when I told you the story of Christ dying on that cross.”
Could it be, my dear friend, that the story of Christ on the cross has become so old to us, or we’ve heard it so many times, that the story of a dog being mangled and massacred can tear our hearts more than the story of one who died on the cross?
4. To remember the Purpose of the Lord
1 Cor 11:29 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.
Now, what body is he talking about? Is he talking about the body that walked with sandaled shoes on the shores of Galilee? Oh, no. He’s talking about the Church.
You see, what had happened here was people had come to take the Lord’s Supper, and rather than taking the Lord’s Supper, they had made a drunken brawl out of it. Someone would bring a big feast, and they would eat a feast.
Some actually were getting drunk at the Lord’s Supper—not with the communion but with wine that they had brought along.
After, they would get drunk, and Paul said, “What you’re doing when you do such a thing is you are eating and drinking judgment and damnation because you have not discerned the Lord’s Body.” (1 Corinthians 11:29) What body is he talking about? He’s talking about the Church—He’s talking about the Church.
That’s why it’s so important that you come together when we take the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is a church ordinance. It’s not something that individuals do. It’s not something nice that some people might do at a wedding. It shows that we are one in the bond of love. And that, my friend—these—are the purposes of the Lord’s Supper.
This brings us to end of our series on The Lord’s Supper.
Question: What stood out the most to you in this article. Please let us know in the comments below.
