Participants: John and Idalia Dinzey (Host), John and Angela Lomacang, Jason Bradley
Series Code: TDYFW
Program Code: TDYFW017030A
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:18 Removing pain 00:23 Lord, let my words 00:30 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:45 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:08 Hello, and welcome to 3ABN's Family Worship. 01:10 It is our pleasure to tell you Happy Sabbath. 01:13 Amen. 01:15 Hasn't God been good to you this week? 01:18 Have you contemplated 01:19 His greatness throughout this week? 01:22 The Lord is good 01:24 and I'm blessed to be able to spend this next hour 01:27 worshipping our God and Creator 01:30 who thought about us from the very beginning 01:33 and provided a day of rest, 01:35 to rest in His arms in his gracious presence. 01:38 Amen, amen. 01:40 Well, we have part of the family 01:41 that is here with us at the table 01:42 and we would like to introduce them right away. 01:44 And I will start on my right and we have to my right, 01:47 Brother Jason Bradley 01:49 and we're glad that you're here. 01:50 Glad to be here. And you work at 3ABN. 01:54 What do you do? 01:55 So I'm the Assistant to the General Manager 01:57 of the Dare to Dream Network and as most of us know, 02:00 we all wear multiple hats so whatever need to be done 02:04 in order to build the Kingdom of God. 02:05 We're glad you're here. 02:07 The Lord is using you in a mighty way. 02:08 And so, Idalia, would you share with our friends 02:12 the family members to your left? 02:13 Sure, of course. 02:15 These are my kids' parents when we're not around. 02:18 That's for sure. Praise God. 02:21 My friend, Angela Lomacang... 02:23 Yes. Welcome. 02:25 Thank you. I'm glad to be here. 02:26 Happy Sabbath and it's a privilege and honor 02:30 to have worship with you tonight. 02:32 Amen. 02:33 And we have our pastor, Pastor John Lomacang with us. 02:38 If you see Angela, you'll see Pastor John. 02:39 That's right. We are a two for one special. 02:42 It's good to have my wife with me, 02:44 and it's good to be able to be in your home 02:46 to share with the Dinzeys 02:47 and with Jason on this wonderful topic 02:50 for this Sabbath Evening. 02:51 Just stay with us and get your Bibles 02:53 and all the things 02:54 that you need in order to follow the program. 02:56 Idalia, you know what the topic is but it's good to be here. 02:59 Amen. Thank you. Oh, yes. 03:00 The topic is something that we should all consider. 03:03 We need to take time to study this, 03:06 consider because there is tremendous blessing 03:09 in understanding more about what we're talking about. 03:12 And so we are talking about 03:13 what some people call Communion service 03:16 also known as the Lord's Supper. 03:18 Yes. 03:19 And perhaps some of our friends watching may be the first time 03:25 they go to Seventh-day Adventist Church 03:26 and they saw what happens there and they're wondering, 03:28 "What does all this mean?" 03:30 So we're going to go through some of these things 03:32 and maybe share our experiences 03:34 and how it has been a blessing to us, 03:36 so we would like to encourage you to stay by. 03:39 Right now, we're going to have prayer 03:41 and ask for the Lord to bless us and bless you. 03:44 So let's pray together. 03:48 Our loving Heavenly Father, 03:50 we thank You so much 03:52 that the Sabbath has come and that we can rest. 03:56 We can rest from our labors, we can rest in Jesus. 04:00 We ask You, Father, to be with us during this hour, 04:02 we pray that You will lead our conversation, our thoughts, 04:06 and we pray that You will bless us 04:08 and bless those that are listening and viewing 04:11 wherever they may be around the world 04:14 and we thank You for providing this time of fellowship 04:17 with our friends here and all over the world. 04:19 In Jesus' name. 04:20 Amen. Amen. 04:23 Well, we have a song that has been selected 04:26 and tell us about it, Idalia. 04:28 This is the song, Power in the Blood, the hymn, 04:33 an oldie but goody, 04:34 and a song that we often sing 04:36 during our Communion service at our church. 04:40 It's 294, first and last stanza. 04:47 Would you be free from the burden of sin? 04:51 There's power in the blood, 04:54 Power in the blood 04:57 Would you o'er evil a victory win? 05:02 There's wonderful power in the blood 05:06 There is power, power wonder-working power 05:11 In the blood of the Lamb 05:16 There is power, power wonder-working power 05:21 In the precious blood of the Lamb 05:27 Would you do service for Jesus your King? 05:32 There's power in the blood, 05:35 Power in the blood 05:37 Would you live daily His praises to sing? 05:42 There's wonderful power in the blood. 05:47 There is power, power wonder-working power 05:52 In the blood of the Lamb 05:57 There is power, power wonder-working power 06:02 In the precious blood of the Lamb 06:08 Amen. Amen. 06:09 There's power in the blood of the Lamb. 06:14 Yes. 06:15 When we say there's power in the blood of the Lamb, 06:17 we of course, think of the scripture that says, 06:19 "Behold the Lamb of God 06:21 which taketh away the sin of the world." 06:24 And that is Jesus. 06:25 And there is power in Jesus to cleanse us from all sin 06:29 and I'm grateful to the Lord for that. 06:31 And we're going to talk about cleansing us from sin 06:33 and being close to the Lord, 06:35 you know, when you think about Communion, 06:38 what does the word Communion mean to you? 06:41 The root word commune, to spend time to connect with. 06:46 That's right. 06:47 And so it has been rightly called Communion service, 06:50 a time when God's children come together to share 06:54 what we call the Lord's emblem, 06:57 the bread, also we mention the wine, 07:00 but we're going to talk about the wine later 07:02 but let's set the stage. 07:03 We are talking about the Communion service, 07:05 the Lord's Supper. 07:07 And in the Bible, 07:08 you look at it as the Lord's Last Supper. 07:10 And interesting, 07:12 during the last Passover 07:15 that Jesus spent on this earth, 07:17 he asked Peter and John to go and prepare the Passover. 07:22 "Go and find out." 07:23 So they went to... 07:25 They went to a place and Jesus told them, 07:27 "You're going to find a man carrying a pitcher." 07:28 Now that's interesting. 07:30 Normally, women are carrying a pitcher. 07:33 So that would be something different 07:35 and they knew 07:37 they weren't going to see many men carrying a pitcher, 07:38 it was going to be just one. 07:40 Anyway, the Lamb... 07:43 Let's talk a little bit about the Passover 07:45 because it was the Passover. 07:48 Perhaps Pastor Lomacang, 07:49 maybe you can summarize what is this Passover 07:52 and why was it important for the Jews? 07:56 Well, the Passover was a significant commemoration 08:00 of their deliverance from Egypt. 08:03 Exodus, the beginning, the latter... 08:06 Or the middle to the latter parts of Exodus 08:08 talk about the deliverance, 08:10 the children of Israel had cried for the Lord 08:12 to deliver them from Egypt for 400 years and finally, 08:17 he sent Moses and Aaron to say to the Pharaoh, 08:21 "Let my people go that they may serve me." 08:23 And so when you think of Passover, 08:26 it's an introduction into serving God, 08:30 but the Passover was very significant 08:31 because on the night before the Lord delivered 08:33 the children of Israel, 08:35 he said, "Get a lamb and roast that lamb 08:40 and when you partake of the lamb, 08:41 do so inside of your house 08:42 and make sure 08:44 that the blood of the lamb covers 08:45 the doorposts of the house." 08:47 So it's not just sufficient enough to eat of the lamb, 08:50 but they had to do so in their house 08:53 under the blood of the lamb. 08:55 And when the destroying angel came through Egypt, 08:58 all those who were covered by the blood of the lamb 09:01 were recipients of deliverance from destruction to come. 09:04 So the word Passover means destruction passes over us 09:08 and that was the commemorative story 09:10 that they were told from generation to generation. 09:12 Whenever your children would ask 09:14 what the Passover was, 09:15 they would always repeat deliverance from Egypt. 09:18 So but now the Communion service 09:20 in your transition to that 09:21 but the Passover 09:23 was that deliverance from Egypt. 09:25 So the Passover, a deliverance from Egypt, 09:26 the deliverance 09:28 from the bondage of being slaves 09:31 and they were slaves for about 400 years. 09:34 And so, but Jesus is about to work, 09:38 was about to work 09:39 the deliverance for all humanity, 09:41 now just the Jews at that particular time, 09:44 which the Passover commemorates but for all humanity, 09:47 Jesus was about to be the Passover Lamb 09:52 or the True Lamb 09:53 that would deliver us from sin and the slavery to sin. 09:59 So Communion service, the Last Supper, Jesus begins, 10:02 or as the Passover for the Jews 10:06 was passing for the last time, 10:09 so when Jesus celebrated the Passover, 10:11 that was the last time that the Lord recognizes 10:14 that feast as a commemoration. 10:17 Now the believers in Christ, 10:19 the believers in God 10:20 were to take upon a new commemoration 10:26 of the deliverance from Satan 10:27 that is Communion service. 10:29 That's why you have the emblems of the bread 10:31 and the wine 10:32 which we are going to read about in a moment. 10:34 So we would like to invite you 10:36 to go to your Bibles in Luke Chapter 22 10:40 and we're going to look at some scriptures. 10:41 We're going to just read it 10:43 and we're going to ask Brother Jason 10:47 to be the first one to read. 10:49 Luke 22:14. 10:52 Verse 14? All right. 10:54 "When the hour had come, he sat down, 10:56 and the 12 apostles with him." 10:58 Keep going on. 11:00 Yeah, go ahead, go ahead and go to verse 15. 11:01 "Then he said to them, with fervent desire, 11:03 I have desired to eat this Passover 11:06 with you before I suffer." 11:07 Amen. 11:09 And so what can you share about this particular time? 11:11 Jesus is with His 12 disciples. 11:14 He had other disciples, but here were the 12 disciples. 11:19 Anyone would like to share something 11:20 about those scriptures? 11:22 Well, Jesus shared this with his closest associates. 11:27 These were the representations, 11:29 12 is a very significant number. 11:30 You have 12 tribes in the Old Testament 11:32 and you have 12 disciples in the New 11:34 and it was commemorative, a reflection, 11:37 it was amazing that the 12 of the Old 11:38 and the 12 of the New was a reflection 11:40 because under the Passover 11:41 there with the 12 tribes, under the Communion service, 11:44 he was with 12 disciples. 11:46 And so He had the connection there... 11:47 And one thing I forgot to mention 11:49 before was not just a Lamb 11:50 but a lamb without a blemish and without a spot. 11:53 It just couldn't be any other lamb, 11:55 you just couldn't pick a lamb 11:57 because that lamb would represent Christ, 11:59 the coming redeemer. 12:00 But yeah, this whole idea was I'm going to commission you 12:03 and give you the message that you will proliferate it 12:06 to the rest of the world. 12:07 That's right. 12:09 And as the Jews celebrated the Passover, 12:12 to them it was kept fresh, 12:15 the understanding 12:17 that the Lord delivered them from a great slaughter 12:22 and He was their deliverer and so... 12:25 But Jesus said something with desire. 12:29 "I have desire to eat 12:33 this Passover with you before I suffer." 12:36 I would read the next two verses. 12:38 "For I say unto you, I will not anymore eat thereof, 12:43 until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. 12:47 And he took the cup and gave thanks and said, 12:50 'Take this and divide it amongst yourselves.'" 12:55 Idalia? 12:56 "For I say to you, 12:58 I will not drink of the fruit of the vine 13:02 until the Kingdom of God comes." 13:06 And he took bread, gave thanks, 13:10 and broke it and gave it to them saying, 13:13 "This is my body which is given for you, 13:17 do this in remembrance of me." 13:20 Sister Angie. 13:21 "Likewise, he also took the cup after supper saying, 13:25 'This cup is a new covenant in my blood 13:28 which is shed for you.'" 13:31 Next one. 13:33 Verse 21. 13:34 "But behold, 13:36 the hand of my betrayer is with me on the table." 13:42 And verse 22 and 23, Pastor Lomacang for us. 13:45 And it says, "And truly the Son of God 13:47 or the Son of Man goes as it has been determined 13:51 for woe to that man by whom he is betrayed." 13:58 And then verse 23 you said? That's right. 14:00 Okay, verse 23. 14:02 "Then they began to question amongst themselves, 14:05 which of them it was who would do this thing." 14:10 Thank you so much. 14:11 And so we have here the background 14:13 of what has become for us as Christians, 14:17 the Communion service. 14:19 And let's talk a little bit about the bread. 14:23 What did Jesus say the bread is a symbol of? 14:27 His body. His body. 14:28 His body. 14:31 Now what was particular about this bread? 14:33 Did they just go to the store and get any old bread? 14:36 No. Why was this bread different? 14:40 Unleavened bread, pure bread, 14:42 no baking powder, 14:46 no baking soda, no yeast. 14:49 That is unadulterated bread. That's right. 14:53 And so what did Jesus say this bread symbolizes? 14:57 "This is my body which is given for you, 15:01 do this in remembrance of me." 15:04 So there is something significant about this bread 15:07 and it has to be unleavened, 15:09 it has to be specially prepared for the occasion. 15:14 And so I'm so glad that Pastor Lomacang shared about the lamb, 15:18 it was supposed to be a lamb without blemish. 15:20 Likewise, the bread was supposed 15:22 to be perfect without blemish. 15:25 That's why, it is unleavened bread 15:27 so that nothing that comes 15:30 into the bread will change the bread. 15:34 Any thoughts you would like to share 15:36 about the bread 15:37 and when you have participated in Communion service? 15:40 It's interesting that you said whatever comes into the bread 15:43 will not change it 15:44 and that's significant of Christ. 15:46 He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 15:49 Leaven changes, 15:51 but leaven is also a symbol of sin 15:53 and that's why he said, 15:54 "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees." 15:56 "Purge out the old leaven as well." 15:58 He says. "Purge out the old leaven." 16:00 So this was a symbol of what the bread 16:01 from the moment it was baked, 16:03 all the way through there will be no change in it. 16:07 And so there is no changed Christ. 16:09 I remember the story of Mark chapter 4:1, 16:11 Jesus invited the disciples to come at the boat. 16:13 The Bible says they took Him along in the boat as he was, 16:16 no change. 16:17 You can't change him. 16:19 So when we accept the bread, we're accepting Jesus as he is. 16:23 No alterations, we are not adding to him, 16:25 and we are not taking anything away from him. 16:27 That's how he is. 16:28 But once we partake of that, 16:31 you know, Jesus never changes but he changes us. 16:34 What power, what power. 16:37 And I believe 16:38 that the Lord wants to work in your life 16:41 in such a way that He can manifest his power 16:44 so when you hear or see a sign 16:47 on a Seventh-day Adventist Church Communion service 16:49 this Sabbath, unfortunately, 16:51 some people say 16:52 "Oh, I don't think I will go to church today 16:54 because it's going to be a longer service." 16:57 And really, you have not grasped the meaning 17:01 of the Communion service. 17:04 On a side note, 17:05 I'd like to share with you 17:07 when the Lord placed Donna Gaines 17:11 and her husband Bob, 17:13 he's passed away, 17:15 the first time I invited her to our church, 17:18 I said to her, "Donna, I want to invite you 17:22 to my church 17:23 but we're going to have Communion service." 17:26 And it's the highest Sabbath you can ever imagine 17:30 because it was very reverent, 17:33 the display, the routine, the ritual, 17:38 it blesses me from the moment 17:40 the pastor starts walking in the door 17:42 singing Power in the Blood followed by the deacons, 17:46 the elders, and the deaconesses. 17:48 So she accepted the invitation 17:51 and she has never seen anything so special in her life. 17:55 She said, "I have never seen like that." 17:57 And she is a member of our church. 17:58 That's right. She is a member. 18:00 So there is beauty in God's things 18:05 and this is so focused in His life, 18:07 His sacrifice. 18:09 And, you know, we can tell you that God never changes 18:12 and never changes but we can tell you 18:14 how the Lord has changed us. 18:16 God will find you 18:17 wherever you are but will not leave you 18:20 the way he finds you. 18:21 Praise the Lord for that. Amen. 18:22 With the unleavened bread 18:24 being unadulterated 18:26 with no impurities or anything like that, 18:29 Christ is pure. 18:31 And so even when you look at the vine or the grape juice 18:34 if you will, it's not fermented. 18:36 That's right. 18:38 So it's kept in a pure state as is Christ, 18:43 you know, and his strength is made perfect in our weakness 18:46 by partaking, 18:48 by consuming Christ's body 18:52 or the bread, it strengthens us. 18:55 Amen. 18:57 Well, Johnny, you asked, 18:58 "What does it do to you 18:59 when you partake of the bread, you know? 19:03 It's not like you're passing out 19:05 a little cracker in the church. 19:09 There is a program and I wish that all the leaders 19:15 of any Seventh-day Adventist Church 19:17 took to heart what it takes to gather 19:22 the brethren for Communion service. 19:25 The importance that you as a pastor give it, 19:29 that's the importance 19:30 your members are going to give it. 19:33 It is important for us 19:35 and it is important for our children to understand 19:38 what is Communion service. 19:39 Sometimes they are like, 19:41 "I'm not going to go because I have children." 19:43 What beautiful display, an example and the music, 19:49 the text, the testimonies, 19:51 everything adds to your Christian experience, 19:54 you know. 19:55 And of course, I can go on talking... 19:58 And I'm sorry pastor 20:00 that I'm saying so much about you... 20:01 No. 20:02 But we have the agape feast at the end of the year too 20:07 and it is... 20:08 I mean, I get goosebumps and I'm just thinking about it. 20:12 So if we put so much thought into what we're going to wear, 20:16 how work is going to be, all these senseless things, 20:22 and we don't pay attention 20:23 to the transforming opportunities 20:25 that we have, 20:27 you know, in certain activities within our churches, 20:32 what are you waiting for, what are you looking for, 20:34 you know. 20:36 That's right. So I'm blessed. 20:37 I got to be honest with you guys. 20:39 When we're having Communion service, 20:42 that is the best grape juice I've ever had. 20:46 That is something that is extremely special, 20:49 I mean, you know, what's special about it 20:51 because there's something that's just so special. 20:53 But if I were to go to the store 20:55 and get grape juice, 20:56 it's not even going to taste remotely 20:58 the same as when we have Communion service 21:01 and unleavened bread, 21:02 I mean, when you consume that in church, 21:05 in the service, there is nothing like that. 21:08 If I were to eat that any other time, 21:10 it wouldn't have that same flavor 21:14 or anything like that. 21:15 But that bread, some people think 21:18 that bread is the actual body of Christ. 21:21 Yes. But it's not the actual body. 21:24 It represents it, right? It's symbol. 21:28 How could you have Christ's body? 21:31 He used a lot of figurative speech, 21:33 I mean, he said, he is the door, 21:36 you know, you don't get to the Father 21:38 but through Christ and, you know, He is the door. 21:41 So he used figurative speech so yeah, that's not literal. 21:47 When we are eating bread... 21:49 Yes. 21:51 In my situation, I'm praying and I'm thinking, 21:57 "Father, I'm a mother, 22:00 I would give my life for my kids, 22:02 but you gave your only son for the human race." 22:07 You know, I visualize Him on the Cross and Him risen 22:12 because He did not just die, you know, he resurrected, 22:17 and He is on the throne 22:19 and interceding for everyone of us. 22:21 That's right. 22:22 You know, he said his body was broken for us 22:26 and it's amazing the suffering, 22:30 physical suffering that Christ endured 22:32 and they have attempted to make movies 22:35 throughout the years to show 22:38 the physical suffering of Christ, 22:39 but no one can really captivate 22:42 the internal suffering of Christ. 22:46 I've never seen the movie but there was a lot people 22:51 talking about a movie called the Passion of Christ in which, 22:55 as a matter of fact, a person that was an atheist told me, 22:58 "Don't go see that movie." 23:00 He went to see it and he said it was brutal 23:05 and it helps some people understand 23:06 that Christ suffered for you. 23:07 Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. 23:09 But the internal suffering of Christ 23:11 because as we understand it, 23:15 He was becoming an offering for sin, 23:17 He was taking upon himself our sins 23:21 and his body was broken for us. 23:23 And the internal suffering you have to understand 23:27 that here is Christ being separated 23:31 from the Father and this is an anguish 23:33 and a suffering that we cannot understand 23:36 except that we lose a loved one, 23:39 we begin to enter a little bit 23:41 into that experience of missing someone, 23:44 but Christ, throughout his life, 23:45 enjoyed Communion with the Father 23:49 and when he takes sin upon Himself, 23:51 then there has to be this separation 23:53 because sin separates us from God. 23:55 Now the Father is retreating and even though 23:58 He was there at the cross nearby, 24:03 Jesus could not feel His presence 24:05 and so there is this anguish 24:07 and this suffering that takes place 24:09 and His body was broken for us, 24:11 His mind, I guess you could say tortured. 24:15 That's why he said, "Why have you forsaken me?" 24:17 Those words, why... 24:19 and to say, 24:20 "My Father, my Father, why has thou for saken me?" 24:25 I'm thinking King James. 24:27 It's an internal... 24:28 Those are words full of meaning that we cannot just pass 24:32 by that help us understand a little bit of what's going on 24:37 behind in the mind of Christ. 24:41 I see Pastor Lomacang would like to share. 24:43 You know, in 1 John 1:7, 24:45 we know that 1 John 1:9 is 24:47 "If we confess our sins" 1 John 1:7, 24:50 even includes the word "communion" 24:52 in a different word 24:53 but in the word fellowship, koinonia. 24:55 You know, "If we walk in the light, 24:57 as He is, in the light, 24:58 we have fellowship with one another, 25:00 and the blood of Jesus Christ, 25:02 His Son, cleanses us from all sin." 25:05 A number of years ago, I did a sermon about... 25:08 The sermon was called The Blood 25:10 and it was just a dramatization 25:12 but it changed a young man's life 25:13 to now today he is a pastor. 25:15 He would come here, 25:16 he was invited through Mario Navarro, 25:20 he is a pastor now in the Nevada Conference 25:23 and he was a young catholic young man 25:25 who was invited once to our prayer meeting 25:27 and then somebody invited him to our church on Sabbath 25:29 and I did a sermon called The Blood 25:31 in which I did a dramatization, 25:32 just a little dramatization, 25:34 you know, "Ladies and gentlemen, 25:36 the borders of the United States 25:37 have now been closed 25:38 from all incoming air traffic 25:40 because a strain from Europe 25:41 has now begun to spread around the world 25:43 and everyone coming over from Europe has to be tested. 25:46 Now our borders have been closed 25:47 from Asia and from the Caribbean." 25:49 And I did this all, 25:50 I spoke it through to the point 25:52 where you could feel the reality of it 25:54 but I began the sermon not with an introduction 25:56 to the scripture 25:57 but there is a special announcement 25:58 we have to make 26:00 and then they're trying to find an antidote to this disease 26:02 and people they said will we have to find... 26:05 There is a particular antigen that could defeat this disease 26:08 and people are standing in line 26:10 in all the major cities to get their blood tested. 26:11 They can't find anyone but there is a little boy 26:14 who was in the line and his dad was there 26:16 and they took him into the room 26:18 and came out and they said to the father, 26:20 "We found this antigen in your son's blood." 26:23 And the news begin to resonate throughout the city, 26:25 they found the antigen and they said to the father, 26:27 "But there is only one problem." 26:29 He said, "What is that?" 26:30 He said, "You found the antigen in my son's blood." 26:32 But he said, "But we need all of his blood. 26:34 We are going to drain his body completely 26:37 but you have to give us permission." 26:39 And he said 26:40 "But you have a few moments with your son. 26:43 Just to say good bye 26:44 because the whole world is waiting for his blood" 26:47 and that group, that young man, 26:49 I mean, I'm just thinking about it, 26:51 he said the moments of just 26:52 spending with his son saying, "Hey, daddy, what's wrong?" 26:54 He said, "Son, you don't understand 26:57 but the whole world is counting on you." 26:59 Yes. Wow. That's incredible. 27:03 And it transformed 27:04 that young man's life, young Filipino, 27:06 he said, "I took that sermon, 27:08 copied and duplicated it 27:09 and went to college and just..." 27:11 He said, this is what he said, 27:12 he said, "This sermon changed my life, 27:14 I hope it changes yours." 27:16 Now he is a pastor 27:17 and at the Nevada-Utah Conference, 27:21 we baptized him. 27:22 And I think about just the thought of it, 27:25 you know, because it came through in urgency, 27:26 can you imagine today you saying to your children, 27:31 "Caleb, you know, the whole world is waiting." 27:35 "What do you mean, Papi?" 27:37 "We have to drain your entire blood, 27:38 you won't understand 27:40 but this is going to be a tough moment." 27:42 And so he is walking away. 27:44 "Daddy, daddy, why are you forsaking me?" 27:46 And when you think of the Communion service, 27:48 we cannot take it lightly because the Father didn't say, 27:51 "Yeah, see you on the other side." 27:53 Right. 27:54 Jesus entered these portals not knowing 27:57 that he would even survive it. 27:59 Wow. Yet he did it just to save us. 28:00 So the Communion service is so, 28:02 so ultimately special that it is not a service 28:04 that you could dismiss yourself from. 28:06 Yeah. 28:07 Who would be... 28:09 Now, I'm going to just give the final... 28:11 Who would treat Johnny 28:12 with disrespect when they recognize, 28:15 "Is this the man? 28:16 Is this Mr. Dinzey? 28:18 Oh, I want to thank you for what your son did. 28:20 My daughter can now live. 28:22 My family has survived because of the blood." 28:25 How could we disrespect the Father for giving 28:28 all of his son's blood? 28:30 So when it says, "The blood of Jesus Christ, 28:32 " when I read that text, 28:34 it takes me back to that kind of sacrifice. 28:37 Can you imagine a movie today like that 28:40 and then all of sudden in the end, 28:41 "For God's little world." 28:43 It would transform a person's life. 28:45 So the Communion service is a special thing, 28:47 sorry if I've taken so much time. 28:49 Praise the Lord for that testimony. 28:50 Tremendous. 28:51 Hearing that makes me think about what Christ went through 28:55 and I would like to share this with you guys. 28:57 This comes from Desire of Ages, page 439. 29:01 "When we see Jesus, 29:02 a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief 29:04 working to save the lost, slighted, scorned, derided, 29:08 driven from city to city till his mission 29:11 was accomplished. 29:12 When we behold Him 29:13 in Gethsemane sweating great drops of blood 29:16 and on the cross dying in agony, 29:19 when we see this, 29:20 self will no longer clamor to be recognized." 29:23 That's right. 29:24 And then going on into Isaiah chapter 53 29:27 starting at verse 5, 29:29 "But he was wounded for our transgressions. 29:32 He was bruised for our iniquities, 29:36 the chastisement of our peace was upon him 29:39 and with his strips we are healed. 29:42 All we like sheep have gone astray, 29:44 we have turned everyone to his own way, 29:47 and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 29:50 He was oppressed and he was afflicted, 29:52 yet he open not his mouth. 29:54 He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter 29:57 and as a sheep before her shearers 29:59 is dumb or mute, so he openeth not his mouth. 30:04 He was taken from prison and from judgment 30:06 and who shall declare his generation, 30:09 for he was cut off out of the land of the living, 30:12 for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 30:15 And he made his grave with the wicked, 30:18 and with the rich in his death 30:20 because he had done no violence, 30:23 neither was any deceit in His mouth." 30:25 Wow. 30:27 Here's a man that came, 30:29 a daddy that came 30:31 and took the form of man 30:33 undefiled, doing good, 30:37 helping people, healing people, loving people, 30:41 but yet, He was treated in such a way. 30:43 He came to take on our sins, to die for us, to save us. 30:48 You know, someone who went through all that agony, 30:50 all that suffering, so undeserving, 30:53 you know, we deserve that death. 30:55 We deserve it. 30:56 But He came and took that for us. 30:58 You know, Communion is extremely special. 31:02 That's right. That's right. What a blessing. 31:05 You know, 31:06 I'm reminded of something I read by F.C. Gilbert, 31:10 you might ask yourself who was F.C. Gilbert. 31:13 F.C. Gilbert was a Jewish man 31:17 that was converted to Christianity, 31:20 particularly Seventh-day Adventism 31:22 and he said something about leaven 31:25 that captivated my attention. 31:28 You know, we have that scripture that says, 31:30 "Purge out the old leaven." 31:31 Yes. 31:32 He says that as a child... 31:34 I'm trying to remember correctly the story, 31:37 his father would take leaven 31:39 and put it in different places in the house 31:42 and he said it's a custom in those days of the Jews, 31:45 we're talking about the early 1900s, 31:47 to ask the children 31:49 go and find the leaven in the house. 31:52 And so they would go 31:53 and try to find all the leaven in the house. 31:55 Now he put leaven in different places. 31:58 And then there was something that he said, 32:00 "Lord, we have purged out the leaven." 32:03 And so it was a symbol of sin and he said, 32:06 "We have purged out the leaven 32:08 and we pray 32:10 that you will cleanse this house of all sin, 32:14 those that we know of," 32:16 because they found some in 32:17 and there is a little something they said just in case 32:20 that one of those little pieces of bread 32:22 that had leaven in it, 32:23 a mouse came in and took it 32:25 and took it into its little hole 32:27 and they couldn't find it. 32:29 And so they said a little phrase, 32:30 "Lord, cover us and cleanse us 32:33 from all sin those that we know of 32:35 and those that we do not know of 32:36 and those that we're able to find." 32:38 And so we need to come to Christ 32:41 and confess all our sins, 32:42 you know, and there are times when the Lord, 32:44 through the Holy Spirit brings a certain sin 32:47 that we have committed upon us 32:49 especially during Communion service, 32:51 we are to confess that sin. 32:53 But perhaps your mind, you may not remember everything 32:56 but you must ask the Lord to cleanse you from all sin 33:00 because when we confess our sins he is faithful 33:03 and just to forgive us our sins 33:05 and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 33:08 And so, you know, we're talking about the Blood of Christ 33:11 and that the grape juice and we stressed grape juice, 33:16 the word in the Bible and the Bible 33:18 uses the word vine, 33:20 but this is a pure grape juice that we use 33:25 in the Seventh-day Adventist Church 33:27 because only pure grape juice 33:31 can rightly represent the Blood of Christ. 33:35 We understand there are some Christians 33:37 that use actual wine which has been fermented 33:40 and that does not represent the Blood of Christ correctly. 33:45 And perhaps Pastor Lomacang 33:46 may want to add something to that. 33:48 Well, you know, my wife was saying, 33:51 it's the fruit of the vine. 33:52 It's the fruit of the vine. 33:54 You cannot any intoxicating, 33:57 you know, you found from the Old to the New Testament 34:00 the Lord spoke against that which intoxicates, 34:02 and we know statistically or medically, 34:05 some people may say, 34:06 "Well, you know, you have this continual secular argument, 34:08 but a little bit of wine, a little bit of wine is okay, 34:10 a little bit of wine..." 34:11 No, but it kills the cells, 34:12 the cells are not replaced, alcohol does that. 34:15 But Jesus made it very clear 34:17 because he saw, he says, "Wine is a mocker. 34:20 Strong drink is raging anyone deceived thereby is not wise." 34:24 And then he refuses when he was on the cross. 34:26 The cheap Romans wine and vinegar 34:29 that they gave Him when He said, "I thirst." 34:31 He rejected that. He spat that out. 34:33 So He showed continuously He rejected that 34:36 so therefore He would not even be identified with it 34:40 because it is a fermenting, 34:42 stuporing process, not a freeing process, 34:45 you don't maintain your mind with it. 34:47 And He talked about, you know, who has woe, who has sorrow, 34:51 who has difficulty, who has bruises, 34:54 who sees things that he can't explain, 34:56 those who linger at wine, so He said, "No," 35:00 because this is the lamb 35:01 that taketh away the sin of the world, 35:04 not that adds to the sin of the world. 35:05 That's right. 35:06 And fermented wine was a symbol of sin. 35:09 So you don't add sin to Jesus. 35:10 He is a spotless one who takes away the sins. 35:13 Amen. Amen. 35:15 I want to go back to something that you said 35:18 when you're taking Communion, 35:20 the Lord reveals those sins 35:22 as you're praying for him to reveal that to you, 35:25 but Communion service is a week-long preparation, 35:29 you know, once you know Communion is coming, 35:34 it is to your benefit, 35:36 to our benefit to contemplate the cross, 35:39 to contemplate the life of Jesus, 35:42 the sacrifice throughout the week 35:44 to make prepare for your hearts 35:46 to be prepared to receive the blessing 35:48 that is in the Communion service. 35:50 I mean, we have so much counsel as to, 35:55 you know, what to do, get your life straight, 35:58 with the Lord, with your brethren, 36:00 with the family, 36:02 I love the opportunity 36:03 to wash my husband's feet at the Communion service 36:08 because we're busy serving our kids and our family 36:12 and others and it's humbling yet, 36:16 I do have such pride to wash my husband's feet 36:19 and to pray over him. 36:21 Not that I don't pray over him during the week, 36:23 even when he is asleep, 36:24 I put my hand on his head and I say, 36:27 "Lord, bless this man," 36:29 you know, but it is as a family unit, 36:34 I know how my kids look forward to Communion service. 36:37 They understood it 36:38 because we take the time to explain to them at home 36:42 so it will be a blessing for your children 36:44 if you will please just take time 36:47 to not just do your functions in the church 36:49 but educate your family, your children 36:52 so they too can embrace 36:54 the gift of the Communion service. 36:56 Amen. 36:58 You know, it's interesting 36:59 when you think about the pure grape juice. 37:02 How do you get pure grape juice? 37:04 You have to crush grapes 37:07 just as the body of Christ was crushed for us, 37:12 His body was crushed for us. 37:16 I mean the grapes are crushed to produce the grape juice, 37:18 the pure grape juice. 37:20 Broken. Broken, yes. 37:22 And so, you know, when you think about this 37:27 and you think about the Blood of Christ 37:29 and when you read first... 37:30 I should read that, we should read that. 37:33 1 Peter, chapter 1. 37:37 This is a marvelous, marvelous scripture 37:39 and if somebody finds it before me, you can read it. 37:41 1 Peter 1, I'm thinking of verse... 37:43 Nineteen. 37:45 Nineteen is it? Yeah, 18 and 19. 37:48 Let me begin in verse 18, 37:51 "For as much as you know 37:53 that you were redeemed with corruptible things," 37:56 that's why the wine, 37:57 it's the fermented wine 37:59 cannot symbolize the Blood of Christ. 38:02 "You were redeemed with corruptible things 38:04 as silver and gold from your vain conversation 38:07 received by tradition from your fathers 38:09 but with the precious blood of Christ 38:13 as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot." 38:18 And so it's like Pastor Lomacang said, 38:20 the Passover Lamb was selected, 38:22 it was inspected to make sure 38:24 it didn't have a single blemish upon it. 38:27 Why, because it was a symbol of Christ. 38:30 That was to come and die for us, 38:33 likewise, we have to use pure things 38:37 to make the bread 38:38 and pure things to make the wine. 38:41 And so when we think about Communion service, 38:46 we have to understand 38:47 that God wants to do something special for us. 38:51 So let's talk for a moment about there's a scripture 38:56 that says that you do announce 38:58 the Lord's death until he come. 39:01 Why do we have Communion service? 39:03 The Bible doesn't tell us 39:04 to do it once a year, twice a year, 39:08 it doesn't give us a specific amount of time, 39:11 but it says, "As often as you do this." 39:14 So in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 39:16 Pastor Lomacang, Pastor of the Thompsonville, 39:19 Seventh-day Adventist Church, 39:20 how often do we have it at the Thompsonville church? 39:23 Once every 13 weeks, four times a year. 39:27 And as you said, the Bible doesn't give 39:28 any particular command 39:30 but one of the reasons why we choose not to do it 39:31 every week is to maintain its special importance 39:35 because while reputation is a good teacher, 39:38 sometimes when you do something 39:39 over and over and over and over again all the time, 39:42 it can sometimes lose its special import 39:45 and so we make it as ceremony, Communion service. 39:49 But it is to continually remind us 39:53 that as often as we do this, 39:55 you know, the Passover was done 39:59 to remind people of where they came from, 40:02 the Communion service is to remind us 40:04 where we're heading to. 40:05 Amen. 40:07 And you show the Lord's death until he comes. 40:10 So every time the Communion service 40:11 is carried out, 40:13 you're saying we're looking forward to the coming of... 40:14 You're showing the significance of His death till he comes. 40:19 Instead of looking back, we're looking forward. 40:21 So the communion service was a transition 40:24 between two economies. 40:26 They were out of Egypt when the Communion service, 40:30 they were now in the Promised Land. 40:32 They were not running as slaves. 40:33 They were reclining. 40:35 I could spend a little time on talking about 40:37 how to do the do the Communion service. 40:38 But they reclined in the circle on one side 40:41 so they were able to wash each other's feet. 40:44 Men washed the feet of the men, 40:45 the women washed the feet of the women. 40:47 At our church, we instituted a third aspect 40:50 because a lot of people say, 40:52 "Well, why would a wife want to wash her husband's feet?" 40:55 Well, you know, the presupposition 40:56 is they don't need to reconcile on anything either. 40:59 Hey, you don't get married for how many years now? 41:02 Twenty three. Twenty three. 41:04 Us thirty four. Well, Jason... 41:06 I'm still waiting to get in the game. 41:10 I'm waiting for the Lord to send the right one. 41:16 But we grow, we grow, 41:17 we go through challenges and trials 41:19 and difficulties and tribulations so we grow. 41:21 So it is so good for the benefit of the family 41:24 because communion is a family. 41:26 You told you had two sons. 41:28 My wife and I, 41:30 we switch between just men and women 41:34 and then the couples. 41:36 We go throughout the transition I think... 41:38 Our church does that. Our church does that. 41:40 And so it's good 41:41 because a lot of times people say, 41:43 "You know, honey, forgive me. 41:47 Sweetheart, I'm so sorry." 41:49 And we presuppose 41:51 that we don't need to reconcile anything 41:53 but it's a beautiful... 41:55 We are looking forward to the Lord's Second Coming. 41:58 We're confirming our walk with Christ. 41:59 That's right. 42:01 So when you get together as spouse, 42:02 it's strength than anything and at our church, 42:04 I love to see all the couples that the church is made of 42:08 when they get together and stand up 42:09 and they hug and say, 42:10 "Well, this is my first Communion 42:12 as a married couple." 42:14 Jason's is yet to come. 42:16 Indeed. Indeed. 42:17 So it's a beautiful thing. And we have a little model. 42:20 What's our model, honey? Okay. 42:22 Go ahead. 42:23 Together, forever, eternity in pure. 42:28 Amen. 42:29 So sometimes the silent... You guys all in love. 42:32 Aw. 42:34 And so sometimes silently crossing, I'll go. 42:39 Now, look at this. 42:41 Two and four is what six and one is seven. 42:45 Perfect number. 42:47 All of a sudden it dawned on us a while ago, 42:49 one day wait a minute, two, four, seven. 42:52 Now we know your secret. 42:56 Just us three here. Nobody else knows. 42:59 We just told everybody our secret. 43:01 The whole world knows. Praise God. 43:03 But we look forward to that 43:04 and Communion service helps us remember, 43:06 "Honey, you know, 43:07 because we're in the frontlines at church." 43:10 That's right. 43:11 My wife is the wife of Pastor, 43:12 everything she does is viewed, 43:15 she can give license to something 43:16 or no license to something 43:17 by her whole life, same thing by me. 43:20 And as it the difficult thing you know, 43:21 sometimes the pastor is stressed out 43:22 and he comes home and shares with his wife 43:24 and she prays for me many days 43:25 and as you mentioned you pray for Johnny. 43:27 What do you do, honey? I pray for you. 43:30 Same thing in the night, I put my hand on his head... 43:32 Oh, you do too? Oh, yeah. 43:34 Oh, I've done that many... throughout the years 43:36 I put my hand on his head and ask the Lord to bless him. 43:39 He is fast asleep, snoring, 43:41 but I would just pray a blessing on him. 43:44 Women, do that for your husbands. 43:46 Pray a blessing on them. 43:48 And, my future wife, do that for me 43:51 when you come and I'm asleep. 43:56 When you see the Communion, it's so beautiful. 43:58 You commune together, 43:59 you travel together as you both do, 44:00 you talk together, you pray together, 44:02 you laugh together, you cry together. 44:04 Yes. That's right. 44:05 You struggle together, 44:06 you experience successes together. 44:08 And so it's a special commemoration for both of us 44:11 when we get together in the Communion service. 44:13 And I kneel down before my wife and say, 44:16 "Honey, let's pray 44:17 before we wash each other's feet." 44:19 And then she prays for me 44:20 and I wash her feet and vice versa. 44:22 Yeah. 44:23 And somebody once said, 44:25 "Why do we have Communion services for couples? 44:27 And I said... 44:29 You know, the reason why I understood it 44:31 because this person was single. 44:32 And I said, 44:34 "When you get married you'll understand why." 44:38 But you know, it's interesting 44:40 because the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 44:42 I haven't researched to find out 44:44 how many other denominations wash their feet, 44:49 but the Seventh-day Adventist Church 44:50 does practice the foot washing 44:53 as we've been talking about here. 44:55 And I want to go to John chapter 13 44:58 to talk about this 44:59 because this is a very important aspect. 45:01 It was part of the Last Supper experience. 45:05 And so let's take a look at it in John 13 45:09 and I'll begin reading 45:13 verse 3, 45:16 "Jesus knowing that the Father had given 45:19 all things into His hands, 45:20 and that He was come from God, and went to God. 45:23 He riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments, 45:26 and took a towel, and girded Himself. 45:29 After that, He poured water into a basin 45:31 and began to wash the disciples' feet, 45:34 and to wipe them with the towel where with He was girded. 45:37 Then cometh He to Simon Peter, 45:39 and Peter saith unto him, 'Lord, thus thou wash my feet?' 45:43 Jesus answered and said unto him, 45:45 'What I do thou knowest not now, 45:48 but thou shalt know hereafter.' 45:50 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. 45:53 Jesus answered him, 45:55 'If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.' 46:00 Simon Peter saith unto Him, 46:01 'Lord, not my feet only,' he understood, 46:04 'but also my hands and my feet.'" 46:06 "Jesus said unto him, 46:08 'He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, 46:12 but is clean every whit, and ye are clean, 46:15 but not all.' 46:17 For he knew who should betray Him, 46:20 therefore said He, 'Ye are not all clean.'" 46:22 So let's talk a little bit about this experience here, 46:25 a lot here that we do not have enough time to talk about. 46:29 But we understand that a servant... 46:33 Jesus was not supposed to be washing the disciples' feet, 46:36 He was the master, He was the leader among them. 46:40 So one of the disciples 46:42 should have stood up to do this, 46:43 but, you know, 46:45 "I'm supposed to sit next to Him on the throne, 46:47 I'm not washing his feet, 46:48 I'm not washing other people's feet." 46:50 So none of them wanted to get up 46:52 and Jesus gave them an example. 46:55 Speaking of which 46:56 oh, I got something I want to share. 46:58 Can I jump in here? Go for it. 47:01 So speaking of washing feet, 47:04 now this comes from Mind, Character, 47:06 and Personality volume One, 47:07 "It's God's remedy 47:09 for selfishness and self-exaltation." 47:11 Now we all know that Jesus was the most selfless ever. 47:16 And He's the most selfless ever. 47:19 So "There is in man a disposition 47:22 to esteem himself more highly than his brother, 47:25 to work for self, to seek the highest place, 47:27 and often this results in evil surmisings 47:30 and bitterness of spirit. 47:31 The ordinance of foot washing 47:34 preceding the Lord's Supper 47:35 is to clear away these misunderstandings, 47:37 to bring man out of his selfishness, 47:39 down from his stilts of self-exaltation, 47:42 to the humility of heart 47:44 that will lead him to serve his brother. 47:47 The Holy Watcher from heaven 47:48 is present at this season to make it 47:50 one of soul searching, of conviction of sin, 47:53 and of the blessed assurance of sins forgiven. 47:56 Christ in the fullness of His grace 47:58 is there to change the current of the thoughts 48:01 that have been running in selfish channels. 48:03 The Holy Spirit quickens the sensibilities 48:05 of those who follow the example of their Lord." 48:09 I like that. Amen. 48:11 Humility and so one is the Communion service 48:16 the other one is the ordinance of humility 48:19 because get off your stilts, I love that quotation, 48:22 Ellen White from Mind, Character, and Personality, 48:25 "Get off of your stilts." 48:26 Because there's a lot of pride in so many people 48:28 when you think about it, 48:30 one of the reasons why the disciples 48:31 didn't get down and wash each other's feet 48:33 is because lot of pride. 48:34 They were contending 48:36 for the first place among themselves. 48:37 Honey, read verse 14. 48:39 And this is why we do it 48:40 because people might say, "Why do you do it?" 48:41 Yes, good. 48:43 "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, 48:47 have washed your feet, 48:49 you also ought to wash one another's feet." 48:53 And verse 15. 48:54 "For I have given you an example, 48:56 that you should do as I have done to you." 49:00 Amen. 49:01 And so you see people might feel, 49:03 "Why do they do that?" 49:05 Here is the key, what would Jesus do? 49:08 Yeah. That sounds it all. 49:11 What would Jesus do? Amen. What would Jesus do? 49:13 We kept the Sabbath. 49:15 "Why do you keep the Sabbath?" 49:16 "What would Jesus do?" Exactly. 49:18 You'll never be lost 49:19 if you would do what Jesus did. 49:20 And He specifically said, "I've given you an example." 49:23 That's right. 49:24 "That you should do as I have done." 49:27 You could follow Jesus and say, 49:29 "I have a perfect reason 49:31 for why I do what I do, He did." 49:33 That's right. Amen. 49:34 May I read 16 and 17? Go ahead. 49:37 "Most assuredly I say to you 49:40 a servant is not greater than his master, 49:43 nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 49:48 If you know these things, 49:50 blessed are you if you do them." 49:53 Amen. Wonderful. 49:55 So many blessings in this one. 49:56 And the word blessing also means happy. 49:59 That brings about a joy. Oh, pastor. 50:02 Yeah, it brings about the joy. 50:04 Well, you go ahead. 50:05 Well, you know, with communion service, 50:08 please, this is supposed to be a solemn event. 50:11 Yes. 50:13 This is supposed to be something that we celebrate. 50:16 That's right. We're celebrating. 50:19 We solemn, we... 50:22 We are grateful. We're grateful. 50:23 Because Jesus died for us. Exactly. 50:26 And made provisions so that we can be forgiven. 50:27 Yes. 50:29 My heart, when I contemplate the cross it prays and I, 50:33 oh, the song, Via Dolorosa, 50:37 you know, if somebody is singing it or... 50:41 and in Monte Calvario which is... 50:43 On a hill. That's right. On a hill far away. 50:47 You know, these songs, 50:49 those hymns prepare your spirit, your heart, 50:52 and takes your eyes off of you and your problems 50:55 and put it into problem solver. 50:57 That's right. And your savior. 50:59 So all the preparation that you can do 51:02 before coming to church 51:05 to worship on Sabbath 51:06 or just sit and just spend time with the Lord, 51:12 the right music to focus on your thoughts on Him. 51:16 That's right. 51:17 Everything adds up to your experience of Sabbath. 51:21 Everything. Everything. 51:22 I would like to read this scripture from John 13, 51:25 because after He washed the disciples feet 51:29 Jesus said something that is very important 51:31 and that is in verse 13, 51:34 "You call me Master and Lord, 51:37 and you say well, for so I am." 51:39 Verse 14. 51:40 "If I then, your Lord and Master, 51:42 have washed your feet, 51:43 ye also ought to wash one another's feet." 51:45 And so he was saying to them the fact 51:47 that I wash your feet doesn't make me... 51:50 You should not lose respect for who I am. 51:53 That's right. 51:54 So therefore He wanted to make that clear. 51:56 Yes, amen. 51:57 I'm still your Master, I am still your Teacher. 51:59 Yeah. 52:00 But you should also wash one another's feet. 52:03 And so I like the happy are you if you do this blessed. 52:06 And so I want to encourage those of you 52:11 that perhaps in the past, 52:13 "Oh, no it's Communion service." 52:14 And you either stay home 52:16 or you go to another church to avoid Communion service. 52:20 For whatever reason it may be, whether you think, 52:22 "Oh, it's going to be long. 52:24 Oh, I don't want to wash somebody's feet 52:25 or I'm not spiritually prepared." 52:28 You know, these disciples questioned, 52:29 were they spiritually prepared for their communion service? 52:34 Perhaps they were, perhaps some of them weren't. 52:36 One of them Jesus said specifically, 52:38 "You are all clean, but not all of you." 52:41 And yet Judas took part in the bread, 52:46 Judas took part in the vine, the grape juice, 52:49 and Jesus washed his feet, 52:52 but his heart was not humbled, 52:55 he could not receive the blessing 52:56 that Christ wanted to give him. 52:58 And so I want to say 53:00 humble yourself before the Lord, 53:02 come to the Communion service understanding that 53:04 is that at a time of spiritual renewal, 53:07 a time of blessing. 53:09 And perhaps, Pastor Lomacang, 53:11 I don't know if you want to share this now, 53:13 you know, that I mentioned the... 53:16 Agape. Agape feast. 53:18 What is an Agape feast? 53:20 Well, Agape is the Greek word for love. 53:23 And while it's not a love feast 53:25 so to speak in the secular sense, 53:29 it is expressing the love of Christ 53:30 in a real sense. 53:32 We attempt at our church at the end of the year 53:34 every December to have beautiful feast. 53:37 Amen. 53:38 And our ladies do a tremendous job. 53:41 Gloria... 53:42 She heads it out. She heads it out. 53:44 She has plans all year for this special event, 53:46 she has the gift of decorating in all the types of breads 53:49 and soups and salads 53:50 and they get together in our table. 53:53 There's all outlined with the Christmas garland 53:58 in the shape of the cross 53:59 and they have the candles on there that's lighted, 54:01 and our fellowship hall is dimly lighted, 54:04 just takes you back 54:05 to the place of fellowship with Jesus. 54:07 And the season, it makes the season special 54:09 because the holiday season while we know 54:12 that Jesus was not born during the Christmas season, 54:15 what a time to proclaim the freedom of Jesus 54:18 at the time when we celebrate 54:19 His birth, His death, His burial, 54:22 and His resurrection all at one particular season. 54:25 And it is a joyful thing, 54:27 we sing all the songs of the season, 54:29 at the latter part of the year, 54:31 and then we leave closing out the year 54:33 with our sins left behind us. 54:35 Amen. That's the key. 54:36 Close out the year with the past behind you, 54:38 forgetting those things behind you 54:40 then you reach out to a new year 54:42 and you walk into solemness. 54:43 And one Dr. Ward at Oakwood University, 54:47 but it was Oakwood College at the time. 54:49 He made the comedy, he said, 54:50 "You know, the Communion service 54:52 is such a time of remedy of our sin 54:55 that if you would die after that, 54:56 all your sins were forgiven." 54:57 Amen. And I never, never forget that. 54:59 Such a high Sabbath. Such a high Sabbath. 55:01 So that's what it is. 55:03 And all the spouses sit together. 55:06 We all sing songs and Joy to the World, 55:10 the Lord has Come. 55:11 But then the Communion services, 55:12 and He's coming again. 55:14 Amen. Amen. 55:15 And we introduce this to all the churches we go to. 55:18 That's right. It's beautiful. 55:20 And, you know, 55:21 I just want to praise the Lord for our pastor 55:24 not because he is here, 55:25 I say it everywhere we go, 55:28 his dedication to educating 55:30 and bringing reverence in structure 55:34 and acknowledging 55:35 the seriousness of the activity of the Communion service, 55:40 that ministers to me so much. 55:42 I've never told you that, but from the beginning, 55:46 when you start coming from the back of the church 55:49 with the deacons and everyone the whole team, 55:54 it's beautiful. 55:55 I don't know if you've had a chance to be at our church, 55:58 but I'm inviting you to come and be part... 56:01 The Thompsonville. 56:03 Why not in the Agape feast if anything. 56:06 But you know, you walk into the church. 56:09 And, you know, at that Sabbath morning 56:11 it seems like everything is going wrong, 56:12 I put on different colored shoes 56:14 and I find out in the car, 56:16 I have to go back and change 56:18 because it wants to take away that blessing. 56:21 So in Jesus' name even you have to go to church 56:24 with different colored shoes, 56:26 you go, don't miss your blessing. 56:28 Absolutely. 56:29 Now that you said that I guess I should take this opportunity. 56:33 There are those of you that are near to Thompsonville 56:36 Seventh-day Adventist Church. 56:37 Those of you that are in West Frankfort, Marion, 56:41 Manton or whatever area Mount Vernon 56:43 wherever you are you watch 3ABN 56:45 you are close to 56:47 the Thompsonville Seventh-day Adventist Church, 56:48 Saturday mornings beginning at 9:15 we are there, 56:52 and also on Wednesdays 7:00 pm we invite you to come. 56:57 Well, our time has gone. We want to encourage you 56:59 to participate in communion service 57:01 just as Jesus said to the disciples, 57:03 "With desire, I have desired to have this supper with you." 57:08 And with desire, Jesus wants you to participate 57:11 in the Communion service 57:12 and be blessed 57:14 with the fullness of His blessing 57:16 to get closer to Him. 57:18 Take the opportunity to be blessed by Christ, 57:21 participate in Communion service, 57:23 you are a person that God wants to bless. 57:27 And so we have just time to tell you 57:29 give your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ 57:31 and you'll have peace and happiness 57:33 that begins in this world and continues forever. 57:35 God bless you. Happy Sabbath. 57:37 Happy Sabbath. 57:40 Happy Sabbath. |
Revised 2017-10-19