1 Corinthians 11:17-19 (NKJV) Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognised among you.
God sent His only Son to be made sin for us so we can be reconciled to Him. Therefore, He is a God of reconciliation, a bridge builder and a peacemaker, and He expects us to do likewise with those He has placed around us, especially our family members and brethren. God is a strong advocate of reconciliation, which is why He wants us to walk in love and in the Spirit. We will grieve the Holy Spirit when we refuse to do so, and He will let us face the consequences of broken relationships.
God understands and has experienced the divisive work of the devil that destroys relationships, with Adam and Eve and when Lucifer took a third of the angels with Him. Therefore, when we come before the Lord’s Table that signifies the grace of God who has forgiven us through the shed blood of Jesus despite our imperfection, it reminds us of the unconditional love of God towards us.
He has instructed us to love Him and love our neighbours as ourselves. It must begin with our family, where we walk in love and forgiveness towards our spouse and children. Unforgiveness, hatred, and bitterness are sins in our lives. It is also a form of protection for a married couple to always extend grace towards one another before they partake of the Holy Communion. The Lord is not pleased whenever there are schisms, strifes, and divisions in the body of Christ, or when we have favouritism towards the rich and oppress the poor. Therefore, if we remember that we have something against a brother or sister, we should work on asking the person for forgiveness or make reconciliation. We should rid our hearts of bitterness and unforgiveness when we come before the table where we are reminded of God’s grace and forgiveness toward us.
Allowing bitterness and unforgiveness to dwell in our hearts will affect our bodies and make us sick because bitterness and hatred are not just our emotions but they are developed from the hearts of man. They give out poisonous vibes through our emotions. On the contrary, when we walk in love and extend grace, the joy of the Lord is like medicine to us, and we will prosper in our soul and be in health! Coming before the table reminds us that we can walk in love and forgiveness through the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.
Sermon Series: The Holy Communion
圣餐前的自我省察
哥林多前书11:17-19我现今吩咐你们的话，不是称赞你们，因为你们聚会不是受益，乃是招损。第一，我听说，你们聚会的时候彼此分门别类，我也稍微地信这话。在你们中间不免有分门结党的事，好叫那些有经验的人显明出来。
上帝差派了祂独生子为我们成为罪，使我们得以与祂相和。故此，祂是与人相和的上帝，是桥梁的建造者及和平的缔造者，祂期望我们也对周围的人也这样做，特别是我们的家人和弟兄们。上帝大力的提倡和睦，这就是祂要我们在爱和圣灵中行走的原因。当我们拒绝这样做时，我们会叫圣灵担忧，祂会让我们面对关系破裂的后果。
上帝理解也经历过魔鬼藉着搞分裂来破坏关系的做为，包括与亚当和夏娃的关系，及当路西法带走三分之一的天使时。因此，当我们来到主的圣餐桌前，它提醒我们上帝对我们无条件的爱，圣餐象征上帝的恩典，尽管我们是不完美的，但上帝藉着耶稣所流的宝血赦免了我们。
上帝教导我们要爱祂和爱人如己。这必须从我们的家人开始，就是我们在爱和宽恕中对待我们的的配偶和孩子。不饶恕、仇恨和苦毒在我们的生命中是罪。在领圣餐前彼此施恩，对于已婚夫妇来说也是一种保护。每当基督的身体出现分裂、争竞和分们别类，或者当我们厚待富人、欺压穷人时，主都不喜悦。因此，如果我们想起我们对兄弟姐妹有怨恨，应该努力去取得原谅或和解。每当我们来到圣餐桌前，在那里我们被提醒上帝对我们的恩典和宽恕，我们就应该消除心中的苦毒和不饶恕。
让苦毒和不饶恕的情绪存在于我们的心中会影响我们的身体，使我们生病，因为苦毒和仇恨不仅仅是我们的情绪，而是从人的内心发展出来的。它们通过我们的情绪释放出有毒的气息。相反，当我们在爱中行走并施予恩典时，主的喜乐对我们来说就像是一剂良药，我们的灵魂和健康都会亨通！来到圣餐桌前时，我们被提醒说，赐生命圣灵的律，在基督耶稣里使我们可以在爱和饶恕中行走。
讲章系列：圣餐
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