Throughout the Old Testament, we see that meals were important and meaningful. In particular, having a meal together was part of establishing a covenant. Today, we have the privilege of coming before the table to eat with Him. This fellowship of eating in the presence of the Lord during the Holy Communion is far superior!
Genesis 14:18-20 (NKJV) Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.
Melchizedek honoured God as the one who had delivered Abram from his enemies. It is a wonderful reminder that God is indeed a covenant God who supported His covenant partner Abram when he was faced with a situation beyond his abilities. Likewise, it is through this unconditional covenant with Abram that God sent forth the Messiah to redeem mankind.
Psalm 23:5 (NKJV) You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
David was someone who understood the meaning and obligation of a covenant. He testified about God being his covenant partner who protected him from bears and lions, and it led him to defeat Goliath with the help from God because of his faith in the covenant partnership with God. God was present with David when he went through all his life’s challenges, and God’s presence brought peace, comfort, assurance, and rest to David despite the presence of his enemies and unfavourable circumstances.
These two passages show a consistency in God’s behaviour and character in honouring His covenant with His covenant partners. Likewise, we can place our faith in God as we sit in His presence in preparation to partake of the Holy Communion. It is a reminder that we have a covenant with God which is established by the blood of Christ in the New Testament for the church.
Revelation 3:20 (NKJV) Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
God always knocks at the door of our hearts so He can fellowship with us. It is a picture of intimacy, and the Holy Communion is a foretaste of the marriage supper of the Lamb. What a privilege it is to have God as our covenant partner and to have Him journey with us during tough times. He will be just as faithful to us as He was to Abraham and David. This is why we should approach the table of the Lord by faith to receive grace and strength to face the tribulations in our lives.
Sermon Series: The Holy Communion
我们拥有何等的特权！
在旧约中，我们看到餐食的重要及其深远的含义。特别是，共同享用餐食是建立盟约的一部分。今天，我们有幸享有来到主桌前与其共进圣餐的特权。 圣餐中这种在主的同在中进餐的团契关系是非常卓越的！
创世记14:18-20 又有撒冷王麦基洗德带着饼和酒出来迎接；他是至高神的祭司。 他为亚伯兰祝福，说：“愿天地的主、至高的神赐福与亚伯兰！ 至高的神把敌人交在你手里，是应当称颂的！” 亚伯兰就把所得的拿出十分之一来，给麦基洗德。
麦基洗德尊荣上帝为从敌人手中拯救亚伯兰的那位。 这是一个美妙的提醒，上帝确实是一位守约的神，当亚伯兰面对超越自己能力的境况时，祂支持了祂立约的伙伴。同样，正是通过这个与亚伯兰的无条件盟约，上帝差遣了弥赛亚来救赎人类。
诗篇23:5在我敌人面前，你为我摆设筵席；你用油膏了我的头，使我的福杯满溢。
大卫是一个理解盟约的含义和义务的人。他作证称上帝是他的盟约伙伴，保护他免受狮子和熊的伤害，而他因为对上帝盟约关系上表现出的信心，大卫在上帝的帮助下击败了歌利亚。上帝在大卫经历一生的各种挑战时与他同在，虽然大卫的敌人和不利的环境存在，但上帝的同在给大卫带来了平安、安慰、确据和安息。
这两段经文显示了上帝在尊重与祂的盟约伙伴所立的盟约时表现出一贯的行为和品格。同样，当我们坐在祂的面前，准备领受圣餐时，我们可以将我们的信心归于上帝。这是一个提醒，我们和上帝也有一份盟约，这是借着基督的宝血在新约中与教会所立的。
启示录3:20看哪，我站在门外叩门，若有听见我声音就开门的，我要进到他那里去，我与他，他与我一同坐席。
上帝一直敲打我们的心门，以便与我们有伙伴的关系。这是一个亲密的象征，而圣餐就是羔羊婚筵的预表。有上帝作为我们的盟约伙伴，以及在艰难时刻有祂与我们同行，这是何等大的特权。祂将像祂对亚伯兰和大卫一样信实地对待我们。这就是为什么我们应该满怀信心地来到主的桌前，领受恩典和力量来面对我们生活中的磨难。
讲章系列：圣餐
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