(# 273) Romans 8 - The Lord’s Supper Celebration: So You Don’t Feel Worthy? Good! You Aren’t!

Class Outline:

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BARAH MINISTRIES

a Christian Church

Rory Clark

Pastor-Teacher

 

Good Morning!

 

Welcome to Barah Ministries…a Christian Church based in Mesa, AZ…my name is Pastor Rory Clark. 

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

The Lord’s Supper Celebration:

So You Don’t Feel Worthy?  Good!  You Aren’t!

 

One of the deepest cravings in human nature is to be accepted just as we are. Yet typically, other human beings accept us when we are doing something they like, and they reject us when we are doing something they don’t like.  Rarely is there the situation where you do something unpleasant and you are completely accepted for who you are and for who you are not.  What is it like for you when someone complains about you, or when someone complains to you, especially about something you’re doing that they don’t like?  Truly, it is seldom fun.

 

So how confident are you that God accepts you?  In Matthew, Chapter 8, Verses 5 to 10, a commander in the Roman army, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, is pretty certain that God accepts Him…

 

Matthew 8:5

And when Jesus entered Capernaum (the village of Nahum), a centurion came to the Lord, imploring Him…

 

Matthew 8:6

…and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.”

 

Matthew 8:7

Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”

 

Matthew 8:8

But the centurion said, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.”

 

Matthew 8:9

“For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”

 

Matthew 8:10

Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.”

 

The Lord Jesus Christ marveled at the fact that this centurion knew, with absolute certainty, that the Lord’s presence was not necessary to heal the centurion’s servant.  The centurion knew that just as he gave orders to his men and they were followed, the Lord could give orders and they would be done.  The Lord could just speak the servant’s wellness into existence and it would happen.  The centurion demonstrated faith.  The centurion KNOWS what the Lord is capable of because He knows the Lord.

 

Probably one the goofiest things we think as Christians is, “I don’t feel worthy.”  As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we never seem to think we deserve anything from God.  But does that feeling of unworthiness demonstrate faith?  Hardly.

 

Does the Lord Jesus Christ accept you?  If so, on what basis does the Lord Jesus Christ accept you?  If you are not worthy, why would the Sovereign God of the Universe accept you?  Why would He even think of you…such insignificant and petty ones?

 

Fortunately for us, the Lord MADE us worthy because of what He did for us at the Cross.  Yes…the Lord accepts us.  The Lord accepts us on the basis of what He did for us at the Cross.  And if you don’t feel worthy…if you don’t consider yourself worthy…congratulations!  You’re not.  But the Lord Jesus Christ considers you worthy…and since this is an established and irrevocable fact. It’s a life foundation on which we, as Christians, must base our faith.  We must KNOW.  First Peter, Chapter 2, Verses 4 and 5…

 

First Peter 2:4

And as you keep on coming to the Lord Jesus, as a believer in Christ, come as if you are coming to a living stone which has been rejected by men but is choice and precious in the sight of God the Father…

 

First Peter 2:5

…you also, as living stones, are being built up by God as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God the Father through Jesus Christ.

 

As the Lord’s elect, we believers in Christ keep on being encouraged, because we are valued by God.  The world may hate us…the world may reject us…just as the world hated and rejected Him…the flesh may hate us…the flesh may reject us and others…but the Lord accepts us…just the way we are.

 

Welcome to the monthly celebration of the Lord’s Supper, our look back to the Cross and to all the wonderful things the Lord did there to make His believers worthy of a “so great” salvation and worthy of a “resurrection life” that staggers the imagination for all eternity. Welcome to a place where you are accepted. 

 

MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

 

DROPS IN THE OCEAN

Hawk Nelson 

 

As we prepare our souls for worship, let’s enjoy Hawk Nelson, singing DROPS IN THE OCEAN.

 

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

We’re grateful, Heavenly Father, for the privilege of studying Your absolute truth...the Word of God…

 

Father…thank you for always being with us during the difficult times in our lives…the times when we have heavy hearts…the times we are in pain…the times when we are encountering the trials and tribulations You allows for our edification that we can’t quite seem to work through alone…thanks for always being there for us and for giving us Your Holy Spirit to guide us as a compass and a rudder in our lives…

 

Help us to feel Your unconditional love, Father…help us to constantly feel it…to constantly call its power to mind…so that we may feel the stability we have in union with Your Son…and keep on making us aware of what the sacrifice of Your Son at the Cross did for us. Especially as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper…

 

We ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ’s name... Amen.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

The Lord’s Supper Celebration:

So You Don’t Feel Worthy?  Good!  You Aren’t!

 

God accepts you.  Ephesians, Chapter 1, Verses 3 to 6…

 

Ephesians 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us believers in Christ in eternity past with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in union with Christ…

 

As believers in Christ we are in intimate relationship with our Father and our Christ…

 

Ephesians 1:4

…just as God the Father  selected us believers to be in union with Christ before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless for all eternity in the Father’s sight. In the sphere of unconditional love…

 

Ephesians 1:5

…the Father predestined us believers in eternity past to adoption as adult sons, reconciling us to relationship through Jesus Christ to Himself… according to the kind intention of His will…

 

As adopted adult sons of God the Father, we have the same privileges in

God the Father’s eyes as His Son, The Lord Jesus Christ who was the

uniquely born one of Him.

 

Ephesians 1:6

…to the praise of the Father’s glorious grace, which He freely bestowed on us (accepted ones who are) in union with the Beloved (the Lord Jesus Christ).

 

God accepts you just as He accepts His Son…with full satisfaction and full delight. 

 

Let’s begin the lesson by taking the offering.  In just a moment we’ll welcome up Deacon Denny Goodall.

 

THE OFFERING

Deacon Denny Goodall

 

OFFERING VERSE

 

Luke 21:36

“But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

 

OFFERING

FLIGHT OF THE EAGLE

Dave McClure, Instrumental

 

Thank you for your generosity. 

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

The Lord’s Supper Celebration:

So You Don’t Feel Worthy?  Good!  You Aren’t!

 

Does God accept you?  If so, on what basis does God accept you?

 

Yes!  As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have peace with God the Father…and He has nothing against us…therefore we are accepted by God the Father…Romans, Chapter 5, Verses 1 to 5 encourages Christians to relax…

 

Romans 5:1

Therefore, having been justified by faith alone in Christ alone, we believers in Christ have peace with God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ…

 

Romans 5:2

…through which Christ also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this sphere of grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God the Father.

 

Romans 5:3

And not only this, but we believers in Christ also exult in our tribulations, and WE KNOW that tribulation brings about perseverance…

 

Romans 5:4

…and WE KNOW that perseverance brings about proven character; and WE KNOW that proven character brings about hope…

 

Romans 5:5

…and WE KNOW that hope does not disappoint, because the love of God the Father has been poured out within our hearts through God the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

 

On what basis does God accept me?  Colossians, Chapter 1, Verse 19…

 

Colossians 1:19

For it was God the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Christ…

 

Colossians 1:20

…and through Christ to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His Cross; through Christ, I say, whether reconciling things on earth or reconciling things in heaven.

 

Your worthiness does not even come into play in the matter of God’s acceptance of you.  Christ comes into play…your union with Him…this is the basis of God the Father’s acceptance of you.  Many of us assume we are not worthy of God’s acceptance because we are conscious of our sins and our sinning.  Our sins no longer matter to God.  Christ paid for them at the Cross.  Can you accept that as an established and irrevocable fact?

God doesn’t change toward us.  In the matter of your acceptance, He counts you worthy and holds you in acceptance because of your union with Christ.

And in this matter He does not now, nor will He ever change His acceptance of you.  Thus, the question of whether or not you are accepted by God is NEVER a valid question.  Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 31 and 32…

 

Romans 8:31

What then shall we believers in Christ say face-to-face with all these things (in Romans 8:28-30)?  (We ask ourselves)…If God the Father is for us, and He is, who can oppose us successfully?

 

Romans 8:32

God the Father who did not spare His own Son (the Lord Jesus Christ), but delivered Him over for us all, how will the Father not also, with our union with Christ, freely give us all things?

 

Hebrews, Chapter 4, Verse 1…

 

Hebrews 4:1

Therefore, let us believers in Christ, if we fear anything, fear that while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of us may seem to have come short of it.

 

We must learn to rest in the established and irrevocable fact that we are accepted by God.  We must purge the false thought that God loves us when we are doing well, and the false thought that God hates us when we make mistakes.  Romans, Chapter 5, Verse 8 should dispel this concern…

 

Romans 5:8

But God the Father demonstrates His own unconditional love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners (while we were unbelievers and enemies of the Father), (He sent) Christ to die instead of us.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

The Lord’s Supper Celebration:

Enjoying the Elements

 

Let’s enjoy the Lord’s Supper elements…

 

Following God’s request, we keep on celebrating CHRIST and His Cross on a regular basis…we eat to remember who He is…His PERSON…we drink to remember His WORK, the voluntary sacrifice He made at the Cross on our behalf as our substitute…and we are grateful for what God has done for us.  First Corinthians, Chapter 11, Verses 23 and 24 say…

 

First Corinthians 11:23

For I, Paul received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus Christ on the night in which He was betrayed took bread…

 

First Corinthians 11:24

…and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is, and keeps

 on being My body, which is broken for you; keep on doing this celebration

 for the purpose of remembering Me.”

 

When we eat the bread during the Lord’s Supper Celebration, we remember THE PERSON of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

When we drink the cup, we remember THE WORK of the Lord Jesus Christ.  First Corinthians, Chapter 11, Verses 25 and 26 say…

 

First Corinthians 11:25

In the same way the Lord Jesus Christ took the cup after supper, representing His death on the Cross, saying, “This cup is a new testament forged with My blood; keep on doing this celebration, as often as you drink it, for the purpose of remembering Me.”

 

First Corinthians 11:26

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

 

As you enjoy the bread and the cup, enjoy the memory of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as well. Now and always, let us keep on giving thanks that we are loved and accepted fully by God…and let’s enjoy that love Day by Day, our Lord’s Supper song.

 

LORD’S SUPPER SONG

DAY BY DAY

Godspell

 

MUSIC BREAK

BLESSED REDEEMER

Casting Crowns

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

The Lord’s Supper Celebration:

So You Don’t Feel Worthy?  Good!  You Aren’t!

 

Welcome back!

 

WILLIAM NEWELL ON ACCEPTANCE

 

“There being no cause in the believer in Christ why grace should be shown, the believer must give up trying to give cause to make God care. The believer in Christ has been accepted through his union with Christ, and the Lord is his standing!  The believer is not on probation.

 

WILLIAM NEWELL ON ACCEPTANCE

 

As to his life in Adam, his life of the past, that life does not exist in God’s eyes.  The believer in Christ died at the Cross, along with Christ, and “in Christ” is his new life.  Grace, once bestowed, is not withdrawn.  God knew all about the human condition beforehand.  God’s actions toward us were independent of our actions, not dependent upon them.”

 

WILLIAM NEWELL ON ACCEPTANCE

 

“To believe, and to consent to be loved while unworthy, is the great secret.”

 

WILLIAM NEWELL ON ACCEPTANCE

 

“Refuse to make ‘resolutions’ and ‘vows;’ for that is to trust in the flesh and not in God.”

 

WILLIAM NEWELL ON ACCEPTANCE

 

“Expect to be blessed, as simultaneously you realize more and more how little you deserve it.”

WILLIAM NEWELL ON ACCEPTANCE

 “Rely on God’s training, and realize that His hand on your life is a testimony to His kindness.”

 

WILLIAM NEWELL ON ACCEPTANCE

 

“Stop ‘hoping to be better,’ hence acceptable to God…to hope for this is to fail to see yourself ‘in Christ’ only.”

 

WILLIAM NEWELL ON ACCEPTANCE

 

“To be disappointed with yourself is to have believed there is something worthy in yourself.”

 

WILLIAM NEWELL ON ACCEPTANCE

 

“To be discouraged is unbelief in God’s purpose and His plan of blessing, custom made for you.”

 

WILLIAM NEWELL ON ACCEPTANCE

 

“To be proud, is to be blind!  For we have no standing before God, in ourselves…in our own merit.”

 

WILLIAM NEWELL ON ACCEPTANCE

 

“The lack of Divine blessing comes from unbelief, and not from a failure of devotion to impress God.”

 

WILLIAM NEWELL ON ACCEPTANCE

 

“To preach devotion to impress God first, and blessing second, is to reverse God’s order. To preach law, and not grace, is an abomination. The Law makes man’s blessing depend on his devotion to impress God; Grace confers undeserved, unconditional blessing, to the undeserving…our devotion may follow, but does not always do so, and seldom in proper measure.”

 

Are you sure of your God?  Are you sure of yourself in Christ?  Do you stand in the foundation of your acceptance by God as totally worthy in His eyes because of what Christ did for you at the Cross?

 

Second Thessalonians, Chapter 2, Verses 16 and 17…

 

Second Thessalonians 2:16

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and may God our Father, who has loved us unconditionally and who has given us eternal comfort and good hope by means of grace…

 

Second Thessalonians 2:17

…(may they) comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and in every good word.

 

And we learn to accept ourselves…isn’t it then inevitable that learn total acceptance of others? 

 

When the Lord Jesus Christ

Promises Salvation, It’s a Guarantee!

 

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel message, for the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

 

Psalm 62:1

My soul waits in silence for the Lord only; from Him is my salvation.

 

Acts 2:21

‘And it shall be that everyone who calls on the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved.’

 

Second Peter 3:9

The Lord Jesus Christ is not slow about His promise of salvation, as some accuse Him of, but is patient toward all mankind, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance (a change of mind about having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ).

 

CLOSING SONG

WHAT CAN SEPARATE YOU

June Murphy

 

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

          THANKS- INTERCESSION- PETITION

 

And we pray that You continue to shape the messages from this pulpit that are an accurate reflection of You…we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit, in Christ’s name, Amen.

 

Thanks for coming!

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for listening!

 

www.barahministries.com