“Do this in remembrance of Me.”
Luke 22: 14-21, vs.19b
14 When the hour [for the meal] had come, Jesus reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. 15 He said to them, “I have earnestly wanted to eat this Passover
with you before I suffer; 16 for I say to you, I will not eat it again until
it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And when He had taken a cup and [c]given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it
among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the
fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And when He had taken bread and given
thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is
given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten,
saying, “This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant [ratified] in My blood.
What
did Jesus ask us to remember?
v His
body given for us.
v His
blood poured out for us.
But
instead, the church is celebrating Christmas with elements from various pagan
religions from Europe.
v Going
back to the spread of Christianity in the 1st century, Europe was
significant in the spread of the gospel.
v The
early Christians did not actually celebrate the birth of Jesus. The death of
Jesus was such a reality to them that there was no need for this. After all,
you cannot record a death before birth!
v The
death of a saint was instead celebrated. Paul even admonished us to not mourn as
those who have no hope concerning loved ones who died in Christ, as they will
return with Christ at the second coming (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).
v
Christmas was not
celebrated until 356 A.D. This was a time when there was a lot of heresies and
unbelief in Christ and the Church wanted to try and correct this.
v
However, they
chose a time which coincided with other pagan festivals.
v
These festivals
were usually filled with rowdiness, drunkenness and more.
v
By the 8th
century, Christmas was well and truly celebrated in Europe.
v
Some of the
elements of these festivals from different parts of Europe (live green trees
indoors – German, Yule log – Sweden, Mistletoe – Sweden, excess indulgence in
meat and wine – Santa Claus – Turkey) have now been incorporated into modern
Christmas celebrations.
v
However, some
Christians of old have opposed it. Most especially the Puritans who banned it
in New England, USA between 1659 and 1681.
How did the European Church
get here?
As
Christianity was passed on from one generation to another, an error occurred in
the passing on of the “baton”.
Let’s go back to the
beginning:
The
Passover
Exodus 12:43-50
43 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the
ordinance of the Passover: no [h]foreigner is to eat it; 44 but
every man’s slave who is bought with money, after you have circumcised him,
then he may eat it.45 No stranger (temporary resident,
foreigner) or hired servant shall eat it. 46 It is to be eaten inside one house; you shall not take any
of the meat outside the house, nor shall you break any of its bones. 47 The entire congregation of Israel shall keep and celebrate it. 48 If a stranger living temporarily among you wishes to
celebrate the Passover to the Lord, all his males must be circumcised, and then he may
participate and celebrate it like one that is born in the land. But no
uncircumcised person may eat it. 49 The same law shall apply to the native-born and to the
stranger who lives temporarily among you.”
50 Then all
the Israelites did so; they did just as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 And on that very same day the Lord brought the Israelites out of the land of
Egypt by their hosts (tribal armies).
The Holy Communion
v
God commanded the Israelites not to allow
strangers to partake of the Passover.
v
Males partaking must be circumcised.
v
It signified the covenant of their liberty into
freedom.
v
We see the covenant of the “Passover” is fulfilled in Christ as the ultimate sacrifice for
sins setting us free from the dictates of the old man.
v
To eat at the “Table
of the Lord” is to remember the death
of Christ as Jesus asked us too.
v
Anyone who has not been to Calvary is a stranger
to the body of Christ and cannot take part with a reverent heart. They have not
been set apart unto the Lord. This is why the Lord commanded that strangers
should not take part in the Passover.
v
It seemed like the Corinthian Church had
forgotten the essence of the Lord’s Table and no longer giving it the honour it
deserved.
v
When we have truly been to Calvary, seen the
nails on our Saviour’s hands and feet, seen the blood divine gushing from His
side, we eat at the Lord’s Table with a heart indebted to such love our Saviour
showed us!
v
Paul explained the implications of not
approaching the “Table of the Lord” with
reverence. These include sickness and deaths.
v
When the Lord gave the commandment of the
Passover, He also commanded the Israelites not to have anything to do with the
gods of the land that they will be
possessing.
v
Paul explicitly reminded the Corinthian Church
of the need to be SEPARATE unto the Lord.
What agreement has the temple of God with idols? (2 Corinthians 6:16-17).
In summary, the European Church lost its
way as the baton of the “old man” and not a Calvary life was passed on.
This occurred as a lack of SEPARATION from
the unclean thing. From the mixing of the Temple of God with idols.
The Lord has said: “A little one of shall
become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation.” (Isaiah 60:22). If all who
have not bowed to Baal can receive COURAGE and be SEPARATE to be TRUE WITNESSES
indeed there will an ARMY ready join in the battle for souls of men in the
continent of Europe!!!!
Prayers for Our Lives
v
Lord, Jesus, thank You for Your body that was
broken for me. Thank You for going
through the agony on the cross for me.
v
Lord, Jesus, thank You for Your blood that was
poured as a drink offering in exchange for my life.
v
Lord, have mercy upon me wherever I may have
unknowingly despised Your death.
v
Lord, may I always remember Your death. Keep me
near the cross, O my Lord. May I not glory in anything except in the cross of
my Lord (Galatians 6.14).
v
Lord, may I continually hear the echo of Your
roar which is Your true gospel that transformed me from the prey to the victor!
(Amos 3:8).
v
Thank you Jesus for YourWord that came at the Ministers
Leaders Retreat that: “A little one will become a great nation.” Lord cause me to
arise with COURAGE and be SEPARATE unto you for the harvest of souls.
Prayers for Our Families
v
Even as Joshua declared that as for him and his
family they will serve the Lord; Lord, Jesus, we declare that we will strive
until our family members come to Calvary receiving
the complete gospel.
v
Even if they think that we are beside ourselves,
that the love of Christ will compel us to continue to labour for their souls (2
Corinthians 5:13-15). Our Lord despised the shame of the cross, drank our cup
of iniquity and went to the cross (Hebrews 12:2, John 18:11). No matter the
ridicule, oppression O Lord, we will strive until they come to fountain of
blood!
v
In this time of festivities, we will glory only
in the cross of Christ. Give us the wisdom to teach our children to only glory
in the cross of Christ. Even as Peter admonished us to always have an answer
for what we believe in, Lord, help us to teach our children how to only glory
in the cross of Christ in ways they can understand.
Prayers for the European Church
v
We thank you for the continent of Europe.
v
We thank you for its strategic
position in the world, connecting all
the other continents.
v
We thank you for Your saints of old whom you
used to spread the message of the cross.
v
Lord, Jesus we ask you to have mercy on the
European Church.
v
Restore the complete
gospel unto the European Church. Let the power of Your precious blood that was shed for Your ransomed
church save them from sin.
v
We ask for courage
and boldness for Your saints who have not
bowed down to Baal. Strengthen them to
endure to the end, O God.
v
Let them know they are not alone. Assure them of
the “7000” that have not bowed down (1 Kings 19:18). Let them become nations in
the European Church.
Prayers for Europe
v
Lord, Jesus we ask that You strengthen Your true witnesses in the power of Your might, that they may be able to put
on the whole armour of God to stand against
the wiles of the evil one (Ephesians 6:10 -11).
v
We ask that the complete
Mystery of the Gospel will be the full armour
for Your witnesses called to Europe. The
revelation of this mystery will be the breastplate
of righteousness; truth in the Mystery of
the Gospel will gird their waist; they will wear the gospel for their
feet with the shield of faith in the mysterious gospel to quench the fiery
darts of the wicked one (Ephesians 6:14-16).
v
We declare that JESUS
is the LIGHT over Europe. Lord, we ask you
raise children that are of the DAY to shine
your LIGHT over Europe (1 Thessalonians
5:4-5).
v
Raise ‘Josiahs’ that will say NO to ungodliness and PULL
DOWN all the false altars in our time! (2 Chronicles 34:7).
v
Give this continent a heart of flesh. Remove
their stony heart so that they can see the need of a saviour (Ezekiel 36).
v
As many as You have called to be witnesses to
this continent, Lord, cause them to “Arise and
Shine for your glory is upon them”. Even though the continent seems so
entrenched in darkness, Lord, Your Light and Glory will
be over Your witnesses (Isaiah 60:1-2).
