Jesus Visits Martha & Mary
Notes
Transcript
Opening Illustration
Opening Illustration
One morning a farmer told his wife that he was going out to pluck the ripe fruits from his field.
He got off to an early start so he could warm up the truck.
He needed more petrol, so he went to the store to get it.
On the way to the store he noticed the pigs weren’t fed.
So he proceeded to the corn crib, where he found some sacks of feed.
Beside the sacks were potatoes that were sprouting.
Then when he started for the potato pit, he passed the wood pile and remembered that his wife wanted wood in the house.
As he picked up a few sticks, an ailing chicken passed by.
He dropped the wood and picked up the chicken.
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When noon arrived, the frustrated farmer had not even gotten to the truck, let alone to the field.
By now, it was very hot.
Some ripe fruits have dropped.
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Have you ever intended to do something you knew was very important, but found yourself in a similar situation...
Distracted by many other seemingly important tasks, which kept you from accomplishing your main objective?
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Setting priorities is important, Beloved...
For many things may be good in and of themselves...
But some things are more important than others...
And one thing is most important above all...
And that is our relationship with Jesus Christ.
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So, please turn your Bibles to the Gospel of Luke.
We will conduct our study in Chapter 10 and focus on verses 38 through 42.
Our message this morning is titled, “Jesus Visits Martha & Mary”
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This message today will focus on Jesus’ visit with Mary and Martha which acts as an object lesson on the priority of responding to Jesus over worldly concerns.
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So, this morning we will cover three main points:
1) Mary’s Priority
2) Martha’s Priority
And...
3) Jesus’ Answer
Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Before we consider our text, please join me in prayer...
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Heavenly Father...
You are such a good Father...
You had mercy on us when we did not deserve it...
You loved us when we were unlovable...
You saved us when we deserved Hellfire...
Thank You for who You are!
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Help us live a life that brings You honor…
Help us to understand Your Scriptures better each day...
Help us to depend on You more every hour...
Help us to love like You...
Help us to model our life after Your Son!
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And it is in Jesus’s name we pray all these things...
Amen.
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Let’s turn to our text for today:
Reading of the Text
Reading of the Text
38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.
40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”
41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,
42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
So, let’s look at our first point...
1) Mary’s Priority
1) Mary’s Priority
Verses 38-39: Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.
Beloved, let’s start by looking at the setting and some of the key characters in this passage.
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First, the “village” mentioned in our opening verse is the village of “Bethany.”
Bethany was located two miles East of the temple in Jerusalem and was on the East slope of the Mount of Olives.
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Second, the “house” mentioned in our opening verse is the home of Martha who is the sister of Mary and Lazarus whom Jesus will later raise from the dead.
These siblings appear in other places in the gospel accounts...
In John 11 we witness the account of Lazarus being restored to life after being in the grave for four days...
And in John 12:1–3 Martha, Mary, and Lazarus and mentioned again...
That passage says:
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table.
3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
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In the passage that we are looking at today we first learn that Martha has invited the Lord and His disciples to her house...
And her sister Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet and listened.”
Well, that fact about Mary is significant since this shows that Mary sits among disciples learning from a rabbi...
This may not seem like a big deal to us living in the Western 21st century...
But in the 1st century in Isreal this was a big deal...
Mary was in a position that most scribes at the time would find unacceptable for a woman.
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You see Beloved, unlike some in his culture, Jesus encouraged women to study the Scriptures.
So, this was startling in a culture where women did not receive formal teaching from a rabbi...
And this was yet again another example of Jesus turning the traditions of man on its head!
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The learning and study of the Word of God is not just for those who desire to be pastors, professors, and teachers...
The learning and study of the Word of God is not just for men...
The learning and study of the Word of God is for every follower of Jesus Christ regardless of social status, country of origin, or gender!
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Yes, some offices in the church like pastor or deacon is reserved for men alone...
That is undeniable form Scripture...
Yet, women need other women to teach them too!
Women just like men need to have an understanding of the whole council of the Word of God!
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Likewise, it should be understood that in Luke, “sitting” or “falling” at Jesus’ feet symbolizes faith.
So, this is more than just Mary understanding what Jesus is saying with her mind...
This is Mary believing what Jesus is saying in her heart!
In fact, the Pillar New Testament Commentary on Luke says:
“The description of Mary ‘hearing his word’ is even more important, for ‘hearing [Jesus’] word’ is in Luke-Acts the critical and consummate human response to divine revelation.
The Greek imperfect tense of ‘hearing’ in verse 39 means that Mary is absorbing Jesus’ word.”
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The religious elite of Jesus day did not understand this essential truth...
Their head knowledge could not help them see the heart of God...
For those who congregate at Jesus’ feet—women, Gentiles, and Samaritans—were not permitted at the feet of typical Jewish rabbis...
Yet, Jesus is no respecter of persons!
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The followers of Christ will be from every tribe and every nation!
Yet, they will share this fact in common...
They will hear their Master’s voice...
They will listen to what Jesus says...
And they will obey Him...
For this is the instruction given by the Father for His beloved Son...
Look with me at what it says in Matthew 17:5:
5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
So, during the Transfiguration event, God the Father made it clear what we need to do...
We need to listen to Him...
And the one’s who are truly Jesus’ sheep...
They will respond to that call...
As Jesus Himself says in John 10:27:
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
And it is clear from our passage that Mary, one of the Lord’s sheep, heard the call of her Good Shepherd...
She responded by sitting at His feet and hanging on every word He said...
For He has the words of life!
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This was Mary’s priority...
And it was very good, Beloved!
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However, Martha, Mary’s sister, had her own priorities...
And she made sure to take her complaint directly to Jesus...
So, let’s take a look at our next point to see Martha had to say.
2) Martha’s Priority
2) Martha’s Priority
Verse 40: But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”
Let’s start off by look at how the NLT renders this verse:
“But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing.
She came to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work?
Tell her to come and help me.’”
I love how the NLT captures the emotions of Martha and really presents how this verse would have been understood in the original language.
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Now, let’s loo at the word “distracted” from our passage which literally means “dragging all around.”
Basically, it indicates “being pulled away” by something, and can refer not only to distraction but also to being overburdened with an affair.
So, Martha is feeling very overwhelmed by all her work that she is going to prepare a meal for all her guests...
In fact, there is added pressure...
For Jesus is the guest of honor...
And we know that Martha has a high view of Jesus for she calls Him Lord.
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Now, since Martha is the one who welcomed Jesus and His disciples...
It would indicate that she is probably the older sister and that means that she has the primary responsibility for hospitality...
So, you can understand the pressure she is feeling.
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Additionally, hospitality for a guest is commanded in Scripture...
Just look with me at what Romans 12:13 says:
13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Furthermore, Hebrews 13:2 says:
2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
And we are not talking about a stranger here...
We are not even talking about a fellow brother or sister in Christ...
We are talking about Jesus Christ being the guest!
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Yet, was her response to Jesus appropriate?
Martha asked Jesus, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?”
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Was her objection raised about Mary her sister in not sharing in the serving of the meal appropriate?
Martha asked Jesus to do something about the situation when she said,“Tell her then to help me.”
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So, Martha’s readiness to serve is laudable...
But her distraction and anxiety signal an inner struggle arising from misplaced priorities.
So, her frustration finally erupts against Jesus, and she accuses Him of not caring about her plight.
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Yet, this is not the right attitude...
As the New International Commentary on the New Testament on Luke says:
“She is so dissatisfied that she wants to instruct the Savior as to what He should do, namely to command Mary to help her.
In this way she disturbed the harmony between herself and her sister and between herself and the Lord through her unbalanced zeal to entertain Jesus as lavishly as possible.”
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However, as we will see with our next point, time with Jesus is far more important than preparing an elaborate meal for Him...
And this takes us to our third and final point.
3) Jesus’ Answer
3) Jesus’ Answer
Verses 41-42: But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
I love how the Lord answered Martha...
He was sympathetic to her as he sees that she desires to serve Him by making an elaborate meal...
Yet He also needs to correct her for her priorities are misaligned.
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So Beloved, I want you to notice how Jesus says, “Martha, Martha.”
The double use of her name serves as a gentle rebuke...
And the repetition of Martha’s name conveys Jesus’ affection for her, and an understanding of her predicament...
What we are seeing is that Jesus does not condemn Martha...
But He does remind her with gentleness and firmness of a better way.
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Beloved, we would be able to communicate our points far better if we meet others with a gentle rebuke...
Especially, if a person had a well meaning intention but still needed correcting.
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In Martha’s case, she placed hospitality and making a meal, which is a great thing...
Above the spiritual meal that Jesus was giving his hearers.
Additionally, Martha was anxious and troubled about many things...
And the Word of God has much to say about being anxious...
Recall with me what Philippians 4:6 says:
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Instead of an attitude of thanksgiving, Marta was critical...
Not just of her sister for not helping...
But even of Jesus for what she perceived of as not noticing a problem.
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However, if Martha was less anxious about this meal for the Lord...
She may have stopped to realize the true blessing was in the hearing of Jesus’ words.
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Jesus Himself said much about being anxious and worrying...
Just look with me at what Matthew 6:25–34 says:
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,
29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
The heart of what Jesus said when speaking about being anxious is found in His statement, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Mary understood that...
That is why she was not helping to prepare the meal...
It was not that she was lazy or that she was avoiding her responsibility...
It was not that she did not want to be a hospitable guest...
But she hear Jesus teaching and immediately sat by His feet to hear the words of life that He was sharing...
She was seeking first the Kingdom of God!
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That needs to be our attitude too...
Whatever we do in this life..
Make sure the first thing you so is to seek His Kingdom first!
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What about the troubles of finance?
What about the troubles of work?
What about the troubles of family?
What about the troubles of politics?
What about the troubles of health?
What about the troubles of this world?
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Well Beloved...
Just throw it on His shoulders!
Trust me, He can carry them for you!
As 1 Peter 5:7 says:
7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
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Then, Jesus says to Martha that “one thing necessary” and that this was exemplified by Mary by an attitude of worship and meditation...
Mary was listening with an open mind and heart to Jesus’ words...
And that is the attitude we as believers should have in regards to the Word of God...
This is the one thing that is truly necessary in our life!
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So, while the work Martha is doing is important, it is not the most important thing—Jesus Himself is.
Martha’s “service” for Jesus got in the way of her sitting lovingly at His feet.
Martha must now learn to give the Lord and His word priority even over loving service.
There is a need to focus on what is most important, for although serving is good, sitting at Jesus’ feet and hearing God’s word is best.
As theologian James R. Edwards puts it:
“Jesus does not condemn Martha’s hospitality but directs her to a new understanding and employment of it in light of the gospel, an understanding that will prevent it from impeding discipleship and redeem it on behalf of discipleship.
Luke’s objective in this story correlates closely with his objective in Acts 6:1–7, in which the apostles, through the establishment of the office of deacon, enable the ministry of food to continue without impeding the more important ministry of the word in preaching and prayer.”
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Jesus ends His answer to Martha with the phrase that the good portion that Mary chose “will not be taken away from her.”
This means that a relationship with Jesus cannot be stolen from a person...
As Romans 8:38-39 says:
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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So Beloved, make sure you have your priorities straight...
Make sure that you are not sacrificing the hearing of God’s word for anything else in this world...
For even service for Jesus is not a good reason to not hear what Jesus has to say...
That is the reason we all gather her on the Lord’s Day...
To hear the Word of God together...
That is why Hebrews 10:25 says:
25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Beloved, remember to always be seeking the Kingdom of God first...
And don’t let your worries and anxiety pull you away from that...
I like how theologian Darrell L. Bock once said it:
“Sometimes the activity associated with ministry can prevent us from more important endeavors—such as hearing God’s word so that he can touch us...
Service of the hand cannot supersede service with the ear, since the ear guides the heart and the hand...
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It is better to be a listening disciple than an immaculate host.”
Closing Illustration
Closing Illustration
So, as this message comes to a close...
I would like you to consider this poem titled “At His Feet”:
At His feet, I know His peace.
At His feet, no mercies cease.
At His feet, I find true rest.
At His feet, this place, the best.
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Mary knew that place so well.
Gratitude, her actions tell;
Her devotion clearly shown.
Love’s warm tears was love she’d known.
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Magi who had travelled far,
Who had tracked the Infant’s star,
Stood before Him worshipping;
At His feet were honouring.
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One cleansed leper at His feet.
Freely worshipped there - so sweet.
He returned to give his thanks;
Joined the praising, thankful ranks.
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Soldiers stood before His feet.
Thorny crown, this King to greet.
Mockery alone they bring,
Ignorant of Christ, the King.
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John fell at His feet thought dead.
Majesty had caused such dread;
Much too great the glory seen;
Overpowering it had been.
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All the glory His alone.
Worthy Lord, upon the throne!
Elders’ crowns cast at His feet.
Honor, power - for Him, meet.
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At His feet, no better place.
To appreciate His grace!
At His feet, no better choice.
Could be made where to rejoice!
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Truly, no better place can be found than at the Savior’s feet...
For Jesus was not just a great prophet...
Jesus was not just a great teacher...
Jesus was not just a great miracle worker...
Jesus was so much more than that!
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Jesus was our Savior!
Jesus came to save us when we couldn’t save ourselves...
Jesus came to live for us...
And Jesus ultimately came to die for us!
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And it is now about Christ’s sacrifice that we bring our attention to.
Communion
Communion
As we begin our communion service, I want to invite every genuinely born-again believer in the room to partake in this act together.
If you do not yet know the Lord and do not have a relationship with Him...
Or if you are under church discipline from this church or another church...
Then I will ask that you wait until you have resolved your issue before participating.
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As you came in you should have picked up a communion packet if you are joining us.
This has both the bread and juice in a convenient package.
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If you have not received one of these, please raise your hand and someone will get you one.
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Before we join in communion together, I would like us to consider Isaiah 53:5:
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
As you meditate on this verse, consider this:
After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the damage.
One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree.
Startled by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick.
When he struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother’s wings.
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The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings.
She could have flown to safety but refused to abandon her babies.
When the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast.
She had been willing to die so that those under the cover of her wings would live.
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Beloved, like that mother bird...
Jesus stretched out His arms and voluntarily sacrificed His life for ours...
He was pierced for you and me!
He was crushed for you and me!
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Only He could bring us true and eternal peace!
Only He could heal us eternally by His wounds!
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You and I deserved the cross!
You and I deserved Hell for eternity!
You and I are the ones responsible for Christ being crucified!
The blood from that crime is on our hands!
We are just as guilty as the ones who cried out, “Crucify Him!”
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Yet, He knew all of this...
And died for us anyways...
And that is what each one of us has to be thankful for today!
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So, Beloved...
Let’s all take a moment right now in silent prayer to thank the Lord for all He did for us...
(MOMENT OF SILENCE)
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Tom will you pray before we partake in the bread:
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The Word of God says in Luke 22:19:
19 And he took bread, and when he had 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.”
(TAKE THE BREAD)
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Adrian will you pray before we partake in the cup:
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The Word of God says in Luke 22:20:
20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
(TAKE THE CUP)
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With that we conclude the communion portion of our service.
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer
Let’s pray...
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Heavenly Father...
If anyone hearing this message right now does not know You in a saving way...
Then remove the scales from their eyes that still blind them...
Transform their stone heart and make it a heart of flesh...
And renew their mind so that they are a new creation!
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I appeal to Your Name’s sake!
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For those hearing this message who already know You...
Remind us of what is most important in our life...
Remind us of who we once where...
And remind us of who we are now as brand new creations!
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Again, I appeal to Your Name’s sake!
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It is in Jesus’s name we pray all these things...
To God be all the glory.
Amen.
