 Great, let's pray and we'll get started. Father, we submit this day this time into your hands We'll be welcome you even as we study about Your church father, I pray Though that you will continue to pour out your wisdom your knowledge your understanding your insights as we learn from your world God, I pray that there will be Revelation and everything that we learn father In Jesus name I pray I meant I meant all right guys. Thank you all for joining in But today's course on the local church we move in to chapter 19 From today and we complete section one we've completed section one and section two Section two is where we elaborate About the different aspects of the church the ten different aspects of the church right from the body of Christ To the vine to the branches to as the bride as Zion as the people chosen people of God and as so many other aspects of it, right? And then and we see how God's heart and they're in each and every single aspect of The local church and everything that we studied in detail Hey, and so now we move on to the third section beginning from chapter 19 page 123 in your PDFs We really learn about the sacraments of the church Give us what this chapter is all about is some of the practices that were that Jesus commanded his people back then to Continue to push it. So that's what we will be looking right so So when we talk about when we mention the words say ordinances or sacraments You know, these were the practices basically which was ordained ordinance ordained right by by Jesus himself to be To be permanently observed by the church right to in all the different ages and stages These there are certain ordinances practices that what we were meant to follow For the you know for a long time to come. Okay, and so one One of those practices is what a baptism right now these remind you that these ordinances are to be practiced by The believer right and they it also means by which the power of Jesus is also unleashed It's released, right? That's the finished work of the cross becomes real and effective In a believer's life when we practice a practice this ordinances The sacraments The finished work of the cross is released in our lives over our lives as well Okay, and so what is the first ordinance is the water baptism? Right, so that's what we will look at So what a baptism it's introduced by John the Baptist That's why we call him John the Baptist He introduced a water baptism when announcing the kingdom of heaven on earth as a sign of Repentance, right? That's was his famous message. What was his famous message? What was John the Baptist's famous message? Yeah, go ahead Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Yeah Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand for the kingdom of God is near. Yeah Yeah, so that was his famous message that led to repentance and as a sign as an expression of repentance was People choosing to get baptized in the water, right? So John the Baptist introduced it Jesus was baptized You know, although he had nothing to repent from but it was to demonstrate obedience to full a fulfill all righteousness, right? And so Let's read a couple of scriptures there. Can can I request some one of you to read Matthew chapter 3 verse 13 to 16, please Yeah Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan He baptized by John but John tried to deter him saying I need to be baptized by you And do you come to me Jesus replied let it be so now It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness Then John consented as soon as Jesus was baptized He went up out of the water at that moment heaven was open and he saw the spirit of God Descending like dow and lighting on him Okay, awesome. Thank you, Japhina. I mean, can you imagine? John's situation You know John is the forerunner Bridegroom's best friend a best man, I so to speak, right? And so he's by passing people those who are repenting of their sins and whatnot and then here comes Jesus I'll just only imagine his plight, right? That's like Why are you coming here? What do I have to do with you kind of things, right? But Jesus replies Beautifully, excuse me. Sorry guys Matthew chapter 3 verse 13 to 16. It's a wonderful thing So Jesus himself came forward to demonstrate obedience to fulfill all righteousness, right? And so John the Baptist introduces it he Jesus gets baptized by John the Baptist. He chooses to be baptized by John the Baptist And then we go on to see that baptism is a command in the New Testament Matthew chapter 28 verse 19 and 20 was 19 itself. We all know this Verse right go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples Baptized them in the name of the Father Son and the Holy Spirit, okay? It's very baptism simply basically what what we will learn sooner is it simply means immersion being brought into as well, right? So baptizing them in the name of the Father Son and the Holy Spirit, so that's also a commandment Right and baptism expresses your decision to follow Jesus Christ alone Baptism is a symbol of the inner experience of death burial and resurrection with Jesus And so can someone read Romans chapter 6 verse 4, please. Okay, I'll read it for us Roman 6 Chapter 6 verse 4 it says when we were baptized We died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized so that we would live a New life as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father Okay, so when we were baptized we died and were buried with Christ We were baptized so that we would we would live a new life as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father Okay, so That is a symbol an expression also, right? So we we go into the water old man dies We're buried and we are resurrected as a new being as a new creation itself, right? So that's the belief Baptism is also an expression of your desire to maintain a clear conscience before God Right. Um, so anyone first Peter Peter chapter 3 verse 21 first Peter chapter 3 Was 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also not the removal of dirt from the body But the pledge of a good conscience towards God it saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ Right. Thank you. Right. So, uh, those um, I'm reading let me read from esv Right. So, uh, first Peter chapter 3 was 21, right? So baptism which corresponds to this now saves you Not as a removal of dirt from the body But as an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, right? Now in the Old Testament there was water involved in cleansing yourself, right? priests In the tabernacle of moses before they entered The holy place where it had the table of showbread The lamp stand and the altar of incense Before they would go there in the outer courts. There were two parts, isn't it? One was the altar of sacrifice and the other was the brazen labor or bronze labor so it was made of bronze on the outside and It was like a basin where the priests would wash themselves or cleanse themselves before they enter And inside of the basin was made of all was made of mirrors right and so We see that God's word being referred to waters many times in the scripture which symbolizes that where it cleanses us Right, but then here Peter's saying, okay. Hey, this baptism is not only cleansing the dirt It's not just that but it is an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ Right, so that's what's happening in baptism as well. So already there's quite a lot So we see that John the Baptist introduces it. Jesus was baptized by him. We all know this It's a command. It's a commandment in Matthew 28 And baptism is an expression to your decision to follow Jesus Christ. Yes I mean It's in my experience at least after many youth camps Most of the youth decide to get water baptized because Something happens in the camp and they decide to give their life to Jesus Maybe they have responded to an altar call and whatnot and now They want to express it You know declare a proclaim it kind of a thing this thing. So I'm going to choose to get water baptized You know, and so that's like a public proclamation saying that I'm a follower of christ now And that's kind of an official stamp or a seal kind of a thing right The seventh point there the only requirement to be baptized is repent and Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. I can someone read acts chapter 8 was 36 and 37, please Acts chapter 8 was 36 and 37 now as they went down the road they came to some water and The eunuch said see here is water what hinders me from being baptized Then philip said if you believe with all your heart you may and he answered and said I believe and that jesus christ is a son of god in Right. Yeah. Thank you. So, uh, the only prerequisite, uh, there the requirement In other words is that you need to repent and believe To be water baptized There is no fancy five step process or seven step process or Or all these things that anyone can come up with Right. The simple requirement is that you need to repent Say that I'm a sinner and I need you and I accept you as my lord and savior who died on the cross for my sins And I believe that you rose again from the dead for me So you you believe that You're ready to get water baptized, right? Bapt someone again read, uh, baptism is immersion by water. I mean we just read that Scripture so you don't have to read it again baptism is immersion in water only now Why is that standing out? As you might all know that point is there are certain denominations or backgrounds that believe in baptism as the sprinkling of the water But it's what they do but in our context what we believe is that baptism is Completely in its only immersion in the water, right? All right But I mean, so there are exception cases for example, I mean if a person is And this is rare exceptions case and you know, we need to understand We need to be a little wise or have some common sense in other words to say, okay So if a person is medically ill or medically or physically challenged You know, you know, you can't get that person into the water well or a river or a pool So those are the exceptions that you know, you know what to do in that moment, right? So that's the exception. But otherwise what we strongly believe is that baptism in itself Is immersion Right, it actually comes from a latin greek word immerse you kind of a thing. So Simply means immersion You do not have to become very holy to be baptized People were baptized as soon as they repented and believed in Jesus Christ. I mean baptism was for the was for the sinners Was not for the holy, isn't it? Otherwise, you know, John the Baptist message as we just saw was that repent All you holy people come and get baptized. It was not John's message as in so you don't have to become holy or self-righteous suddenly and whatnot But you need to just repent and believe once again reiterated What a baptism will not make you a spiritual giant Okay, you still must grow spiritually through the word and prayer Okay, um, so I mean I I got baptized in uh, January 11th 2001 and so I was like, okay, I got baptized now and I think no, I'm like some kind of a superhero kind of a thing You know, I don't have to uh Do much to grow now But I was so wrong It's fine. I was young with But then Once you've declared publicly that you are that you are a follower of Jesus Christ and Jesus is your lord and savior Uh, you need to continue to grow spiritually where you need to study his word You need to meditate on his word Grow uh, it's in grow spiritually immaturity Right, etc. So, uh, you still must grow spiritually through word and prayer Because baptism is an act of obedience. You can expect increased measure of blessing Um, right. So one of the when we see it when Jesus was baptized, right? It says, um, and I like this in the gospel of mark. It says And I think new king james version or nasb. I'm not sure he says, um, he the heavens were torn apart Right the different translations that says Rend the heavens like he tore the heavens open And came down it's almost. Uh, it's not almost it's it's like I I think isaias 66 or 64. I'm not sure guys. I forget it. It's like isaias prayer saying isa Won't you rend the heavens and come down? They want you to tear open the heavens and come down And we see that imagery in mark chapter two and jesus was baptized It's saying the heavens tore apart and then the holy spirit came down and form of it out and rested on jesus um, right and so, uh With that as an act of obedience, there is a release Right and I mean the heavens could have torn apart to open anytime the holy spirit could have descended anytime Uh, but then it happened when jesus chose to obey and surrender completely and get baptized in the water Right. Um, it's a point 12 there Because baptism is a symbolic proclamation of the cross You can expect the power of the cross to affect your life. Okay. Let's go through that with me Because baptism is a symbolic proclamation of the cross. What is uh What's the proclamation of the cross it's it's death Burial and the resurrection isn't it? That's the simple message of the cross and so all of because all of that is represented in in baptism in baptism You can expect the power of the cross to affect your life in breaking bondages addictions bringing deliverance and more during baptism Right. Uh, it says somewhere in Colossians, right, uh, when it says when jesus died on the cross and rose again He made a public spectacle of the enemy Right. Uh, it's like he humiliated them publicly where he All of their power was taken this thing was taken And so we can expect that same power of the cross to work in in us, right when we when we When we get water baptized Okay, and so and And all of this as it says in Matthew chapter 28 verse 19 says baptize them in the name of jesus And so that means We've been given this authority Right the authority Of jesus's name has been given to us Right the same, uh, if you remember Acts chapter 9 Was 15 i think God tells ananias to go and meet with paul He is a vessel i've chosen to carry my name Right and so just the same way you and i Carry the name of jesus Which simply means we are here in his place. We are here As him, you know, we represent him as his ambassador. We are acting on his behalf That's a huge responsibility Okay, and it's an incredible honor When we say we are gathered together in jesus name We're going to do this in jesus name Especially when we say i'm going to baptize you in jesus name Uh, we are representing him. We are in his place and we are acting on his behalf That needs to sink in Guys, I mean For us to know that we are acting on jesus's behalf Wow, I mean If you have siblings, you know what i'm talking about or anyone, you know, it's like hey Daddy told me, you know to do this there's a different kind of a tone or authority my four-year-old understands this right if if If mom said no tv and I said And if I didn't know that she said okay, and if I said No, yes to the tv then um, you know, all everything is going to break loose at home It's like why because mama said this and dara said this so uh kid understands power And uh, I mean how much more should be right and so And that's the beauty and the power of baptism, uh, it's It's just Plunging into the water But then the the meaning and the message and the symbol that it carries is so deep, right? We are just partaking of a practice that's been happening for ages For 2000 odd years right and in just That we are saying that i'm part of this church. I'm part of the body of christ Right and and this unites us from All parts of the world isn't it? What this is one of many things that we do that that unites us together, isn't it? It we we sing and celebrate god's faithfulness. We worship him. We come together every sunday service uh, and whatnot and so Um, yeah, um, so that's water baptism. That's one of the sacraments uh, that jesus commanded that we that we do And that we follow faithfully Right, um, are you guys with us any question any thoughts? That you'd like to add or say Right, so that means we are all in agreement. We don't need to have a debate about anything Okay. All right Fantastic. Okay. Um, so the going on to the other sacrament Is the lord's uh table Right. Um, the lord's table was instituted by instituted by jesus himself Um, so i'm going to request someone to please read matthew chapter 26 was 18 to 30 Matthew chapter 26 was 18 to 30. I think it'll be good 18 to 18 to 30 matthew chapter 26 was 18 to 30 Okay He replied go into the city To a certain man and tell him the teacher says my appointed time is near I'm going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house So the disciples did as jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover An evening came jesus was reclining at the table with the 12 And while they were eating he said I tell you the truth one of you will betray me They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other surely not I lot Jesus replied the one who has dipped his hand into the bar with me will betray me The son of man will go just as it is written about him But oh to that man who betrays the son of man It would be better for him if he had not been born Then jurist the one who would betray him said surely not I robot Jesus and said yes, it is you while they were eating jesus took that gave thanks and broke it And gave it to his disciples saying take and eat. This is my body Then he took the cup gave thanks and offered it to them saying Drink from it all of you. This is my blood of the covenant Which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins I tell you I will not drink of this fruit of the wine from now on until the day when I drink it and you With you in my father's when they had some of him they went out to the mount of olives Right. Thank you, jeff. Yeah I think the last verse also it says when they had sung of him So, uh, wow, they sang uh and they worshiped Right, uh, when they had sung of him they went out to the mount of olives. Uh, but this whole thing, um It starts off with I will keep the pass over Right. Um, so, uh, what can you tell me about? What what is pass over? anyone I'm sure you're aware What was this practice all about during the time of the satellites Or the last the last plague was there and we used to put the blood of the lamb on the doorpost and the angel will pass And then here I think it's all about the power of the blood and flesh things Yeah, um, yeah, that's that's pretty much it, isn't it? Um, it's It was during their time at the egypt. Uh, they were commanded by god and uh to post blood of an innocent lamb a lamb that was without blemish on on the doorposts and Every house that had the the blood on their doorposts with the angel of death would pass over That means the judgment would not be pronounced over them. Um, and the judgment was Death basically, isn't it? um And so that's that's what it is that's what uh, and what is amazing is When it didn't matter who was inside the house Like even if it was an egyptian that was inside the house and if he was inside the house that had the blood on On the doorpost he was saved. He was uh, he was spared um, and there's so much to learn about just that and how that anyone Who is under the blood of jesus has eternal life, isn't it? That's that's a beautiful Um way to look at it, right and uh, let's read some more scriptures if that's all right I'd like to read uh, like someone to read uh first quarantine chapter 11 was 20 to 34 someone else Please first quarantine chapter 11 was 20 to 34 first quarantine chapter 11 It was 20 to 34 Therefore when you when you come together in one place it is not to eat the lord supper For in eating each one takes his own supper ahead of others and one is hungry and another is drunk What do you What do you not have houses to eat and drink in or do you despise the church of god and shame those Who have nothing what shall I say to you shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you For I received from the lord that which I also delivered to you That the lord jesus on the same night in which he was betrayed took bread And when he had given thanks he broke it and said take eat This is my body which is broken for you Do this in remembrance of me in the same manner He also took the cup after supper saying this cup is a new covenant in my blood This do as often as you drink it in remembrance of me For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the lord's death till he comes Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the lord In an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the lord But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself Not discerning the lord's body For this reason many are weak and sick among you and many sleep Oh, sorry. I didn't realize my was on mute. Okay. Thank you for reading that And very quickly can we also read 1st Corinthians 10 16 to 21 please somewhere else 1st Corinthians chapter 10 was 16 to 21 1st Corinthians chapter 10 was 16 to 10 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of christ And it's not the bread that we break a participation In the body of christ because there is one love we Who are many or one body for we all partake of the one love Consider the people of history do not those Who eat the sacrifice participate in the altar? Do I mean that a sacrifice offered to a idol is anything or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifice of patrons or offered to demons not to god And I do not want you to be participants with demons You cannot drink the cup of the lord and the cup of demons too You cannot have a part in both the lord's table and the and the table of demons Yeah, um, thank you. Jeff. Yeah, it's so we look at I mean we read a quite quite a bit Thank you Hmm, uh, each of you for reading that so We are studying about the sacrament one of the second sacrament that jesus instituted is the the lord's table Right the the communion as we call it Um, so we we read that in matthew chapter 26 was 18 to 30 And how jesus talks about the Passover and he breaks the bread and passes the cup and all of that and and then This instruction with paul writes in first Corinthians chapter 11 verse 20 to 34 One of the key verses there is verse 23 right in first Corinthians chapter 11 verse 23 it's all is saying that I received this from the lord that means there was a revelation that he received From god himself on how this was taken and this is how it has to be Done right there are certain instructions that's been laid out Right and so that's what we will kind of look at okay, and um what? What the lord's table is all about okay, so Uh, the communion is open to all who are believers in lord jesus christ Once again right It's open to all the believers in the lord jesus christ And so when we partake or celebrate the lord's table It is an expression of our personal faith In the death burial and resurrection of the lord Right it's again same thing uh as the water baptism you're expressing you're expressing your personal faith Because you believe in jesus christ uh as your personal lord and savior you publicly confess and declare and proclaim by getting baptized And then you continue and do to do so by partaking uh in the communion in the table right of Of a bread and and wine So an expression of a personal faith in death burial and resurrection of the lord A proclamation of the completed work of christ on the cross Right every proclamation is powerful in the spiritual realm and hence we can expect to receive the power Of the cross invading our lives as we partake in the lord's table Okay And it's an expression of our faith in his return Uh an expression of our union with jesus. We are declaring our communion with the body And the blood of jesus as we just read in first corinthians chapter 10 verse 16 And also we're not just saying when we partake of the table. We are not just declaring or proclaiming that You know, we are one with jesus We are also expressing that we are part of the body as a collective as a church as a local church We are expressing that we are part of the body. We are in union with other believers of the local church Okay, and you see at least the three four points are in common of what we've already studied about water baptism Right. We are saying I belong to him. He is my everything Uh and the same power that is released, uh, you know in our lives because of our obedience in water baptism Is also released when we partake of the of the communion Okay, and so how can we So how can we prepare our hearts? Uh For us to partake of this communion for us to partake of the lord's table Is very important right because this is a covenant relationship, right? Uh when we do this we are saying I'm giving you my word so to speak And this was taken very seriously Covenant especially in the in that region the middle eastern region was taken very very seriously right, um so If you know anything about the covenants Basically two parties would come and they would choose an animal and they would kind of uh, it was Uh, what do you say, uh, split the animals cut cut it in half in different pieces And both the parties would walk between the pieces of a Uh the animal that has been uh cut Which means to say that if it's either one of us breaks the word or don't keep the word that we are giving What happened to this animal may it happen to me? So that's basically what it's saying and you know when When god makes a covenant with Abraham He again brings Abraham brings the bull and it's all cut And you know Abraham doesn't walk through that and only god goes through it It's in other words simply to say it's one of the uh Covenant names itself. He's a covenant keeping god that we call right? It's impossible for him to break his word He keeps his word for generations and generations to come and that is who he is and right and so And and when we partake of this table, we are in a covenant relationship with him. We're saying we commit ourselves To one another in the way I live Um, the way I do everything is how I you know, how I am in relationship with this god And so it's very important how we prepare ourselves when it comes to partaking of the lord's table It uh, the first thing again, paul writes is examine our lives and renouncing known sin Examining our lives and renouncing known sin habitual sin, uh, or whatever Uh, would have happened If you're living a life of sin, um examine yourselves Uh, because paul goes on to say you have to take partake of it in a worthy manner, isn't it? Um, so we look at it in just a second. So examine our lives renouncing known sin Taking the elements understanding and believing in what they represent Um, the finished work of christ on the cross through his death and resurrection taking the elements understanding and believing in what they represent Um, I'll never forget this. Uh, This is many years ago I forget 2006 or 2007 There was an evangelist from the united states who had come and we were having an all night prayer in church And uh, he was going to lead the communion during that all night service All night prayer and he took a wafer and He said, you know, I I'd like to do this thing Before I partake of the wafer and he He would break the wafer just to remind himself that his body was broken Right and so and that it was it was just a moment and it's never left me and every time since then Every sunday at least from then on till now every time I receive a wafer I would break it just to remind myself the significance and the importance You know of what it means of what you know, what jesus did for me personally on the cross Right through his death and resurrection so Yeah, and so And as it says in the notes, right it's in celebrating the lord's table. We must expect the full blessing of the cross Expected like, you know, you know what it means to expect, right? All of us have expected something in life. You expect something for yourself. You expect something from someone else You expect something from your family members Our whole life sometimes is lived based on expectations Isn't it? And so here we are encouraged to expect Full blessings of the cross and what is what what are they right salvation? Healing breaking bondages deliverance wholeness blessing provision and so much more Right to be released into our lives. You got to expect that when you're partake It's like i'm partaking of this lord's table and I expect everything and you declare you proclaim it Right some 91 says I will declare and I will declare of the lord that he is my strength. He is my refuge He is my fortress right and so You expect and you declare so I declare healing over myself. I declare healing over my family. I declare Deliverance over my family so Because you are expecting and you believe what jesus has done for you on the cross, right? So Each time we partake of the lord's table We must welcome the power of the cross to be made effective in our lives by the power of the holy spirit Okay, each time Every time you partake of the god's table of the lord's table. You must welcome the power of the cross Um, it is significant. Isn't it guys? Uh, it's so powerful. It's it's not now We it just it's not just a mundane ritual thing that we are doing because it's been been done for like 2000 odd years Uh, what keeps it alive? Uh, what what brings meaning to it is that you know what it carries You know what was done for you If you if you don't uh engage or understand or have any thought about What you're doing what you're partaking of it's then it just becomes a ritual It means nothing. It's just a wafer and juice Sometimes it's not even tasty Uh, but when you realize what it was what it is what's been done and established for you on the cross Then it takes a whole different meaning altogether right, um, so And the elements are when we just move on to page 125 in your notes, right The elements of bread and grape juice are symbolic You need to understand that. Okay We do not believe in transmutation. That is the elements suddenly supernaturally become the actual flesh and blood of jesus when you eat them Uh, now this is what people did not understand back then when jesus said, uh, you know Partake of my when you when you do this you're partaking of my of my body and you're drinking my blood You jesus lost a lot of fans Right is like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa Okay, you know, we followed you all this thing jesus lost a lot of fans then he really made the statement and disciples were like, uh We don't know what what it is, but we will stick with you. It was like that, you know, the disciples stuck with him It's kudos to them, right? But everybody else did not really get Understand what jesus was really saying, but we need to understand this. We need to get this very clear Okay, we do not believe in transmutation That suddenly these elements in bread and grape juice becoming, uh, the actual flesh and blood. They are symbolic Okay, uh, you know during the covid time Um or for all the solid two and two two years or so We had churches online, right services online and we had to partake of the communion There had to become union services as well. So, you know, pastor would say Find any juice of bread or whatever it is or if you have chapati take it rocky, whatever it is It's a symbol, right? If you don't have any juice fine. Do you find a glass of water? It's a symbol right and so, um So that's what that's what's happening. Um, that's what's being explained at that point Okay, so, uh We need to understand the power that is being unleashed When we are partaking of the lord's table Right, uh, any thoughts guys any questions so far? Are you with me? Okay. All right. Thank you So paul writes, uh, you have to partake it in a worthy manner and so what does that mean there, right? One of the issues paul is addressing is the behavior of people at the Corinthian church Behavior at the Corinthian church. There were two ways in which they were violating the lord's table Uh, the first one is they were partaking of the lord's table As an act of worship and then also partaking of foods offered to idols as an act of worship toward the idol Which paul calls idolatry Okay, so the problem there was really not the food Okay guys, so It's basically they were serving two masters. That was the problem Okay, it was really not the food paul could care less about it So the real problem there as mentioned was not the food but with the reverence that was being given to the idol And so eating something sacrificed to idol, uh, which also mean became a stumbling block to other new believers So that was the issue. So it became a stumbling block to other believers. Okay, so So the challenge or the problem there or the issue at hand was not the food It was their lifestyle Right. Jesus very clearly says that you can't serve two masters But the Corinthians were serving two masters They wanted this They were also doing that that and paul was like That's not happening guys Okay, uh, and the second point is mentioned is they had turned the lord's table into some sort of feast Okay, can someone please read first Corinthians 11 20 22, please When you come together, it is not the lots of For as you eat each of you grows ahead without waiting for anybody else one remains hungry another gets drunk Don't you have homes to eat and drink in or may despise the church of god and humiliate those who have nothing What shall I say to you shall I praise you for this certainly not Okay. Yeah, thanks. So What there was no reverence. They were just treating it like Any other thing like, you know, they could come in partake of it. However, they wanted it to But again paul is saying, you know, that's not how you partake of the of the table right so They had turned the lord's table into some sort of feast and hence the admonition to discern the body and partake in a worthy manner So if we do so in a worthy manner, we receive the full blessing of the cross in our lives Which included healing etc If we do it without really If you do it without really understanding or paying attention to the significance of what we are doing We miss receiving the blessing of the cross, right? And hence the paul goes on to make that statement This is why many of you are weak and ill and some have died etc Is because there was really no reverence and the Corinthian the Corinthian church where they were known for being notorious Of her, you know of living a life like this Inside and outside two different lifestyles Okay But that's what paul is kind of reminding us as well And this is a good reminder for us also, isn't it and how we treat the lord's table How are we, you know Are we coming to the table in a worthy manner and are we coming in reverence or are we just reading it like Okay, it's just another ritual thing that that's been done for 2000 odd years So i'm just doing it for the sake of doing it Um, and so that is uh, not right that that is quite dangerous right um It talks about the requirements that the there is no explicit instruction in scripture that you must be water baptized before taking part in the lord's table Uh, now most of the churches, uh I mean to do that saying, okay, you can partake of the lord's table only if you are water baptized But this is at apc, right? We keep participation in the lord's table, uh open to all born again believers right if you believe in jesus You are welcome to partake of the of the table right of vapor and grape juice as we say it So there is no explicit instruction But again the only requirement is that you would believe Are you will believe Okay, uh great. So, uh, we'll we'll pause here. We'll take a ten minute break and we'll come back and we'll resume All right, take care