Wake Up Call From God!

I’m sure it’s “5:00 Somewhere!” as the country singer crones, but it’s 4:03 am right now for me, and the Lord wants to talk—actually, He wants me to listen and Him to do all the talking.

I so cherish these moments with the Lord that I’ll take them whenever and wherever He chooses. So what has He placed upon my heart? And why so early?

It’s all about the coming night.

No, this isn’t some cryptic reference to the apocalypse. It’s straight talk about not only a special event tonight at Southbrook Church, but also an event that goes on faithfully at churches around the world. I’m talking about…

Communion.

“I’ll be there, Lord. Is that all you wanted to tell me?”

As it turns out, ‘No.’

My heart was stirred not so much about the ones who will be there but about the ones who will not.

Across the nation the gathering for the Lord’s supper is dwindling as believers fail to see the importance of this holy time of remembrance and worship. So God reminded me to remind you.

As soon as I do, He says I can go back to bed.

So listen up!

Oh, and this applies to all my readers beyond the four walls of Southbrook Church. If you are a Christ follower, ask yourself, When was the last time you gathered at your place of worship to velebrate the Lord’s Supper?

That long?!

Ouch!

What are you waiting for? If you are anywhere near the Weddington campus (new building) tonight. You’re welcome to join us. If not, find a church that remains committed to this special and holy sacrament and join them.

Soon.

Here’s what God’s Word says about it. I’ll leave you with this:

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper ), and to prayer. Acts 2:42

They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity — Acts 2:46

For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you.^[f] Do this to remember me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

 27 So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against^[g] the body and blood of the Lord. 28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ,^[h] you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.

 31 But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. 32 Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

 33 So, my dear brothers and sisters,^[i] when you gather for the Lord’s Supper, wait for each other. 34 If you are really hungry, eat at home so you won’t bring judgment upon yourselves when you meet together. I’ll give you instructions about the other matters after I arrive. I Corinthians 11:23-33

 14When the time came for Jesus and the apostles to eat, 15he said to them, “I have very much wanted to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer. 16I tell you that I will not eat another Passover meal until it is finally eaten in God’s kingdom.”

    17Jesus took a cup of wine in his hands and gave thanks to God. Then he told the apostles, “Take this wine and share it with each other. 18I tell you that I will not drink any more wine until God’s kingdom comes.”

    19Jesus took some bread in his hands and gave thanks for it. He broke the bread and handed it to his apostles. Then he said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Eat this as a way of remembering me!”

    20After the meal he took another cup of wine in his hands. Then he said, “This is my blood. It is poured out for you, and with it God makes his new agreement. Luke 22:14-20

Well, that’s not all the scripture related to this great sacrament—but it’s enough to get you started thinking—especially at 4:00 in the morning!