TEXT: I Corinthians 11:23-34

SUBJECT: The Blessing and Curse of the Lord’s Supper

Do you remember the story of Israel crossing the Red Sea? A cloud came down from heaven, giving light to God’s People and shrouding His enemies in darkness. I can’t explain the science of that, but I don’t have to. It’s in the Bible and it’s true. There was One Cloud and two effects.

The Lord’s Supper is like this. When observed in a "worthy manner" it is a great blessing. It reminds us of Christ and brings us into closer fellowship with Him.

But observed in an "unworthy manner", it brings an awful curse. The curse isn’t for unbelievers. Whether they ate it in the days of the New Testament we don’t know, nor can we say what happened to them if they did. As far as we know, the curse of the Lord’s Supper fell only on believers.

At Corinth, it made some of them "weak", some of them "sick" and some of them "dead".

What were the people guilty of? We don’t have to guess; they were "not discerning the Lord’s Body".

Most people take "the Lord’s Body" to be the Lord’s Supper. In other words, they were not thinking about Christ when eating at the Lord’s Table.

This may be true, but it doesn’t fit the context very well. The problem at Corinth was not sleeping through the Lord’s Supper, but division created by pride, envy, and selfishness. The Lord’s Body, therefore, is the church.

By not thinking about others in love and patience and forgiveness, people were "eating and drinking judgment" to themselves.

It’s because of this that Paul urges them to "Examine [themselves] and so let [them] eat".

If you want the Lord’s Supper to be a blessing, therefore,--instead of a curse—you have to examine yourself before eating it. Ask yourself, "Is there someone here I need to forgive? Or, apologize to? Or get a good attitude toward?"

If there is you need to make up your mind to do it before taking the Lord’s Supper. Now, maybe you can’t fix things up in the next five minutes. That’s all right. You can still take the Lord’s Supper—but only if you resolve to make things right. And then keep your vow.

If you don’t, the Lord’s Supper will not be a blessing to you, but a curse.

Examine yourself right now. Is there someone with whom you need to make things right? You’ll be eating the Bread of Unity and Drinking the One Cup in a few minutes. Don’t mock God by claiming unity when you don’t really want it. Some people cannot be made up with! Let God deal with them. "As much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men".

May the Lord’s Supper bring you to repentance this day. And me too. For Christ's sake. Amen.