Pastor Tony Ashmore teaches on "The Four Cups of Communion" in this Christmas morning celebration.The Four Cups of Communion
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, December 25, 2011
www.mylifegatechurch.com
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Sermon Notes:
Micah 5:2 But you, “O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.”
The communion we observe was instituted by Jesus with His disciples. They would have recognized it as a Passover meal. Jesus explained what was about to happen to Him using the symbols of Passover that have been celebrated now for about 3500 years.
The bread we receive is the matzah used in Passover that is broken and hidden. It represents Jesus’ body, broken for our healing and wholeness. When the half matzah is found it is broken into pieces, distributed and eaten by everyone. Jesus said, at this point: “Take and eat; this is My body” [Matthew 26:26].
Typically wine is served four times during the Passover meal. According to Jewish tradition, the four cups represent four expressions of redemption. The first cup is called the cup of sanctification; the second is the cup of judgment; the third is the cup of redemption; and the fourth is the cup of the kingdom.
The 4 Cups of Communion
The Four Cups of the Seder are taken in remembrance of promises made by God to His chosen people in Exodus 6:6-7:6 "Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians."
The First Cup: Rescue/Sanctification/Set Apart--"I will take you out of Egypt."
Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
The Second Cup: Deliverance--"I will deliver you from (Egyptian) slavery."
God takes “Egypt out of them”—teaching them to think and live like free people instead of slaves ruled by a master. Jesus: Matthew 5:17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.
The Third Cup: Redemption: "I will redeem you with My power."
John 1:12-13 “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.”
Tradition says that when Jesus said “This cup is the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for you,” He was referring to the 3rd cup of the Passover, the Cup of Redemption. By His shed blood we can be redeemed from our bondage to sin, just as the Israelites were redeemed from their bondage to Egypt. He then said He wouldn’t drink wine again until the Kingdom had come.
The Fourth Cup: Restoration, or Completion, or Acceptance: "I will acquire you as My people and I will be your God."
John 19:28-30 “Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
He had given His body and shed His blood. Phase one of the Kingdom, allowing us to receive a full pardon for our sins, had come. To fulfill the Scriptures, He took a final drink of wine. It represented the 4th Cup of the Passover, the Cup of Acceptance. It’s as if He was saying to all who would believe in Him, “I will take you as my people and I will be your God.”
The 4th cup is also called the Hallel Cup—the Highest Praise Cup—a celebration cup, a time to rejoice cup, the Kingdom Party Cup.
John 1:14, 16 (MESSAGE) The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish…We all live off his generous bounty, gift after gift after gift…all this came through Jesus, the Messiah.”
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