Good morning, everyone. It's good to see you. I hope that your families are safe and warm kahit po tayo ay binagyo, binaha. Pero patuloy po natin ipanalangin ang ating mga kababayan na nasira ang bahay, nasa lantan ng bagyo ang kanilang mga gamit, o maaring napahamak ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay dahil sa bagyong ito. Praise God. Tayo po'y manalangin.
Panginoon, pagpalain mo po ang mensahe mo sa araw na ito. Speak to us, Father, and I pray that your word will come alive, guide our lives, change our lives. Lord, ikaw po ang mangusap sa bawat isa sa pangalan ni Jesus. Amen at amen.
Isang araw po, napunta ako sa isang lamay, Poneraria. Ito po ay isang pamilya na namatay, Pilipino. Lahat po nakaitim, nagkamay. Mali ako ng suot. Lahat nakaitim, lahat nagluloksa, lahat humahagulgol, umiiyak. Ang suot ko pong t-shirt kulay yellow. Yellow is a happy color. Pagpasok ko po ng Poneraria, lahat nakasimangot sa akin.
"Ba't yan ang suot mo?" Parang lahat gusto akong ipakulam, lahat gusto akong sakalin. Parang ano ba, Mike, ano ka ba? Sabi ko, "Sorry, sorry, mali ako na suot. Pwede bang isuot ang kahit na ano?" Pwede. Ah, Corinthians. We can wear anything. Pero dahil may mga taong nasasaktan, palitan mo yung suot mo.
May kaibigan naman ako. This time, it's a Chinese funeral. People are wearing white. Barkada ko dumating sa Poneraria. Lingunan lahat kasi nakapula siya. "Pare, parang nagdiriwang ka pa na. Namatay yung kapatid ko. Ano ba?" And everyone was angry and offended. "Ay, grabe. It's culturally insensitive. Insensitive and offensive."
Tanong, "Pwede ba isuot kahit na ano?" Pwede. Apostle Paul says, we can wear anything. We can do anything. We can eat anything. But when others are hurt, when others are offended, ibahid mo. Why? Because the book of Corinthians invites us to understand that love is stronger than our personal rights. Love is greater than our personal freedom.
Ah, ang ganda. So that's why the past few Sundays, we were talking about this. Do not use your knowledge to hurt the weak. Do not use your personal rights to destroy your brother or sister. In the previous Sundays, do not use your freedom to hurt and offend people that you are trying to win for the Lord.
Oo, malaya. Pwedeng inumin kahit ano. Inumin kahit ano. Isuot kahit na ano. Pero kapag mayroong nasasaktan, natitisod, at napapalayo kay Lord dahil sa suot mo, dahil sa kinakain mo, dahil sa iniinom mo, mas mahalaga na magmahal kesa igiit mo yung karapatan at kalayaan mo. And that is the book of Corinthians for all of us.
Maalala nyo? Today, we enter chapter 11 and we will talk about another controversy sa kanila. Parang merong gulo at away na nangyayari dahil every time they celebrate the Lord's Supper, the Holy Communion, merong pangit na ugali na lumalabas. Yabang na lumalabas. Kaya today, ang ating title sa ating message is, "The Lord's Table, Bakit Ito Mahalaga?"
We will continue with our series, 1 Corinthians chapter 11, verses 17 to 34. Kung maalala nyo, ang buong book of 1 Corinthians ay mahahati sa tatlong parts. Ang first part nito ay about divisions in the church. Away-away, kampihan, at mga pagtatalo. "Ah, kay Pastor Apollo ako. Ay, kay Pastor Peter ako. Ay, kay Pastor Paul ako. Ay, kay Pastor ganito ako. Ito ang kakampi ko." Meron silang mga factions at fans club at mga grupo-grupo na nagbabangayan at nagpapayabangan. Problema. Sakit talaga sa ulo. A church divided.
Yung part 2 ng Corinthians is about disorder in the church. Merong dimandahan. Merong mga sexual scandal. Merong immorality. Merong mga away-away tungkol sa pagkain. Merong mga away-away tungkol sa mga buhay mag-asawa. Ang gulo. And the last part of Corinthians, the book ends with surfacing their doubts. Totoo bang nabuhay si Jesus mula sa mga patay? Totoo ba na si Jesus ang Panginoon? Marami silang pagdududa at pagtatanong tungkol sa kanilang pananampalataya.
And that is why the book of 1 Corinthians invites us back to the reality of the cross. Yun, ano? Nakapagka naalala natin ang ginawa ni Jesus sa cross. Ang ginawa ni Jesus sa buhay natin. We can forgive because God forgave us. We can love because Jesus loved us. We can show mercy and kindness. Dahil tayo ay pinakitaan ng awa, pagmamahal, at pagkapatawad ng Diyos.
Ito na, chapter 11. These are the problems they have. Number one, sabi ni Apostle Paul, you have divisions among yourselves. Away kayo ng away. Karami, nalulungkot ako. Nabalitaan ko. Hindi kayo nagkakaisa. Isang problem nila, they were disrespecting the Lord's table. Diba? We do that. We also celebrate the Lord's table. Once a month, we have the bread. Mine and the Jews to celebrate the sacrifice of Christ. Sila, parang binabastos nila yung ceremony.
And finally, the problem includes, "Merong ako muna. Pare, nagugutom na ako. Tirahin ko na to. Abusin ko na to." So, hindi nakakain yung iba. At hindi nabibigyan ng tinapay yung iba. They were selfish and they neglected the poor. In other words, sa buong Corinthian community, mga church, mga Christians, meron silang hierarchy. "Ah, mas magaling yata ako. Ah, mas importante yata ako. Unahin nyo na akong pakainin. Ako, BIP ako." Merong elite attitude. Merong discrimination. May mahirap, may mayaman. Merong magaling, merong hindi magaling. Merong matalino, hindi matalino.
Merong ibang, merong they discriminate someone because of their ethnicity or their economic status or their educational attainment. Parang paimportante, self-importance at walang pakialam sa iba. Yun ang problema sa Corinthians. And that's why the Apostle Paul brings them back to what the Lord's table really meant. Ano ba talaga ang kahulugan ng hapunan ng Panginoon, ng hapag ng Panginoon?
The Lord's table. The last supper. So, today we'll talk about this. The Lord's table is significant for believers because it reminds us to celebrate our salvation, appreciate our Savior's sacrifice, examine our own soul, share God's love to people, and anticipate the second coming of Christ.
So, we will have five beautiful reminders today. Ano nga bang kahalagahan ng banal na hapunan? How should Christians value the significance of the Lord's table?
Number one, we look back at how salvation happened. Number two, we look up to our Savior and His sacrifice for us. And number three, we look within our soul to examine our life. And number four, look around to share God's love with people. And number five, look forward to the second coming of Christ. Ang ganda, ano?
So, ibig sabihin, itong binabanggit ni Apostle Paul sa part na to ng Corinthians, we look to the past, we look to the present, and we look forward to the future. Kung baga, ang buhay talaga natin ay nakasalalay sa ginawa ng Diyos noon, sa ginagawa ng Diyos sa kasalukuyan, at sa gagawin ng Diyos bukas. And that is the Christian hope.
Simulan natin. How should Christians value the significance of the Lord's table? Number one, sabi ni Apostle Paul, we look back at how salvation happened. Ang ating pagbabalik-tanaw sa pagliligtas ng Diyos noon. Ayan, ano? Bawat buhay natin, merong tayong dapat binabalikan, ito yung ginawa ng Diyos. Paano niligtas ang kanyang mga mahal?
In other words, the Lord's table enables us to look back in history. Alam niyo ba, na ang Panginoong Yesus, nung siya ay tatay do rin na, siya ay mamamatay na, ginagarahe niya yung kanyang mga alagad, "Oh, last supper ko na." Sumasaya sila, meron silang dinner time, meron silang pagsasalo-salo, pero malungkot din kasi nagpapaalam si Yesus. "Oh, huling dinner ko na sa inyo, oh, goodbye na to. Papatay na ako, tatray do rin ako, paparusahin ako."
So they were confused. Ano ba? Goodbye na ni Jesus, pero last supper na natin. Alam niyo ba, yung dinner na yun, that last supper was tinapat ni Jesus sa isang piyesta. The Jews have a festival. Once a year, they celebrate what they call the feast or the Passover. Ang piyesta ng Paskwa.
Or, in other words, tawag din nila dito is the Feast of the Unleavened Bread. Ito yung panahon, inaalala na ng buong Israel, yung ginawa ng Diyos sa Exodus. Yung ginawa ng Diyos sa Egypt. When Moses, used by God to set the Israelites free from the captivity of slavery in Egypt, pinalaya sila sa pagiging alipin sa Egypto. Ang ganda pala nung piyestang ito, ha?
This is the Feast of the Passover. They celebrate this until today. Ang Israel, meron silang ganun, ang piyesta. Tinapat ni Jesus sa araw ng piyesta ng Passover, yung kanyang Last Supper. Why? Because there's a significance. Kasi, itong last Passover na to, for every year, they celebrate the sacrifice of animals, the blood of the Lamb that rescued them.
This time, the Last Supper is about us Christians celebrating the blood of Jesus that rescued us. Kaya nga sabi sa Exodus, chapter 12, verse 14. This Passover is a day you are to commemorate. For generations to come, you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord, a lasting ordinance. Yan, ang bansang Israel. Piyesta talaga yan.
Ah! Woohoo! Pinalaya tayo ng Diyos. Alalahanin nyo, ang araw na ito, dapat itong is-celebrate bilang piyesta para sa akin sa lahat ng generations, sabi ni Lord. Forever, ever nyo na itong gagawin. So, nalala nyo, kaya sila nagpe-piyesta kasi nung nasa Egypt sila, merong pinadala ang Diyos na sampung salot, the ten plagues that tormented the nation of Egypt.
Ah, ayaw nyo palayain yung mga alipin. Ayaw nyo palayain yung mga Israelita. The Lord sent ten plagues. The last plague, yung pangsampung salot, is about the angel of death. And this was the instruction: the angel of death will come and will kill all the firstborn, lahat ng panganay mamamatay of any age.
But those houses na merong nilagay na dugong tupa sa kanilang mga pinto ay hindi dadaanan. The angel of death will pass over the house where there is the blood of the lamb on the doorpost. Ang ganda, no? Wow!
So, yung mga Jews, they killed lambs. They slaughtered lots of sheep and they placed the blood on their doorposts. Pero yung mga Egyptians, hindi. Namatay yung kanilang mga anak na panganay at yung mga bansang Israel, they were rescued. And so, that was the last straw that broke the camel's back. Pharaoh, the following day, let the Israelites go and be free from slavery.
Ah! And so, until today, the people of Israel, they're celebrating that night. They call it the Passover. Tinapat ni Jesus. "Oh, last supper na. We will break the bread, drink the wine. I am the Passover lamb." Every year, the Jews will sacrifice animals. The blood will forgive their sins.
But Jesus, Jesus is now telling them, "I am now the final sacrifice. I am the final sheep. My blood was shed for all." Ang ganda. The parallelism. Sabi ni Jesus, sabi ni Apostle Paul sa 1 Corinthians 11, 23 to 26.
"For this is what the Lord himself has said about this table. And I have passed it on to you before, that on the night when Judas betrayed him, the Lord Jesus took bread and when he had given thanks for the bread to God for it, he broke it and gave it to his disciples and said, 'Take this and eat. This is my body which was given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.'"
Tinanggap ko mula sa Panginoon ang teaching na ito, pinapasa ko sa inyong gabing tinraidorang Panginoong Jesus. Kumuha siya ng tinapay, nagpasalamat sa Diyos, pinagpirapere sa inyo ito. Sa kanya sinabi, "Ito ang katawan ko para sa inyo. Gawin niyo ito para maalalan niyo ako."
"In the same way, he took the cup, cup of wine, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new agreement between God and you and has been established and set in motion by my blood. The bread and the cup. Do this in remembrance of me whenever you drink it. For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are retelling the message of the Lord's death that he has died for you. Do this until he comes again.'"
It's beautiful. Ganun din, pagkatapos ng hapunan, kumuha siya ng baso at sinabi, "Ito ang dugo ko dahil dito meron ng bagong kasunduan ang Diyos sa inyo. Pag ininom niyo ito, gawin niyo ito para maalalan niyo ako. Kasi, every time nakakainin niyo ang tinapay na ito at iinomin niyo sa basong ito, sinasabi niyong totoo ang kamatayang Panginoon hanggang sa pagbabalik niya."
So, there's a parallelism between two events. The event in Egypt, ha, did it cast out? Because of the blood of lambs. Thousands of lambs were slaughtered on that night. Ang dami sigurong patay ng mga tupa. Ano? Pero yun ang simbolong kanilang kaligtasan mula sa pagkaalipin.
And Jesus was telling them, this time, with the apostles, the Lord's table, now there's a new covenant. The old covenant, you need to kill animals and the blood of the animals forgives your sins, rescues you. This time, I, I am that final sacrifice. No need for animals. I am the lamb that takes away the sin of the world.
Oh! Every time you drink this cup and eat this bread, you remember the new covenant, a new relationship with God, a new agreement with God. So, in other words, itong Passover and Lord's Supper have similarities. Both, the Passover and the Lord's Supper were established as lasting memorials for generations.
Until today, they celebrate it. The Jews and the Christians, tayo, Lord's table, yung Israel, Passover feast. Both involve bread, both involve wine, and both involve the community coming together and remembering. Ah, there's power in remembering, ha? Yung inaalala nyo yung nakaraan, there's power for us to inspire us to move forward in the future.
Inaalala nyo yung nangyari, katapatan ng Diyos noon. And both the Passover and the Lord's Supper commemorate redemption. Ibang klase kasi ang nangyari sa buhay natin kapag kaalam natin yung ginawa ng Diyos noon. Something is beautiful, something powerful is happening when we know our history.
Ah, noon, ganito buhay ko noon, pero binago ko ni Lord. Ganito ko kasalbahin noon, pero inayos ako ng Diyos. Ganito ko kayabang noon, pero nilinis na ako ng Panginoon. Ganito yung kasamaang buhay ko noon, pero pinatawad ako ng Diyos. And that is the beauty of salvation.
We remember what God did for us. Do you remember the day you were saved? The day you were forgiven? The day you trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, as the sacrifice for your sins? It's the most beautiful day, the most important day in our lives.
Somebody once said, "I have two important days in my life. The day I was saved, the day I was born, and the day I was born again." Ah, yung araw na ako'y pinanganak sa mundong ito, the best day of my life. Yung araw na ako'y pinanganak na muli, dahil kay Jesus, another best day of my life.
So Paul was telling them, you remember. As the Israelites remembered Passover, you also remember the cross. You remember Jesus and His sacrifice for us. Problema, pag nakakalimot tayo, "Oo nga pala, pinatawad na ako ni Lord. Oo nga pala, binayaran na ni Lord lahat ng utang ko. Oo nga pala, niligtas na ako ng Panginoon."
Pag nalilimutan daw natin yun, nagkakawindang-windang ang buhay natin. Ano? Nagkakasimplang-simplang yung ating paglalakbay sa buhay. Ano? Madali tayo matokso, madali tayong magtampo, madali tayong magredente, madali tayong mawala sa lugar. Kasi, we forget.
But remembering has beauty and power. Lord, thank you, Lord. Ito naman yung pangalawa. Sinasabi ni Apostle Paul, dito sa kahalagahan ng Lord's Supper, we look up to our Savior and His sacrifice. Yung bang ating iniisip ang pagdurusan ni Jesus.
Tinan nyo to. For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are retelling the message of the Lord's death. That He has died for you, do this until He comes again. Sabi niya, kasi every time nakakainin niyo ang tinapay na ito at iinom kayo sa basong ito, sinasabi nyo ang totoo ang kamatayan ng Panginoon hanggang sa pagbabalik niya.
We look to Jesus as our Savior, as our High Priest. We look to Jesus, someone who gave us an example on how to give our lives for others as well. Itong New Covenant na ito, pinadictate sa Old Testament eh. Parang papalitan ng Diyos ang ating mga puso at ito, at aayusin ng Diyos ang ating relasyon sa Kanya. That's the New Covenant.
It's a new agreement. It's a new relationship between human beings and God. That the moment we trust Jesus, God gives us a new beginning. God gives us a new relationship. God gives us a new life. Binabaklas ng Diyos yung lahat ng madumi, masama, at mabaho sa buhay natin at binibigyan natin ng bagong puso, malinis na buhay, bagong simula.
That's the new beginning in our lives. That's the New Covenant. Nalala ko, ako po ay na-born again nung ako ay second year college. Ako po ay nag-aral dito sa Rekto, Far Eastern University. Walang klase, isang araw, nakatambay ako sa aming Freedom Park ng FEU. May lumapit ho sa akin. At may tinanong, "Have you heard of the Four Spiritual Laws?" Narinig mo na ba ito? Apat na tuntuning spiritual.
Sabi ko, anong ba yan? Hindi ko pa naririnig yata yan ha. Apat daw, apat. So this person started sharing to me the good news about Jesus. Sabi niya, number one, "Mike, God loves you. Mahal ka ng Diyos. Mayroon siya magandang plano sa buhay mo." Sabi ko, well, alam ko na yan. And so, it's familiar. I'm religious. I grew up in church. Di ba?
But, yung pangalawa, sabi niya, "The problem, Mike, is you are sinful. We are sinful. And we are separated from God. And we cannot experience the love of God." Yun ang problema. Kaya miserable ang buhay mo. Kaya sumisimplang at nawiwindang ang buhay mo. Hindi mo nararanasan yung pag-umahal ng Diyos. Kasi makasalanan ka at malayo ka sa Kanya.
Medyo nagsisink in na sa akin. Parang, oo nga, ano? Si Jesus, kilala ko sa nguso, pero hindi pala sa puso. Hindi nyo natatanong, laki po akong simbahan. Pastor ho ang tatay ko. Christian family. Naku po, Christian school, Christian friends, Christian parents, Christian family, Christian dog. Lahat Christian. Lahat po. Talagang memorize ang Bible. Alam ko ang Bible. Pero ang Panginoon, nasa ulo, pero wala sa puso.
Bigla akong naintindihan. Oo nga, may kulang sa buhay ko. I'm separated from God in spite of my religiosity and my Christian background. Pangatlo, sabi niya sa akin, "Kailangan mo tanggapin si Jesus. Jesus Christ is the only way to God. There's no other ticket to heaven. There's no other way to eternal life. Si Jesus lang. Not religion, not your church, not your good works."
Sabi ko, oo. Hindi pala kabutihan, hindi pala kabaitan, hindi pala pagsisikap, hindi pala religion, hindi pala perfect church attendance ang paraan sa langit. For the first time in my life, I understood, ito pala yun. Sabi niya, number four, "You need to open your heart. You need to make a choice. You need to decide to trust Jesus as your Savior, as your God, as your Lord."
And that day changed my life. Ibang klase, ano? When God saves you and gives you a brand new start. Hindi mabilis, ano? Pero dahan-dahan tinanggal ng Diyos yung mga pangit sa buhay ko. Ang unang tinanggal ng Diyos sa akin yung yabang ko. Mayabang ko talaga ako. I grew up in an arrogant environment. Yabangan, pagalingan, ayaw magpatalo. Gusto mo lagi nasa una. Laging ikaw ang boss, ikaw ang lagi ang tama. Laging nakikipag-away.
Tinanggal ni Lord yun, dahan-dahan. I started to understand that life is not about winning. Life is not just about being on top or being rich or being successful. There's more to life. Life is more beautiful than those arrogant achievements. Ayan, yun yung unang tinanggal ng Diyos sa akin.
Yung pangalawa, selfish ko ako eh. Sarili ko lang iniisip ko. Sa bahay ko namin, parang dormitory. Uuwi ka lang para kumain, magpalaba, matulog. Hindi kami nag-uusap. Para kaming hindi magkakakilala sa bahay. Ano? Binago ni Lord yun. I started talking to my brothers. I started initiating conversations and dinner with family. Kasi naiintindihan ko na hindi dapat ganito ang pamilya.
I started talking with my parents. I started breaking our cold relationships. Yun, nakita na mga kapatid ko. Si Kuya Mike hindi na masungit. Si Kuya Mike hindi na naninigaw. Talagang bakbakan mo kami sa bahay. Talagang, mag-uusap kami kamao. Away dito, away doon. Sigawan dito, sigawan doon. Dugoan ng ilong, dugoan ng labi. Ganun ho kami lumaki. Puro ho kami lalaki. Four boys. Ay, nako. Halos, babaliw ho ang nanay ko kakasaway sa amin. Kasi, puro lalaki, puro mga basagulero.
And so that, the Lord changed my heart. You know what happened? My brothers started coming to Jesus one by one. Same booklet, I shared to them. "Have you heard of the four spiritual laws?" Una sa bunso. Siyempre, yung bunso, makikinig sa kuya. Tapos yung pangalawa. Tapos yung sumunod sa akin. At lahat sila tumanggap sa Panginoon. Ay, nagumiiyak hoyung mga kapatid ko. Why? Because they saw the change in my life.
Hello? Pag nakikita si Jesus sa buhay natin, we become good news. And when we become good news, then we can share the good news. Problema daw, marami sa atin, we tell the good news, but they don't see the good news. Hi! Kalabitin mo ngayon katabi mo. Parang ikaw yun ah. Dapat daw makita sa buhay natin yung pagbabagong ginawani Jesus sa buhay natin.
And that is so powerful when we remember the Christ who saved us. Yung sinasabi ni Apostle Paul, the Lord's table, itong Holy Communion na to, hindi dapat yung sarili mo lang iniisip mo. Yun ang problema sa Corinth. They were really looking at, you know, "Ah, ako muna, ako mauna, ako mas malaga. Gutog na ako eh."
Sabi ni Apostle Paul, "Wala ba kayong pagkain sa bahay? Dito sa simbahan, isipin niyo yung iba, hindi lang yung sarili niyong tiyan." Which brings us to number three. Sabi niya, look within your soul to examine our lives. Ating hilingin ang sasayos ng ating buhay. Kumbaga, sabi ni Apostle Paul, igalang ninyo ang Lord's table. Tingnan niyo muna kung ayos ba ang inyong sarili bago kayo kumain. Bago kayo uminom sa baso at kumain ng tinapay.
Kasi sinasabi niya, you discriminate the poor. You don't care for others. Sarili niyo lang iniisip niyo. Yun ang problema. This is so Greek culture, ano? Kasi meron silang pataasan talaga. Ito yung sabi ni Apostle Paul.
"So, if anyone eats this bread and drinks from this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, he is guilty of sin against the body and the blood of the Lord. That is why a man should examine himself carefully before eating the bread and drinking from the cup." Parang ang Diyos, nagtatampo siya at nagagalit siya, nalulungkot siya kapag hindi natin ginagalang yung pag-alala sa kanyang ginawa sa atin.
When we remember the sacrifice and the love of Jesus for us through the communion, we should also think on how we can love and sacrifice for others. Yun yung sinasabi niya, examine yourself. Ano ba? Hindi puro panlabas lang na religious activities. Sabi niya, kaya kung merong sa inyong kumakain ng tinapay o umiinom sa baso ng Panginoon sa paraang hindi dapat, nagkakasala siya.
Hindi niya nire-respeto ang katawan at dugo ng Panginoon. Kaya i-check niyo munang mabuti ang mga sarili niyo. Kaya saka niyo kainin ang tinapay at inumin ang nasa baso. Diba? And then he went on, he said, "For if he eats the bread and drinks from the cup unworthily, not thinking about the body of Christ and what it means, he is eating and drinking God's judgment."
Merong pagpapalo ang Diyos kapag hindi natin ginagalang yung Lord's table. For he is trifling with the death of Christ. Kasi kung hindi niyo kinikilala ang kahalagahan ng katawan ng Panginoon, pag kinakain niyo ang tinapay at iniinom ang nasa baso, para niyo na ring kinakain at iniinom ang parusang Diyos sa inyo.
Ah, may warning si Paul dito, no? Sabi niya, kailangan naintindihan niyo yung ibig sabihin ng Lord's table. It means, we remember what God did for us and we also understand what we can do for others. Hindi lang puro sarili mong iniisip mo, "Ah, basta saved na ako, ah, basta ligtas na ako, basta pinatawad na ako, wala na akong pakialam sa inyo. Kanya-kanya na to!"
Hindi pala pwedeng gano'n. Apostle Paul is saying, you are eating the bread and drinking from the cup in an unworthy manner. Hindi ka nagmamali. Oo nga, malaya ka na. Oo nga, pinatawad ka na. Pero hindi ka marunong magmahal. You are participating in an unworthy manner. Kasi ang Diyos daw, hindi lang nakatingin sa panlabas na pagsamba.
External worship. It doesn't matter to God. What matters to God is our internal worship. Ang Diyos hindi nakatingin sa, "Thank you Lord," umiiyak-iyak ka pa, ang ganda ng boses mo, sumasayaw-sayaw ka pa. Nakatingin daw ang Lord sa puso. Kaya magkakaiba tayong worship eh. Okay lang sa Panginoon. Iba-iba tayong uri ng pagsamba.
Merong maingay. "Woohoo! Pinatawad ako ni Lord!" Meron ding silent night worship. "Thank you Lord. Praise God." Tahimik. Tahimik lang. Minsan nag-aaway yan. Mapalapak yung isa. "Ba't di ka mapalakba? Ano ka ba? Nasa paneraria ka ba?" Isa naman, ingay naman nito. "Nasa concert ka ba? Nasa simbahan ka?"
So parang nag-aaway, nagtatalo, nagko-compare, nagyayabangan. Mas magaling niya. Kaya kami mag-worship, maingay kami. "Hindi, mas okay kaya mag-worship kasi tahimik lang kami." Parehong gusto ni Lord yun. Parehong okay kay Lord yun. Ang tinitingnan talaga ni Lord is yung puso.
Kasi lakas mo nga mag-worship, yabang-yabang naman ang puso. Ayaw din ni Lord. Oo nga, solemn ang worship mo. Mua kang banal tignan. Pero ang sungit naman ang puso. Ang inahanap ni Lord, yung pusong nagmamahal sa Kanya at nagmamahal sa iba. Ha! And that is the meaning of the Lord's table.
God values our motives more than our external behavior. God understands that our heart is more important than our external sacrifices. O sinabi ni Jesus ito ha. Sabi niya, "O, nag-aalay ka sa temple. Meron kang offering kay Lord. Or meron kang worship or service. Hindi pala kayo nagkakasundo ng kapatid mo. Iwan mo muna. Bakit pagkasundo ka muna?"
O, umaating ka ng church. Kumahakanta ka sa choir. Nagsiserve ka sa asya. Pastor, hindi pala kayo magkasundong anak mo. Iwan mo muna yan. Mag-usap muna kayo. O, pupunta ka sa church. Naglilingkod ka kay Lord. Kumahakanta ka sa Panginoon. Naglilid ka ng life group. E, hindi pala kayo nag-uusap ng tatay mo.
Sabi ng Panginoon, iwan mo muna yan. You reconcile with your friend. You reconcile with your boss. You reconcile with your office mate. You reconcile with your spouse. Kaya kami ni Ethel, pagka minsan, nagtatalo kami, meron kaming tampuhan. Hindi ako maka-church ng maayos. Magpiprize na ako minsan, five minutes to go. Magpiprize na ako. Tatawagan ko yan. Sabi ko, "Mahal, sorry ah. Bati na tayo ah." Kasi, hindi ka makaworship kay Lord. Puro panlabas eh. Puro pagpapakitang tao eh.
Galing-galing mong kumanta. Nagpapa-impress ka lang pala. Hello? God looks at the heart of your heart. Ayos ba kayo ng misis mo? Ayos ba relasyon nyo ng anak mo? Ayos ka ba kay boss? Nag-sorry ka na ba sa office mate mo? Ayos na ba kayo ng kapitbahay mo? Ayan.
And that is the heart of worship when the love of God overflows to the people around us. Kaya which brings us to point number four. Ang ganda nito. Apostle Paul invites us to look around to share God's love with people. Yung ating uunahin ang pagmamahalan sa isa't isa.
Yung kasi ang problema sa Corinthian Church. Ang tatalino nila. Malagas kanilang kalayaan at karapatan. Pero hindi sila marunong magmahal. Apostle Paul says, "So, dear brothers, when you gather for the Lord's Supper, the communion service, wait for each other."
Mag-antayan kayo. Kaya nga mga kapatid, pag nagsama-sama kayo para kumain, maghintayan kayo. Waiting for one another shows respect, shows consideration. It also shows love for others. Ibig sabihin, hindi lang sarili mo iniisip mo. Kumbaga, yung mga Christians sa Corinth, nanggaling sila sa Greek culture na merong VIP, merong mayaman, merong special treatment.
So, minsan pupunta sila sa Lord's Supper. "O, akay na to. O, wala na kayo dyan. Tira-tira na yan." That's Greek culture. Merong hierarchy. Merong very important persons. Inuuna yung mayayaman, inuuna yung mga sikat, inuuna muna yung mga importante. Tapos, sabi ni Apostle Paul, yung mahirap, yung ordinaryo, hindi nakakakain.
Ano ba yan? Mag-antayan kayo. No more VIPs because of Jesus. No more discrimination because of Christ. Hello? Ibang klase, ha? And that's very Filipino as well. Tayo mga Pilipino, di ba? Ibang pagkain ng kasambahay. Ibang pagkain ni boss. Ibang pagkain ng employer. Ibang pagkain ng empleyado. Iba!
And that's variation. Culture yun, eh. Kung baga, pag inaaya ka ng boss mo, "O, kain na. Sabi-sabi na tayo." "Hindi, okay lang ako." Kahit nagugutom ka na, kahit duling na, at may hilo ka na, "Okay lang po ako. Kakain ko lang po." Kasi, awkward sumabay ng pagkain sa hindi mo kabaro, sa hindi mo kalibel, sa hindi mo kaano-ano.
Ah! But the Apostle Paul is breaking that. Because of Jesus, there are no more slaves or free. There's no more boss or employee. There's no more Greek or Jew. There's no more rich or poor. There's no more male or female. There's no more male or female. We are all one in Jesus Christ.
And that is what the Lord's table is breaking. Huwag siyo sarili mo iisipin mo. Wala nang VIP. Wala nang discrimination. Walang mahirap. Walang mayaman. Lahat tayo mahal ni Jesus. Lahat tayo binayaran ni Jesus. That's why Jesus says, "They will know you are my disciples."
Not because you have good theology. Yes, but that is very important. Not because you have good worship. But that is also very important. They will know you are my followers. Not because you have good ministry. That is also important. Jesus said, "They will know you belong to me. The world will know that you are Christian when you love one another."
When your love is stronger than your freedom. Lahat naman pwedeng kainin. Wala naman bawal eh. Pero mas mahalagang magmahalkaysa igiit yung karapatan at kalayaan mo. Oh, ganda! And that is 1 Corinthians for all of us.
Apostle Paul will invite us to be sensitive to the culture. But when the culture is evil, he breaks the culture. Wala nang hierarchy. Wala nang VIP. Mag-antayan kayo. Lahat kakain.
And I saw that in our church. I have a lot of rich friends. Rich, you know, churchmates natin. Mga mayayaman talaga. I went to their house and I observed how they treat their spouse, treat their children, and how they treat their kasambahay. Misa naiiyak ho ako. Tatawagin ho yung mga driver, kasambahay, security guard. Kain na tayo. Sabay-sabay ho kumakain. Pare-pareho ng ulam.
Ay, naiiyak ako. Kasi hindi kami ganun pinalaki eh. Huling kakain ang kasambahay at kakainin mo yung tira. At yung ulam ni boss, hindi kasing sarap ng ulam ng mga tauhan niya. That's Filipino. We know our place in the house. Kung ang ulam nila, pochero, mag-tyaga ka sa torta. You don't demand. You understand that.
Eh, ulam nila yan eh. Niluto ko yan para sa kanila. Pare, ito ulam natin. Ayan. Apostle Paul says, the cross destroys any discrimination, any hierarchy, any VIP. No more slaves. No more masters. No more rich. No more poor.
When we gather to the Lord's table, walang VIP. Lahat tayo. Mag-antayan kayo. Which brings us to number five. Look forward to the second coming of Christ. The Lord's table allows us to look to the future. Ang ating asahanang pagbabalik ng Panginoon. Ay, ang galing.
Apostle Paul says, "For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord's death until He comes again." Kasi, every time nakakain kayong tinapay na ito at iinom kayo sa basong ito, sinasabi niyong totoo ang kamatayan ng Panginoon hanggang sa pagbabalik niya. Whoa!
So, the Lord's table allows us to look at the past. Ano bang ginawa ng Diyos na pagliligtas sa aking buhay at sa atin? The Lord's table allows us to look at the past. Thank you, Lord! Pinatawad muna kami. Past tense. Pero the Lord's table allows us also to reflect on what's happening in our hearts, in our lives today.
"Lord, ayusin mo nga yung yabang ko. Baknasin mo nga yung kasungitan mo ko. Lord, tanggalin mo nga yung kasamaang ugali ko." And then, the Lord's table also points us to the future. Ah, balang araw, babalik si Yesus.
Every time you drink this cup and break this bread, we are saying, one day, there will be a banquet. Jesus will wipe our tears away. He will make everything new. Aayusin ng Diyos lahat ng tama. Lilinisin lahat ng Diyos ng madumi. Igaganti ng Diyos lahat ng ginawang masama. New heaven and a new earth. A banquet.
That's why Jesus said, "Mark my words. I will not drink this wine again until the day I drink it with you in my Father's kingdom." Sabi niya, one day, mag-iinuman tayo ulit, magkakain tayo ulit. There will be a banquet. It's not just a Lord's Supper, it's a banquet.
Sinasabi ko sa inyo, hindi ako iiinom ulit ng alak na to hanggang dumating yung araw. Naiinom ako ng bagong alak. Kasama niyo sa kaharian ng Ama ko. Jesus is preparing a mansion for us. Jesus is preparing a new world for us. Jesus is preparing us not just for a tent or a supper, but a banquet and a building.
Yan ho. That's the Christian hope. May pag-asa ang buhay, kahit magulo, matindi, masakit, pangit, madaya ang mundong ito. Ah, hindi itong ating tutong tahanan. This is not a real home. This is not a real citizenship. We are citizens of a better kingdom. We belong to a higher, better, more beautiful home than this fallen, broken world.
Ang ganda ho, ano? That's the message of the Lord's table. We proclaim the coming of the Lord. We proclaim the salvation of the Lord until His coming again. Ang ganda.
So, that's the Apostle Paul is telling them, huwag kayong mag-aho. Pinatawad kayo ng Panginoon, magpatawad kayo. Minahal kayo ng Panginoon, magmahalan kayo. Pinalaya kayo ng Panginoon, maggalangan kayo. No more rich or poor, no more slaves or masters under the cross.
The Lord's table is radical. It changes the way we see others. It changes the way we see ourselves. It changes the way we see the world. So, that's why, today we talked about, the Lord's table is significant for believers because it reminds us to celebrate our salvation, to appreciate our Savior's sacrifice, to examine our own soul, to share God's love to people, and to anticipate the second coming of Christ.
And all of that in that one simple meal, the Lord's table. So, today we talked about five beautiful, powerful truths that hopefully guide us as we go through life.
Number one, Christians should value the significance of the Lord's table because we should look back on how salvation happened when you remember the day God forgave you and rescued you. Look up to the Savior and His sacrifice. Jesus at the cross changes the way we see ourselves and others. It revolutionizes the way we relate with others, especially with those who hurt us.
Ano? Yun ang ginawa ni Jesus sa cross. Yun dinuraan, minura, binugbog, sinaktan, hinubaran, pinatay. Pero nagpatawad, nagmahal, kahit masakit. Yun ang mensahe ng cross. Look within our soul to examine our life. Look around to share God's love with people. To look forward to the second coming of Christ.
Praise God. Tayo pong lahat ikitong mayo, tayo'y manalangin. Let's pray.
Panginoon, salamat po sa iyong mensahe sa amin sa araw na ito. Na, Panginoon, yung ginawa mo sa amin noon, yung pagliligtas, yung pagpapatawad, the sacrifice You did for us. Lord, affects the way we live our lives today and even looking forward for the future.
Lord, teach us to live, Lord God, for You every day. Teach us, Lord God, to love others as You have loved us. Teach us to forgive those who hurt us because You have forgiven us. Panginoon, sobrang gandang balita talaga nito, ano, na yung ginawa mo para sa amin, ay pwede rin namin gawin sa iba.
Magpatawad, magmahal, magparaya, magbigay, mag-antay, magpasensya, magmahal. Help us, Lord. Lord, today we go back to the cross and we remember that the only antidote to any division, to any arrogance, to any conflict and to any rebellion and arrogance is the humility of the cross, is the sacrifice of the cross and the love of the cross.
Salamat, Panginoon. Turuan mo kami na magtiwala patuloy sa'yo. Thank you, Lord. We love you, Lord. We praise you, Lord. May you love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. May you love others as you love yourself. May you keep on trusting God even when it's difficult and painful.
Matindiman, masakit, magulo, mabigat ang pinagdadaanan mo. Na may patuloy ka magtiwala sa Panginoon. May you keep on following Jesus faithfully until His coming again. May the love of the Father, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us now and forever.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen, amen, and amen. God bless you everyone. Happy Sunday. See you next week.
on Aug 01, 2024
