Worship Exhortations

…discerning the Lord’s body (1 Corinthains 11:29)

esus is the Head, Chief Corner Stone and the Bridegroom: On the Lord’s day, we worship the Lord gathering around the Lord’s Table. Therefore, our focus is on the Lord Jesus Christ – His death on the cross and His Glory on the Throne. The Lord’s Table reminds us the Lord’s body, the Church (1 Corinthians 11:29). We worship the Lord by discerning “who He is to the Church (Lord’s body)” and “what are we in His body”.

Lord’s body, the Church is the “BODY“: In the Body, Christ is the Head (Ephesians 1:21-23). He has the authority in heaven and in earth and preeminence in everything, especially in Church. He fills the body with His fullness (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:23). In His Body, we are the members – as members, a) we are not only born-again as sons of God but are born into the family of God (John 1:12-13, Galatians 3:29), b) we are given all spiritual blessings in heavenly places (Ephesians 1:4-6), c) we are given gifts to be profitable members (Ephesians 4: 7-10), d) we are made fruitful by grafting us to the Head, Jesus Christ (John 15:1-5).
Lord’s body, the Church is the “BUILDING“: Church is the Building which is being built by Christ (Matthew 16:18). In the Building, Jesus Christ is the Chief corner stone (1 Peter 2: 6-8; Ephesians 2:20; Isaiah 28:6). In His Building, the spiritual house, He made us as lively stones – priests and kings to serve and reign with Him (1 Peter 2:2,9).
Lord’s body the Church is the “BRIDE”: Jesus Christ is the Bridegroom to the Church (Bride). He loves His Bride with sacrificial and agape love. When we, part of the Bride of Christ, were full of filthy garments, he gave us the garments of salvation, righteousness and holiness (Isaiah 61:10; Revelation 19:7-8). He is preparing us as a glorious Church to present to Himself.

Table Exhortations

For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. (1 Corinthians 11:29).

iscerning the Lord’s Body: We are exhorted to take part in the Lord’s Table in worthy manner by discerning the Lord’s Body. What is discerning the Lord’s body?

The two institutions of our Lord – family and the Church are under constant attack by Satan. We observe, more intense attack of Satan on these two important institution of the Lord in these end days. We need therefore, not only to discern (understand clearly) the Lord’s body but also to maintain proper family and church life. It is my responsibility and duty to inform you of all the privileges of the church-life (that we have meditated during the worship exhortations) and to warn you of all the losses we incur if we neglect the church-life.

Church (Body) life – supply to one another: We should receive from the Head, Christ all the fullness (spiritual blessings, spiritual gifts and fruitful life) by abiding (continuing) in the Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, we should continue in the body life. The universal church, which includes all the believers – of entire world, of all times (Old Testament and New Testaments times) and of heaven and earth, is invisible. But the the local church, which is the representation of the universal church at a certain place, is visible. The Lord, according to His will and purpose, places (adds) us in a certain church (local church, the people of God) – Acts 2: 41 and Acts 2:47. It is Biblical for us to continue in the local church where the Lord has placed us. In that place (church) we supply the spiritual nourishment to one another by fitly joined together (Ephesians 4:16). If any one does not continue in such body life, he would neither receive nor supply spiritual nourishment to others and therefore becomes more and more weak spiritually. The Body speaks of the unity, therefore, we should endeavour to maintain the unity.
Church (Building) life – support or strengthen one another: In the Church we must be built on the Chief Corner Stone, He was rejected but became the Head of the corner (1 Peter 1:6-8). In this building, which is a Spiritual house, Jesus is the High Priest and King; we are the priests and kings. We must, continually, offer spiritual sacrifices and shew forth His praises (attributes). Moreover, we should support or strengthen one another (fellow believers) by being fitly framed together (Ephesians 2: 21-22). Building speaks of the testimony therefore, we should build up the testimony of one another. We must be disciplined not to speak evil of others (James 4:11) or destroy the testimony of others. Then only we can be a strong testimony as a local church in this present sin-filled world.
Church (Bride) life – sacrifice for one another: We should prepare ourselves for the coming of the heavenly Bridegroom. By keeping us in the Church, the Lord Himself sanctifies and prepares us as a glorious Bride (Sons of Solomon 6:10). Bride speaks of purity. We must maintain our separation by keeping the garments of salvation and righteousness from uncleanness (Jude 1:23). In the local expression of the Church, we must make sacrifices, such as forgiving one another in love, and by compactly knitted together (Colossians 2: 19).