Call to Worship August 25 2019

The Lord’s Supper by Thomas Watson
“Branch 6. Has Christ provided such a blessed banquet for us? He does not nurse us abroad—but feeds
us with His own breast—nay, with His own blood! Let us, then, study to respond to this great love
of Christ. It is true, we can never parallel His love. Yet let us show ourselves thankful. We can
do nothing satisfactory—but we may do something out of gratitude. Christ gave Himself as a
sin-offering for us. Let us give ourselves as a thank-offering for Him. If a man redeems another
out of debt—will he not be grateful? How deeply do we stand obliged to Christ—who has redeemed us
from hell! Let us show thankfulness four ways:

  1. Let us show our thankfulness to Christ, by COURAGE. Christ has set us a copy. He did not fear
    men—but endured the cross and despised the shame. Let us be steeled with courage, being made ready
    to suffer for Christ, which is, as Chrysostom said, to be baptized with a baptism of blood. Did
    Christ bear
    the wrath of God for us—and shall we not bear the wrath of men for Him! It is our glory to suffer
    in
    Christ’s quarrel. ‘The Spirit of God and of glory rests upon you,’ 1 Peter 4:14. Let us pray
    for furnace grace. Be like those three Hebrew children. ‘Be it known to you, O king, that we will
    not serve your gods!’ Daniel 3:18. They would rather burn—than bow!

We do not know how soon an hour of trial may come. Oh, remember, Christ’s body was broken! His
blood was poured out. We have no such blood to shed for Him—as He shed for us!

  1. Let us show our thankfulness to Christ, by FRUITFULNESS. Let us bring forth the sweet fruits of
    patience, heavenly-mindedness, and good works. This is to live unto Him—who died for us, 2
    Corinthians 5:15. If we would rejoice the heart of Christ, and make Him not to repent of His
    sufferings— let us be fruitful in obedience. The wise men not only worshiped Christ—but presented
    unto Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11. Let us present Christ with the best
    fruits of our garden: Let us give Him our love—that flower of delight. The saints are not only
    compared to stars for their
    knowledge—but spice trees for their fruitfulness. The breasts of the spouse were like clusters of
    grapes;
    Song of Solomon 7:7.

Christ’s blood both kills sin—and makes the heart fruitful in grace.

  1. Let us show our thankfulness to Christ, by our ZEAL. How zealous was Christ for our redemption!
    Zeal turns a saint into a seraphim! A true Christian has a double baptism—one of water, the other
    of fire. He is baptized with the fire of zeal. Be zealous for Christ’s name and truth. Zeal is
    increased by opposition. It cuts its way through the rocks. Zeal loves truth most, when it is
    disgraced and hated. ‘They have made void Your law; therefore I love Your commandments above gold!’
    Psalm 119:126-127.

How little thankfulness do they show to Christ—who have no zeal for His honor and interests! They
are like Ephraim. ‘Ephraim is a cake not turned,’ Hosea 7:8, baked on one side—and dough on the
other. Christ most abominates a lukewarm temper, Revelation 3:15. He is nauseated with such
professors. The location of England is seated between the torrid and frigid zones. The climate is
neither very hot nor cold. I wish this were not the temper of Christians, and that our hearts were
not too like the climate we live in. May the Lord cause the fire of holy zeal, to always be burning
upon the altar of our hearts.

  1. Let us show our thankfulness, by universal SUBJECTION to Christ. This is to make the Lord’s
    Supper, in a spiritual sense—a feast of dedication, when we renew our vows and give ourselves up to
    God’s service. ‘Truly I am Your servant,’ Psalm 116:16. ‘Lord, all I have is Yours. My head shall
    be Yours to study for You; my hands shall be Yours to work for You; my heart shall be Yours to
    adore You;
    my tongue shall be Yours to praise You!’”