O-457

"The Christian's Flag"

Communion service

Instead of reading for the bread will sing Hymn 271 vss 1,3

Instead of reading for the wine sing 332 vss 1,2,4

Closing hymn 65 verse 1



It was the fourth of July. To the people of that country it was
just another day. By their reckoning  the year was around 1350.

By our time it would have been more like 1962. But for about
1500 Americans, it was a very special day. 		       
Separated by half of a world from their home, they came together 
to the American Embassy in Tehran Iran to pay homage and respect to
their country, and rejoice in its might and power.

The day was full of fun and excitement. For the children, and
some of the older children, there were camel rides and elephant
rides. There were balloons and clowns, magicians and performing
animals. The imprint of American diet was obvious, with real
hamburgers, hot dogs, Cokes and Pepsis. Not to mention the
French fries and ice cream cones. The day was full of excitement
and everyone was having a good time. 

For that night, there were special events. First came an
acrobatic act. The crowd held their breath as the performers
leaped one upon another until they stood four people tail. Then
they did a balancing act by hand standing on a chair that was
balanced on two legs on a stack of wooden blocks. Next they
juggled bowling pins, then balls, then sharp daggers. 

To top their act they took two swords. One man did a handstand
on the other's shoulders. Then carefully, carefully, they put
the two swords in their mouths. Even more carefully they brought
the two points together. Then they unlocked their hands and
stood balancing, one feet up, one feet on the ground, on the
points of those silvery swords. One slip and they both could
be..... but they didn't slip. As the top man landed lightly on
the ground, after a long time it seemed, the crowd let out a
sigh of relief.

Last of all was a spectacular fireworks show. At first a few
colorful rockets shrieked into the air leaving their pungent
gunpowder smell behind. Then one by one a fairyland of fiery
creatures took shape. A proud peacock glittered green, blue and
purple, and finally went out to a yellow glow, but not before
waving his proud tall at the crowd. 

Just as he was passing into the darkness a flying saucer shot up
into the air sending a pinwheel of sparks spiraling in to the
dark sky. The crowd oohed and aahed. Then the fire took the
shape of a beautiful flower, it glowed it seemed to bloom out
into a

beautiful rose. Another Rocket swished up, cutting across the
sky only to explode the heavens into a dazzle of red white and
blue starbursts. The noise was terrific. The crowd loved it.
Then in the middle of the field, the crowd was drawn to the next
display. What would it be? What could top the excitement and
beauty that had gone before?

As the flame began to trace their fuse-strings color began to
appear. At first there was red. Then some white began to appear,
Yes, and soon the blue was there. But not just any red white and
blur, No it was the red white and blue. And it seemed to be, to
the eyes of one small boy, 50 feet tall. The crowd cheered. at
least some did. Some couldn't, for their eyes and throats were
full of emotion. 

Then the music began. First "The Star Spangled Banner", then "0
Beautiful for Spacious Skies". Skies that were thousands of
miles away. But for now, they were home in their minds and their
hearts. A little bit of home to hold them until they could
return home.

Today we are raising the flag of the Christian faith. For the
Flag of the United States of America is a symbol. In no other
way can we bring so much to remembrance about our country as to
look on the flag. And the flag, the main flag of the Christian
faith is the service that we will be partaking of today. Today
we are partaking in a service which surpasses all other in the
Christian experience to remind us of our faith, of our hope, and
of our duties.

Jesus was our creator and he knew well what he was doing when he
gave us the Communion Service and the Ordinance of Humility to
observe. It must be recognized that mankind is not motivated by
pure logic and matter of fact reasoning. Jesus knew that for
ideas to stick with us that they had to be something that we
could relate to and was dipped in emotion. 

We find examples of this when Jesus was explaining God to the
disciples. He didn't way only that God is our Father. Rather, he
pictured God as a loving father waiting, waiting for a prodigal
son to come back to him. He didn't merely repeat that men should
love their neighbors, he gave us that beautiful story of the
good Samaritan.

So when Jesus came to the end of his earthly ministry, he didn't
merely say, to I am with you always, even to the end of the
world. No. Instead he gave us symbols to remind us that He is
with us, and wants to be one with us not only now, but
throughout eternity.	

Let us ponder the symbolism of the Ordinance of humility. Let us
consider why it was necessary in the first place. The disciples
had been quarreling over who was to be what and where in the
kingdom that was to come. They argued these things not knowing
what the kingdom really was. They were so busy promoting their
own causes that they couldn't consider the need of others of
their group.

How about today? Are we so concerned with our stature in the
church that we grind others down, be it ever so kindly? Are we
so concerned with our own affairs that we don't have time to
serve the church in its needs? Are we so concerned with our own
local church that we don't have the desire to see this gospel of
the kingdom go to all the world? Are we too good to serve the
least of these my brethren. Do we leave our Samaritan neighbors
lying by the side of the road, after possibly robbing him of
dignity, self respect or even his name, holding our noses
because we are chosen of God?

The symbolism of the bread. Bread is the staple of life for most
of the peoples of the world. It may be round, flat as a pancake,
in loves, in sticks, brown, white, corn, barley, or wheat. But
it still remains symbolic of the nourishment for life.

The symbolic bread of the communion service reminds us of our
basis of life, it reminds us that our sustenance comes from God,
who sends the rain on the godly and the ungodly alike, It
reminds us that Christ is the sustenance the nourishment for the
Christian life, and for either kind of bread to be of any use,
it must be brought in to the body. 

You would think someone is crazy if they rubbed bread on their
skin to stop their hunger. But too often we try to let the bread
of life hang around our body our spiritual body without taking
it into our being and letting it nourish us, and give us
strength. 

I've known a few people who wouldn't eat because they wanted to
die. And they usually accomplished their purpose. And I know a
lot of people who don't even seem to be aware that they have a
spiritual life to preserve, a life they need to feed. And some
of those who do only eat the cookies and potato chips of the
gospel without moving on to the whole wheat and rye bread.

And there is the wine, or grape juice. And the cup. For without
the cup, the juice would indeed be difficult to handle. We must
not only have food for survive- we must also have drink. We must
be refreshed with liquids. 

The Bible talks about several cups. It speaks of the cup of
God's fury. It tells of the wine of God's wrath. The cup that
Jesus asked his Father that He might have pass from him there in
the garden of Gethsemane. The cup that was the wine of the wrath
that was poured out on Christ on our behalf. The cup of death
that he drank that we might have life. His cup of shame that we
might stand guiltless before God. A cup of suffering that we
might have peace in eternal life. A cup that gives us power as
we observe it. That gives us power to live a life close to our
Savior and Maker.

That is why I believe that the communion service and the
ordinances of humility are power services for the Christian.
Unless are able to serve those in our family with joy will we
have the power to effectively serve those around us. Only when 
we partake of the power of the word, the bread of life, will 
we have the power to approach the world giving them the 
good news of the salvation that was boughtwith the broken 
body of our Savior. Only when we learn to constantly to 
refresh ourselves by immersing ourselves in the
life and will of Christ,  being "rebaptized" into his service,
will we be able to share the joy of a Christ filled life
effectively.

These symbols have done what the Lord intended for them to do.
They have kept alive the experience that they were designed to
express. And by the help of these symbols of suffering, service,
and salvation, we have somewhat of the mind of Christ opened to
us. 

Through these ordinances, the weary and stained, disappointed,
and despairing have touched the hem of Christ's garment, and
felt his hand upon our heads. The symbolism of the power of the
Christian life has helped deepen faith and sweeten our lives. It
should soothe us, comfort us, it should make us strong.

We rejoice that when the table of the Lord is spread that a word
of welcome invitation is given. The Adventist church does not
practice a closed communion. The call of service and dedication
goes out to all, alike.

The sacrifice of Christ was made for all alike, for we are told,
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond or free,
there is neither male or female, for we are all one in Christ
Jesus. "Ye have freely received." All are called upon to freely
give. So we invite all who care to show their desire to share in
the symbolism of dedication to the cause of God, to His Word,
and to the service of humanity, to partake of the services with
us, showing their willingness to be one with Christ.

We know this isn't just a fourth of July celebration. It's not
just the fireworks, or the clowns, or the jugglers. It's not
just the food of home, although it is that too. No, this is the
symbolism of our Country, of our King, and of our future. It is
the flag of Christianity waving proudly, and it draws our minds
to the sacrifice, the cross, that bought our salvation.

As we look at the symbols, and partake of them, we must begin to
recognize that the symbols have meaning only if we go from the
table to our daily toil, determined to share ourselves in the
service of others, to pour out our energies, our compassion, our
love for the triumph of God's cause. W should carefully prepare
our hearts for the reception of the symbols of our Savior, so
that do not become an empty gesture from which the life and
meaning have faded. 

May the renewed power of the blood flow through the veins of our
life as we honor our Savior in this service.