2016 05 08 – Communion

2016 05 08 – Communion

Mother’s Day – a day set aside to honor mothers and remember the impact they had on our life. We shouldn’t need a day to remember moms, but I understand why we do.

When the nation of Israel left Egypt they saw some spectacular things: the plagues, the Red Sea parting, the manna every day, the pillar of cloud, the pillar of fire, the water from a rock (twice), and God’s presence with them. However, they were given feasts to celebrate during the year “lest they forget.”

Communion is such a time for the Christian. It is a time of remembrance and a time to experience holy fellowship with our God by remembering the sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus. Amazingly there are some that fear this time because of a misapplied verse of scripture.

1 Corinthians 11:27-30 (ESV)

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.

“That” is referring to “discerning the Lord’s body”, not “eating or drinking in an unworthy manner.” I believe that if you take communion with sin in your life the Holy Spirit will convict you of that sin during communion, thus making you “guilty” and give you opportunity to repent.

The word “discerning” has more to do with how we view the Lord and His sacrifice. Look at some of the nuances in this word. Strong’s says it this way: “to separate thoroughly i.e. (literal and reflexive) to withdraw from, or (by implication) oppose; figurative to discriminate (by implication decide), or (reflexive) hesitate.” When we begin to pull back from the Lord and not allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in our life

As I went through The Names of God I came across this concerning how we view God and how we speak of Him. One of the Ten Commandments as they are called tells us not to take the name of God in vain.

Exodus 20:7 (ESV)

7  “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

Most consider this “cussin’” but I believe it is much more than that. Blurting out the name “Jesus” or “God” when we smash our thumb with a hammer is not what God meant by taking His name in vain. When you look at the word used for “vain” you see it means, “to desolate, or evil, and even deception.” When you speak about God in a way that causes others to think wrongly about Him you have made His name “vain.” Paul warned Timothy of the same thing.

1 Timothy 1:3-7 (ESV)

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

“Vain discussion” is basically the same word in the Greek as the Hebrew word used in Exodus. God wants us to guard our heart against hearing and receiving this kind of communication regarding our God. He also wants us to “bridle” our tongue from speaking such. This is so much more important that blurting out some random names under stress.

God has given us communion to remember; remember the sacrifice of Jesus through His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension to Father. He also wants us to take inventory of where we are in our walk with Him. But most importantly, He wants us to understand His character and nature during this time of holy communion. He also wants you to receive His healing and wholeness that was provided through Jesus as well.

So take the bread and the cup. If there is sin God will convict you. Repent. But in taking communion do not limit what God can do in your life. He wants you to be whole in every way. Receive all that He has for you today.