On Communion
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
God is spirit. All of physical reality was birthed by spiritual reality. Paul said in 2Corinthians 4:16-18, “Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” And Jesus in John 6:63 said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”
John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” It is the eternal, primal, spiritual Word that created everything, set the stars on their course, ordained day and night, and made everyone here this morning. This eternal Word entered the world he made as an infant. The Almighty Word was given a body that He might be broken for us. As it says in Luke 22:19, “And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
Is a remembrance an empty ritual or is it the key to unlocking the power of God in our lives? If you remember your passwords you gain access. Remembering brings the remembered events closer to us. Would you gain access to God? Would you be closer to your savior? Remember that Christ died for you.
The Passover was itself a remembrance of God’s deliverance when he took Israel out of Egypt. It was also a foretelling of the deliverance from sin that is the work of Jesus Christ. Even so, our communion is a remembrance of the completed work of the cross and it is looking forward to the renewal of all things and our complete rescue from the presence of sin. Luke 22:17-18, “Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” In that kingdom we will drink of eternal life with Christ. As it says in Revelation 19:9, “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!”
This morning let us remember, by receiving these elements, the eternal spiritual realities of regeneration, salvation and the eternal union with our God that is always only one heartbeat away. Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father, we give you thanks and praise for your glorious gift of salvation. As we remember the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by taking the bread and the wine we pray your real presence among us would bring us into ever greater fellowship with you and with each other. In Jesus name. Amen.
1Corinthians 11:23-26, “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
Let us take of the bread, the body of Christ
In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”
Let us drink of the wine, the Blood of Christ
Amen.
brotherpayne 