October 01, 2016
There is an old saying: “An army marches on its stomach” – if an army doesn’t feed its men it’s not going anywhere. Without food the troops can’t march, can’t maneuver, and they can’t fight.
During WWII, the US tried solving this issue with “K rations”, which consisted of three-meals-in-one-box for a total of about 2800 calories per day. In 1944 alone 105 million K-rations were sent to front-line troops.
Food is an indispensable need for soldiers in combat.
The term Paul uses to describe a fellow Christian is that of “soldier”.
• Philemon 1:1-2 - To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, 2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home:
• Philippians 2:25 - But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.
• 2 Timothy 2:3 - Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
We are soldiers of Christ - A Spiritual Army deployed by God to contend with Evil.
Just like a physical army requires food, so a spiritual army requires food.
We should be feeding on the Word and Promises of God. Nourishing our minds and arming ourselves for the fight against the powers of Satan.
We should be in communication with the General, getting our marching orders.
These are things we should be doing every day – not just every once in a while.
No physical food = no energy
No spiritual food = no energy
Communion is something special:
In the Old Testament, before the Children of Israel left Egypt, they were told to prepare a special meal. This meal certainly had a physical application – they would need energy for the journey ahead – moving from slaves to free men and women. It also had a spiritual application – pointing to the eventual sacrifice of Jesus, which would also move humanity from slaves to free people. It was a reminder that it was not through their strength that they were freed, but through the power of God.
Communion gives us special nourishment:
• Extra calories.
• An infusion of power.
• Energy for the journey ahead.
The Communion Table is where you and I are reminded of our mission – our marching orders.
When we take the bread and the juice, we remember WHY we’re here in the first place.
Jesus died for you. He died for me. He died for the person down the street and the person in the gutter. Our salvation is not of our own making. We cannot free ourselves from slavery. It was done for us.
Communion reminds us that we are sinners, and that we’re not here this morning for the free meal. We’re here because Jesus died to forgive our sins and change our lives.
As 1 Timothy 1:15 declares: “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners— of whom I am the worst.”
Because of what Jesus did for you and me, our mission is to tell everyone we meet what Jesus means to us and that they too can experience a transformed life.
Communion is for the troops – for Christians.
It is meant to be a shared experience.
It’s the time when God’s army gets together to prepare for battle.
We encourage and strengthen each other and are reminded that we are not alone in our fight.
For the soldier, K Rations were a valuable and precious commodity. It meant life.
For the Christian soldier the communion table should be a valuable and precious thing.
It meant something very special to Jesus. He took time to be with His disciples to encourage and strengthen them for the trials they were about to face. Likewise, when we meet here and participate in communion, Jesus meets us here.
He wants to encourage and strengthen us for the trials we will face. It is from Him that our strength comes.
He wants to remind us of our mission to the world He loves.
Never take this table for granted.
Hold the bread and the cup as more valuable than gold because they represent the price Jesus paid for your salvation and mine.
Finally, It is at the communion table that we are reminded, that because of the cross the war‘s outcome has already been determined. The broken body and spilled blood of Jesus guarantees our victory.
Let us think on those things today. We are nourished and sustained by Jesus and through Him we are victorious.
Amen
