Talk about- Communion, Lord’s Table, Lord’s Supper
To benefit from Communion- must be seen as more than a ritual- it is a life-giving experience.
Communion- fellowship, partnership, participation.
Can also be seen as communication …
He speaks, we listen,
we speak, He listens.
To understand Communion- look at- Passover Meal.
Israel in slavery in Egypt, God sent Moses as their deliverer, brings 10 plagues on the Egypt.
Purpose- convince Pharaoh to let Israel go free.
Tenth and final plague …
Ex 11:4-5, 7
God establishes the Passover Meal as a means for Israel to escape the judgment of God on Egypt.
Ex 12:3-7, 12-13
To be released from the judgment of God- had to paint the blood of the lamb on door posts/lintel.
10th plague- judgment against Egypt- killed first born.
We see in this that God is a just God.
The Passover Lamb is a type of Christ.
Through the blood of the lamb Israel was delivered from the judgment of death.
Through the blood of Christ we have been delivered from God’s judgment for our sin.
Just as Israel was …
delivered from slavery, we have been delivered from sin,
released from Egypt, we have been released from the kingdom of darkness.
Col 1:13 For he has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son. NLT
Two principles we see in the Passover Meal …
1. Through the blood of the lamb Israel was released from slavery, the kingdom of darkness, judgment.
2. The eating of the lamb had to do with physical strength and nourishment.
The blood deals w/intangible issues of sin/rebellion.
Eating lamb deals w/physical issues- healing/health.
Isa 53:4-5 NASU
4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.
Griefs- sickness or disease, Sorrows- affliction or pain
Two fold purpose of Jesus death on the cross …
1. Forgiveness of our sins through the blood of Christ
Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace NASU
2. Healing/Health through his physical suffering
Mtt 8:16-17
16 When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill.
17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: "HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES." NASU
Jesus fulfilled Isa 53- released to all of mankind both-
forgiveness of sins and
physical healing.
We see this again pictured by David in the Psalms …
Psa 103:1-3
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases; NASU
These are two benefits that we have as a result of the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for us.
If you have insurance you have certain benefits- Jesus has become our eternal insurance policy.
Some other principles that apply to Communion …
1. We have been set free from the Law of Sin/Death
Rom 8:1-2
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. NASU
The condemnation or judgment that was given to Adam has been passed down to all mankind.
We are set free from the …
law of sin through the blood of Jesus,
law of death through the resurrection of Jesus.
1 Cor 15:45 So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
2. We have been given abundant life
Jn 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. NASU
Tree of Life- Garden of Eden- was a type of Christ.
Must eat food regularly to sustain our natural body.
Must eat regularly- Tree of Life- sustain spiritual life.
Gen 3:22 Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever" — NASU
Adam had to eat regularly of the tree of life to sustain his physical life.
We must also eat regularly of our Lord to sustain both our physical and our spiritual lives.
Jn 6:53-54
53 So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.
54 "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. NASU
In Summary
At the communion table there is available both …
forgiveness of our sins and
healing of our bodies.
As we prepare to take communion …
1Cor 11:27-31
Often consider unworthily- sin in our lives or improper relationships in the body of Christ.
To take Communion unworthily is to not properly acknowledge what Christ, in His body, did for us.
If you have sin in your life- no better place to come to receive forgiveness than at the Lord’s Table.
If you are sick in body- no better place to come for healing than at the Lord’s Table.
Take Communion
Read 1Cor 11:23-26
