Interlude: Communion
8-10-10***************
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?
The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 1 Corinthians 10:16
On the night that our Lord Jesus Christ was betrayed, he left his disciples an holy ordinance by which to remember him. It is called the Lord's supper (1 Corinthians 11). We do not have to be in a church building in order to partake of the Lord's supper.
1 Corinthians 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
The Lord's supper consists of:
Partaking in the Lord's supper is an important time of remembrance that refocuses my mind on my Lord. For some reason(s) I went without the Lord's supper for a long period of time, but coming back to it opened up my love and adoration.
1 Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?I partake of the Lord's supper in a quiet place after what I call my morning oblation (my daily prayer time when I present myself to the Lord before going about my day) before the house is active. I usually partake of the Lord's supper on the sabbath day. All is set up and the Bible is open on the bookstand. I have a coffee table that serves as an altar. I cover it with a white table cloth and set out the plate with unleavened bread, the cup with fruit of the vine, and a napkin. I also light a candle to read by.
I. Self-examination
- First I read I Corinthians 11:20-33. It teaches that some people in the Corinthian church were sick and others died because they did not examine and judge themselves before taking the Lord's supper.
1 Corinthians 11:20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
34And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
- I pray and examine myself. If there are faults to confess, then I confess them. There have been a few times when I did not take communion, I do not remember the particulars as to why I did not, but communion is nothing to take lightly.
II. Partaking of the Lord's Supper.
- I turn to the account of the Lord's supper in one of the gospels (Luke 22:1-30 or Matthew 26:1-30 or Mark 14:1-26) and read aloud considering what I am reading.
- I stop after reading the passage when the Lord blesses and breaks the bread. I pray and give thanks for the bread. I break it and partake of it.
- I stop again likewise after reading the passage when the Lord Jesus gives thanks for the cup after supper which is the cup of the new testament in his blood which was shed for us. I pray and give thanks for the cup. I partake of it. I then finish reading the passage aloud.
Here is the Luke passage--
Luke 22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.
3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.
6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
7 Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.
8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.
9 And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?
10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.
11 And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
12 And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.
13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
21 But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.
22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
23 And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
- After the passover meal, they sang an hymn (Matthew 26:30). I often sing Lead Me to Calvary (at a slower pace than the online version) from a nearby hymnbook [3]. Finally, I light an incense stick which smells of frankincense and myrrh--I use this particular incense scent for no other purpose but communion--its rich odor filling the air as I order the room.
[1] I have some purchased unleavened crackers that I use for the Lord's supper service and have also made my own with flour and water after seeing the ingredient list on the cracker box. I rolled it out thin and baked it on 350 degrees. It dried out and kept for days until I used it. Next time I make my own, I plan to prepare them based on passages from Leviticus--
Leviticus 2:5 And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in a pan, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil.
Leviticus 2:13 And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.
Leviticus 7:10 And every meat offering, mingled with oil, and dry, shall all the sons of Aaron have, one as much as another.
Meat offering here refers to bread.
[2] The fruit of the vine is wine. I do not drink much of it because the disciples divided the cup amongst themselves. Many church people would take exception to partaking of wine because of the way that they were taught; however, it was wine. The beginning of the Lord's miracles was turning water into wine (John 2:1-11, 4:46). If the idea of drinking wine causes a man to stumble, many do drink grape juice (Romans 14:1-23).
[3] I have The New National Baptist Hymnal (Published in 1977 with KJV readings. I am not a Baptist or any other name/denomination found outside of the Authorized King James Bible). I also have another hymnal entitled, Praise! Our Songs and Hymns (KJV) Hymnals include the musical notes and lyrics. If you can play an instrument, you can learn many songs. We should think about the words of the various hymns to see if they are doctrinally sound or not.