Communion

Communion and the Coming of the Lord

Ken

The NT church practice of communion has its roots in the Passover observance of Jehovah passing over the households in Egypt and not slaying the firstborn, when the blood of a lamb was applied to the door posts. Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with His disciples and directed them to continue the practice with the focus upon His substitution as the sacrifice for our sins. 

“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. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:19-20 KJV). 

Why the need for an ongoing repetition of the ceremony? 

His glory. 

“For My sake alone I will act, for how can I allow My name to be defiled? I will not share My glory with anyone else!” (Isaiah 48:11 NET). 

He is worthy.

We need to be very jealous about the name of our LORD, even as He is jealous. If the Church takes lightly God’s honor and glory in not remembering the Lord’s atoning death on the Cross, how can we expect the world to take seriously the love of God for a sinning world? 

What is the connection with our Lord’s Coming for His Church?

“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till He come” (1Corinthians 11:26 KJV). 

Once the Lord returns, we shall see Him as He is, and we won’t need ceremonies to remember Him. So, when we participate in the Lord’s Supper, we are both remembering His sacrifice for us and looking forward to His return. 

“Them that honour Me I will honour” (1Samuel 2:30). 

Father, we desire to glorify You now and forever, for You are worthy. Thank You for the sacrifice of Your Dear Son. May it echo throughout eternity the good and great God You are. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen and amen.

Baptism: The Icing on the Cake

Ken

Other than the Lord’s Supper (known also as Communion or the Eucharist), Baptism is the other significant ordinance commanded by Christ, and historically much debated by the Church. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations [‘make disciples of all nations,’ NIV], baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19 KJV). To clarify, we are to make disciples of all nations and baptize them. No single explanation on baptism will satisfy all religious traditions; but, for conscience sake, can anyone gain entry into the Body of Christ, while defying the command, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38)? To be clear, no one or no thing saves except Jesus. Even if baptism is considered as a condition of salvation, baptism is more than a personal decision, but the outward approval of those who do the baptizing that the recipient has indeed fulfilled the terms for salvation, i.e., we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit by (1) turning to Jesus and BELIEVING on Him to save us from our sins (Acts 16:31), (2) turning away from our sins by REPENTING of them entirely (Acts 2:38), (3) FORSAKING or be willing to forsake everything for Jesus (Luke 18:22), and (4) CONFESSING Jesus is now the Lord or boss of our life (Romans 10:9). LORD, may Your body of believing, practicing disciples find our agreement in Christ about baptism “that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11). Amen and amen. 

Our Secret Place

Ken

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1 KJV). Everyone needs a secret place to meet with God alone. Only the Almighty is capable of furnishing such a unique place for each of us. If we desire to come into the “secret place of the most High” (91:1), we rely upon our faith to visually or verbally imagine such a comfortable meeting place with God. We can do this, when wide awake. And, even in our dreams, we can find ourselves in this secret place with God, as we sleep. Pray for that blessed meeting before we sleep and the remembrance of that meeting, after we awake. LORD, draw us into closer communion with Yourself whether awake or asleep. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.