STRENGTH THROUGH COMMUNION

Communion gives spiritual strength for your battles with the enemy. While hiding out from Saul David and his small group of men ran out of food (provisions). David arranged to meet them somewhere and he went to find some food. He went to Nob ( a community of priests) and asked Ahimelech for food.

I Samuel 21:3-5 NKJV
“ ‘Now therefore, what have you on hand? Give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatever can be found.’ And the priest answered David and said, ‘There is no common bread on hand; but there is holy bread, if the young men have kept themselves from women.’
The David answered the priest, and said to him, ‘Truly, women have been kept from us about three days since I came out. And the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in effect common, even though it was consecrated in the vessel this day.’ ”

The priest gave David the shewbread. It became their “bread of strength.”

I Samuel 21:6 NKJV
“So the priest gave him holy bread; for there was no bread there but the showbread which had been taken from before the Lord, in order to put hot bread in its place on the day when it was taken away.”

It was not lawful for anyone other than the priest to eat the shewbread but the priest realized that it was important to keep the spirit of the law.

Matthew 12:3-4 NKJV

“But He said to them, ‘Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those with him: how they entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?”

If you are like David’s men (you are fighting a battle and seem to be growing weaker) you need to receive communion.
When the Hebrews left Egypt there was not one feeble, sick, lame or weak person among them. This was because of what they had done the night before. They had received “communion” the night before. They had eaten the Passover lamb and applied it’s blood to their house.

Psalm 105:37 NKJV
“He brought them out with silver and gold,
And there was none feeble among His tribes.”

Revelation Through Communion

 

Luke 24:13-24 NKJV    

“Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.

And He said to them, ‘What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?’ Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, ‘Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?’

And He said to them, ‘What things?’ So they said to Him, ‘The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.’ ”

 

Jesus had walked with the two men on the road to Emmaus all day long but they did not know Him. They had talked with Him, but they had not been intimate with Him.

Many people know who Jesus is, and many have conversations with Him, but they do not know Him. They have not had intimacy with Him.

Luke 24:25-29 NKJV    

“Then He said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?’ And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, ‘Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.’ And He went in to stay with them.”

 

Like the men on the road to Emmaus, we must have our eyes opened. When the men received the communion elements their eyes were opened and they knew Him.

 

Luke 24:30-35 NKJV    

“Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, ‘Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?’ So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, ‘The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!’ And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of the bread.”

The Lord’s Supper

   

          The Lord’s Supper is also referred to as communion. On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus gave us “communion” as we know it today.

1 Corinthians 11:25-26  NIV    

“In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is

the new covenant in My blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

          The dictionary describes communion as the act of sharing (having in common), an exchange of thoughts and feelings, an intimate time together, fellowship, and a close spiritual relationship. When we receive the communion elements (bread / juice) we enter into a very special (sacred) time with God.

1. Sharing

Share means to use, enjoy, or have something in common with another. Share emphasizes the idea of common possession, enjoyment, and use.

Romans 8:15-17  NKJV    

“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

          Communion is a time to remember that you share an inheritance with Jesus because of what He did for you. We are joint heirs with Christ. Those who have received the salvation that Jesus paid for are the sons of God. They have been adopted into the family of God. Because of  this adoption, they will receive an eternal reward (inheritance). God has already set aside a wonderful inheritance for each believer in heaven.

1 Peter 1:3-5  NKJV    

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

2. Exchange Of Thoughts And Feelings

Exchange is to give one thing for another or to substitute one thing for another. When we exchange something we replace it. Communion should be a time of exchange. During communion we should exchange our mind, will, and emotions for those of Christ.

A.) Mind: Communion is a time of renewing your mind. It is very important for us to have the mind of Christ. When we have the mind of Christ we can resist the temptations of this world. We will also see ourselves as God sees us.

Romans 12:2  NKJV   

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

          When we have the mind of Christ we will strive to be obedient to the Father, just as Christ was obedient to the Father. Obedience comes from having the mind of Christ. Humility will also be part of our life as we take on the mind of Christ. All of our actions begin with a thought (within our minds).

Having the mind of Christ is important for the corporate body as well as the individual believer. As a body we must think and act like Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:6  NKJV    

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”

Romans 8:5-8  NKJV    

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal minded life is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

1 Corinthians 2:14-16  NKJV    

“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.”

        During communion you can exchange your worries and fears for the peace of God. As we keep our focus on God we will be at peace no matter what we see, feel or experience. When we have the mind of Christ we will be at peace. It will be a ‘perfect  peace’, one that comes only from God.

Isaiah 26:3  NKJV   

  “You will keep him in perfect peace,

Whose mind is stayed on You,

Because he trusts in You.”

B.) Will: The power of the mind to decide and do; deliberate control over our thoughts and actions; purpose; determination; what is chosen to be done; a legal statement of a person‘s wishes, feeling toward another.

Communion is a time of exchanging our will, our hopes, our dreams and our goals for those of God.

John 4:34  NKJV  

   “Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”

          Jesus desired to do the will of the Father, and we too should desire the same. Jesus delighted (desired greatly) and was determined  to do what His Father wished.

Psalms 40:8  NKJV  

   “I delight to do Your will, O my God,

And Your law is written within my heart.”

          Communion is a wonderful time to hear the voice of God as His Spirit teaches and instructs you to do His will.

Psalms 143:10  NKJV   

  “Teach me to do Your will,

For You are my God; Your Spirit is good.

Lead me in the land of uprightness.”

          Communion is a time when we can rededicate our lives to God and renew our commitment to Him. It is a time when we can express our desire to do His will and not our own. Like Jesus, each one of us must come to a point in our lives when we say, “Not my will Lord, but Yours.”

Luke 22:42  NKJV  

  “…Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

C.) Emotions

Our emotions are the tender and sensitive part of us. Feeling, emotion and passion are pleasant or painful sensations produced in a person in reaction to something. Examples of these sensations are: love, joy, grief, fear, hate, anger, excitement, or sorrow. Communion is a time when we should exchange our emotions, our feeling, and our passions for those of Christ.

3. An Intimate Time With God

Communion is a very intimate time with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The dictionary describes intimate as very familiar; known very well; closely acquainted; resulting from close familiarity; close; personal; private; far within; deepest; inmost; a close friend. Communion is truly a very special, personal and private (even when in a corporate setting)  time between you and your very best friend that takes place deep within your inmost being. As we draw close to God (intimate with) He will fill us with living water. There will be a river of living water coming out of those who are intimate with God. It will satisfy not only them, but others may drink from the water and be satisfied.

John 7:37-38  NKJV    

“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scriptures has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

          Because of your intimacy with God, He will guide you, satisfy you and strengthen you. It is only natural to want to bless the ones that you are intimate with. The Holy Spirit will satisfy our thirst and produce a fountain flowing out of us for others.

Isaiah 58:11  NKJV    

“The Lord will guide you continually,

And satisfy your soul in drought,

And strengthen your bones;

You shall be like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”

4. Fellowship

Communion is a time when you can experience true fellowship with the Trinity. Fellowship is a condition or quality of being a member; companionship; friendship; a being one of the group; membership; brotherhood.

1 John 1:6-7  NKJV   

  “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

          When you have fellowship with someone you will reflect their character. Our fellowship with God is dependent on walking in the light of God. In God’s light sin can be revealed (by the Holy Spirit). When the Holy Spirit exposes sin we can go to Jesus for forgiveness. Communion can be a wonderful time of forgiveness and restoration.

5. Close Spiritual Relationship

Close: with little space between; near; fitting tightly; tight; having its parts near together; intimate; dear.

          Spiritual: having to do with the spirit or soul; caring much for the things of the spirit or soul. 

          Relationship: connection; condition of belonging to the same family.

          During communion your spirit can connect with the Spirit of God. It is a time to draw near to God.