Every wondered what communion is all about?

What is communion and why is so important?

Today is communion sharing at TPH but before we go ahead with it, it is important for us to understand what communion is and why we do it. 

WHAT IS COMMUNION?
In layman terms, it is ‘a common union with Christ.’ If you check the definition in the dictionary, it is ‘an act or instance of sharing.’ Typically, bread, which symbolizes the body of Christ and wine/juice, which symbolizes the blood of Jesus is shared amongst the congregants or a family unit during communion. 

Let’s go to first book of the Bible:

Gen 2:17; Gen 3:2
God gave a command that Adam and Eve could ‘eat of every tree in the garden but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat.’ God told them that the day that they ate of this tree, they will die. Once they broke this rule, they lost their position and authority in God- the God nature that they had in them died and they were separated from the realm of the spirit. And as we read on, sin began then and continued to propagate from there on. In the realm of the spirit, there are different levels of operation- the good and bad. We must connect to what operates for us positively and supernaturally and this we can get through communion. 

Communion is a spiritual action and there are many spiritual benefits to it.

WHY DO WE HAVE COMMUNION OR WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? 

First off, Jesus Christ said we should do it often it in remembrance of him (1 Corinthians 11:24). When we take communion, it signifies our blood covenant with the Lord and this was only made possible by the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s only son, our high priest (Hebrews 9: 11-27). In doing so, we proclaim the death of Christ, which came about as a result of our blood covenant with God, which was made possible by his son, Jesus Christ, who willing agreed to
do a sin sacrifice and helped us to regain full reconciliation to God, since the fall of Adam and Eve. We thank God for the blood covenant – we do not have to rely on “the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer that could only cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity only. We have something more superior- the blood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews‬ 9:13)

Communion not only helps us come to a place and reminder of our salvation (where are souls have been saved from sins, evil or its effects) but It helps to remind us that God can heal us, and we can have victory. We can break off from all limitations and we become whole because it  brings us to a place of oneness with Christ. God desires for us to be in a place of total victory. God desires for us to prosper and be in health as our soul prospers. This is why he sent his son, Jesus Christ, to die in my place and your place (3 John 1:2).  God truly desires us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). Please never feel condemned or feel less than this. You are made to proposer and to be in health.

Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission or forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22). Jesus Christ had to shed his blood and die so that we can regain the initial intimacy and direct access that Adam and Eve had with God when they were created and before they sinned. The significance of the shedding of Jesus’ blood and in essence that blood covenant that we have with God is activated when we take communion. 


THE BENEFITS OF COMMUNION
When you share communion, we are doing something seemingly mysterious, but we must not forget that Jesus’ death was the final victory, and he didn’t die in vain. Following are some benefits of partaking in communion:

1. Figuratively speaking, you lay hold of a life of God, who is sovereign and our only hope. Jesus Christ said, ‘unless you eat the flesh of the son of man and drink the blood, you have no life in you’ (John 6:35)
2. You receive deliverance and healing. When we take communion, we are reminded that we have deliverance from sickness and fear and are reminded of God’s power, love and sound mind that he has given to us and that we already possess. As your take communion today or anytime, it is a time again to take all your requests to God and believe that the blood of his son Jesus Christ has settled all your problems, weaknesses, delays, disappointments and short comings.
3. God’s grace abounds more as you take communion and more frequently.  The blood of Jesus is superior and is the most reliable than any other that has been shed (Hebrew 12:24). When we eat our bread and drink our wine, we are symbolically drinking his blood that was shed and eating of his body that was bruised for the remission of our sins. This action speaks of our faith in God that we have his favor, authority, grace and Hope, which are available for anyone in Christ. When you take communion, you can begin to have the grace to do those things that you couldn’t do-. This is why we do it often in remembrance of this significant act of God, who brought us salvation and redemption through his son, Jesus Christ

You and I are not ordinary beings but spiritual beings. We must begin to understand that life is fundamentally spiritual and therefore we must engage in realm of the spirit. When we share communion, we share in the body and blood of Christ and become one with him. We share in the life of God and we do it often to remind us of why we must continually do this. 

One thing to note though, you must take communion in a worthy manner. The Bible tells us that “Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord; you ought to be discerning so that you are not guilty of eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died” (1 Corinthians 11:27-30). 

Today just like Jesus did in 1 Corinthians 11: 24, ‘give thanks for the communion first off and understand the spiritual significance and benefits of communion.  Paul said “…  on the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. “Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.”

Clara enjoys writing. She is a serial entrepreneur and enjoys past-time like traveling, reading, analysis, and spending time with her family. She also volunteers for our religious organization’s e-church. This writeup is an except of a sermon by Pastor Kemala Okara. For inquires or questions, you can contact clara at cogunsemi@yahoo.com