Who Do You Want Sup With?

The last post, we spoke about communion.  How it reminds us of the everlasting covenant we have with God because what Jesus Christ has done for us (Hebrews 12:24).  Through this covenant we can have life and life more abundantly (John 10:10).  We do not just have salvation (eternal life in heaven) but as children of God we can accept the gifts, blessings, promises and miracles of God.  We can even bestow those blessings on others through prayer, word and action. 

 ^“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Mark 16:17-18

We can accept God’s authority over our life in faith- not the lies and deception of the devil. We can see in the NEW as HIS new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).         

And since we have crossed the line to have allegiance with God, we need to be more aware of the thief/Satan who comes to steal, kill and destroy.  Be aware of the cunning serpent who is sometimes very subtle with his suggestions, only for the unexpecting individual to find themselves in a swift current moving away from godly thoughts and actions. No matter how unpleasant this may sound we are in a war. Seduction and intimidation and manipulation are not off limits to Satan who unleashes these fiery of flaming arrows to see if he can swallow/devour and/or overwhelm us. He knows what buttons to try.  So be careful of what thoughts come to seed worry, anxiety, presumption, pride, lust, legalism, depression and so on... Careful of what might be trying to entice and influence your flesh.  Be careful of what is trying to divide.  Satan knows what happens to our assurance as a witness for God when we see ourselves guilty and lacking in the sight of God.  We become ineffective and those we could help spiritually fall asleep, become spiritually sick and even lose faith. Our tendency is to look inwardly to self in the midst of spiritual conflict but we are to look outwardly to God who quenches the evil tactics of the devil. We are to submit and humble ourselves before God and the evil will subside and cease and He will lift us up. (James 5:7). 

And if we do sin. Ask for forgiveness and turn away from sin.

"For if you eat the bread or drink the cup unworthily, not honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God's judgment upon yourself.  That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. But if we examine ourselves, we will not be examined by God and judged in this way, but when we are judged and disciplined by the Lord, we will not be condemned with the world." 1 Corinthians 11:29-32 

We must be cognizant of WHO (God) or who (Satan) is trying to feed us spiritually? Is the spiritual food LIFE or is it death?

As I was thinking about all this and how it relates to communion and God’s covenant I was reminded of a section in Revelation. 

“I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference. Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.  I will invite everyone who is victorious to sit with me on my throne, just I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.  Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” Revelation 3:19-22

You see this church Jesus was speaking to had become lukewarm.  They had gotten used to and comfortable with sin and in so doing acted and behaved much like people lost in the sinful appetites of world. They had become “indifferent” and spiritually dull.  They were no longer living and dependent on the spiritual riches of God. They had disregarded their covenant with God for the temporary things of this world. Their spiritual tastebuds had forgotten what REAL food tasted like.  In fact Jesus says to them, “You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”  They had allowed themselves to be deceived. 

They were not eating from God’s LIFE giving covenant but death.  In love, Jesus rebukes them that they may turn from their foolish and blind ways.  That they may come to their senses and partake of covenant of the LORD who is LIFE not the false empty temporary things of this world that don't last or satisfy.   

And who doesn’t want the lasting and eternal things of God which are joy, peace, love, hope, mercy, grace, truth, faith…..

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now glory to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen.” Ephesians 3:16-21

Not the Same Old Song

The Bible… it is looked at by some as holding to old traditions and religion but how many of those who hold to such opinions have actually read it? I know before I was a Christian I tried reading the bible and I would only read a paragraph or two and be lost.  It wasn’t until I received the miracle of the Holy Spirit by putting my life in Jesus Christ’s hands that I could not only read but understand and soak up the bible's rich text which before were only mere words written on thin white page paper.
Like a song, the words in the bible come back to me.  They are the spring that brings green to the branches of tree.  They come as I quiet my soul, read other biblical passages, write, meditate, pray and go about the day. 

Bible scriptures are in the storehouses of the mind and heart that I know I didn’t build.  They come as I give up my effort and let God teach.  God is a wonderful teacher.  He plants his seeds of truth, warms and waters them with insights where they grow and take root, then he collects the fruit of his labors and stores them in the cellars of the heart and mind where He stirs them up so we may taste the aged and saving goodness.

It is true, sometimes we are the only ones who appreciate the joy of the inspiration God brings but we share anyway in hopes others will taste the encouraging goodness God gave to us.  We share our meal.  We share our drink.  Not with swine or the fool, or the mocker but the seeker who is being drawn and the believer in Christ Jesus.

Do This in Remembrance of Me 

There are songs that take you back to certain moments in your life but we also have songs that not only take us back but season moments we are now in.   They are songs that never get old. Christmas songs are good example for many of us. U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name” does that for me.  It never gets old.

Communion is like  a “song” that is to never get old.  It was never to become some "religious" routine or tradition or custom.  It may have become so because of our uninspired mindset or being wrapped up in the cares of this life.  Communion is the opportunity to welcome and see everything in the new and fresh again. It is to draw us back to what Christ has done and stir up the treasures he has put in the maturing cellars of our hearts and minds.  YES! Taste and see the LORD is good!

We know in the bible, when God’s people had a meal with someone it was a covenant between them and those they were eating with. Every time we have communion it is to remind us of the privilege and covenant we have with our WONDERFUL and AWESOME God!

Jesus, at what is known as the ‘Last Supper’ took a loaf of bread and asked God to bless it.  Then he broke it into pieces and gave it to the disciples and said,  “Take it and eat it, for this is my body.”  And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it.  He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it.  For this is my blood, which seals the covenant between God and his people.  It is poured out to forgive the sins of many.” Matthew 26:26-28          

As God gave me the opportunity to pray for the little plastic cup of grape juice this last Sunday, the Holy Spirit, came over me.  I, as a simple vessel, was reminding everyone including myself that this "remembrance" of Jesus’ blood is not only to remind us of our salvation we have in Jesus Christ, but that we set us free in the liberty of Christ.  We are made children of God and that we may accept, the promises of God,  the peace of God, joy of God, grace of God, hope in God, fellowship with God, protection in God, healing in God, and all the benefits of God that are too vast and endless to say and count!  We were to drink in this reality in Jesus name- in whom we are saved.  Then if this wasn’t powerful enough my arms felt as they were rising up as I drank the juice.  

I then came and sat in my chair where again out my heart and mind came the words from Psalm 103 “…and forget not all his benefits-“

“Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
² Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—
³ who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
⁴ who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

⁶ The Lord works righteousness
    and justice for all the oppressed.

⁷ He made known his ways to Moses,
    his deeds to the people of Israel:
⁸ The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
⁹ He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;
¹⁰ he does not treat us as our sins deserve
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;
¹² as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

¹³ As a father has compassion on his children,
    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
¹⁴ for he knows how we are formed,
    he remembers that we are dust.
¹⁵ The life of mortals is like grass,
    they flourish like a flower of the field;
¹⁶ the wind blows over it and it is gone,
    and its place remembers it no more.
¹⁷ But from everlasting to everlasting
    the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
    and his righteousness with their children’s children—
¹⁸ with those who keep his covenant
    and remember to obey his precepts.

¹⁹ The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
    and his kingdom rules over all.

²⁰ Praise the Lord, you his angels,
    you mighty ones who do his bidding,
    who obey his word.
²¹ Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
    you his servants who do his will.
²² Praise the Lord, all his works
    everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, my soul.”

     

Amen.