The Lord's Supper means different things to different people.
The Catholics believe it is a very mystical and powerful, supernatural ritual in which they are actually eating the literal human flesh of Jesus, and that by doing so they are given grace (basically, salvation). Catholics take "the Eucharist" (which is what they call it) at every single church service they perform and it is the primary purpose for their gathering.
Most Protestants believe that it is a symbolic gesture that helps us to realize that Jesus gave up His life for us, and the practice of eating and drinking while remembering that Jesus gave up His body and blood for us helps us to feel the gravity of the sacrifice He made. Most Protestants would generally agree that there is nothing supernatural about the Lord's Supper, it is symbolic gesture that helps to edify and honor the Lord.. nothing less, nothing more. Protestants usually take "communion" (what they call it) every month or so.
One thing that both of Catholics and Protestants have in common is that, with rare exception, both of them really only ever have The Lord's Supper in formal church services.
I am wondering how yall feel about it. Do you think there is anything more to it than symbolism? Do you think it has to be done in church? How often do you do it?
And heres the big question i want to ask:
Do you think it is something that a family could do at home every night together when they sit down to share a meal?
I take communion at home as often as I can (or remember) And yes! You can take communion daily hourly, continually or any of the above.
This is my stance on communion
How to receive communion.
When a believer partakes of the Lord's Supper; he should do so with full understanding of its significance. Communion, to many people, has become only a religious observance. It has a much deeper meaning than that.
The communion table is an emblem of Jesus sacrificed for us.
Jesus took bread and blessed it and broke it and said Take eat, this is my body”, and He took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying. “Drink ye all of it, for this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." Matthew 26: 26-28.
Primarily, the Church has centered its attention on the wine as an emblem of Jesus blood that was shed for sin. We take the emblem of blood and say, “Thank God we are delivered from sin” and that is true. Praise God for it. But the blood is only half of communion the bread is an emblem of Jesus body that was broken for us. The emblem for his body is just as important as the emblem for his blood.
According to Isaiah 53:4-5, Jesus’ sacrifice covered every area of man's existence. He bore spiritual torment for sins, mental distress for our worry, care and fear as well as physical pain for our sickness and disease. The stripes He bore were for our healing. With his stripes we are healed. God gave us everything He had to redeem mankind from the curse for us to receive only part of a sacrifice is an insult to him.
When we receive communion, we are receiving His body and His blood. Every time we partake we should examine ourselves closely according to 1Corinthians 11:28-29. But let a man examine himself, and so let them eat of that bread and drink of the cup for he that eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
There's much more involved in receiving communion that most Christians realize.
God instituted the Lord's Supper for a reason when you receive it, you should be ready to partake of everything. Jesus sacrifice provided -salvation, peace of mind, healing, and total prosperity. In the past we have missed the full meaning of communion by not completely judging ourselves when we partake of it. We have been ready to receive his blood and quick to judge ourselves where sin is concerned. We judge ourselves of sin and repent of it. But what about His body? It was broken for us it was bruised for us. The stripes laid on Jesus’ back were for our healing. At communion we should judge ourselves where sickness is concerned as well. Jesus purchased our healing at Calvary just as He purchased our salvation. With this in mind, we say, “Lord it is not right that I should suffer from sickness and disease. I judge it now as being from Satan and I reject it. I refuse to receive it any longer. I partake of the sacrifice of your body and I receive the healing that you provided in Jesus name.
When you partake of communion make a point of judging yourself to the fullest extent. Don’t just receive it half-way, accept everything Jesus’ sacrifice provided. If you don't examine yourself, if you receive communion just as a religious exercise you will be eating and drinking unworthily, not discerning the Lord's body. Paul wrote “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep.” 1Corinthians 11:30.
When the first Passover was instituted, God instructed Moses to kill a lamb, to spread the blood over the door, and then roast lamb and eat all of it. Any that remained was to be burned away. That sacrificial lamb was completely consumed! Jesus as the Lamb of God was the supreme sacrifice, under the Abrahamic covenant. When you partake of His sacrifice, do not take only part of it, take it all. Consume it completely! When you receive the Lord's supper do so like the children of Israel Exodus 12:11 says “And thus shall you eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your stuff in your hand, and you shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's Passover.” The children of Israel were ready to go. They ate in faith. They were ready to receive their deliverance before they ate
No matter what you may be faced with—sin, sickness, drugs, a weight problem, worry, stripes, old habits -- you may be delivered through properly receiving the Lord's supper. The body and blood of Jesus covered every area of your existence. By discerning his body and judging yourself before him, you can receive your deliverance. Place yourself before God and receive communion as the children of Israel did- ready to receive deliverance.
You don't you do not have to wait until you go to church to receive communion. Receive it home. Get up an hour earlier in the morning every now and then. Take the time to put yourself before God over the communion table. It will be time well spent. I guarantee it. Praise God.
Scriptures Scripture references to use: 1Corinthians 11:23: 24; Matthew 26:26 -- 28; Luke 22: 19 -- 20.
This is how I take communion
Proclamation Before Breaking of the Bread
“Father God in the name of Jesus, I recognize that I have a covenant with you -- a covenant that was ratified by the shed blood of Jesus at Calvary.
Because of the fact that Jesus’ body was broken for me, that His blood was shed in my behalf, I knowledge that He bore sin, sickness, disease, sorrow, grief, fear, torment, unforgiveness, strife and lack for me. Through His substitutionary sacrifice, I have complete redemption, total deliverance from the works of Satan.
As a new creation in Christ Jesus, I realize my freedom has been bought and paid for. I am forgiven. I am redeemed. I give thanks for it all in Jesus name.”
Pick up the bread and hold it.
Judge and examine yourself in the light of God's Word.
Father in the name of Jesus, I examine my heart, and I judge myself according to the authority of your Word.
In areas where I have missed the mark (strife, unforgiveness, jealousy, envy, hatred, and a covetousness, fear, worry, unbelief, etc.) I take Jesus as our advocate and high priest. I ask forgiveness according to the Word of God. 1John 1:9. You Word says you are faithful and just to forgive me, when I confess my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.
Therefore, I do not eat of the bread, or drink of the cup unworthily, I rightly discern the Lord's body. I receive communion now as the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. I am free from the works of Satan -- spirit, soul and body. Then say this: “The Lord Jesus, the same night in which You were betrayed you took bread: and when You had given thanks, You broke it, and said, ‘take eat this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me’ ” 1Corinthians 11:23 -- 24
Partake of the bread
Then say this: “After the same manner also You took the cup, when You had supped, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood: This do you, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do show the Lord's death till He comes.’ “
Partake of the Cup together.
Now make this confession.
Father I give you thanks for all You have provided for me in Christ Jesus. I confess this day I am the blessed of the Lord. This covenant I entered into at the new birth is a covenant filled with the exceeding great and precious promises of God, and I am a partaker of those promises now!
I am healed. I am redeemed. I am delivered from the authority of darkness. I am translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son. I am the head and not the tail. I’m above and not beneath. I come behind it no good thing. All that I set my hands to prosperous, and I praise you, Father, for the newness of life I now enjoy in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Communion is a 'meal' taken to bring to our mind a legal contract between God and Jesus in our behalf.
