Luke 22: 19 – 20 (KJV)
19 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.
20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
The phrase “Do this in remembrance of me” is a direct command by Jesus Christ before his cruxifixion, thereby establishing one of the ordinances of our faith known as Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper.
It is call for believers to actively commemorate, honour and celebrate what Christ did in His death, burial and resurrection. The most important part of this scripture is “Do this in remembrance of me”. If this part is not properly done, we desecrate or abuse the Lord’s intention for the Lord’s table.
1Corinthians 10: 21(KJV)
Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
What is the Lord’s Table? The Holy Communion is the Lord’s table, not our dinning table; the Lord’s table consists of “His body broken for us and His blood shed for us” and it must be done with reverence, adoration and honour.
To discern the Lord’s table is to recognize that the bread and the cup are not ordinary food. They are emblems or tokens that represent the actual body of Christ that was broken for us and the blood shed for us! The night Jesus was betrayed was a horrible night; the pains and the agony he went through can never be described. He suffered all these so we would not suffer any of them. Hence The Lord’s table must be approached with deep reverence and gratitude. The Lord’s table is His body and blood!
What is your motive to partake in the Lord’s table? Are you actively reflecting and honoring Jesus’ sacrifice? It is important to ensure that you participate in remembrance, in honour and faith of the ultimate price that Christ paid for us rather than just going through the some rituals. It is profitable to do what pleases that Lord and to follow his instructions.
1 Corinthians 11: 26 (AMPC)
For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are representing and signifying andproclaiming the fact of the Lord’s death until He comes [again].
The phrase “until He comes [again]” bridges past remembrance to future hope. We must partake of this holy sacrament constantly up until the Second Coming of Christ Jesus. Partaking in the Lord’s table serves as a continuous and public declaration of the gospel.
A Pastor should administer Holy Communion Service to the members of his congregation frequently. Breaking of the bread and partaking of the cup fosters deep reflection and renewal of commitment to the Lord and His work.
The healing power of God is also available to heal anyone in the congregation when we partake in the Lord’s table. The piece of the broken bread is a type of the body of Christ, and the cup is the type of the blood; He was beaten with stripes by which our sicknesses were healed. We partake and rejoice that we are flesh of His flesh and bone of his bone (Ephesians 5:30), and that sickness has no power over our body; that we are the healed of the Lord. By this, we discern the Lord’s body. This can also be administered individually or to family members as well at home.
Let’s take little deep dive …
1 Corinthians 11:27 — 30 (KJV)
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
Paul said that in the church at Corinth that many were weak and sickly among them because they were not discerning the Lord’s body. This is also true in the church of Christ today.
Why are so many people sick in the church, suffering from the sicknesses that Jesus died to save them from? What should have been a blessing to many has caused them disadvantage.
The answer is simple, we must discern the Lord body properly; and it is done in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifices death and resurrection; in honour, celebration and reverence of Christ Jesus. When we do that, we are brought into the consciousness of his divinity, that the same life that flows in Him flow in us, therefore we are stronger and better, not sick, weak or beggarly.
If you have any other prevailing need in your life, if you are faced with a challenge or whatever diffifult situation; God has given us His Word, His Holy Spirit and even His name.
Stand on the authority of the Word of God and His promises; His word never fails. Activate the power of the Holy Spirit in you by praying in other tongues more often; or go ahead and agree with another believer over that matter and use right in the name of Jesus! (Luke 1: 37; Luke 10:19). All things are possible to him that believes! For His time is at hand, and Glory to His name, even us! Amen!