Open Heaven 27 June 2019 Thursday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye
Topic: Preparing for Divine Communion
Memorise: “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”- 1 Corinthians 11:28
Read: 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.
Bible in One Year: Deuteronomy 1, Ezekiel 5:5-17
MESSAGE:
The Lord’s Supper, also known as the Last Supper, refers to the very last meal our Lord took before He was crucified on the cross of Calvary. This very important and mysterious meal also referred to as the Holy Communion is a multi-dimensional meal with diverse implication. The Lord’s Supper is interconnected with the Jewish Passover in a special way because Christ is the Passover Lamb that was sacrificed for us (1 Corinthians 5:7). This special meal therefore brings to remembrance the Lord’s suffering and sacrificial death and represents the establishment of a new covenant for humanity in the Blood of Jesus. It also points us to Calvary, the place of Jesus’ suffering, crucifixion and death. Consequently, a certain level of sober reflection is expected when we celebrate the Holy Communion. By partaking in the Lord’s Supper, we also depict the coming marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven (Revelation 19:1-9). This adds a forward-looking dimension to this holy meal, so that it is not viewed simply as a memorial of past events alone. Essentially, the Holy Communion is not just a routine practice; it a celebration in faith, as we continue to hope and sing “Maranatha – Come, Lord Jesus!”
Before celebrating communion as a memorial, there must be a clear understanding of and strict compliance with God’s instructions as it relates to the Holy Communion. It is most holy and meant for sanctified members of the family of God only. Anyone who is unclean or who is a stranger to the household of faith cannot partake of it. It is a most powerful meal that brings healing and deliverance from all kinds of bondage, but at the same time, it poses danger to anyone who partakes of it unworthily. Therefore, the importance of adequate preparation for divine communion cannot be overemphasized. The Holy Spirit cautions in 1 Corinthians 11:27 that whosoever eats the Holy Communion unworthily shall be guilty of profaning and sinning against the Body and Blood of Jesus. He then compels us to carefully examine our spiritual state and current standing with God, to deal with any sins we haven’t confessed yet and repair any broken relationship with God and man, before partaking of this meal. He warns that the Holy Communion should not be taken lightly, specifying that those who partake of it unworthily do so at the risk of eternal damnation. In 1 Corinthians 11:30, He reveals the bombshell that many in the Church are sickly and some have even died because they were ignorant of the power embedded in the Holy Communion and handled it carelessly. I pray that every time you take the Holy Communion, the power of death will be destroyed over you and the divine life of God will flow into your body, soul and spirit in Jesus’ Name.
Action Point: Thank the Lord for His Body which was broken for you, and for His Blood which was shed for your sins.
Hymn 4: Take My Life, And Let It Be
1 Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise,
Let them flow in endless praise.
2 Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3 Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
4 Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose,
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.
5 Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
6 Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.
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