C O M M U N I O N
john roy bohlen & John 5:30
"Communion": Now this is a lovely word. Communion.
It sounds like "commune", or "communication", or "community".
I have a question: What if a medicine could be invented, in pill form, or, in liquid form, that one could eat or drink, and, in so doing, become healthy, or increase strength, or, improve the quality of your life. What if the medicine, or the nutritional supplement were free? Would you like or enjoy or want it? Let's say that it also has a pleasant taste.
But, most medicines have side effects, or possible risks or dangers. Even beautiful, wealthy, and successful people can sometimes die from taking medicines the doctor prescribes.
The Bible tells a story of a couple of medicines like this.
Num 5:16 "And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before Yahweh: 17 And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is in the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water:
18 And the priest shall set the woman before Yahweh, and uncover the woman's head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse: 19 And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say unto the woman, 'If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness with another instead of thy husband, be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse: 20 But if thou hast gone aside to another instead of thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee beside thine husband:'
21 Then the priest shall charge the woman with an oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, 'Yahweh make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when Yahweh doth make thy thigh to rot, and thy belly to swell;
22 And this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels, to make thy belly to swell, and thy thigh to rot:' And the woman shall say, 'Amen', 'amen'. 23 And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water: 24 And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causeth the curse: and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter. 25 Then the priest shall take the jealousy offering out of the woman's hand, and shall wave the offering before Yahweh, and offer it upon the altar:
26 And the priest shall take an handful of the offering, even the memorial thereof, and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall cause the woman to drink the water.
27 And when he hath made her to drink the water, then it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled, and have done trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall rot: and the woman shall be a curse among her people. 28 And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed." KJV
Interesting story, eh? I have often wondered why the wife could not also take the husband to the priest for the same jealousy test. However, God has a right to do what ever He wants. Perhaps in the days to come, God may decide to simply strike the husband dead, without any fuss or stuff to drink.
Another story about dangerous/healthy drink comes to us from 2 Kings 4:38 "And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, 'Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.' 39 And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not. 40 So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, 'O thou man of God, there is death in the pot!' And they could not eat thereof. 41 But he said, 'Then bring meal.' And he cast it into the pot; and he said, 'Pour out for the people, that they may eat.' And there was no harm in the pot." KJV
Sometimes, the Presence of the Lord, and His glory, is like this, in that it can be a blessing to some, while being a curse to others.
NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF GOD’S GLORY
(A fire can burn as well as bless!)
When one does a careful study of the glory of God, an interesting fact becomes evident: that the appearance of the Glory of Yahweh brought JUDGEMENT, a great percentage of the time, sometimes resulting in the bloody deaths of many people, including the people of God.
Ex 16:10, 17; Num 14:10; 16;19,42; Deut. 5:24 are just a few of the places where glory and judgement occupied the same story.
God’s glory appeared when Korah and his extended family were all killed by God. Numbers 16.
Multiplied thousands of Israelites were killed in the midst of the Glory of God when they disobeyed. Numbers 16:49
When Uzza reached out his hand to steady the ark of the covenant, God struck him dead. 1 Chron.13:10
A New Testament example from Acts, chapter 5, would be that of Ananias and Sapphira, whom God struck dead, simply because they told a lie, in the midst of the greatest revival the world has ever known!!! Even more modern revivals record the deaths of certain ones who fought against the people and the move of God. While we greatly desire that the hand of God be upon us to bless, yet the Bible declares that it is “a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God!!!” A fire can bless, or it can burn.
So, with the glory. The glory, communion, God's Presence can heal, or it can kill, depending on our state of being, our attitude, our heart condition. God's glory is like a two edged sword, that can cut both ways. The devil believes, and trembles. We should also tremble. Yahweh explained to Moses that no one could see Yahweh, and live. Yet, God prepared a special cockpit seat, and carved out a hollow spot in the mountain for Moses to fit into, and God allowed Moses to see just a part of Him. Exodus 33:18. We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is!!! How about now!
The film, Raiders of the Lost Ark, features a time when evil men looked into the Ark of God, and were slain,. Yet, as was the case with the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace, the flames burned off the bonds of the good guys and set them free, while killing the bad guys.
Fire is like this: It can create warmth, light and blessing, or it can burn, destroy and kill.
Let's go back to the true story of the medicine that can bring great health, great benefit, great blessing. I laugh sometimes, when they advertise medicine on the television, where 20 % of the advertisement brags on the positive qualities of the medicine, while the rest of the time is spent, talking about the dangers of taking the medicine. For example, a medicine that is presented to solve indigestion or acid reflux, may also cause ulcers, headaches, stomach aches, or indigestion!
Now, let me tell you about this magic medicine that God Himself has to offer us.
Here are some of the benefits:
1) It can cause healing
2) It can bring life.
3) It can make you strong.
4) It is like taking God Himself, in liquid form.
5) It is like taking God Himself in the form of a pill.
6) It can prolong life.
7) It can make you feel better.
Here are some of the possible negatives.
1) If you don't read the instructions, it can make you weak.
2) If you don't follow the directions, it can make you sick.
3) If you don't take certain precautions, it can kill you.
4) If your attitude isn't right, it can send you to Hell!
I repeat: this medicine can bring you life, strength, health.
Do you want to take this medicine? You already are taking it! The effects of this special medicine are already at work within you.
Let's approach this medicine from another point of view. Let's talk for a moment about how big God is, so that we can get the same idea from another perspective.
How large is the Universe? The only thing we can see in our sky with our eye, is the Andromeda Galaxy, which is 2 1/2 million light years away. This is 15 quintillion miles, or, 15, followed by 18 zeroes. But this galaxy is very close to us by space standards, because while this galaxy is 2 1/2 half million light years away, the known extent of the Universe is at least 13 billion light years in every direction, or 26 billion light years plus, as compared to 2 1/2 million light years. Yet the Bible tells us that God measures the heavens with the span of His hand, and that the Heaven of heavens cannot contain God. Try to imagine how big God is!
But, what if it were possible to condense God down to the size of a piece of communion bread or a communion cup.
That's what Holy Communion is!
Jesus said, "This IS My Body."
Jesus says, "This IS My blood!"
But we have twisted, changed, reinterpreted, rewritten the Scriptures, the Bible to say something different. We have taken the Words of Jesus, and make them say, "This is not really My Body. This is not reeeeally My Body, (even though Jesus just said it was). This merely represents My Body." "This is not reeeeally My Blood, (even though Jesus just said it was). But, there are those who say that this is just a symbol of Christ's Blood."
No, Jesus said, "This IS My Body."
And, Jesus says, "This IS My blood!"
Or, do you want to argue?
No, this is NOT the Catholic wrong doctrine of "transubstantiation" where, if you drop a crumb, or spill a drop, that you have dropped Jesus on the floor.
In reading the Bible, we must become like children who believe their parents, who tells them something new.
When we read the Bible, we need to simply say, "Wow! That's really neat!"
1 Cor 11:23 "That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread: 24 And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, 'Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me.'
25 After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, 'This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me.' 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till He come. 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. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." KJV
I once broke a forty day fast, on water only, with a grape that I peeled. When I slowly ate that grape, after not taking any nourishment for nearly 6 weeks, it seemed that that single grape sent pings of energy to and through my entire body.
Do you remember when we asked the question, "What could happen if we could condense God, Who is much larger than the Universe, down to the size of a communion cup or bread?" Now, you are taking God into your mouth and belly, then, by means of this juice, this bread, it goes and flows, and is distributed to, every, Every, EVERY part of your body: your bones, your marrow, your gizzard, your heart, your blood, your brain, your cell, muscles and corpuscles. Wouldn't it be neat if God Himself could flow and go to and occupy and live in EVERY part of you?!!!!!.
But, in order for this Medicine to be entirely safe to ingest, one must first examine one's self to see if there is ANY sin, any unforgiveness, any lack of commitment, any unyieldedness, any resentment, any wrong heart attitude - and, confess these to God.
Some one may ask, "How can I ever be worthy to take communion?" There are two correct answers to this question: 1) One can never be worthy, as Ephesians 2:8 and 9 tells us that we can only, ever always deserve only Hell. 2) 1 John 1:9 tells us that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL unrighteousness." Tell me: If you just got cleansed from all unrighteousness, how much unrighteousness do you have left within you? Having confessed your sin, you are now totally cleansed, and are qualified to take communion, with alllll of its benefits.
When you put the communion, the Body and the Blood of Jesus into your mouth and swallow it, we encourage you to picture that Christ's blood and body are now going to every, every, every part of your being, to your stomach, your brain, your muscles, to every part of you, and, especially, to those parts of your body that needs miracle healing. Amen.
"In Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete, in Him!!"
Colossians 2:9 & 10
UNLEAVENED COMMUNION BREAD
4 cups of fresh whole wheat flour
1/2 cup of fresh wheat germ (optional)
1/3 cup of oil
1 teaspoon salt
no baking powder, soda or yeast
can mix 1/3 honey in a measuring cup with the rest of the cup being water
can add (but, optional) sunflower seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, nutmeg, or lemon peel, etc.
mix well
coat to dry with oil
add little water at a time, until the dough sticks together but not sticky
form it in a ball
knead it on a floured surface, working out any stickiness
place on baking sheet and form a nice shape, to 1/2 inch high
make a design on the ready-to-bake dough, viz.: "Jesus" , etc.
preheat oven, to 350, bake about 30 minutes until golden brown
after prayer and self examination, everyone break bread with everyone, giving and receiving from Christ in one another
THE SERVICE
At every communion service, we recommend that it be emphasized that the bread and the juice IS the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (but not the Catholic "transubstantiation", but, by faith). Mention that this IS God's medicine, God's life and blood, flowing to every cell, every part of our bodies, souls and spirits.
We recommend the taking of the juice first, and, then, to have a "Bread-Breaking Service". First, the loaf is prayed over, then broken in two, then the parts distributed to the leaders, the family heads, with a goal in mind for everyone to break bread with as many people as possible. Take the portion given to you, break it in half with the leaders, then, each person goes to as many people as possible, offering the portion of bread to another, who may then break off a portion for himself or herself, who then offers their portion to the person who shared with them, and so on, until all the bread is gone, and until each person has shared with as many as possible. Is so doing, each person has the mentality, "I am willing to be broken bread and poured out wine to my brothers and sisters in Christ, and, I am willing to give and receive out of the Christ Who lives in me and in them." Also, is a promise that all is well between you and each of the people with whom you share, that all is forgiven, that you fervently love them, every one, members one of the other.
It is nice for family members to do this, and to allow time for apologies to be made to brothers and sisters in Christ, for forgiveness and repentance to take place, and, to even allow those who would prefer to not take communion, if they do not have confidence that they are ready.