Page 25 - The Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2009

“THIS CUP OF BLESSING WHICH WE BLESS,
IS IT NOT THE COMMUNION OF THE BLOOD OF
Let us look now at the third costly building block
of this spiritual house: CHRIST? THE BREAD WHICH WE BREAK,
IS IT NOT THE COMMUNION
“...AND THEY CONTINUED STEADFASTLY IN... OF THE BODY OF CHRIST?”
1 Cor. 10:16

Acts 2:42 The above verse from the apostle Paul proves that “the
breaking of bread” speaks of the act of partaking of the

sacrament of communion. It is not speaking of just
sharing a meal together with brethren, but is rather tied
to the common-union we have with the blood of Christ.

Paul goes on to remind us that it was Jesus Himself who instituted the partaking of the ritual practice of
communion in which bread and wine represents the sacrificial work of Christ in instituting the New Covenant
by means of His body and His blood:

“FOR I RECEIVED FROM THE LORD THAT WHICH I ALSO DELIVERED TO YOU:
THAT THE LORD JESUS...TOOK BREAD; AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS, HE BROKE IT AND SAID,

’TAKE EAT; THIS IS MY BODY WHICH IS BROKEN FOR YOU; DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.’
IN THE SAME MANNER HE ALSO TOOK THE CUP AFTER SUPPER, SAYING,
‘THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD. THIS DO,

AS OFTEN AS YOU DRINK IT, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.’ FOR AS OFTEN AS YOU EAT THIS BREAD
AND DRINK THIS CUP, YOU PROCLAIM THE LORD’S DEATH TILL HE COMES.” 1 Cor. 11:24-26

The power of tradition continues to make the Word of God of no effect (Mk. 7:13). For the most part, both
Christians and many churches tend to place more emphasis upon celebrating the birth of Christ rather than His
death! A recent survey of protestant Christians revealed that less than two percent of those surveyed partook of
communion on a regular basis. Either it isn’t offered by some churches or when it is, the people do not bother
to show up for it. This is certainly not the pattern we see of the early church in the book of Acts:

“NOW ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK,
WHEN THE DISCIPLES CAME TOGETHER TO BREAK BREAD...
THERE WERE MANY LAMPS IN THE UPPER ROOM WHERE THEY WERE GATHERED TOGETHER.” Acts 20:7-8

Communion in the early church was not a “once every six weeks for ten minutes during the Sunday morning
service.” They gathered together on the first day of the week-every week to break bread together. Communion
was important to the early church because it maintained right relationships between them and their God and
between themselves and the rest of the brethren. Communion was a time of reconciliation with God and with
men. Communion was instituted so that those in Covenant relationship with God and one another could deal
thoroughly with sin-sin against God and sin against one another. The modern-day doctrinal position of “every
sin I ever have committed or ever will commit is already under the blood” is heresy. The Scriptures say:

“IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM, AND WALK IN DARKNESS, WE LIE AND DO NOT
PRACTICE THE TRUTH. BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP

WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSES US FROM ALL SIN.
IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NO SIN, WE DECEIVE OURSELVES, AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN US.

IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE US
FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.” 1 Jn. 1:6-9

Paul was careful to give the Corinthians the whole counsel of God pertaining to communion. Although it was
to be a “cup of blessing” (1 Cor. 10:16), Paul warned believers about taking communion in an unworthy
manner: “THEREFORE WHOEVER EATS THIS BREAD OR DRINKS THIS CUP OF THE LORD IN AN UNWORTHY

MANNER WILL BE GUILTY OF THE BODY AND THE BLOOD OF THE LORD. BUT LET A MAN EXAMINE
HIMSELF, AND SO LET HIM EAT OF THAT BREAD AND DRINK OF THAT CUP. FOR HE WHO EATS AND
DRINKS IN AN UNWORTHY MANNER EATS AND DRINKS JUDGMENT TO HIMSELF, NOT DISCERNING THE
LORD’S BODY. FOR THIS REASON MANY ARE WEAK AND SICK AMONG YOU, AND MANY SLEEP (died).”

1 Cor. 11:27-30

The “unworthy manner” Paul refers to is “not discerning the Lord’s body.” By that he means the body of
believers in Christ! It is possible to take communion asking God to forgive our sins while at the same time we
hold unforgiveness against another member of the body of Christ-our brethren! By this double standard of
forgiveness, many a Christian has become weak, sick or even have died due to their unforgiving heart towards
a brother or sister! Communion is where we are forgiven of our sins and where we forgive others! It is an
important wall in the building of a spiritual house !