DISCERNING THE LORD’S BODY

[Grace777x70]

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[TD="width: 100%, align: left"] Corinthians 11:24
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.” [/TD]
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[TD="colspan: 3, align: left"]Have you ever taken a close look at the Matzah bread that the Jews eat during their Passover meal? The bread, which is unleavened, is pierced with rows of little holes forming stripes. It is also slightly burnt. Many churches today use this bread for the Holy Communion.
Do you know why the bread is pierced, striped and burnt?

My friend, the bread that you hold in your hands when you partake of the Lord’s Supper speaks of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ when He bore our sins and sicknesses on the cross.

Like the bread, He was pierced in His brow by the crown of thorns as well as in His hands and feet by the nails. He was also pierced in His side by a soldier’s spear. The prophet Isaiah says, “He was pierced for our transgressions…” (Isaiah 53:5, NIV)

Like the bread, He was scourged on His back until His flesh was all torn and bloody, and His bones were exposed, so that today, you can say, “By His stripes I am healed!” (Isaiah 53:5)

What about the burnt marks on the bread? The full fire of God’s wrath fell on Jesus, burning up our sins into ashes, and at the same time, bringing out the fragrance of the offering of Jesus. Today, your sins and lawless deeds are but ashes, and your Father in heaven remembers them no more! (Hebrews 8:12)

So the next time you partake of the bread during the Holy Communion, know that Jesus was pierced for your sins and scourged for your healing. He bore God’s fiery judgment so that you will never be judged for your sins! He also bore your diseases and carried your pains so that you can walk in divine health!

When you discern these precious truths about our Lord’s body, you are partaking of the Holy Communion in a worthy manner. And you will not be weak and sickly, nor die before your time. (1 Corinthians 11:27–30) No, you will be strong and healthy, and you will live long!

Grace Inspirations Feb 13/16
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[un2him]

This is very interesting. I do not partake of communion very often an when I do is more to honor those whom do. My memberance of God is having Him live and breath and have His being in me.

Is a great exeperance and I wish there was more teaching on the later part of your message when people do participate.
1 corthians 11:29 if this was always mentioned perhaps there would be less sickness, slumber and unnessary death amongst those who unknowingly partisapate.

 

[Joidevivre]

Whenever I take communion (now in later years), I have an assurance that I'm receiving something more than the elements from Jesus. It feels like I'm drawing in more of his life in some way.

Many people will argue with this even being possible, but that ASSURANCE is very strong. And my faith rises up to receive.
I just don't tamper with that feeling. What have I got to lose?

 

[phil36]

Hi Grace777.

Who's work is it your citing.. it always is good practice, to cite the author.

 

[Grace777x70]

It's Grace Inspirations from Joseph Prince...but I thought you knew that...all Grace Inspirations are from his ministry that comes every day to encourage people in the Lord.

Hi Grace777.

Who's work is it your citing.. it always is good practice, to cite the author.

 

[phil36]

It's Grace Inspirations from Joseph Prince...but I thought you knew that...all Grace Inspirations are from his ministry that comes every day to encourage people in the Lord.

Thats better, atleast all people reading can now know who the author is. its just good practice.

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

We who are born again of the Spirit of God are members of that One Bread, being of One Body in Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:17
For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

That Bread of Life is the Word of Life that dwells in us, and we have communion with our Lord by way of His Spirit.

2 Corinthians 13:14
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

 

[Grace777x70]

1 Corinthians 10:17 (NASB)
[SUP]17 [/SUP] Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread.

All of us partake of the Bread of Life..the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

All of us partake of the Bread of Life..the Lord Jesus Christ.

Not all who say they are of Christ are truly in Christ by way of the Spirit.

Romans 8:9
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

Not all who say they are of Christ are truly in Christ by way of the Spirit.

Romans 8:9
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

The difference perhaps between being in Christ through the covenant and walking in Christ through obedience?

All Israel in Egypt was in Christ on Passover and through the old covenant. But not all walked in Christ thereafter, and they were later destroyed.

 

[Dan_473]

I see properly discerning the body as having the right understanding of the church.

if a person realizes that the body of Christ is strong and overwhelming the gates of hell, then they too will be spiritually healthy and strong.

sometimes people say things like, "the church is in really bad shape," or "the church has turned away." imo, this leads to spiritual weakness.


so, sisters and brothers, let us remember that Jesus is strong, his body is strong, and we are strong as part of that body.

 

[valiant]

The difference perhaps between being in Christ through the covenant and walking in Christ through obedience?

All Israel in Egypt was in Christ on Passover and through the old covenant. But not all walked in Christ thereafter, and they were later destroyed.

if we are in Christ we will walk with Him. Israelites were NOT in Christ.. That is pure fantasy. They were IN the old covenant which the vast majority rejected. Go study the Scriptures,

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

The difference perhaps between being in Christ through the covenant and walking in Christ through obedience?

The difference I speak of is those who profess to be in Christ by way of the Spirit but they are not, because they are still in the flesh, not yet being born again of the Spirit and having the Living Word of God dwelling in them.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

The difference I speak of is those who profess to be in Christ by way of the Spirit but they are not, because they are still in the flesh, not yet being born again of the Spirit and having the Living Word of God dwelling in them.

Maybe the spirit is in them, but they are simply not walking in it. Even unbelievers have the spirit in them.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

if we are in Christ we will walk with Him. Israelites were NOT in Christ.. That is pure fantasy. They were IN the old covenant which the vast majority rejected. Go study the Scriptures,

For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it]. Hebrews 4:2

and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed [them], and the rock was Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:4​

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

Maybe the spirit is in them, but they are simply not walking in it. Even unbelievers have the spirit in them.

Unbelievers do not have the Holy Spirit of Christ in them, but rather the spirit of this world in them, which is flesh and also carnally minded.

These are those who are unworthy to eat of the sacrifices, not being of the true spiritual Priesthood.

1 Corinthians 11:27-30 "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.[SUP]28 [/SUP]But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
[SUP]29 [/SUP]For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
[SUP]30 [/SUP]For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep."

Hebrews 13:10 "We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle."

 

[Willie-T]

One thing that has always kind of tickled me is this idea we have assumed that if you do not "properly" do Communion (mindset, or ritual behavior, or exact supplies) that you will get sick, and possibly die.

That is almost laughable in its silliness. If this were true, people would be dropping like flies all over the churches... especially the teenagers who often just do it because they are "supposed" to. And as every one of us can testify, that is not happening anywhere in our American churches. It's just a "traditional" interpretation we have bought into... perhaps because it sounds somehow "righteous."

The Scripture clearly explains what is being addressed. It is the ignoring of the needs of the other people there with you.

In those days, people easily got sick, and needed to be taken care of when that happened. They often were malnourished if they had no money. If you just left them in a sick condition, didn't care, and/or pushed ahead of them to eat all the food at the meal (and it WAS a full meal in those days) that the church was supposed to share, then you were doing nothing to make sure they all stayed healthy.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

Unbelievers do not have the Holy Spirit of Christ in them, but rather the spirit of this world in them, which is flesh and also carnally minded.

Yes they have the spirit of the world, but the law is written on every man's heart. And that, of course, is just figurative language for the inward witness of the spirit. No man can come to GOD unless he has already learned of GOD through the spirit.

For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things of the law, these, [although they] do not have the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written on their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts [one] after another accusing or even defending them Romans 2:14-15

It is written in the prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who hears from the Father and learns comes to me. John 6:45​

 

[Grace777x70]

Amen!....we do it in remembrance of Him..Jesus and what He has done....you can see the "different spirits" and attitudes of some by just reading this thread. Some people can turn a good subject into a cursed thing pretty quick....it's to be all about in what Christ has done....His great love and grace towards us....Let's rejoice in what our Lord Jesus has done for us!

Colossians 3:1-3 (NASB)
[SUP]1 [/SUP] Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
[SUP]2 [/SUP] Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
[SUP]3 [/SUP] For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

 

[posthuman]

The Scripture clearly explains what is being addressed. It is the ignoring of the needs of the other people there with you.

every time this comes up, it occurs to me that (in re: 1 Corinthians 11) where this is addressed, Paul's criticism was that they were not sharing the food, so that some were going hungry or thirsty while others were actually getting drunk.
that doesn't sound like the way 'the Lord's supper' is commonly practiced - a tiny bite of bread and sip of grape juice or wine - it sounds more to me like a full meal.

in that context, when Christ was together with the apostles and said "as often as you do this, do this in remembrance of me" -- they were sitting down together also to a full meal. not a tiny tasting party.

maybe when we have "fellowship suppers" or "pot-lucks" we should think of this as communion, if not primarily, at least in addition to the little ritual that western Christianity has.

anyone know the history of how the whole itty-bitty-nibble-of-bread & not-even-a-half-mouthful-of-wine = communion thing came to be?