Communion Connection–15 May 22
1. Greatly Loved
1 John 3:1 [TPT]
Look with wonder at the depth of the Father’s marvellous love that he has lavished on us! He has called us and made us his very own beloved children.
Ephesians 3:14-21 (NIV)
For this reason I kneel before the Father… I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Rom 8:38-39 (NIV)
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
These scriptures describe a passionate, powerful, unceasing, unrelenting, EPIC love. A love that is higher than the heavens, wider than the skies, deeper than the oceans, and burning brighter than the sun… and it’s pointed right at you and me right now!
How does it feel and what does it mean to you to be loved by God through Christ in this way?
2. Highly Prized
Romans 5
6 For when the time was right, the Anointed One came and died to demonstrate his love for sinners who were entirely helpless, weak, and powerless to save themselves. 7 Now, would anyone dare to die for the sake of a wicked person? We can all understand if someone was willing to die for a truly noble person. 8 But Christ proved God’s passionate love for us by dying in our place while we were still lost and ungodly! 9 And there is still much more to say of his unfailing love for us! For through the blood of Jesus we have heard the powerful declaration, “You are now righteous in my sight.” …11 And even more than that, we overflow with triumphant joy in our new relationship of living reconciled to God—all because of Jesus Christ!
Luke 22:15-16, 19-20 (NIV)
15 And he (Jesus) said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfilment in the kingdom of God.” 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
The value of any good or service is determined by the price someone is willing to pay for its possession. This is why certain works of art are worth multiple millions of dollars – because someone was willing to pay that price in order to proudly display that prized masterpiece in their home. Consider what this means about you and me and the price that the Son of God was willing to pay in order to cancel your debt of sin and adopt you into his heavenly family.
Like the lyric to the old hymn says:
Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow
What is your heart-response to this truth: Jesus gave His all redeem you from sins enslavement, all so that you could find your place of belonging as a treasured masterpiece in His house?
3. Strongly Defended
Exodus 12
3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household… slaughter them at twilight. 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. 21 Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. 23 When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down. 24 “Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants.
1Corinthians 11
26 Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are retelling the story, proclaiming our Lord’s death until he comes. 27 For this reason, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in the wrong spirit will be guilty of dishonoring the body and blood of the Lord. 28 So let each individual first evaluate his own attitude and only then eat the bread and drink the cup. 29 For continually eating and drinking with a wrong spirit[u] will bring judgment upon yourself by not recognizing the body. 30 This insensitivity is why many of you are weak, chronically ill, and some even dying. 31 If we have examined ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, it is the Lord’s training so that we will not be condemned along with the world.
Participation in the Lord’s Table and receiving the Communion meal is so powerful, so holy, so spiritual, so potent – that historically it has literally been the difference between life and death. Gratefully receiving Christ’s symbols of sacrifice – shields us from attack, heals us from sickness, and secures us under God’s protection. The Corinthian church were suffering unnecessarily because they did not see the Lord’s table as the powerful spiritual ‘medicine’ that God had provided to ward off sickness, disease and attack.
As you partake of the elements, do so reverently – and name an area where you need ‘the blood of the lamb’ to provide healing, protection, and deliverance from attack in your life.
Name that area and pray together with your group, then joyfully, gratefully, and with an attitude of faith and worship begin to eat!
4. Invited to See
Luke 24:13-35 (TPT)
13 Later that same day, (Resurrection Sunday) two of Jesus’ disciples were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, a journey of about seventeen miles. 14–15 They were in the midst of a discussion about all the events of the last few days (Jesus crucifixion and burial) when Jesus walked up and accompanied them in their journey. 16 They were unaware that it was actually Jesus walking alongside them, for God prevented them from recognizing him.
17–18 Jesus said to them, “You seem to be in a deep discussion about something. What are you talking about, so sad and gloomy?”
27 And beginning with Moses and all the prophets he carefully unveiled to them the revelation of himself throughout the Scriptures.
30 Joining them at the table for supper, he took bread and blessed it and broke it, then gave it to them. 31 All at once their eyes were opened and they realized he was Jesus! Then suddenly, in a flash, Jesus vanished from before their eyes!
32 Stunned, they looked at each other and said, “Why didn’t we recognize him? Didn’t our hearts burn with the flames of holy passion while we walked beside him? He unveiled for us such profound revelation from the Scriptures!”
It was in the moment of breaking bread and partaking in the ‘communion’ meal that the eyes of these disciples opened to see Jesus in a new and unveiled way! How amazing is that?!
As a result of this ‘communion connection’ today, how has your perception of Jesus changed? In what way do you see His love and grace clearer than you did before this meal?
Discuss together your love and appreciation for Jesus.