WHAT THE BELIEVERS HAVE IN COMMON - PART 4
THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER 2022
Be sure of this: As you function in line with God's purpose concerning your life, do not be content with anything short of constant fellowship with God and fellow Christians because it ensures progressive development in Christian character and ability. Today let's consider the purpose of sharing in meals and Holy Communion.

Reference: Acts 2:42 New Living Translation (NLT) "All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer."
Sharing in meals is part of the fellowship of the saints. It signifies the strengthening of comfort, peace, and progress. Meals, when blessed and shared amongst God's people, also transmit divine energy into the body system, such that the saints stay energised and motivated for more good works after their participation in such activity. This can sometimes take place in the house of God, outdoors or at home. However, sharing in meals is a significant part of the unchangeable counsels of the Lord, which denotes perfect understanding and goodness.
Acts 2:46 (NLT) noted that the early Christians formed a friendly community by meeting often and sharing meals together. It reads, "With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart." In other words, they worshipped together at the Temple each day, met in their homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals together with great joy and generosity.
The very important part of the meals they shared is the Lord's Supper. What is the Lord's Supper? The Lord's Supper, also known as Holy Communion, is a Christian rite that is celebrated as a memorial of the death and resurrection of Christ. The examples in the Scriptures are clearly noted in this manner:
John 6:53-59 (NKJV) Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever." These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.
Matthew 26:26-28 (NLT) "As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "Take this and eat it, for this is my body." And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, "Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many."
Luke 22:19-20 (NIV) "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" 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."
Luke 24:30-32 (NLT) 'As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! They said to each other, "Didn't our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?"'
Acts 20:7 (NIV) "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight."
1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (NKJV) "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread."
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (WEB) "For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread. When he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me." In the same way he also took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes."
Finally, 2 Corinthians 13:14 says, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen." Stay tuned for part 5. Shalom!
Scripture Reading - Matthew 26:29; Mark 14:23; 1 Corinthians 1:9; Rev 19:7-9.
Guided Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, I honour you today because sharing meals and communion with fellow saints is a fountain of joy and an emblem of fellowship that produces inward and outward refreshment. I'm thankful that it sustains my Christian faith and activates the benefits of my salvation in Christ. Therefore, I acknowledge that your counsels minister grace, justice and mercy, in Jesus' Name, Amen!


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