You Reign

Communion

I Corinthians 11:17-34

17  Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together NOT FOR THE BETTER, BUT FOR THE WORSE.

18  For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions  (schisms, cliques)   among you; and I partly believe it.

20  When ye come together therefore into one place,  THIS is NOT to eat the LORD’S supper.

21  For in eating every one taketh before (in the prescence of) others his OWN supper; and one is hungry, and another  is drunken (gorged, overfull) .

22  …(do you…WOULD YOU) shame the church of God, and SHAME THEM THAT HAVE NOT?   …

23  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you…the Lord Jesus in the same night in which he was betrayed took bread;

24  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said (to all), “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 (single) cup, when he had supped (of it) 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 you eat this bread, and drink this cup (single), ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.

27  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread (shared loaf), 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, (so) that WE SHOULD NOT BE CONDEMNED WITH THE WORLD.

33  Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, TARRY ONE FOR ANOTHER.

34  And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation.

These people were coming together for what they termed communion…but the rich man ate his fine fare in the prescence of the poor man, who had plain food…even bread and water.    They were not partaking of a single cup…they weren’t  sharing/communing.     Their ‘unworthiness’ in Paul’s words was NOT CONSIDERING OTHERS AS PART OF THE SAME BODY…THE BODY OF THE LORD.

Acts 2:44 ,45 says, “And all that believed WERE TOGETHER, and HAD ALL THINGS COMMON;  and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.”    Verse 46 continues:  “And they, continuing daily WITH ONE ACCORD in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.”

I love the formal ‘communion’ we share in the church; it is a public testimony, and I would not be in favor of stopping it.    However, ‘communion’ is not just a pretty moment in church.    Our most important ‘communion’ is when the father gathers his flock at the table; they eat, and (hopefully) COMMUNE with each other.    The church is only as strong as the family communion,  and most of us know that there are serious flaws there today.

The second most important communion is when the fathers gather their families in the church where the pastor leads them to corporate fellowship/communion.   ”Com”  is a prefix meaning ‘together, ‘with’, and or ‘very ‘.   “-ion” is a suffix meaning ‘action’.     The Latin ‘munus’, or the root of ‘communion’ (also community and municipality)   means ‘duty, or service’.    Our word means a  church/city working together for a common good.    Thus true ‘communion’ cannot be had unless there is a ‘together’  action/sharing  of the church ( city,family);  each person recognizing/discerning all other parts of the  body…themselves being one part of it.      This serves to protect us from ‘cliques’/divisions.

It is worldly to judge whether another is ‘worthy’ to receive the Cup of His Communion.    I Cor. 11:28 admonishes us to “examine OURSELVES”.     We were taught for years that a Christian was one who didn’t drink, chew,  wear skimpy clothes or make-up.    Now it is wonderful when people dress modestly and protect their bodies from destructive things…but there is a higher calling…and that is to  “The FELLOWSHIP of the brethren.”    Jesus did not condemn even those who nailed Him to the cross, but prayed for their forgiveness, and acknowledged that they did not know what they were doing.

Psa. 133 explains it.    “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell TOGETHER IN UNITY!…THERE the Lord commanded the blessing, EVEN LIFE FOREVERMORE (eternal life).”   How much plainer can it get?    I John 4:12b…If we love one another God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us.   Vs. 13 “Hereby (love of one another) know we that we dwell in Him, AND HE IN US, BECAUSE He has given us of His Spirit (LOVE).

He came here for the purpose of COMMUNION with us…our Brother.    I John1:6-  ” If we say that we have fellowship (communion) with Him, and walk in darkness, WE LIE,  and do not the truth.    But if we walk in the light, AS He is in the light, we have fellowship (communion) ONE WITH ANOTHER, and (in that process) the blood of Jesus Christ CLEANSES us from ALL sin!”

The perfection of fellowship/communion in the Body of Christ is one of the Christians greatest challenges.    Loving people can mean pain; Jesus met with crucifixion in His efforts to ‘commune’ with those He loved.    He said that those who wished to follow Him must “deny themselves, TAKE UP THEIR CROSS, and follow Him.    The N.T. epistles say this process will “mortify”  (put to death) the body of flesh.

To truly commune with His Body, one must  remember His suffering.    I Cor. 12:12, 24,25   ”For as the Body is ONE, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.    …God hath tempered the body together…that there should be no schism (division, clique) in the body;  but that the members should HAVE THE SAME CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER.”

The whole Bible bears out this ‘fellowship’ IN CHRIST.   It does away with the “who’s the greatest” mentality…and promotes harmony/fellowship/communion.

-Bertha Rogers

*This also addresses the fact that we don’t only go to Church for ourselves – we are the Body of Christ and as such are to be there for each other.

LOVE

1If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

The Birth of Christ

Luke 2

¹And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

²(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

³And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

⁵To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

⁶And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

⁷And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

¹²And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

¹⁵And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

¹⁶And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

¹⁷And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

¹⁸And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

¹⁹But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

²¹And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Seven Ways To Praise

Praise.  There are many forms of praise.  Praise is a very important
aspect of our relationship with God.  God inhabits our praise and
we should not be inhibited in our praise, for our praise glorifies God.
Some people of the world do not always understand the different
forms of our praise.  Some would label us, but in the Hebrew
language there are seven words that are synonymous with the
English word praise.  Here we would like to study these words
and give you references to find in the Bible.

Towdah
This is the sacrifice of praise.  Praising the Lord in spite of the fact that things
are upside down in your own world.  Praising the Lord, even if you don’t feel like
praising the Lord.  Praising the Lord even though you are going through many
trials in your life.  This is your sacrifice to God.

Hebrews 13:15
By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is,
the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.

Jeremiah 33:11
The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the
voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the Lord of hosts:
for the Lord is good; for his mercy endureth forever: and of them that shall
bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord.

Psalms 54:6
I will freely sacrifice unto thee:  I will praise thy name, O Lord; for it is good.

Yadah

This is the demonstration of our love and submission to the Lord by
the raising of our hands.  Lifting your hands to the Lord in total
submission and devotion.

Lamentations 3:41
Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the Heaven.

Psalms 134:2
Lift your hands in holiness and bless the Lord.

Psalms 63:4
Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

Barouch

This means to bow.  To be completely overwhelmed by His majesty
and bow at His feet in submission and honor to the Lord.

Ephesians 3:13&14
Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 14:11
For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to God.

Psalms 95:6
O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our maker.

Shabach

This means to shout.  Praise to the Lord given in the form of a shout.
Lifting your voice unto the Lord, giving praise for what He has done
and what He is going to do.

Psalms 98:7
Let the sea in all its vastness roar with praise!
Let the earth and all those living on it shout, “Glory to the Lord!”

Ezra 3:11
And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord.

Isaiah 12:6
Let all the people of Jerusalem shout his praise with joy.
For great and mighty is the Holy one of Israel, who lives among you.

Zamar

Playing any instrument that glorifies the Lord.

Psalms 150
Hallelujah!  Yes, praise the Lord!  Praise him with the trumpet and with lute
and harp.  Praise him with the drums and dancing.  Praise him with stringed
instruments and horns.  Praise him with the cymbals, praise him upon the
high sounding cymbals.

Halell

This means to rave and boast of the wonders of the Lord with
excitement through dance.

Psalms 149:3
Let them praise his name in the dance:  let them sing praises unto him with
the timbrel and harp.

II Samuel 6:16
And as the Ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter
looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord.

Psalms 30:11
Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing:
thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness.

Tehillah

This one is the best.  It is the combination of singing, shouting,
dancing, clapping and rejoicing before the Lord.

Psalms 47:1
O clap your hands, all ye people: shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

Psalms 47:6
Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises unto our King, sing praises.

Psalms 144:9
I will sing a new song unto thee, O God:
upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.

How do I pray?

Matthew 6

¹Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

²Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

³But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

⁴That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

⁵And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

⁶But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

⁷But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

⁸Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

⁹After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

¹⁰Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

¹¹Give us this day our daily bread.

¹²And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

¹³And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

¹⁴For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

¹⁵But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

¹⁶Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

¹⁷But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

¹⁸That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

¹⁹Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

²⁰But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

²¹For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

²²The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

²³But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

²⁴No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

²⁵Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

²⁶Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

²⁷Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

²⁸And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

²⁹And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

³⁰Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

³¹Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

³²(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

³³But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

³⁴Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

What must I do to be saved?

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Every one of us is a sinner. Every one of us have come short of God’s glory.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Because of our sin, we deserve death, eternal punishment, the wrath of God. But God, because He loves us, has provided a means to have eternal life with Him. That means is the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

You must receive him. Nobody is born into salvation. Nobody deserves it.

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

You must call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, believeing on him, in his sacrifice for YOUR sins.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

1 Tim 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Jesus Christ was God Himself. He was God, the Son. The Word. He came and died for your sins.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

There is nothing you can do to earn salvation. You must be saved by the grace of God, in receiving him (the Lord).

1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Once you receive the Lord, believe on him, that he was sacrificed for your sins, and rose again never to die, you KNOW you are saved.