In REMEMBRANCE

Philippians 2:1-4
2:1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.  NKJV

Being in one accord and of one mind sounds simple. Taking a  look at communion and the breaking of bread......we find scriptures that mention not only of those things as breaking the bread, and taking the cup of blessing in receiving the Blood shed for us on the cross!

In the passage below, we find that which was written and testifies of the fellowship with others in hearing the Word of God taught, which are two things listed. (gathering together and hearing) The other speaks of the breaking of bread and in prayers.

Acts 2:36-39

36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." 

40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.  NKJV

Those glad to hear the word he preached continued steadfast in that word, fellowship, in breaking bread and prayers.

In 1 Corinthians 10 and verse 14-17 below....we see Paul referring to the cup as communion "of the blood of Christ". We also see the bread as that "of the body of  Christ". Yes, we have seen that for some time have we not? But that coming together, that participating gives us the advantage to participate in the benefit's of Christ's death.

1 Corinthians 10:14-17

14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.    NIV

When we take Communion, we are giving much thanks to Jesus and for our deliverance from sin. Partaking of communion causes us to also partake of benefits from His crucifixion on the cross. Because of our deliverance, we are empowered on this side of the cross. We partake and in so doing, come away with a voice of victory that we are no longer slaves to sin. We are no longer slaves to sickness or death. Jesus, is Our Passover causing us to rise in power through the Holy Spirit.

When we recognize the importance of the communion in that with other believer's, hearing the Word of God together, participating in the "Communion" and prayer.......we are refreshed........the renewed to soar as eagles.

Mark 11:24-26
24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

25 "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."
NKJV

When we stand....in prayer........we are " persevering "......in prayer. It is holding fast on the sure Word..... by praying, trusting and leaning on God Himself!

In taking Communion we are to check ourselves for anything we might hold against another person. This comes to mind as I write this today:

Luke 18:9-13
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'

13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' NIV

The tax collector saw where he stood and wanted to remain clean before God.........."have mercy on me, a sinner".  "Yes, but Shelley I have received Jesus as Lord."  But I ask you: " have you driven down I-5 today"? Did you stay or keep to that love walk with others say while driving or by the time you got to your "destination"? That is hard to do! But we must remember God forgave us...........He loved us first!
1 John 4:20-21
20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.     NKJV

2 Peter 1:16-21
16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. 19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.   NKJV


We have a "sure word" to stand........to persevere.......and that by taking Communion and having fellowship in hearing the Word, we gather forces.

We take .........yes partake.........choosing to participate in the benefits of Jesus' death and resurrection. In it we are reconciled back to God. Through His death, we are the saved.

Romans 5:9-11

 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.  NKJV

In the "Bread" and the "fruit " of the vine we are the nourished and the empowered from the risen Christ through His Holy Spirit!

1 Corinthians 11:23-29

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 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." 25 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." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. 

27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 

NKJV

AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS.........HE BROKE IT!

Verse 24 is the looking at Jesus when he broke the bread for His body.

Verse 26 is of our looking for His return and the third thing we take note is this: Verse 28...we are to examine ourselves. Examining comes through prayer ...RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD GAINING HIS WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT.......for any who will not examine then become those who are not "honoring" toward Jesus. 
I like what our pastor spoke on Thursday, about coming to the Garden, conversing with God and having that fellowship. Communing with God and knowing Him is important and is life to us!

If one spends all day watching "soaps' and spend no time in the Word of God or prayer........then one has no spirit or life....NO POWER....! Could probably tell you what JO-JO did but nothing about God and His love, life or majesty! If we will not "HONOR" Jesus in our life, then what will we have for the future? If Jesus has given us life through His broken body of the Cross, then we know we have every benefit that He chose to give us from that place of "sacrifice".
Do we not as parents, work, pay bills, and keep a portion for our children to see that they have food, clothing, and protection in a home life?

John 6:53-65

53 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." 59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. 

60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" 

61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? 62 What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."  NIV

Jesus wanted to show them the importance of remaining in the spirit of His departure. He wanted them to keep the instruction to remain in HIM! Like verse 62, He was returning, going to ascend back into heaven. He, Jesus, remained faithful to the Father and those who were to be "the family of God". Jesus gave His life: in remembrance we take Communion to remember that "sacrifice" yes, but also all that "we gained in this life now" by that sacrifice. Amen!
In closing: We are reminded of Jesus speaking in Mark 3:31-35!
Mark 3:31-35
31 Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. 32 And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You." 33 But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?" 34 And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother."   NKJV

In life, what we value determines our outcome! We find our true "SOURCE" when things go awry!

If our faith and trust is in our job.......and look to, adhere to that only, for that pay-check, then when that lay-off comes and you are not expecting  "THEM" TO lay "you" off, then who is your family?
Who would you turn to then? If job is your family, what then? What if money is your family and you run out of money, who do you turn to? If you run out of water tomorrow, who will you look to as your source?
What if "pastor" is your family? Surely we need a leader and surely we need the teaching, but man cannot be God to us.
If we value only what a Dr. tells us about our health concerns and do not consult God on the matter, then our trust, our faith.....is leaning on man and him only...........the outcome is determined by what the said "doctor" tells you, and recommends to you what to do. And the outcome is determined by what instruction you have followed! But if we follow Jesus Who is truth and light, and allow Him to lead us to victory. When we abide in Him as a family, we listen to His instructions and abide in safety and wisdom of His Word. Doing God's will is so important to us always. For whoever does the will of God is Jesus' brother, sister, and mother! Giving honor to that which is given as instructed to us will give us safe harbor, direction to life and abide in the Wisdom of God!

Like in John 6 and verse 57 -58.......... as the living Father sent Jesus and HE lives because of the Father, so the ones who feed on Jesus will live because of Jesus This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever."

THOSE WHO FEED ON JESUS WILL LIVE...........ABIDING IN THE WORD OF TRUTH.

That coming to gather around the Word of God, having fellowship, breaking of bread (COMMUNION) AND PRAYERS...........causes us to have employment when others are losing their jobs. That communion, that fellowship with God causes us to have water when others do not! That rallying with God and remembering that shed Blood of Jesus causes us to have every need met. In that abiding with Jesus, we have nothing missing, nothing lacking, and nothing broken in our lives. We have favor and wear it as a shield when we line up with God! (Psalm 5:12)  Hallelujah! He has risen and given us life abundantly. Let's obey the instruction to abide, that DOING THE WILL OF GOD! SO when something goes terribly wrong, you will "your real brothers, sisters' and mothers! They will be those who will come to gather in word and in prayer............abiding giving glory to God for safety and wisdom to go forward in life without hindrances or distractions!

If your church does not have Communion, you find out how to do it and you and your family take Communion together. Take it with those who will gather to hear the Word and pray. To God be all the Glory. Amen!

Father, our prayer, to be the discerning. The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. YOUR Words spoken to us by Jesus in John 6 are spirit and they are life. Our desire is to keep "fellowship" in communion around the Word and in prayer and to participate in the holy communion: that real food and real drink for us. That which has come from heaven. It is the love expressed on the Cross and we should really see that in the body of Christ. That fellowship is to be what YOU Father planned from the foundation of the world. May we be found to be the faithful who will keep persevering and looking for Jesus return. We today, make a commitment and anticipation to renew our dedication to YOU our Lord through Communion with the elements representing Your body and blood. And we make the commitment to have fellowship around Your Word and in prayer. Because of the reconciliation, we see Your power, goodness and Majesty. To God be all the glory! Thank You Father for Jesus and it is in His name we pray and commit. Amen.

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at (http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV)