Communion

P 3102 Memories are important.

/ DVH

I was remembering the days of early motherhood just recently, and that sparked off some thoughts that gave me fresh insight into what we call Holy Communion. First, let’s look at what the bible says in Luke 22:19-20.

“And He (Jesus) took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”

This is the last meal the Lord and the disciples were to share together, before Jesus’ crucifixion. These men were more than just dear friends and disciples to Jesus, they were His family, and He knew that what was about to happen would devastate them. One of their number, would betray Him. In the end, of course, they all ran away, and then something unimaginably worse transpired. But even though everything that happened was necessary, if you read all three accounts of this incident in Matthew, Mark and Luke, you can see Jesus wanted to prepare these men to cope with what what was ahead, when He would no longer be with them. 

The bottom was about to fall out of their happy little world, even as they were sitting round the food together, sharing, talking, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. After they had finished their meal, Jesus took bread and a cup of wine and began to teach them. We have all heard this preached on many times, especially right before we take communion together – but this time I saw something that I wanted to share here today because these verses reminded me of my own past.

When my kids were quite little, the church we attended had annual weekends away for the women who came to our church. These were sweet spiritual times, with teaching and prayer and fellowship and a time for all the women to relax together. But it also meant that everyone’s kids were left at home with their fathers. I felt so guilty about leaving my kids, because I did not want them to feel deserted by me. Plus I wanted them to know I loved them! So before I left, I cooked all the food that would be needed, plus special treats, and I bought each child a stuffed toy to remind them – ‘Mummy loves you.’ I left the toy on each of their beds so they would find it at bedtime, when little kids sometimes get a bit uncertain about things.

So, let’s go back to the scripture in Luke because I do have a point! Even after the crucifixion, and the resurrection, for everything to be accomplished in the Father’s plan, Jesus had to return to heaven. The disciples were looking at Him when it happened – they watched Him go! And suddenly they were alone. I thought about the time between His Ascension and Pentecost and realised how hard that the length of time would have been for them. The promised Holy Spirit had not come yet, and they were all virtually holding their collective breaths for what ever was going to happen next.

Today, we remember Jesus from the perspective of hindsight – we’ve read the end of the story! This means we see His death and resurrection, and ascension from a distance. It is our history, but for them it was present and acute. When we talk about time retrospectively, that amount of time doesn’t seem very long, but those disciples were afraid, and they huddled together praying in an Upper room – not knowing what came next. They only knew to wait together, because the Lord had told them to wait.

That’s when I realised that the Lord had given them something concrete TO DO to remember Him. It was not just about them being sad, solemn and serious …it was also about them remembering being with Him, walking, talking, laughing, eating meals, going to the temple together. Those thoughts were to comfort them. It was a way they could reassure themselves in any time of doubt, pain, discomfort, and grief. They had lost their dear Friend and Master — their beloved One, the One Who utterly changed their lives. And just like we might look at a photo of a loved one who has died, Jesus gave them something concrete to do to remind themselves of all they had seen and done with Him. 

We all know that taking communion together is a spiritual blessing. It is a time of family fellowship and intimacy with the Lord and each other, where we give thanks for all He did for us. But just like those toys on my kid’s beds when I was absent from them – the disciples had been given something visible to hold onto, to remind themselves, in the middle of their loss, of how much He loved them. Any time they wanted to remember their lives together, they could take bread, and wine and give thanks and remember Him and all He did for them.

My thoughts about communion have been stretched a little, because I can do even more than simply remember, and thank the Lord for dying in my place. Now, I can remember we met together this morning. Just yesterday He showed me something that helped me with my life. I can remember the relationship we share. Not as a past event, but a present reminder of how good He is to us, every single day. Sometimes it is the little personal memories that get us through our difficulties. Bless you. 👋 

P 3008 Some people need to be hugged back to life. OR …

/ DVH

…how to bore your congregation to death and get away with it!“On Sunday we gathered to take communion and to hear Paul preach. Because he was planning to leave the next day, he continued speaking until past midnight. Sitting in an open window listening was a young man named Eutychus. As Paul’s sermon dragged on, Eutychus became drowsy and fell into a deep slumber. Sound asleep, he fell three stories to his death below.” Acts 20:7,9.

Hah! And you think your pastor’s sermons are boring! The Apostle Paul had an agenda, he was leaving and needed to say everything he wanted to say. I’ve said this quite a few times before, sometimes really bad things are pre-cursors to miracles. I had a friend who used to say:  “If you want to see a miracle then you are going to have to need one —  and that won’t always be as much fun as it sounds!!” Just don’t sit in any windows OK?

Here’s another pretty good thought — I’d be careful about saying the preacher’s sermons are boring! If I were you, I’d make sure that guy is proficient in raising the dead first!  Meanwhile, ladies stop nudging your husband awake, let him snore away… you just might be missing out on a miracle —! 🤣 Lets’ continue on with this fun story and get to the hugging bit.

“Paul went downstairs, bent over the boy, and embraced him. Taking him in his arms, he said to all the people gathered, “Stop your worrying. He’s come back to life!” Paul went back upstairs, served communion, and ate a meal with them. Then he picked back up where he left off and taught until dawn. Filled with enormous joy, they took the boy home alive and everyone was encouraged.”Acts 20:10-12 TPT.

Retrospectively thinking about this subject, I have heard some sermons where I felt like I was nearly dying of boredom while I was listening to them. The bible doesn’t subscribe to political correctness, in this instance the writer says: ”…the sermon dragged on…”  So … this is PAUL preaching, right? The Paul who wrote more than a third of the New Testament – and yet he bored some poor guy into such a sound sleep he fell out of a 3 story window and got DEAD for his trouble.

You see, to my way of thinking —the one mistake this congregation made was this:  right after Eutychus died and was resurrected —  they went and FED Paul, and he got a second wind. And so he started up preaching again. I think we need a policy in place, that says — never ever feed a boring preacher. The moral of this story is don’t be boring – you never know who you might accidentally kill!

And do not, as in .. not ever!! — let the preacher guy get back into the pulpit again, because you could end up at church until dawn. Why prolong the agony? I particularly like the line that said: “he,(Paul), picked right up where he left off …” Most preachers would happily surrender their right arm to be asked to keep on going. It seems to me that there are two clear lessons for us all here. One is don’t ever fall asleep while somebody is preaching …and the second is … dead people are not a deterrent to whatever God wants to say!   Any dead people out there reading this today? No?? Good, just don’t go near any windows!

A word to the wise, for a pastor reading this – you may think your sermon is fantastic and all your points are valid … but if people start dropping out of the church’s windows like dead flies maybe you need an editor. Just saying is all … Some people need to be hugged back to life, and all the shouting and preaching at them that we can do, will not help them. There have been people in my life that I would rather have thumped on the head because they seemed pretty dense to me … but then I would need to be able to run faster than they can – so that shoots that idea down in flames.

Meanwhile, enough frivolity! Let’s get back to today’s real point … Love is always the answer. It is not an alternative response – it is THE ANSWER. Paul illustrated that practically. Love meant everyone went home from church that day happy, with a heck of a testimony all round. Loving others includes restoring them … back to life if necessary.This means we may have to stop and interrupt whatever we thought and planned to do, to love on somebody who seems pretty dead to us. The priority is always the people, not the sermon. 

Words can be blown away on the wind, and actions speak so much louder than words. Paul is the best kind of preacher because he interrupted his sermon to meet one young man’s need. Some of the people you and I meet every single day – might need someone to hold up their arms, like Aaron and Hur did for Moses, until the battle was won. … And some poor sods need to be hugged back into life. Maybe it’s time to start demonstrating instead of talking. Love in action is never boring. Bye 👋

P 3005 Dinner’s ready!!

/ DVH

“YOU become my delicious feast even when my enemies dare to fight. You anoint me with the fragrance of Your Holy Spirit; You give me all I can drink of You until my cup overflows. So why would I fear the future? Only goodness and tender love pursue me all the days of my life. Then afterward, when my life is through, I’ll return to Your glorious Presence to be forever with You!” Psalms 23:5-6 TPT. There are times when reading the bible in another translation totally nails it for me, it is quite simply ‘spot on’ for that day. Forget fairy tales and romance novels, the bible is the stuff that glorious Godly dreams are made from! 

I love this book because: “Oh, how I love all You’ve revealed; I reverently ponder it all the day long. Your commands give me an edge on my enemies; they never become obsolete. I’ve even become smarter than my teachers since I’ve pondered and absorbed your counsel. I’ve become wiser than the wise old sages simply by doing what you tell me. I watch my step, avoiding the ditches and ruts of evil so I can spend all my time keeping your Word. I never make detours from the route You laid out; You gave me such good directions. Your words are so choice, so tasty; I prefer them to the best home cooking. With your instruction, I understand life; …” Psalm 119:103 MSG.

The big plus is that we can always pray for others to taste and see God move like this in their life too. “Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” Proverbs 16:24.“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”1 Thessalonians 5:11. The next time you want to give someone else a piece of your mind, STOP!  ….And give them a piece of HIS MIND instead! Many people today are floundering about, with the cares and worries of this life weighing heavily upon them. But we have the privilege of laying something delicious in front of others at any given time. God’s Word is everyone’s feast, especially when it is served in the middle of this world’s famine on beautiful things to think about.

However, there is a wrong way of reading these words. Let me explain … We can read scriptures like these, and look at our lives, and then react with disappointment and say: “I have no honey in my life! Where is my delicious feast?”  This means we’ve temporarily forgotten that this feast is with us constantly when we realise, now and forever, Jesus is our feast. Not food, or better circumstances, or enough money, or freedom from oppression – but the Lord Himself.

That is what communion is all about. It is not just about the bread and wine – or whatever you use at your church  … it is about Him becoming so much a part of our lives that we always have food that other people can’t see, and we have something to drink that other people can’t appreciate. Maybe those other people are too busy waffling on about this wine, and that vintage!  Praise God we have an eternal vintage. 

Jesus prepares that incredible table before us in the presence of our enemies …can you think of any greater punishment for our enemies? Imagine this with me for a second — these people can see and know God’s glory but they are not able to taste it. And the bible says: “Taste and see that the Lord is good:  blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” Psalm 34:8. What a punishment.

God’s precious, delicious table of good things to eat is always in front of our eyes as we make HIM our refuge. I love that our Heavenly Father lovingly prepared a table – a SON – before us in the presence of those who hate us! Jesus’ own enemies snarled around Him accusing our Lord of all kinds of bad things, but He knew His place in the Father’s heart and plan. That’s the secret, knowing YOU have a place in God’s plan – you are not just some secondary ‘extra’ on the stage of life.

It is also good to remember the loving father, in the bible, who stood at the gate, gazing down the road, waiting for his youngest son to remember how much he is loved. I once heard a man of God I admire very much, say this about our access to Father God: “If my daughter wants to see me and I am in my office busy with work, she doesn’t knock on the door and wait to be given permission to be admitted. She just bursts in, full of her exciting news. “Dad, Dad, Dad! You’ll never guess what happened to me today!”

This is the meal God has prepared for each of us with so much love. Instant access that does not require formality. It is yet another place where the way we think, is not the Way He thinks! We think of Jesus’ broken body and shed blood as a horrible death – yet maybe Our Father looks back through time and says: “My Beloved Son, because of what YOU did for them, look at all the sons and daughters I have. Can you see them coming down the road? There’s Betty and Johanna, Michaela and Dietrich, Sonoma and Tundi, and Kwong lee and Ping, Aleksander and Bohdan … everyone of them are coming to the feast WE have already prepared for them before time began! Their eyes are so focussed on the feast, they don’t even care about their enemies.” 

Dinner’s ALWAYS ready! Taste and see … Bye. 🙌.

P 2594 Guess Who’s coming to dinner?

/ DVH

“God, who gets invited to dinner at Your place? How do we get on Your guest list?“Walk straight;  act right, tell the truth. “Don’t hurt your friend, don’t blame your neighbour; despise the despicable. “Keep your word even when it costs you, make an honest living, never take a bribe. “You’ll never get blacklisted if you live like this.” Psalm 15.(MSG) The psalmist is longing to be so close to Almighty God he wants to have dinner at His place. He wants to be invited. 

Let’s move on — in the Old Testament in Exodus, there is a lovely story about 70 elders who were literally invited to dinner at Almighty God’s place. “Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. Under His feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky. But God did not raise His hand against these leaders of the Israelites;they saw God, and they ate and drank.”Exodus 24:9-11. (NIV) Imagine that! They saw God and they ate and drank in His Presence. They got onto His guest list and were invited.

OK. One more … “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”  For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. (NIV) Here we are again. God, in the Person of Jesus Christ was sitting down again with twelve carefully chosen men eating and drinking, and remembering that first Passover together. Christ Jesus gave this invitation.

The Lord brought these three separate moments from very different places in the Word into my mind when I was preparing this blog. For the first time I saw how these three different stories reveal the our Heavenly Father’s heart toward mankind. The psalmist wants to go to dinner with Almighty God, but he knows that there is a series of very strong criteria to qualify him to be a guest. We actually don’t know if he ever qualified or not!

However, in the second story, Moses and the elders go up and not only see God – but they go there at His invitation. They were invited to His house and they ate and drank with Him. This is a covenant meal. I personally think that God’s grace asked them up into that heavenly place. At that time the Old Covenant had been given to Moses, and that day it was sealed with blood of hundreds of animals. These men all ate and drank in His Presence.

Lastly we have God Himself, in the Person of Jesus Christ, providing food for here and now and this time the participants do not go up to heaven … this time heaven came down to them!! Because of that final and fulfilling covenant meal instigated by Christ, we can eat with God at any time, in any place – and we no longer have to qualify for it by our behaviour. SomeBody Else paid for us to eat and drink with God Himself and NOW, Jesus Christ is our meal. We are now on God’s guest list, like … forever.

We no longer have to be ashamed anymore of not qualifying, because now we know for sure that none of us ever qualified!  But then the Lord Jesus came and fulfilled all of the criteria the psalmist mentioned AND MORE. Much much more. God’s intention from the beginning of the bible has always been to be with us, to have fellowship with us, to share a meal with us. So the next time you take communion together with other members of the Body of Christ, let’s remember the privilege we have been given. God Himself sits down with us as we remember what we have been given.

Almighty God and man sat down together and drank, and ate a meal at the bottom of Mount Sinai, and then Christ and twelve disciples sat down together in an upper room on Mount Zion and they shared a meal that is still being shared today. We call this meal they all shared communion .. God and man communing together.  🙌  Guess Who came to dinner? 🙌

P 2210 Do this to remember Me.

/ DVH

We all know these verses and say them at communion. But there are times when I wonder if we understand what we are saying – maybe sometimes we say it without thought. I don’t think that eating and drinking communion regularly is the main thing in the Lord’s eyes – I think regularly and intentionally remembering Him and what He did for us, IS. 

Yeah, I know a whole lotta people dun got mad at me for what I just said. In some denominations communion is an extremely important sacrament. I am not trying to diminish the importance of obeying what Jesus said … far from it. But the accent should be on the Lord, not the bread, biscuit, grape juice or wine. It’s the remembering that counts – not the vehicle we use to do it. I think communion is a cue. Listen to this in Youversion:

“Let me go over with you again exactly what goes on in the Lord’s Supper and why it is so centrally important. I received my instructions from the Master Himself and passed them on to you. The Master, Jesus, on the night of His betrayal, took bread. Having given thanks, He broke it and said, This is My body, broken for you. Do this to remember Me. After supper, He did the same thing with the cup: This cup is My blood, My new covenant with you. Each time you drink this cup, remember Me. What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master.” 1 Corinthians 11:25,26. Communion is to remind us – it is not the most important thing – what Jesus DID is the most important thing!

If you would like a more familiar version here’s the KJV:“After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till He come.” I’m a big fan of reading more than one version – it opens our eyes to more than the words. I think it can help explain the meaning more clearly. Jesus is telling us that we are to remember Him and what He did, when we break the bread and drink the wine in communion. The sacrament of communion is not the holy thing – remembering Him and what He did, is.

The Lord Jesus never took His spiritual eyes off His Father – He only did what He saw His Father doing. Communion is a way to keep what Jesus DID for us in front of our eyes. When His Presence, His will, His Ways are more important than our own, we will begin to live the same way He did… mindful of our Father’s wishes, as well as other people.

Reading the bible is another way to remember Him. I went to sleep last night chewing on a verse, because it seemed to me that I had not seen what He wanted me to see … yet … and I’m still chewing!  It is a fatal error to think we already know stuff because we can parrot off what the bible says. We will never really know everything this side of heaven – and I strongly suspect we won’t know everything when we get there either! Our God is beyond our comprehension! Meanwhile, there is so much more in the bible than we currently understand. We can’t study it out, we need to live in the Lord’s Presence to give us eyes and ears – we need His revelation.

Remembering Jesus is not like sending your Grandma a card for her birthday! Maybe you’ve written the date of her birthday onto a calendar, or put it in event’s calendar on your cell phone and it merrily chimes to remind you. That’s not remembering … that’s being reminded! Put the word remember into the present tense – in these verses remember is a NOW word, not a special occasional one. It is not about doing something to remind us, it is about living daily that way. The Lord Jesus’ idea of remembering is more focussed. He threw away His own agenda and focussed on His Father’s agenda instead.

Like Paul said: “…for me TO LIVE is CHRIST!” That kind of remembering is current and powerful. When we cultivate an awareness of His Presence, His word, His loving kindness and goodness will be a gold thread running right through the very centre of our lives, all day, every day – not just when we take communion. And I know I ain’t there yet! Lemme put this another way – people who are promiscuous forget they are married. They left their awareness of their marriage vows behind, to do something else. Jesus needs to be in the forefront of our minds, He is never a PS!

In conclusion, it is good to realise that we don’t have to remember Him – we want to remember Him and what He did for us. That sort of focus will keep us humble and grateful. Let’s not let this life’s pressures take our focus away from why we are still here .. to serve Him and worship Him for all He did for us. Remembering is a key to opening our hearts wider than before. 👋🏻