This morning encounter: On thinking this through... In the bread I saw a quick image of Jesus smiling (much like the fellow who portrayed Jesus in the movie "The Son of God"). Then drinking from the cup I heard myself praying again and again, "the Body and Blood of Jesus, the Body and Blood of Jesus, the Body and Blood of Jesus..." and while praying this I saw the same smiling Jesus in His robed walking the beach with a child in His arms and another child holding His hand (They looked a bit like my two youngest grand daughters.)
In our overflow discussion after my wife had a similar encounter. In both it was like the Lord was saying, Its as if He said, 'Trust me like a child. I will be there and you will see Me when you dine on my Body and Blood. When you eat the bread just do that. When you drink the wine, just do that. My Spirit will take care of the rest. I will carry you and I will take you by the hand. Just rest in the meal. Let me take the lead.'
In our overflow discussion after my wife had a similar encounter. In both it was like the Lord was saying, Its as if He said, 'Trust me like a child. I will be there and you will see Me when you dine on my Body and Blood. When you eat the bread just do that. When you drink the wine, just do that. My Spirit will take care of the rest. I will carry you and I will take you by the hand. Just rest in the meal. Let me take the lead.'
Jesus said, "With faith the size of a mustard seed you can say to this mulberry tree be uprooted and planted in the sea and it will or to this mountain be cast into the sea and it will." Luke 17:6, Matthew 17:20
He also says that "The Kingdom of God is like the mustard seed, though it is smallest, when planted in our garden becomes a tree large enough it will house the birds of the air." Luke 13:19, Matthew 13:31
He gives us the mustard seed to start with as well! So lets replant some trees and move some mountains today! Lets plant those seeds and let them die so that they can sprout and grow until they becomes trees! All things are possible - just believe!
FIRST: Jesus said, "Do this in remembrance of Me." It is a call to action on your behalf. He promises nothing in return. He just asked us to have Communion and as often as you do, do it in remembrance of Him. Without examining any expectations or anticipation the directive is to do something. It is enough to just do that because the Messiah told His most important and closest friends when He was on the planet to "Do this" and therefore it is a good directive for all who would follow and believe on Him. Is there a reason? Of course there is. What do you think? If nothing else occurs you have followed through with what the Son of God has indicated we should do. We should continue to have the meal of heaven on a regular basis if for no other reason than to have His people seated with Him on a regular basis to at least give thanks for forgiveness, the hope of His return and eternal life. That makes a good start on any day of the week! Okay? Come with no expectations just gratitude for your new life in Him and what He did to make that possible.
SECOND: If you can't focus or you are filled with anything but hope then be still. If you are troubled, have an important decision or just don't feel up to par then wait. If you are totally up to the day, feeling well and your faith is burning hot and your mouth filled with praise then pause. When you do you surrender to Him. As you eat the bread and drink the wine, just be still, wait and pause for a moment. Let the comforter open the eyes of your spirit. Let Him help you focus on seeing Jesus. You close your physical eyes and let the Holy Spirit open the eyes of your spirit. When He does you will see, hear and sense what it is that He has prepared for you in the presence of the Lord. I like it when its quiet but we have had Communion in noisy busy restaurants, in public places and with a room full of others with lots of distractions... but still He is there to share the life of JESUS with us. He may even use the distractions as a part of the sharing. Whatever He shares you know it is Him.
So on one hand we cast the tree or mountain that makes you feel isolated and alone if you don't have an encounter (so to speak) in Communion but on the other hand we have planted the seed that says you may encounter the Spirit of the living God who is there to share the life of JESUS with you.
Bottom Line: Just "do" as JESUS requested. Sit at His Table and share His Body of life and Blood of life. Ask His blessing and then Eat the bread and drink the wine. The rest is up to Him. "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death." Romans 8:1-2 There is no law to condemn anymore. There is only the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus! He sets us free from the law of sin and death. Now He just wants us to feast in His presence. When we do our faith grows stronger. When we do we are feeding on the living bread. When we do we are drinking from the cup of salvation. When we do we are promised eternal life. When we do He promises that He will raise us up in the last day! Aren't those reasons enough! Be still, wait and pause to come to His Table to share the meal of the bread and wine on a regular basis. Then watch how this small activity that takes all of a few minutes grows from a tiny seed into a mighty tree where other can find rest and nest. Thank God for His unspeakable gift!
He also says that "The Kingdom of God is like the mustard seed, though it is smallest, when planted in our garden becomes a tree large enough it will house the birds of the air." Luke 13:19, Matthew 13:31
He gives us the mustard seed to start with as well! So lets replant some trees and move some mountains today! Lets plant those seeds and let them die so that they can sprout and grow until they becomes trees! All things are possible - just believe!
FIRST: Jesus said, "Do this in remembrance of Me." It is a call to action on your behalf. He promises nothing in return. He just asked us to have Communion and as often as you do, do it in remembrance of Him. Without examining any expectations or anticipation the directive is to do something. It is enough to just do that because the Messiah told His most important and closest friends when He was on the planet to "Do this" and therefore it is a good directive for all who would follow and believe on Him. Is there a reason? Of course there is. What do you think? If nothing else occurs you have followed through with what the Son of God has indicated we should do. We should continue to have the meal of heaven on a regular basis if for no other reason than to have His people seated with Him on a regular basis to at least give thanks for forgiveness, the hope of His return and eternal life. That makes a good start on any day of the week! Okay? Come with no expectations just gratitude for your new life in Him and what He did to make that possible.
SECOND: If you can't focus or you are filled with anything but hope then be still. If you are troubled, have an important decision or just don't feel up to par then wait. If you are totally up to the day, feeling well and your faith is burning hot and your mouth filled with praise then pause. When you do you surrender to Him. As you eat the bread and drink the wine, just be still, wait and pause for a moment. Let the comforter open the eyes of your spirit. Let Him help you focus on seeing Jesus. You close your physical eyes and let the Holy Spirit open the eyes of your spirit. When He does you will see, hear and sense what it is that He has prepared for you in the presence of the Lord. I like it when its quiet but we have had Communion in noisy busy restaurants, in public places and with a room full of others with lots of distractions... but still He is there to share the life of JESUS with us. He may even use the distractions as a part of the sharing. Whatever He shares you know it is Him.
So on one hand we cast the tree or mountain that makes you feel isolated and alone if you don't have an encounter (so to speak) in Communion but on the other hand we have planted the seed that says you may encounter the Spirit of the living God who is there to share the life of JESUS with you.
Bottom Line: Just "do" as JESUS requested. Sit at His Table and share His Body of life and Blood of life. Ask His blessing and then Eat the bread and drink the wine. The rest is up to Him. "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death." Romans 8:1-2 There is no law to condemn anymore. There is only the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus! He sets us free from the law of sin and death. Now He just wants us to feast in His presence. When we do our faith grows stronger. When we do we are feeding on the living bread. When we do we are drinking from the cup of salvation. When we do we are promised eternal life. When we do He promises that He will raise us up in the last day! Aren't those reasons enough! Be still, wait and pause to come to His Table to share the meal of the bread and wine on a regular basis. Then watch how this small activity that takes all of a few minutes grows from a tiny seed into a mighty tree where other can find rest and nest. Thank God for His unspeakable gift!