How to take Communion

Most of us have been taught to remember the Lord’s death for our sins as we take communion. The usual routine is for us to quietly bow our heads, reflect on the Lord’s death for our sins, then take the piece of bread and drink the juice. We then thank the Lord and say Amen! Many a times, it is even just a religious ritual which kind of gives a fake sense of fulfillment of a duty.
 
What exactly is the Communion? Why did the Lord ask us to do this in remembrance of Him? How exactly do we take communion?
 
We know that Jesus took our sicknesses and diseases. We know that He bore all of our sins upon Himself. But how exactly do we “experience” the benefits of His work on the cross? This is where religious Christians will say “It is by Faith” and Yes! That’s true. But I submit to you that the communion is a great way to stay strong in that faith.  
 
In fact, the bread and juice we partake represents the greatest expression of God’s love for His people.
1 Cor 11:23 – 26 – 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; 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. 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. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
He goes on to say in verse 29-30 – For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgement to himself, not discerning the Lords body. For this reason, many are weak and sick among you.
So dear brothers and sisters, when we take the wafer or bread and drink the juice, let us reflect on what these emblems represent and let us ensure we take them in a worthy manner and discerning the Lord’s body.

As you know, two items are used in the Communion—the bread represents Jesus’ body that was scourged and broken for us, and the cup which represents His shed blood.

When Jesus walked on earth, He was vibrant, full of life and divine health. He was never sick. In fact, He imparted His life and health to others and healed them. But before Jesus went to the cross, He was badly scourged by the Roman soldiers, and His body was torn as He hung on the cross.

God took all our sicknesses and diseases and put them on Jesus’ originally perfect and healthy body, so that you and I can walk in divine health. That is why the Bible says “By his wounds, we WERE healed”- in 1 Peter 2:24.

This is the truth. He really did take your sicknesses and diseases away. So when we take the bread or wafer, let’s take it in a worthy manner, reminding ourselves that our sicknesses and diseases were indeed taken away by Jesus. By His wounds, we were healed. Believe this, as you take the wafer or bread. Take your time to reflect on this. Tell yourself that no sickness can remain on you because it was indeed taken away by Jesus your Lord. If He took it away, then it can’t remain in your body. If the TRUTH is that Jesus took away your sickness, then it cannot also be TRUE that He didn’t take it away. Which truth do you want to believe? What the word of God says or what your body feels? Choose to believe the TRUTH my friend, think about this and then take the bread believing the truth.

Likewise, when He shed His blood for us and laid down His life for us, He took all our sins upon Himself and paid the ultimate price for us and imparted total and complete forgiveness to us. Along with this forgiveness He also gave us the freedom from sin and guilt and condemnation. This is the truth. We can now say “There is now no condemnation for me because I am in Christ Jesus. Believe this, as you take the juice. If He took all your sins and has forgiven you of all your sins, then the feeling of guilt and condemnation is a lie from the enemy. Both can’t be true.  Choose to believe the truth which is God’s word (because He cannot lie) and reject your feelings, then drink the juice thanking the Lord for His shed blood.

1 Cor 10:16 – 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?

Here communion means sharing or exchanging. The Lord Jesus took our sicknesses and diseases & gave us divine health and healing in exchange. He took our sins and gave us forgiveness, righteousness and eternal life in exchange. Jesus wants us conscious of this fact as we take communion.

And whenever we partake in this consciousness, we “proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).
Today, when you partake of the bread or wafer, you are declaring that Jesus’ divine health and life flows through your bodies. And when you partake of the cup, you are declaring that you are indeed forgiven and have been made righteous.

That is the truth my friends. This is why we can now go boldly into God’s presence without any guilt and KNOW that when we pray, God hears us!

Pray this prayer as you take the bread or wafer:Thank You, Father, for the gift of Your Son. By the stripes that fell on His back, by the many wounds that were inflicted upon Him, my body is healed from the crown of my head to the very soles of my feet. I am healed, restored, and renewed. In Jesus’ name, I believe and I receive. Then eat.

Pray this prayer as you take the juice:Lord Jesus, thank You for Your precious blood. Your shed blood has removed every sin from my life. Through Your blood, I am forgiven of all my sins—and made completely righteous. Today, I partake of your righteousness and proclaim I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus for your blood has cleansed me from all my unrighteousness. Then drink.

Our Lord recommended that we do this as often as we can and remember Him. So friends, do not wait for the church to lead you into communion once every week on Sunday or once a month. Personalise this and do this as often as you want to in your own home. In fact, the more often you do this, the stronger your faith will be. You will notice a sense of joy in you and find yourself becoming healthier and healthier. Do this as often as you want to until such time the TRUTH of this exchange gets deeply rooted in you. What an awesome Lord and saviour we have.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.