The Best Things About Communion - Steve Parrish - a podcast by C3 Church Southwest WA

Luke 22:19–20 (ESV) And he 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.

My first communions were like going to a viewing. Even after I became a Christian and better understood the symbolism, they were similar but now with mournful criers and the fear of dying due to unworthiness.

DO THIS: push reset to refresh!

Do this! Like an iPhone that starts working wacky after a lot of use and it refreshes after we reset, communion can accomplish the same things.

Jesus shared communion with the disciples in the middle of the craziest week of the disciples ministry lives. Miracles, amazing teaching, healings, a parade with crowds chanting Hosanna, death threats, Jesus flipping over tables in the temple, talk destroying and rebuilding it back in three days. Wins and losses. Fans and enemies. It was a crazy week! He pulled everyone in close to himself and hit RESET to come back to the main thing!

• Lamentations 3:22–23 (ESV) The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

  • new - chadash – to renew

We can get into a spiritual funk as a result of wins or losses, busyness or boredom but its so valuable to hit reset, like shaking an Etch-a-Sketch,

• Psalm 103:5 (ESV) who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

DO THIS: bring Jesus back into focus!

Communion is to create a moment of remembrance. Everything in this LIFE will fight for your attention – Jesus was saying “BRING ME BACK INTO FOCUS!”

• Matthew 17:7–8 (ESV) But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

This is something you will have to do again and again and again, not because there’s something wrong with you, but because you’re still here.

• Hebrews 12:1–2 (NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Ignoring the distractions and getting Him back into focus will actually help those other things that are fighting for your attention to work out better!

• Matthew 6:31–33 (ESV) Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Peter went back to fishing. Jesus reappeared. Peter got back to being a disciple.

Its important to FOCUS on more than just crucifixion!!! It’s about focusing on everything about Him.

DO THIS: cash in on His covenant!

Sometimes things on earth don’t align with Heaven. Communion is an opportunity to point review “the new covenant in my blood” to remind yourself of the promises with the expectation that they will align.

Covenant: a binding agreement between two parties

• Genesis 15:8 (ESV) But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?”

• covenants were often sealed by severing of a costly prized animal in perfect condition.

  • Genesis 15:9–10 (ESV) He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other.

  • The Hebrew verb meaning to seal a covenant translates literally as “to cut.”

  • a sobering moment between parties as one party would have to kill something with His hands in the presence of the other to seal the agreement.

  • the implication was that the party who breaks the covenant will suffer a similar fate.

  • Genesis 15:17–18 (ESV) When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram…

God has made more than just promises, He’s made a covenant. Communion is the sales receipt, proof that not only the promises were made, but paid for.

Sometimes agreements lose traction, one party fails to keep up their end. Guaranteed, He’s not given up on His. It’s always a failure on our end to cash in!

DO THIS:

• push reset to refresh.

• bring Jesus back into focus.

• cash in on His covenant.

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