A little technicality right off the bat, but please do bear with me. Communion: Greek koinōnia (koy-nohn-ee’-ah), from G2844; partnership, as in someone you have things in common with, which is, (literally) participation, communicate/communication, communion, and fellowship. The idea of communion is also very closely associated with another really important word, koy-no-nos’ , meaning someone who shares, that is, a companion, partaker, or a partner, as seen in 2 Corinthians 1:7.
In the Eucharist, which is “the blessing” or, according to Vine’s Expository Dictionary, one of several definitions is to “speak well of”, the bread and cup are not mere symbols that point to an absent Savior. It is not merely bread, and not simply a cup and should never be minimized down to just a “thing we do”. Communion is symbolic and is the God-given means by which the risen Jesus unites himself to his people. To eat the bread is to participate in the body that was given on the cross and is now enthroned in glory. To drink the cup is to participate in the blood that ratified the new covenant and now cleanses, gives buoyancy to, and seals us as God’s own. We are His. This is not magic, nor is it a trivial memorial of something from long ago. It is a Holy Spirit-fashioned communion with the entirety of Christ as a whole — crucified, risen, ascended, and present. Friends, that’s a big deal.
i think, we, as believers, have somehow trifled over communion. The idea is one of partnering with Jesus in His livingness and freedom, to participate with Him in fellowship as a son and daughter, not as a cousin or uncle. This may seem odd to a few, but communion to me is much like the idea of renewing wedding vows. i heard a woman say once, “It is more than union, it is communion”. More.
If we are “in Christ” we are living and free, and freedom is not just something we dreamed of long ago, but is a reality in Christ through the washing and regeneration of His work on Calvary, on our behalf. We, who, by His body and blood through faith, are in Christ, we are partners, associates, and companions of God. Jesus has made us FREE!
This is a true story: In Zambia in the late 80’s, there was a group of gorillas at a zoo. The gorilla’s had been in captivity so long it had become their residence. The walls were painted, the gorilla’s had hung pictures, had hot and cold running water, probably even had phone service so they could call out for pizza. All silliness aside though, many hadn’t known anything else but that place behind bars, with ceilings and tall fences, and concrete barriers. At some point in the later years of their captivity, the zoo management decided to turn them loose, set them free. So, they opened the gates. The gorilla’s didn’t leave. They tried to shoo them out, but they wouldn’t leave. Eventually, as the story was told to me, the authorities even tore the fences down, but the gorilla’s still wouldn’t leave. It was as if the idea of freedom was only something they had dreamed of long ago but was only now just a vague notion and impossibility. Even when the wind of freedom blew through the compound, it was the smell of something un-recognizable, so foreign to them it couldn’t possibly be true, and they refused to act but elected to stay in captivity, or what is called, “government by consent of the governed”. That is a real principle and is when authority is only legitimate when it is born from and remains subject to the will of those who are being ruled. It is in direct opposition to God’s divine right. When sin rules the lives of people, believe it or not, they are choosing to be ruled by death whether they are ignorant or fully cognizant and informed. i choose to no longer be ruled by sin, darkness, death, hell, or the grave. i do NOT consent.
Romans 6:16 “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” Under the tyrannical rule of hell we have no rights, except the right to suffer and mindlessly obey.
Without Christ living in us, we are slaves to our master “sin”, and we MUST obey our master. When people live without Christ, they consent to darkness, and no matter how good they look or how good their works are, it is “government by consent of the governed”, they are consenting to be slaves. It doesn’t have to be that way. God has a better idea. There are no fence riders in this incredible battle, no “on lookers” who are neutral; there is no room for sitting on the fence. Every person is either for or against Him, whether they realize and acknowledge it or not. The more obvious the “Line of Choosing” becomes the more obvious it is as to who is on the left and who is on the right. This is not a contrast of “us versus them”, but a contrast of “God and us” and how we commune with God. Sometimes we ask the Lord a question, and His answer corners us, and we then try to find a way out in order to still the voice of our conscience. Those who consent to the government of sin are becoming more and more uncomfortable as God presses the question of eternity closer to them. When all is said and done what or who do you commune with? Heaven or hell? And you can’t escape the question by not choosing, because to not choose IS to choose. Friends, there is only “express consent”, which is deliberate, unmistakable, and clear agreement, as in when we take Communion. And then there is what is called “tacit consent”, which is implied agreement by our non-action, our silence and simply being good little doggies who go-along-to-get-along. “Express consent” says, “I actively say yes”, and “tacit consent” says, “I stay and accept benefits, therefore i am assumed to say “yes”.
TODAY, I BRING YOU TIDINGS OF GLADNESS AND JOY!!
We are no longer captives to sin, but are free, for we, by God’s kindness which leads to repentance, have partnered with God and are His companions, His fellows, heirs with Christ, “we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.” And it’s NOT just some vague dream we had and can’t relate to. We are no longer slaves but have freedom in Christ who is alive and relevant for today. Therefore, we take the broken bread, His body as was “given for us” on the cross, Luke 22:19, and receive the cup, His blood “poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins”, Matthew 26:28. By this we are in solemn agreement as to the death and resurrection of Jesus and do hereby testify of His life.
Deuteronomy 19:15 reads, “…at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.” So here are two witnesses:
Romans 6:16-17 “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
It is not ingenuously chewing nor passively drinking but entirely about our heart-trusting, life-surrendering, gladly receiving His once-for-all sacrifice, which never again needs to be repeated. Communion is symbolic of the theme of Christ’s breaking, pouring, and giving and we respond by receiving with open hands, sharing one cup and one loaf, the visible signs of Koinonia with Jesus and each other. In taking communion we agree with grace and grace is a gift, not an achievement, and is in three dimensions ( i know that’s strange to say but it’s how i see it). Yesterday, Calvary remembered, today, Jesus is present, and tomorrow the coming marriage supper of the Lamb in glory. Do you see it? Communion is never mere ritual; it is a living, symbolic parable of the entire story of redemption. God has torn our fences down and told us we are free.
By the blood and sacrifice of Jesus, God the Father declares we who believe have the blood bought right to communion with Him, the King of the Universe. You are standing on legal ground, so don’t let the enemy talk you out of what God has given you.
And just how did we come to have such a right to communion with God and have complete legal ground to stand on? Again. Behold, the ultimate court case:
Because of the choosing that happened in the Garden of Eden, sin entered in. Because of that choosing, satan held an apparent (not actual)-supreme power over humanity. We need to know that The Supreme Judge in the Supreme Court of Heaven is sworn to uphold the demands of the law in every case.
In order for man to be free, by law, an innocent and willing substitute had to be found to take his place who could fully meet the demands of the law and represent both God and man. The only solution was for God to become man, paying the penalty, thereby letting man go free. Because God loved us from the beginning, He saved us from the legal penalty of death due to humanity’s transgression.
Redemption means that one who is capable of redeeming and taking the place of another actually meets the demands of the law and becomes the legal substitute by paying the redemptive price for those who are condemned to death because of breaking the law. God decided that through the atonement and the substitution of an innocent victim to take the place of fallen man, He would free it from satan, thereby legally and forcefully evicting him, restoring man’s dominion so as to carry on the eternal purpose, as it was intended from the beginning, and we’re not talking of “power”, we’re speaking of dominion and authority: Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Jesus was sent to pay the price for the death penalty man incurred in the garden, thereby breaking the power satan had. It was a redemptive work based on the principles of redemption for man who being under the penalty of death, was unable to pay.
When satan put to death the sinless, innocent Son of God, the High Court of Heaven cancelled all satan’s claims against humanity. The Lamb of God, the Righteous Son of Glory paid the penalty of ransom, thus meeting all the demands of God and the Holy Law, defeating satan and his host with his very blood. Because we are “alive to God, in Christ”, as in Romans 6:14 “…sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”
Therefore, if we confess our sin and believe in our heart, satan loses his case in the High Court of Heaven, and man comes away from court with power and authority by the blood of Jesus, and we are made representatives and officers of God’s law, and can dispossess and cast out, can heal and strengthen, and do what-so-ever the High King of Heaven says for us to do. Because of the work of Jesus Christ, it is our legal, redemptive, blood bought and divine right to be free and resist the enemies of Heaven until the intimidating grip of false authority on mankind is brought down to the ground. The walls of hell WILL fall, all the way to hell!
Christ has once and for all hurled satan from his position of power, so that he is a conquered enemy. (stop fighting with the devil and start talking to God) The might of satan, the prince of all diabolical powers, is already broken. Our greatest strength against the enemies of Heaven, is not to fight against the devil, who is beaten and cast down, but to come into the likeness of The Son, Jesus, the Christ of God. Jesus, all by Himself, has broken the powers of satan and defeated every demon everywhere forever, so that those who look to Jesus in faith are liberated from the influences and bondage of darkness.
i’m telling that account in order that we would see and comprehend that we have every legal right to enter into real communion and stand in righteousness before Him. The Father, God, said because of the blood of the Son, God, you and i are able to receive what He has given us and we will !not! allow hell to talk us out of what God has given us.
We — are — FREE! Do you get it? Can you sme ll the wind of freedom! TODAY, I BRING YOU TIDINGS OF GLADNESS AND JOY!!
The idea of Communion, or Belonging, Connecting, and Friendship is a theme which runs through Matthew 6:9-13 and Romans 12:18-21. i expanded The Lord’s Prayer, as seen in Matthew 6:9-13, so see what you think:
Holy God, You are The One who is near us in mercy and love and at the same time You are high exalted above us, for your Name is the expression of Your Being, the Name who is sanctified in all creation. Let Your divine rule come, Your divine sovereignty, which more and more fully attains it’s rightful place in the heart and life of mankind, as in Heaven where your will is obeyed, spontaneously, with perfect joy, in a perfect manner without a shadow of unfaithfulness. Lord we ask for Your supernatural aid and blessing in our lives where Your dominion is perfect and all the real needs of man are replenished, not solely for us as individuals on our own merit but in reliance on the grace of God. We ask for forgiveness as we absolve and acquit those who are indebted to us, who act wrongly towards us, we absolve and acquit them on the full ground of Your grace, the sweeping grace of God. We are conscious of our own weakness and ask that You would direct our path away from circumstances in which we are exposed to evil temptations. We celebrate and are glad in You who gives us the victory and causes everything to contribute towards the good of those who love You. Help us that our prayers and life habits would not degenerate into mechanical, and ceremonial formality. For You are the Glory and power, the Perfect Friend who reigns forever. Amen.
As a summary, the Lord’s prayer is a picture of a friend and companion as God sees those two words, and in the Hebrew idea of “companion” is the idea of communion. Psalm119:63, “I am a companion of all them that fear the Lord, and of them that keep your precepts.” There where the writer uses the word “companion”, it is a picture of belonging, and connecting as friends who keep in close communion, as those who live in the continual fusion of Himself and us, who inwardly keep His commandments, as distinct from other people who may or may not adhere to the Lord’s preferences and standards. And that is “keep” in the sense of someone who keeps a garden or a wife. They cultivate those standards, and cause them to prosper and be fruitful, allowing His words to change our hearts. When we take communion this is what we are declaring of ourselves by our actions. It isn’t merely going through the motions of some religious ritual, but representative of a legal partnership with God like a grafted branch participates with a tree. Get it? That is communion.
Communion is more than just the Lord’s supper with a shot and a wafer, c’mon, who actually wants to be part of a shot and a wafer fellowship? The act of communion is outwardly confirming of our faith in Christ, and we do it in remembrance of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God.
Communion with God is not merely asking Jesus into our life, going to church, giving a tithe, and being part of a club. Personally, i have no interest in artlessly and unaffectedly being in a club any longer. It should be and truly IS more, so much more. Again, the New Testament word for “communion” is “koinonia”, and is used in 1 Corinthians 10:16 in the sense of “implying fellowship or sharing with someone”. Look at this though, “Sharing with each other” is more than small talk, it’s more than agreement, and means we must be honest and emotionally available in order to do the give and take of real fellowship.
Fellowship and sharing are a two way street which is God’s intent for His relationship with you and i, more than harmony but unity. i’m speaking of communion with God that demands our separation from the world, not fellowship with darkness and the dead, meaning we can’t be sort of saved. Hey, let the dead bury the dead.
But as i said, righteous communion paints a much bigger picture than simply a shot and wafer with solemn music playing in the background. According to the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, “communion”, or “koinonia”, is where our bond is that of holy love, which implies sharing a “common enterprise” as fellow-workers and a participants, and that “common enterprise” is as we are rowing the boat together in the same direction for the same high purposes of God. The main idea of communion is that of fellowship, meaning it expresses inner relationship.
And as if that wasn’t enough, God’s intention is to share with us, who love Him, a close bond, as close as a branch and vine are of the same root, taking part in His life and the cross confirming our vows and faith. Do you see it? Where the vine goes the branch goes, and where the branch goes the vine goes and they share attributes back and forth. That’s communion.
Maybe i can paint it slightly different like this: Communion is confirming what has been deposited in us by our faith in the Son of God. There is ownership in saying “our faith”. By the Lord allowing us to be in communion with Him, He is calling us “companion” or “friend” with a sense of trust, joining Him in His work advancing the Father’s house and all it stands for. See Luke 11:5-8. It is an expression of the closest and truest fellowship with God, not as Him over there and we are over here, but as two who go together, labor together, rejoice together, sharing life and times like inseparable friends who belong, connect, have friendship and call each other “home”. Do more than simply read the words, study to see the theme. Look at this: The way Philemon1:4-6 is worded it is a word picture of communion. “I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.”
John 16:15, “All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” That is the liberal sharing of the vine with the branches, without holding back or keeping some of Himself in reserve incase things don’t work out. The Lord never holds out on us. He is willing for continual communion, are you?
It is extremely short sighted of us to make a solemn face, walking all poised looking to the front of the church to take a bit of bread and wine, calling it communion, yet never really buying into all which God has for us. This is a big deal friends.
Ruben Studdard pointed out our upright heart posture in communion, the “koinonia”, is the continual fellowship and walking together with God. “All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In his presence daily live. I surrender all, to you Jesus I surrender all, all; All to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.”
Think about it.
Not just common union but communion! Not just knowing about God, but knowing God. i can say, i know God. i — know — Him. i know what makes Him glad, what makes Him sad, His preferences and standards, how He feels about situations, and that He loves me and even likes me. i don’t know Him as well as i’d like to, nor can i say i know Him very well, but i can say i do, indeed know Him, and that is the result of communion, which is more than just union. Can you say, yes, I know God, and He and i go together?
Thank you for lending me your ears, joining me here at Outposts, a fine establishment by the Ockluhwahhah River, where the trees gently lean over the rivers edge and every evening is pleasant.
i’m Social Porter and this program has been brought to you by Living In His Name Ministries, Area 22 Guitars, Miss Alma Green, Hide and Tallow Slaughterhouse who’s rather morbid company slogan is, “The hand of God and mankind’s self-inflicted blows seem equally heavy … giving a strong cumulative impression of the world as an abattoir”. Let’s not forget Allador Wise at Duncraggon Inn, all those Owenby’s out in Balfour, the world famous Paul Powers, and Trinity Bakers where there’s always something good in the oven.
Be strong and courageous this week, extend yourself to the Lord, it’s an extension of yourself you’ll never regret. Live in constant communion with God, sit up straight, don’t mince your words or mumble, the world needs to hear what God has given you to say. i’ll catch you next time, amen.
