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The Power of Communion
By Pastor Paula White
Over the last twenty years, through His Word, God has revealed many
life-changing truths to me about His awesome healing power. But none has been
so profound, so compelling as the power of Communion. When most of us think of
Communion, we think of a very formal weekly or monthly ritual led by our pastor
in church. But Communion is so much more! Undoubtedly, it is a holy,
sacred practice that represents the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus Christ,
but it is also a sacrament that brings the power of restoration.
Allow me to share with you a powerful revelation that I received years ago while
in deep study of the Word. Most of us are familiar with 1 Corinthians 11:24-29,
where Jesus demonstrates Communion to his disciples while explaining the
breaking of bread and drinking of the cup of the Lord. You can hear these
verses quoted on Sunday mornings in congregations and gatherings representing
every genre of Christianity. What many of us have missed, though, is the
mystery – the key to wholeness that lies within the breaking of the bread and
supping of the wine.
I must have heard or read this chapter hundreds of times myself before I caught
the revelation. The verse that jumped off the page at me was verse 26: For as
often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death
till He come. Did you catch that? Jesus said as often as we take Communion, we
shall remember and honor His sacrifice. Let me tackle three major myths that
may cause some resistance to this teaching.
Myth #1
Communion can only be taken in a church. Wrong! In the New Testament, the local
church was held in individuals’ homes – not monumental buildings with stained
glass and padded pews. Acts 2:46 mentions people continually breaking bread
from house to house.
Myth #2
A pastor must be present to administer Communion. Wrong again! While the
presence of a man or woman of God should never be trivialized, be reminded that
God’s Word empowers us all to stand firm on every single promise – as
individuals. Your walk with God is just that – YOUR walk.
Myth #3
The most common myth is that Communion should only be taken weekly or monthly.
Well, that brings us back to 1 Corinthians 11:26. Jesus put absolutely no
limitations on how often you should partake in Communion. In fact, I am a firm
believer in daily Communion.
So powerful is this sacrament that daily practice cannot dilute its potency or
significance if we take Communion for the reason Jesus instructed us to.
Communion is an intimate time to fellowship with God. Each time we take
Communion, we are reminded of God’s sacrifice for us and of our covenant with
Him. We must examine ourselves and purify our hearts to receive God’s healing
and restoration. The sincere observation of Holy Communion can never be
trivialized.
So why should you incorporate Communion into your daily time with God? I am so
glad you asked!
There are actually eight benefits of daily Communion:
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It continuously reminds you of Christ’s sacrifice for you.
Because Communion is symbolic of the blood and body of Christ, performing it
daily keeps you aware of God’s unyielding love and devotion to you.
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It continuously reminds you of your covenant with God.
We each have an obligation to God to live life the way that He instructs.
Communion is a daily reminder to follow God’s will for our lives.
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It continuously reminds you that He is our salvation and that He has a healing
covenant with you.
If you don’t remember anything else about Communion, remember that it
recognizes the healing covenant that Jesus made with you when He bore
thirty-nine stripes on Calvary. By His stripes you are healed. Communion
reminds you of your divine health daily.
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It causes you to examine and judge yourself.
You may have noticed that your pastor says a prayer of repentance before
administering Communion. That is because it is imprudent to take Communion
without first examining oneself and repenting of any sin in your life. Daily
Communion causes you to take an honest look at yourself daily.
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It causes you to purify your heart and release any unforgiveness.
Part of examining and judging yourself is dealing with what you find. Releasing
unforgiveness and strife opens your heart and prepares you to receive from God.
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It limits the powers of the enemy in your life. Ephesians 6:12 states, For
we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places.
One sure-fire way to thwart the powers and schemes of the enemy in your life is
to be strengthened daily by an intimate time with God, replenishing your
spiritual stamina for the day.
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It brings you closer to the Lord.
Daily Communion provides a daily opportunity for you to spend intimate time
with God, thus enhancing your relationship with Him.
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It is pre-emptive medicine to help you walk in divine healing. God wants
you to position yourself to live out the abundant life He has for you (John
10:10). You can only do that if you are healthy – in mind, body, and soul.
Taking daily Communion heals and cleanses your inner spirit, so that you can
walk out His divine plan for your total wholeness.
God wants us to be healthy in all areas of our lives. Recognizing our
shortcomings, repenting of them, and acknowledging God’s grace and restoration
power are the keys to total wholeness. I believe that taking Communion is an
important step in walking out all of the ordinances of God and achieving the
divine health and wholeness that He makes available to each of us. Taking
Communion daily only multiplies the power of this covenant in your life. Try
it, and watch God show off in your life.
Click
here to visit Pastor Paula White's Website
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