The first Christian church discovered recently in Megiddo, Israel reveals that the Lord’s Supper was central to the early church’s service. The uncovered mosaic showing two fish held the communion table and was situated in the center of the room. All activity seems to have revolved around it leading one to wonder just how the first church really functioned?
The Church is the gathering of the ‘called out ones’, the fellowship of true believers in Jesus Christ. But, it is much more than that for it is also a place of communication; God to mankind and mankind to God. While we are always to be in prayer, there is a special place for corporate prayer. Paul writes to Timothy –
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; - 1 Timothy 2:1
Praying and giving of thanks was so important that it was to be done ‘first of all’. God wants to bless His people and Jesus gives the formula for receiving, “Ask and you shall receive.” (Matthew 7:7) but Jesus also explained that there are some requirements –
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. – John 15:7
We must abide in Him and respect the Word of God. God wants all men to be saved, but He waits for us to ask for it in prayer. I know of a certainty that my life has been shaped by prayers for my salvation. I remember when as a young man I overheard my Grandma and Uncle praying for my salvation. And I know my mother has prayed many long years for God’s grace in my life and many others as well. There are few prayers more acceptable to God that those of parents for their children. After all, God is a ‘family man’ and children are His heritage and His reward to parents. He delights to hear parents calling out for His help in training their children up in the fear and admonition of the Lord!
Paul also explains a great secret to Timothy about prayer and government –
“For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” – 1 Timothy 2:2
Our prayers can make a difference in the government we live under. Few nations on earth showcase this fact more than the United States. When the church in America submits to God and prays, it has been blessed with good government but as the church has drifted away from the truth of God’s word, prayer has been outlawed from our schools, public prayer in the name of Jesus Christ has been declared ‘unconstitutional’, a spirit of murder has been released upon the land, and government has practiced dishonesty and corruption more than honesty and truth.
But God wants to speak to His people in the church as well. Paul explains –
How is it then, brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. – 1 Corinthians 14:26
This verse makes it very clear that God wants speak into our lives by His Holy Spirit. Several points become very clear about the format of these fellowship meetings. Everyone is to be involved! It was not the ‘leadership model’ used by most of the church body today; a few leaders up front and pews full of spectators, always receiving and never giving out, which is a recipe for constipation! Did they have leaders? Yes, they had Elders (or Bishops), from which came the apostles, evangelists, prophets, teachers and pastors, and they had Deacons appointed to serve. But these never usurped the moving of the Holy Spirit and His various gifts poured out on all the members. They had singing. The Psalms were mostly sung and they had hymns as well. They had doctrine, teaching by the elders, and they had messages from the Holy Spirit delivered through the gifts of prophesy, messages in tongues and interpretation, revelations which included dreams and visions. All this was done in good order and for the purpose of building up the individual members.
They also had one other feature which both explains their existence and their foundational purpose for meeting, the Communion of Christ’s body and blood.
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. – 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
God knew how quickly man forgets so He instituted the Feasts of the Lord in the Old Testament to remind them of His promises as well as coming prophetic events. Jesus exhorts the churches of Revelation many times to ‘remember’. What we refer to as the Lord’s Supper was really part of the Feast of Passover. It reminds us that God was faithful to send His Passover Lamb for us. It also reminds us of the blessings He bought for us on the Cross. It reminds us that we have entered into a covenant relationship with God. When the devil assails us, we do not stand alone, Jesus is with us and Satan can no more defeat us than he could Jesus. But, perhaps even greater, it reminds us that when we stand before the final judgment of God to be judged for our sins, which we all have committed, Jesus stands with us and says, “Father, he (or she) has repented and My blood paid the blood debt for his sin.”This is the church.
No comments:
Post a Comment