167-Receiving Wholeness Through Communion#
167-Receiving Wholeness Through Communion
(JP Text Group - Ren Wei Compilation)
The topic we are sharing today: Receiving Wholeness Through Communion
Bible passage: 1 Corinthians 11:23-32:
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we especially praise you as a new month begins. Your children wish to reflect once again on what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. We want to solely receive your provision, setting this time apart to receive something different from the world. We look to you alone for your supply, helping your children to personally guide each of our hearts during this time, allowing us to be strong and steadfast in your word. We completely commit the following time to you, in the name of the Lord Jesus we pray, Amen! Hallelujah!
Now greet the people next to you and say, “Communion is God’s blessing.”
Do you all believe that God is a good God?
The name of Jesus means to save His people from sin, and another name for Him is “Savior”—Jesus can save you and has the power to do so. He is the God who continually saves you. When we are in trouble or facing problems, we need Jesus’ salvation. No matter what your situation is right now, Jesus can save you, Amen! God is a good God; He loves you deeply and desires for you to receive His best. God has given you the greatest gift—Jesus Christ. God wants you to have the life of Jesus Christ; you are not just saved, but Jesus also wants you to have His abundant life.
John 10:10: I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
We do not believe in Jesus just to enter the kingdom of heaven; that is merely the most basic grace. Today you are already in the kingdom of heaven, and you should also receive His abundant life. God desires for you to be at rest and stable; He gives you thoughts of peace. When you have His rest and stability, your heart is fervent. When your heart is fervent, your body is filled with vitality.
Some people are troubled in their hearts, and their bodies are also very poor. When a person has great joy in their heart, they cannot hide it even if you try to make them stop smiling; this is the expression of life within. When we receive the abundant life of Jesus, we naturally become joyful, and our bodies will be filled with vitality. God desires for us to be healthy; this is God’s will.
Today we are discussing the theme of communion. I do not want everyone to misunderstand communion, nor should you have superstitions about it.
Previously, many brothers and sisters have shared testimonies after receiving communion. If you are thinking of trying it just because you saw someone else’s testimony, I advise you to give it up! Because others’ situations may be very different from yours, some people may experience greater condemnation after taking it; do you know that?
If you are imitating others who have experienced miracles through communion without knowing what the scriptures say about it, or if your faith is not based on the word of God but rather on miracles, then such faith is shaky. Our faith is based on God’s word, and absolutely not on something else. Therefore, we need to correctly understand communion and release our faith through God’s word, Amen!
When you hear about miracles happening to others, do not envy; you can experience it too. Jesus loves each one of us equally. God loves us the most. It depends on whether we can recognize His love. When we receive communion, we must understand its significance and not have superstitions about it.
If you want to be healed by God through communion just because you saw others being healed, I suggest you first listen to a sermon about communion! Believe in the power of communion before you receive it; this way, various miracles will manifest in you. God wants His people to receive by faith, so understanding the significance of communion is extremely important.
I call communion “visible faith.” In fact, we can receive healing through the word even without communion, but the special significance of communion is that it is visible. When you hold this bread, think: this is no longer an ordinary piece of bread, but the body of Jesus. When you meditate on “the body of Jesus” in your mind, the power will manifest.
In the Bible, there is a woman who had a bleeding issue for 12 years. She said, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” That was her faith. When she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, she was immediately healed. If touching Jesus’ body had such power, how much more so when you eat the body of Jesus? This is what we need to meditate on, Hallelujah!
God wants His people to understand and receive communion; He has hidden such blessings in communion for you to understand before you receive it.
Do not treat communion as a ritual. In many churches in China, communion is received on the first Sunday of every month, which has turned into a fixed pattern. Usually, these people are not seen in church, but at the beginning of the month, they come to pray to God: “Lord, I owe you; I have strayed from you; I am not good at all…” After confessing their sins, they take communion and feel justified, indifferent to whether they come to church on other Sundays. Brothers and sisters, strictly speaking, this is religion, not faith. We know that we commemorate Jesus Christ through communion; we treat communion as a huge blessing from God.
Let’s share the first point: Receiving Jesus’ health through communion.
Jesus worked on earth for about three years, and during two-thirds of that time, He focused on healing. Almost every time Jesus finished preaching, He engaged in healing ministry; Jesus desires for your body to be healthy and to prosper in all things. Jesus often said, “You are healed; take up your mat and go home!”
Jesus will never give you poverty or sickness. You have all read about the miracle of the “five loaves and two fish.” When that little boy offered his five loaves and two fish to Jesus, Jesus looked up to heaven, gave thanks, and then five thousand men were fed. So when we offer everything we have to the Lord, He will give you more; when you sow seeds, God will grant you a bountiful harvest, Hallelujah! When you are willing to know Jesus and rely on Him, you will always receive His abundant provision.
1 Corinthians 11:31-32:
But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. When we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
Many people do not understand this passage; they turn communion into a curse. Brothers and sisters, do you think communion is a blessing or a curse? Communion was personally instituted by the Lord Jesus, Hallelujah!
Jesus is our Savior; He will not give you poverty, lack, or sickness, nor will He give you curses. In Jesus Christ, there is only grace. So what does it mean to “discern ourselves”? We keep saying, “In Christ, you are holy, you are righteous, you are loved by God.” You know you are different from the world, so go ahead and receive communion! I want to emphasize: Communion is a privilege given by God to His children. Those who do not believe in Jesus do not even know what it is and cannot discern the Lord; it has no effect on them.
“If we discern ourselves, we will not be judged” means: If you discern yourself, you will not be condemned, nor will you condemn yourself. Today, God no longer condemns you. Many times, when you do not realize you are in Christ Jesus, you will condemn yourself.
If you have not heard the correct teaching about communion, and you have sickness in your body, spending a lot of money to see many famous doctors who say there is no hope, and one day I mysteriously present a piece of bread for you to eat and tell you it can heal you, you would definitely think I am crazy; you would condemn me. You might say, “This piece of bread will heal me? I have spent millions…” This is you condemning yourself because you did not discern yourself.
“When we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined” in the original Greek means: If we discern ourselves, we will not be condemned; we will not be condemned, but we are being disciplined by the Lord.
“Discipline” in the original sense means to nurture, guide, train, and educate. God is training you today to become a person different from the world; your way of thinking and your perspective are different from those of the world. Today, when you take this bread, you see it as the body of Jesus, while the world sees it as just a piece of bread; at that moment, you have already discerned yourself, and that is being trained by God. Every time you take this bread, you meditate that this is the body of the Lord Jesus; this is you being trained and nurtured by the Lord.
When interpreting the Bible, always consider the context; do not randomly interpret a single verse. Some people think that this “condemnation” means going to hell, and many will say:
“If you do not listen to God’s word, you will go to hell.”
“If you do not serve God, you will go to hell.”
“If you leave our church, you will go to hell.”
Using such words to scare believers leads to a “hell-resistant” mentality.
Do you know why people are not afraid of going to hell? Because they have never been there, so no matter what you say, they are not afraid; people in this world are not afraid of threats. People need the grace of Jesus Christ, Hallelujah!
In context, we know the scripture is talking about health; God wants you to receive the benefits of communion and not to self-condemn like the world. You will not face the issues mentioned in verse 30:
1 Corinthians 11:30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
The people in the Corinthian church did not discern and did not believe in the power of communion, which could not resolve their weaknesses, illnesses, and early deaths. But once we discern, we can receive wholeness through communion.
Since Adam sinned, people have been under this condemnation; sickness, weakness, and death have appeared in people. How can we remove these?—Through Jesus Christ. Only Jesus Christ can help us escape death, sickness, and weakness. God has prepared communion for His children to remove this condemnation. Therefore, you must personally receive communion. Some say, “I will receive communion for my family today; I will eat it all for them!” This is ineffective.
In context, Paul was very surprised that there were many weak people, many sick people, and quite a few who died young in the Corinthian church. Such issues should not exist in God’s house.
How can we solve this problem?—By receiving communion. Let them regain health and wholeness through communion; this is why Paul wrote this passage.
Brothers and sisters, we must know that when God’s word, especially letters, is given, it is because a particular church has similar problems that need to be resolved. For the Corinthian church, there were weak, sick, and early deaths, which is why Paul wrote the letter to address this issue.
Today’s church interprets this verse strangely—“If you do not discern yourself and do not confess your sins, you will be weak, you will get sick, and you will die.” If this is the case, communion becomes a curse, which is incorrect. Always remember: Communion is a blessing from God; no matter what others say, if communion is turned into a curse, do not listen. What Jesus Christ personally instituted cannot be a curse, Hallelujah!
When Paul saw such situations in the Corinthian church, he said, “If you discern yourselves, you will not be weak, sick, or die prematurely like the world. Conversely, if you understand the significance of communion, then you will be strong, healthy, and live long.” If you look closely at the context, you will understand that this passage is meant to be interpreted this way.
Let us share the second point: Correctly discerning communion.
1 Corinthians 11:28-30:
Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
First, we must establish one thing: “Eating and drinking communion” is a blessing given to us by Jesus Christ. So what conditions are needed to receive Jesus Christ’s blessing?—Belief is all that is needed. Jesus’ blessings have no restrictions; there is only one condition: believe in Him. Jesus gives His body to those who believe; as long as you believe, His life and body are given to you. If you have already believed in Jesus, you are worthy to receive communion; those who do not believe in Jesus should not receive it.
What happens if an unbeliever receives communion?—Nothing will happen. If you approach communion with a “let’s see” attitude, nothing will happen. Jesus’ blessings have no effect if you do not believe, but there will absolutely be no side effects; only when you believe correctly and then receive can you obtain, Amen!
If you think that only those with good behavior are worthy to receive Jesus’ communion, then none of us would qualify to receive Jesus’ blessings; none of us are worthy. But God says, “I know you are unworthy, but I freely give it to you.” This is God’s grace.
When Jesus saved us, we were still rolling in sin! We preferred to enjoy sin rather than Jesus! But at that time, Jesus kept moving us!
Brothers and sisters, when we receive communion, everyone is unworthy. That is why it is called “grace.” The grace of Jesus Christ is freely given to you. The focus here is not on how people are; the center of communion is the Lord Jesus Christ. When you read “everyone ought to examine themselves,” what do you think you should examine? Is it your sins?—No. “Everyone ought to examine themselves” means: You should examine Jesus Christ and what He has done for you.
1 Corinthians 11:24-25:
When he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
The main character of communion is Jesus Christ; receiving communion is to remember Jesus Christ; you should examine what Jesus has done for you!
Each of our needs is different, and this requires us to examine ourselves. What aspect of healing do you need? What aspect of wholeness do you need? In what aspect do you need God’s help? You need to examine whether Jesus can help you. The main character of communion is always Jesus Christ, Hallelujah!
“Eating the Lord’s bread and drinking the Lord’s cup in an unworthy manner” in the original Greek means “not eating the Lord’s bread and drinking the Lord’s cup in the correct way.”
So what did the Corinthian church do?
1 Corinthians 11:18-22:
In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent, I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not!
The scripture points out the problems that existed in the Corinthian church at that time.
In the early church, everyone ate together, and they called it the “love feast.” Many rich and poor people ate together, but some people indulged too much; perhaps these people had not eaten at home and, upon seeing the bread and wine, began to eat and drink. As a result, some got drunk, and such behavior caused others attending the gathering to stumble.
So Paul said, “How can I praise you in this way? I truly cannot find any reason to commend you.” It was precisely because the Corinthian church had problems that Paul provided the correct way to receive communion. If we receive it correctly, these problems will not arise.
I believe in our Chinese churches, there are truly no cases of people eating until they are full or drinking until they are drunk during communion. So everyone does not need to worry about the issues that follow; given the reality of our church, such situations will not occur.
We must “examine ourselves,” and the object of examination is Jesus Christ.
Therefore, when you eat this bread and drink this cup, you must first discern that this is the body of the Lord. If an unbeliever takes this bread, they do not even know what it is for. They see others eating and will eat too, but they do not realize anything; they do not discern that it is the body of the Lord, and this will lead to self-condemnation.
“Eating and drinking judgment on themselves” in the original sense means “self-condemnation.” If you do not understand, you will look down on this communion, and you will also profane the body of Jesus. Although many cancer patients have been healed after receiving communion, and many terminally ill people have also been healed, you cannot tell an unbeliever, “Come eat! You will be healed after eating.” Others will be very afraid of you because, in their eyes, you are just like that person on the street selling “miracle cures.” If you do not discern the body of the Lord, this is how it will be.
When I was young, I went to church with my mother. When my mother received communion, it seemed very mysterious. As a child, I did not understand what they were doing. I heard them say, “Oh! Jesus is here among us.” I began to look around the crowd to see where Jesus was. When they received communion, I asked my mother what they were eating and drinking. My mother said, “We eat the body of Jesus and drink the blood of Jesus.” I thought the church was terrifying for actually eating Jesus, because I did not understand, and I was traumatized at a young age.
If they had given me communion at that time, it would have left a shadow in my heart, and I would have condemned myself. Therefore, do not let those who do not understand receive communion. If they do not have a correct understanding of this scripture, they should not partake. God provides communion to turn everything around for us, giving us a way out; it is definitely beneficial for us.
Isaiah 53:4-5:
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, we are healed.
The application of “by his wounds, we are healed” specifically refers to communion. The process of making communion is also a remembrance of Jesus. From beginning to end, communion is a remembrance of Jesus.
In Leviticus, five major sacrifices are recorded, one of which is called the “grain offering.” The flour made from wheat symbolizes our Lord Jesus Christ, representing that the body of Jesus Christ was broken for us.
The “Garden of Gethsemane” in the Bible means “oil press” in Greek. Young Jesus was like that green olive, with His vibrant life entering the oil press, where He was crushed, resulting in fragrant oil. The oil in the temple was produced from green olives; it was the first-press olive oil. The Bible uses oil to symbolize the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is the best grain; after being completely crushed, He became flour, offered before God, and then mixed with water, kneaded repeatedly to become bread.
Brothers and sisters, this is what Jesus went through—He was insulted, oppressed, and crushed, just like a piece of dough. He was originally the best flour, but after being kneaded hard in your hands, He became bread. So when you make this bread, you should also think: This is Jesus; it is our sin that caused Jesus to be oppressed. He was oppressed to bear our pain and suffering, Amen!
After the bread is made, it should be cut a few times with a knife, which commemorates Jesus being wounded for us. We should also poke a few small holes in the bread with a toothpick, symbolizing that the body of Jesus Christ was broken for us. When you make this bread, you should think of Jesus throughout the process.
Once the bread is made, we begin to bake it. This represents the scene of Jesus on the cross: When you place the bread in the fire to bake, you think of Jesus, a young and healthy life, bearing our sins. He was hung on the cross, and God’s furious fire was judging Him. Because Jesus was judged and punished by God, we do not need to be judged or punished today. The process of baking this bread symbolizes Jesus being judged on the cross; Jesus was wounded all over, with the purpose of making us healthy and whole, Hallelujah!
When you see Jesus Christ bearing all your diseases and all your sins on the cross, the image that comes to your mind is of Jesus being beaten while carrying the cross, then being crucified, until death.
When you meditate on Jesus, your diseases begin to fall away; this is you correctly discerning communion. This is a way out that God has given you. Without Jesus, we have no way out; we would have many diseases, we would be weak, we would self-condemn, and we would live in great pain. But because Jesus came, this is our way out; this is a great blessing God has given us.
But do you know who fears communion the most? It is the devil, because when you think of Jesus from beginning to end, the devil is most afraid. This is why the devil tries every means to confuse communion, wanting to make the focus of communion you instead of Jesus Christ, causing communion to lose its power. The center of every sermon we preach is Jesus Christ, and the center of communion is also Jesus Christ, Hallelujah!
When we take the bread, we should examine what Jesus can do for us.
Verse 29 says, “For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.”
The reason is that they did not discern the body of the Lord; they did not receive communion in the correct way. When they eat the bread, they treat it as ordinary bread and the cup as ordinary grape juice, so it has no effect for them. They will self-condemn. But we are different; we have already discerned, so it will bring healing, Amen!
Unfortunately, many churches today do not see the true value of communion; they view the bread and cup as the same thing, but the bread and cup are different and separate. When we take the bread, we know this is what Jesus wants for our bodies to be completely healthy, both physically and mentally.
When we take this cup, we should not treat it as ordinary grape juice; we must know this is the precious blood of Jesus, with which He established a new covenant for us. Jesus Christ, with His blood, has given us a new covenant; this covenant is not the law covenant but the grace covenant.
He shed His precious blood to cleanse us from all sin, allowing us to be under His new covenant, where God no longer condemns us. Under His new covenant, we are holy, righteous, loved by God, and healthy. Jesus, with His blood, has granted us the forgiveness of sins and God’s free blessings. Therefore, any diseases in our hearts, psychological pressures, fears, and worries are all caused by condemnation. When you take this cup, you should declare: “I am under the new covenant, so today God no longer condemns me. I cast my burdens on Jesus because He will help me; I cast my worries on Jesus because He cares for me.”
Communion is God’s simplest way to solve humanity’s most difficult problems. Do you know how humanity sins? We are called sinners because Adam ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Today, God also restores everything we lost through eating.
God says, “Receive my body!” Jesus is the tree of life! When you receive communion, His life is within you. “Eating” is an action everyone can do; God has used the simplest way to restore everything.
Many people ask me why God does not allow us to eat the blood of animals. I will tell you the answer: Because God has reserved for you the blood of His Son; He has given us the best.
Animal blood contains many diseases and can remind people of sin, while Jesus’ blood brings you life. God wants you to eat Jesus’ blood to regain strength and provision, turning all your focus to Jesus. Through the simple act of “eating,” Jesus Christ has restored all the blessings that were originally lost.
Thank and praise the Lord; pray to God according to your needs! I believe miracles will happen here, and we have seen many miracles happen on the spot, so do not think about how difficult your illness is to treat, how serious your problems are, or how thoroughly weak you are; that is not important. What is important is that you believe Jesus can lift you up and heal you; just think about that, Amen!
Matthew 8:16-17:
When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”
Many sick people came to Jesus, and He healed them all with a word. Do you believe that today?
If Jesus could heal them with a word, how much more can you be healed by eating the body of Jesus? Once you eat it, do not worry about your problems, because Jesus’ body has incredible functions; it has the ability to automatically seek out targets and destroy them. When you eat that bread, He begins to seek out targets; cancer cells are destroyed in the presence of Jesus, tumors are destroyed in the presence of Jesus, and pain is eliminated in the presence of Jesus. As long as you believe, that is enough, Hallelujah!
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, we especially thank and praise you. Thank you for leading us to understand your communion today, which is the Lord’s Supper, set apart for us. Whenever we are weak, you desire for us to return to you and be strengthened through communion. When we are sick, you restore our strength and health through communion. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for allowing me to remember you once again through your body.
Thank you for loving me so much. You died on the cross for my sins, and your precious blood has cleansed all my sins. Today, I am set apart in God’s eyes; I am a person in Jesus Christ, I am loved by you, and I am healthy. Thank you, Jesus, for loving me so much. I praise and thank you, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!
Now we begin to receive communion. From this moment on, start to think about what Jesus Christ has done for you on the cross.
Dear Lord Jesus, from this moment on, we are all set apart people. In the name of the Lord Jesus, we set this bread apart; it is no longer ordinary bread; it is the body of Jesus broken for me, to bring me healing, so that all of me may be healed. You love me so much; your body was broken for me, so that I may be made whole in you. Thank you and praise the Lord, in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!
From now on, when you hold the body of Jesus, begin to examine: What aspect do you need Jesus’ help with? His power is now given to you; it is upon you. Boldly receive it! Believe and receive His power, receive His healing, and here you will find complete freedom. He desires for you to be healthy; it is now; He can heal you now. Jesus can solve your problems today; believe and receive!
In the name of the Lord Jesus, we set this wine apart; it is no longer ordinary wine, but the precious blood of Jesus. His precious blood was shed for me, establishing a new covenant for me. Let me enter into His grace, into His abundance.
I know the blood of Jesus has cleansed all my sins; because of the blood of Jesus, I am justified and fully accepted by God. In the name of the Lord Jesus, I clear away all feelings of condemnation and guilt from my heart. I am loved by God. Through the love of Jesus, I can overcome my life. My heart is joyful; I am a person filled with hope! I am in His covenant.
Thank you, Jesus, for loving us so much. Through communion, let us remember Jesus once again, returning to you, Lord, and placing all my burdens and problems in your hands. I believe that at this moment, we are new creations, from the inside out, new creations. Jesus, your power has covered me. I believe that this week, I am filled with your blessings, filled with your health, filled with your power. I will bring this power into my life and share the blessings of Jesus with everyone I meet. Thank you and praise you.
Thank you for loving us so much, and thank you for hearing everyone’s prayers. I believe that God has heard our prayers and has answered them. Receive this power and wait for miracles to appear in us! Thank you and praise the Lord, in the name of the Lord Jesus we pray, Amen!