DCLM Daily Manna 22 February 2022 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — The Lord’s Supper
TOPIC: The Lord’s Supper
TEXT: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 (KJV)
17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.
21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? what shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
23 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:
24 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.
25 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.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
KEY VERSE: “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.” – (1 Corinthians 11:25)
MESSAGE:
Many people today wonder why we should be having the Lord’s Supper. The reason is simple. Jesus Christ was about to die for the salvation of the world, ushering in a new covenant with His blood. And He desired that believers should not forget the import of this event in their fellowship.
The Lord outlined the modalities for the proper observation of the Lord’s Supper. It is to be done with unleavened bread and fruit of the vine, signifying His body and blood offered as sacrifice on the cross at Calvary.
He instituted it “the same night in which he was betrayed”. The church in Corinth had turned the Lord’s Supper into an occasion where the privileged displayed their affluence and all other forms of disorderliness. But the Apostle wrote to set things in order as to how it must be observed. This includes the directive to those that are hungry to eat at home before coming to the church to avoid coming together “unto condemnation”. Also, everyone must examine himself before partaking of it because “he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself…” (verse 29). Many fell sick while some others died for carelessly partaking in the Lord’s Supper.
Each time we come to the Lord’s Table, we must appreciate what it costs for us to be reconciled to God. We must approach the ordinance with solemnity, with hearts full of gratitude to God and with renewed resolve to follow Christ without wavering. It must be an opportunity to ensure that we are living without sin, and are ready for eternity.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
What can hinder you from the Lord’s Supper will bar you from heaven.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Judges 14-17
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
