Communion: An Intimate Encounter with Christ's Victory

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the profound significance of communion, a sacred act that transcends mere ritual to become a deeply intimate encounter with Jesus Christ. Communion is not a casual event; it is a moment where we are called to remember Jesus, not just God the Father, but Jesus himself as the centerpiece of this sacred act. This remembrance is not a passive recall of past events but an active participation in the present, a sharing in the life and death of Christ. As often as we partake in communion, we are invited into a special, intimate time with Jesus, distinct from our everyday Christian experiences.

Communion is a proclamation, a declaration of the Lord's death until he comes again. It is a moment where we communicate and declare the victory of Christ over sin and death. Through the bread and the cup, we proclaim the life and death of Jesus, acknowledging his sacrifice and the new covenant it established. This act of proclamation is not just about words but about entering into a new level of intimacy with Christ, where we declare our freedom from the bondage of sin and the victory we have in him.

The scripture from 1 Peter 3:18-22 reminds us of the profound work of Christ between his death and resurrection. On Good Friday, Jesus bore the wrath of God for our sins, and on Sunday, he rose from the dead. But on Saturday, he was active in the spirit, proclaiming to the spirits in prison, bringing deliverance to those held captive. This act of proclamation is mirrored in our communion, where we declare the defeat of Satan and our deliverance through Christ.

Communion is an invitation to participate in the life of Christ, to share in his body and blood, and to enter into a deeper partnership with him. It is a call to move beyond mere remembrance to active participation, where we engage in a spiritual reality that transforms our physical existence. Through communion, we are invited to experience the victory of Christ in our lives, to move from the darkness of Saturday to the resurrection power of Sunday.

Key Takeaways:

- Communion is a sacred act of remembrance, where we focus on Jesus as the centerpiece, inviting us into a special, intimate time with him, distinct from our everyday Christian experiences. [01:15]

- The act of communion is a proclamation of the Lord's death, a declaration of victory over sin and death, inviting us into a new level of intimacy with Christ. [02:35]

- Jesus' work between his death and resurrection, as described in 1 Peter 3, highlights the active proclamation and deliverance he brought, which we mirror in our communion. [07:49]

- Communion invites us to participate in the life of Christ, sharing in his body and blood, and entering into a deeper partnership with him, transforming our spiritual and physical realities. [12:05]

- Through communion, we are called to move from mere remembrance to active participation, experiencing the victory of Christ in our lives and moving from the darkness of Saturday to the resurrection power of Sunday. [13:49]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:41] - The Significance of Communion
- [01:15] - Intimacy with Christ
- [02:35] - Proclaiming the Lord's Death
- [03:33] - The Bread and the Cup
- [04:20] - 1 Peter 3:18-22
- [05:55] - The Work of Christ on Good Friday
- [06:40] - Jesus' Ministry on Saturday
- [07:49] - Proclamation to the Spirits
- [08:52] - Declaring Freedom and Victory
- [09:54] - Remembering and Participating
- [10:35] - 1 Corinthians 10:16-22
- [12:05] - Sharing in the Body and Blood
- [13:08] - Deeper Partnership with the Lord
- [13:49] - Experiencing Christ's Victory

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Profound Significance of Communion

Bible Reading:
- 1 Peter 3:18-22
- 1 Corinthians 10:16-22

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Observation Questions:

1. According to 1 Peter 3:18-22, what did Jesus do between His death and resurrection, and how does this relate to the act of communion? [07:49]

2. In the sermon, it was mentioned that communion is not just a casual event but a special, intimate time with Jesus. How is this intimacy described in the sermon? [01:36]

3. What does 1 Corinthians 10:16-22 say about the significance of sharing in the body and blood of Christ during communion? How does this passage describe the act of communion? [10:35]

4. The sermon describes communion as a proclamation of the Lord's death. What are we proclaiming through this act, according to the sermon? [02:35]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the act of communion invite believers into a deeper partnership with Christ, as described in the sermon? What does this partnership entail? [13:08]

2. The sermon mentions that communion is a declaration of victory over sin and death. How does this declaration impact a believer's daily life and spiritual journey? [02:58]

3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that communion transforms our spiritual and physical realities? How does this transformation manifest in a believer's life? [12:05]

4. The sermon highlights the importance of moving from mere remembrance to active participation in communion. What does this shift look like in practice, and why is it significant? [13:49]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your personal experience with communion. How can you make this sacred act a more intimate encounter with Jesus in your life? [01:36]

2. The sermon emphasizes proclaiming victory over sin and death during communion. What specific areas of your life do you need to declare this victory over, and how can you do so? [02:58]

3. Consider the idea of communion as a deeper partnership with Christ. What steps can you take to strengthen this partnership in your daily walk with Him? [13:08]

4. How can you actively participate in the life of Christ through communion, rather than just remembering past events? What changes might this require in your approach to communion? [13:49]

5. The sermon discusses moving from the darkness of Saturday to the resurrection power of Sunday. What "Saturday" moments are you currently facing, and how can you embrace the "Sunday" victory in those situations? [13:49]

6. In what ways can you proclaim the defeat of Satan and your deliverance through Christ in your everyday life, as mirrored in the act of communion? [08:52]

7. How can you ensure that your participation in communion is not just a ritual but a transformative experience that impacts your spiritual and physical realities? [12:05]

Devotional

Day 1: Intimate Remembrance with Christ
Communion is a sacred act of remembrance, where believers are called to focus on Jesus as the centerpiece, inviting them into a special, intimate time with Him, distinct from their everyday Christian experiences. This act is not merely a passive recall of past events but an active participation in the present, sharing in the life and death of Christ. As often as believers partake in communion, they are invited into a unique encounter with Jesus, where the ordinary is transformed into the extraordinary through His presence. [01:15]

"For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." (1 Corinthians 11:26, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you create a sacred space in your daily routine to remember and encounter Jesus intimately, beyond the act of communion?


Day 2: Proclaiming Victory through Communion
The act of communion is a proclamation of the Lord's death, a declaration of victory over sin and death, inviting believers into a new level of intimacy with Christ. Through the bread and the cup, they proclaim the life and death of Jesus, acknowledging His sacrifice and the new covenant it established. This proclamation is not just about words but about entering into a deeper relationship with Christ, where believers declare their freedom from the bondage of sin and the victory they have in Him. [02:35]

"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively proclaim Christ's victory in your life today, both in words and actions, to those around you?


Day 3: Christ's Proclamation and Deliverance
Jesus' work between His death and resurrection, as described in 1 Peter 3, highlights the active proclamation and deliverance He brought, which believers mirror in their communion. On Good Friday, Jesus bore the wrath of God for humanity's sins, and on Sunday, He rose from the dead. But on Saturday, He was active in the spirit, proclaiming to the spirits in prison, bringing deliverance to those held captive. This act of proclamation is mirrored in communion, where believers declare the defeat of Satan and their deliverance through Christ. [07:49]

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit." (1 Peter 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually captive. How can you embrace the deliverance Christ offers and proclaim it in your life today?


Day 4: Participating in the Life of Christ
Communion invites believers to participate in the life of Christ, sharing in His body and blood, and entering into a deeper partnership with Him. It is a call to move beyond mere remembrance to active participation, where they engage in a spiritual reality that transforms their physical existence. Through communion, believers are invited to experience the victory of Christ in their lives, moving from the darkness of Saturday to the resurrection power of Sunday. [12:05]

"Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread." (1 Corinthians 10:17, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to actively participate in the life of Christ and deepen your partnership with Him?


Day 5: Experiencing Christ's Victory
Through communion, believers are called to move from mere remembrance to active participation, experiencing the victory of Christ in their lives and moving from the darkness of Saturday to the resurrection power of Sunday. This transformation is not just a spiritual reality but one that impacts their physical existence, inviting them to live in the light of Christ's victory over sin and death. [13:49]

"But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere." (2 Corinthians 2:14, ESV)

Reflection: Identify an area of your life where you need to experience Christ's victory. How can you invite His resurrection power into that area today?

Quotes


today when Jesus is talking about communion he's not talking about something casual he's talking about something very important very significant and then he says I want you to remember me not God the Father no me communion is about me when you take the bread and take the cup he says I want you to remember me that I am the centerpiece of this event he says that communion is ongoing because he says as often as you eat it you are to be reconnected with the Covenant [00:00:28]

as often as you are intimate what he's saying is I'm giving you a special time with me amen this is not regular life this is an intimate time this is different than all the other times we're together eating or going out or driving in the car or working around the house all of those are part of our relationship but this is different and as often as you do as often as you select this intimate act you are doing something else amen that's not part of your normal Christian Life That's not part of your normal Christian experience [00:01:38]

when you do this you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes a he says communion involves a proclamation that there is a communication occurring there is a declaration occurring that is part of the communion experience so if there is no Proclamation then you haven't entered into the experience of a new level of intimacy so the question is what am I proclaiming [00:02:34]

for Christ also died for sins once for all the just for the unjust so that he might bring us to God having been built having been put to Death In the Flesh body but made alive in the spirit in which also he went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison who once were disobedient when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah during the construction of the Ark [00:04:24]

on Good Friday Jesus died from 12:00 to 3:00 the Son of God bore the Wrath the wrath of God he says for our sins the world became dark at the death of Christ because of the Divine judgment that he bore on Sunday morning he rose that's right he got up from the grave but you haven't heard enough sermons about Saturday on Friday he died on Sunday he arose but first Peter 3 says on Saturday he was busy [00:05:44]

between his death and Resurrection when he died he was alive in the spirit it says so his body laid in Nicodemus his tomb but Jesus in his Spirit was very much alive and in the life of his spirit it says he visited those who were incarcerated so after Jesus died before Jesus arose he went on a Ministry trip and on the ministry trip according to verse uh 20 of verse Verse 18 he died is put to Death In the Flesh [00:06:40]

he went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison so between Jesus's death while still alive in the spirit and his resurrection he went and talk to spirits that were trapped in order to bring about their Deliverance against that which was illegitimately holding them hostage he brings up Noah two things happened with Noah the world was judged and eight people were delivered because of the Ark [00:07:33]

he ATT ties the ark to the work of Christ Jesus being the ark judgment fell but at the same time Deliverance was given right because of sin working itself in the world he declares that there was a proclamation did you know that at the heart of communication you are at Communion you should be proclaiming something the first thing you can Proclaim is Satan go to hell cuz that's where he is you can declare he no longer can hold you hostage [00:08:17]

you can declare your freedom and victory cuz he says in Noah's time eight people were saved then Jesus came back physically and rose from the dead so he died on Friday delivered on Saturday and Rose to a brand new life on Sunday he says when you have communion you are to remember him but what does it mean to remember does it merely mean to recall okay think back and remember that something happened [00:09:16]

is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ since there is one bread we who are many are one body for we all partake of the one bread look at the nation Israel are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the alar what do I mean then that a thing sacrifice Idols is anything or that an idol is anything [00:10:46]

when he says in chapter 11 to remember he's not just saying I want you to recall something in the past what he's saying is I want you to participate based on the past with something in the present I want you to be a sharer or a participant and he says there are two types of sharing he says there's the table of God and there's the table of demons and you can participate with either [00:12:05]

what communion is designed to do is bring you into a deeper level of intimate partnership with the Lord on the spiritual level so that his Saturday can become your Sunday so that his speaking to the spiritual reality ities that inform our physical realities can take us to a place in the spiritual where Satan no longer is running our lives it is the point of intimacy that God has uniquely given his people [00:13:08]

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Transcript
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