HOLY COMMUNION

(The Lord’s Supper)

Apostle M. Gumbo

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Table of Contents

 What is Holy Communion?

 When did it start?

 How often the (Holy Communion) Lord’s Supper is to be observed?

 How should the Holy Communion ordinance be conducted?

 Purpose of Holy Communion

 Why?

 So what?

 Observing the Ordinance of Holy Communion

 Is the bread and wine really the blood and body of Jesus Christ?

 How?

 Illustration

 Why?

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What is Holy Communion?
Holy Communion is a Christian sacrament in which consecrated bread and wine are
consumed as memorials of Christ’s death or symbols for the realization of spiritual
union between Christ and communicant or as the body and the blood of Christ. Holy
Communion is also known as the Lord’s Supper, it was instituted by Christ
(Luke 22:19-20, 1Cor.11:24-25).
His instruction is that we are to remember Him as we partake of the Holy
Communion.
According to Joseph Prince, Jesus wanted us to be conscious of how His body was
broken for our wholeness, and His blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sins.
And whenever we partake in this consciousness, we proclaim the Lord’s death till He
comes.

When did it start?

Holy Communion has the origins which are related to Passover which starts on the
15th day of Nisan in the Hebrew Calendar. Passover to the Israelites was to
celebrate their liberation from slavery and exodus from Egypt. But before they
celebrated it, we see God commanding them to put blood on their door posts so that
the destroyer would not destroy them that night when he destroyed all the firstborns
of the Egyptians. We can see the concepts of the type of the blood of Jesus Christ in
that performance. So, its origins are way back in the exodus of Israelites from Egypt.

How often the Lord’s Supper is to be observed?

This may depend and vary with denominational or local church preference. Some
partake it four times a year, some twice and some once. At least it should be done
within the year. Personally, I disagree with those who don’t do it at all because this
ordinance of Holy Communion is a command from God (1 Cor.11:23-25) just like the
great commission. (Matt.28:19-20). Again I do object those who do it every day or
every week, I have got a strong feeling that they got it wrong when the scriptures say
“…do this as often as you drink it…”(1 Cor.11:25) Keeping in mind that whenever
people do something over and again, they won’t take it serious anymore, they lose
sense of its significance. Another important point is that, this Holy Communion
service should be conducted by a mature spiritual leader who knows how to interpret

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scriptures and how to apply the concepts of it to avoid many problems and
confusions we have encountered in the journey of Christianity.
Note that the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion) does not make one a believer,
instead it should be partaken only by those who are born again already despite
which church they belong as long they are in the body of Christ.

How should the Holy Communion ordinance be conducted?

Holy Communion service should be conducted by a mature spiritual leaders who
know how to interpret scriptures and how apply the concepts of this ordinance to
avoid many problems and confusions we have encountered in the journey of
Christianity.
Holy Communion can be held inside the church building or elsewhere as long there
is a gathering called “church” the set apart or called out. I don’t agree with this other
concept of families observing it in their homes with the teachings that every husband
is a pastor of his own home and every Christian family is a church. I think such an
approach is too charismatic and it leads to erroneous doctrines. There is no Biblical
support for it.
According to Dennis J. Mock, individuals or groups of people can come to the
communion table or altar at the front or having Elders or Deacons pass out the
elements to the congregation. The technical part of it is not a matter, it depends on
an agreed and reverent manner which different churches or pastors and their elders
agree. (1989:153)
According to me, the elements vary with the availability, unleavened bread and wine
or grape juice is fine but I strongly recommend wine and unleavened bread. Also, for
health reasons, individual cups are preferred to a common cup.
In doing this, singing appropriate hymns, praise and thanksgiving should mark the
event.

Purpose of Holy Communion

It is to remember the finished work at Calvary.

Why?
For in it came out our salvation.
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So what?
We should share the good news (glad tidings) that Jesus Christ died in our place that
we may be reconciled to the original plan and fellowship with our maker. And that His
death brought us eternal life which the devil deprived us through Adam’s
disobedience.

Observing the Ordinance of Holy Communion

It speaks of faith in God’s command.
It speaks of trusting God’s word that it will fulfill all what it says.
It speaks of obedience to the will of God.

Is the bread and wine really the blood and body of Jesus Christ?
Certainly Not! But the very bread and wine carries the power of God in them. The
moment they get dedicated to be a Holy Communion or Sacrament, they
automatically tap into the power of God. Indeed they are not the really body and
blood of Jesus Christ but a resemblance or something stands for (a representation)

How?
If the Holy Communion bread and wine were just a simple practice, the Corinthian
people could not be warned of sicknesses and death by mistreating it. Let us have a
look here, if anyone buys bread from a Spar shop and start to play around with it,
despising his fellow brothers or throw it into the dustbin or eat it while he/she is
drunk, absolutely nothing happens with him/her.
Now, ask yourself a question, why Holy Communion is given with such serious
cautions.
That alone can teach or tell us a vast difference between any bread and wine
somewhere there and the one dedicated to God as sacrament.
So, if mistreating it can cause sickness and death, automatically
it shows us its uniqueness and the power it carries.
Due to that, I don’t agree with Pastors who teach that sacrament
is just simple bread and a simple wine.

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Institution of the Lord's Supper
1 Cor. 11:23
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the
Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;24 and
when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body
which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me."25 In the same manner
He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My
blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
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For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's
death till He comes.
Examine Yourself
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Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an
unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.28 But let a man
examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who
eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not
discerning the Lord's body.30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you,
and many sleep.

Illustration
An embassy of America in any country, it represents America as it is. If any country
representatives go in that premise and start to harass the ambassadors in there, it
will be considered as a serious offense against America not the individuals working
in the embassy.

Why?
Because they are the essence of America’s brains in that particular country, they
carry: the voice of America, power of America, decisions of America etc.
NB: A serious war can be triggered by just mistreating the premise or the
ambassadors in there. So, the point here is not on the building or people we see in
there, instead, it is the power behind them. Therefore, the same is with “Holy Communion.”
It’s not about the elements (bread and wine) we see in the vessels but the power of Him who
commanded them to be done in remembrance Him. It brings the vividness of Christ’s death,
purpose of the cross and it revives the spiritual consciousness of salvation.

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Isaiah 53:1,4-5
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Who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
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Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
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But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.

1Peter 2:24
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died
to sins, might live for righteousness --- by whose stripes you were healed.

2 Cor.5:21
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become
the righteousness of God in Him.

This article is open to discussion; please feel free to object as long you have
adequate scriptures to base your argument.

Apostle M. Gumbo
+27 76 800 0216
Email: ev.gumbo@gmail.com