Communion Truth

In the Baptist church where I was raised we had communion every quarter. It was a reverent portion of the Sunday service.

But did you know there is so much more to know about communion?

Communion is not just a reverent remembrance of the agony of the cross of Jesus.

It is a celebration of freedom paid in full at the cross. It is a deeply spiritual act appropriating the full work of the cross over one's own life. The full work of the cross did not just save you from hell. The FULL WORK provided freedom to the believer in every sense of the word. Healing. Blessing. Covering. Abundant life.

I began to rethink my traditional training on communion several years ago in 2022. My dad had been living with us for 5 years, but after his stroke, I had to place him in an assisted living. While he was there, a 90+ year old pastor came to visit him weekly. This man had been in the ministry for 70 years! He stood tall and erect, healthy and was still out ministering.

While I was visiting Dad one Saturday, Pastor John came in. He began talking openly about how the previous year of his life had exploded because of this one truth....he took communion every day at home.

At that time, it was a timely word. Being Dad's caretaker for 5 years had completely drained me emotionally and mentally. I would not have done it any other way, but I was feeling real spent as I talked with Pastor John. I was at a breaking point and pressing into Jesus any way I could to get peace and victory.

Pastor John stated that the previous year was filled with greater health, clear thinking, more spiritual growth and peace like never before. WAIT! A 90 year old pastor is telling me this. My ears perked up. As he shared, I determined that my husband and I would begin this practice.

I purchased some grape juice, dixie cups, and a bag of Oyster crackers. (To keep them fresh, I took out just a little and put in Tupperware container and froze the rest.) I began to see a difference in my life. More power to live victoriously no matter what the problems were. More peace. But what I didn't expect happened 3 weeks before my dad died.

After 6 months or more of taking communion every day, in between Dad visits, I was scurrying up the ladder to put up fall decor and get down Christmas decor. That's when it happened. I fell backwards halfway up the attic ladder. My lower back hit the edge of the igloo at the base of the ladder. It broke my fall so I didn't hit the garage concrete. Thankful for that! But I was in great pain. I thought, "I'm going to have a doozy of a black and blue spot."

I laid there for a few minutes, afraid to move, and regrouping to see if I could feel every part of my body. When I realized that although I was in pain, I could feel my toes. So I began to try to get up. Very slowly. Bob had gone to get us dinner, or so I thought.

Slowly I forced myself up and gently walked down the hallway to the kitchen. As I approached the kitchen, I saw Bob's car out front. I yelled for him to come. I told him I fell and he replied, "Ok. Let's get you some ice." As I turned around in the kitchen, I screamed a blood curdling scream that was not normal. Bob immediately said, "To ER we go!"

After sitting in ER for 3 hours, I was shocked to learn that I had broken four small bones at the base of my back. It would not require surgery or even a brace. It would heal on its own in 3 months. I immediately thought, "I don't have 3 months to be down right now, especially at the holiday, but primarily because my Dad was dying and I am THE CARETAKER."

After we got home, in a very slow pace with a walker, I went immediately to the kitchen to take communion. As I appropriated the full work of the cross to my body, I told Satan that he was trespassing. I reminded him that I was bought with a price and he no longer has right to my body. I implemented the healing virtue of the cross over my body.

As I stood there, I could feel something shift. I felt such a sweet presence around me. I knew God had healed me. A warmth went through me from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet. Precautious, I used the walker for half a day. This was on Fri.

On Mon I had a follow-up drs appointment with my PCP, a Christian man. I told him ALL ABOUT what happened, and that I was healed when taking communion.

On Thur, I had my follow up appointment with the orthopedic surgeon who had seen me while in the hospital. First thing he said when he walked in was, "Did you drive yourself here?" (A no no for back injuries.) He pushed his stool a little closer to me and said, "Really?" I said, "Yes because God healed me!" He examined me, had me walk around the room, then declared, "I release you! This is a miracle!"

ALL GLORY TO GOD!

Recently I have been struggling with a particular pain in my lower back...other side from injury. I am a high energy gal, a gardener and an avid daily walker. But this pain slowed me waayyyy down. I began seeing a chiropractor routinely. I visited my dr after several weeks, thinking I need a referral for an orthopedic specialist. I stretched each day and got a steroid shot in that area to try to calm things down. Nothing seemed to work.

Meanwhile, I had gotten away from communion every day. I remembered what happened before, so I began again with daily communion. About a week later, I thought one morning, "I haven't even thought about pain in several days." (Yall....it hurt just to stand up!)

I totally believe in this ordinance that is much more of a spiritual practice than I was taught.

If you want more info, listen to this amazing video on Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgHRthZ-j6A

Blessings.