Topic: Worthy Partakers Of The Lord’s Supper [DCLM Daily Manna 24 January 2020 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
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Text: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
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: “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” – (1 Corinthians 11:27)
MESSAGE:
The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance bequeathed to the Church by the Lord, Jesus Christ before His death. The ordinance is meant to commemorate His death for our sins and also point to His second coming. It is also referred to as the Lord’s Table, Holy Communion, Eucharist and Holy Sacrament.
The ordinance was instituted to offer participants the opportunity to look back and remember the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ at Calvary as an accomplished task to be celebrated. In addition, believers have the opportunity of thorough self-examination from time to time; as each participant looks inward and checks for any sin or things that can make them unworthy partakers, and by extension, unfit for heaven. Such things are properly dealt with and necessary restitution undertaken. Furthermore, it is an opportunity to look forward in anticipation of the Lord’s glorious return.
The way and manner the Lord’s Supper is celebrated should draw the attention of participants to Christ, not only to their sins, weaknesses and failures but for inward examination so as to purge all hidden iniquities; so as to prepare for the Lord’s return. Any participant must be born again and maintain a vital fellowship with the Lord. No believer, expecting the return of the Lord should be living in secret immorality, fraud, dishonesty, pride and keeping grudges or malice against fellow believers. Apostle Paul said people who participate at the table of the Lord in an unworthy manner are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. For such people, there will be divine judgment in form of sickness, physical weakness and death; while the worthy partakers will enjoy sound health, peace with God, prosperity and long life.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The Lord’s Supper should be taken worthily and in anticipation of His return.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 26-29
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.