I often wondered about the symbolic act of communion taken corporately in church. When I was younger, my mum went to work and my dad and brother were distracted by a game they were playing, so I thought at the age of about 10 I would watch a DVD. I saw one about Jesus and popped it in the DVD player. A few hours later my dad came rushing out to the lounge room to find me sobbing as the last moments of The Passion of the Christ played on the television. After a lot of hugs and comfort and a “don’t tell your mum” from my dad, we talked about Jesus’ sacrifice and what it meant. This made communion quite special for me when we took it in church.
As I got older, my mum became very interested in communion as a daily part of her time with God. So, I decided to explore what it really was about rather than just a symbolic act.
Relational
Communion is relational. It’s the opportunity to develop a daily habit of coming before the cross and being in His presence. I have discovered that my time with God is more relational than ever before. It’s like when I see my friends regularly our relationships grow and so it is by taking communion with God regularly. It’s my time to reflect on Him, listen to what He is speaking to me about and asking me to pray for, and being grateful for all He has done in my life. If I didn’t spend time with my friends, yes they would still be there but there would be no growth, no intimacy and no conversations. I love that communion connects me to Jesus.
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” (John Chapter 6 verses 53-58)
Prophetic
Through the daily act of communion in the quiet presence of God, I felt a stronger connection to Him. I would have my worship music on and sit in His presence and I would hear from Him with a word or Scripture for someone I knew. It is so encouraging to hear back from someone saying, “wow, perfect word at the perfect time,” and, “this is just what I needed to hear”. Communion is prophetic, it is the opportunity to take time with God and listen to what He is calling on us to do.
‘They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts’ (Acts chapter 2 verses 42-46)
Healing
Communion is a great tool we use as a family to come together and take it together to declare healing over a person or situation. When we want to see breakthrough in this area we acknowledge that His body was broken, and His blood was poured for this reason. For us as a family, this is His gift to us, it’s Him – it’s our time to remember Him, what He has done as the ultimate sacrifice. We bring our sins, our needs, our prayers to the cross and lay them at His feet for redemption and wholeness.
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah chapter 53 verse 5)
Elise Williams lives on the Sunshine Coast with her family. She has a Diploma of Business and is currently studying a Diploma of Library and Information Services. She is passionate about God and has quite the creative streak. She has a heart for others and strives to encourage others to know God’s love and to understand how beautiful and valued they are in God’s eyes.