The Power of Communion

An Act Greater Than Religious Ritual or Formality.

Growing up in a Haitian household, on our Livingroom wall, no matter where we lived (my mother moved a lot) would hang a fabric portrait of the famous last supper. The moment we entered the room, the portrait would remind us, of the last time Jesus Christ would break bread with His disciples. Soon after that supper, Jesus Christ would be crucified. When I was a young girl, my mother was not an active believer. She made sure my four brothers and I went to church and said our prayers, but we did not live by the principles of the Jesus. Our household was very abusive and Chaotic. Yet every time, we entered the Livingroom, we would remember the last supper before Jesus would be nailed on a tree. My mother, Marguerite Francois loves Jesus. She is now baptized and live a life fully dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ. In retrospect, that portrait did, what The Book of Luke chapter 22:19-20 instructed believers to do, never forget that Jesus Christ broke his body, spilled his blood, to save humanity.

The Last supper now referred by some as The Holy Communion, is a powerful demonstrative act. According to the bible, which is eloquently explained by Derek Prince the author of the book, "The Power of Communion" there are some aspects of partaking of the Holy communion, that have healing and restoration power. Although I have a difference of opinion on Derek Prince last two aspects in his book, I will share with you, the ones, I Wholeheartedly agree with.

When believers partake in Holy communion, as instructed in the book of Luke 22 in the bible, we do more than just eat bread and drink wine/grape juice. When we partake of Holy communion, we are:

1. "Proclaiming to visible and invisible world" (Dereck Prince, 2017) that Jesus Christ is the son of God who died, shed His blood to redeem us. (Ephesians 1:7 ESV).

2. Remembrance, 1 Corinthians 11 :25 ESV. We remember, Jesus suffered and died in the flesh and felt every pain. Jesus cried real tears and received real wounds. (Isaiah 53:5 ESV). We remember. Each time a believer gets baptized, we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We proclaim in baptism that we die to our flesh and sin, resurrect in Jesus Christ. We remember. When we "anoint the sick with oil we are declaring to the whole universe that we believe the Holy Spirit will do what scripture says, He will do. He will quicken; He will give life; and He will restore health to the body of the sick believer" (Derek Prince, 2017). The Holy Spirit who restored the body of Jesus after He died on the cross, will restore the body of the believers. (Romans 8:11 ESV). We Remember.

3. Anticipation. "Every time we observe this ordinance together, we are reminding ourselves of these two truths: first of all, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins; secondly, that He is coming again!" (Derek Prince, 2017). Jesus told His disciples He would not break bread with them again until his return. (Luke 22:16 ESV). Jesus Christ is coming back. (Revelations 22:20 NKJV)

4. Recognition. When we partake of communion, we recognize the body of Christ. At the core of communion is fellowship. Understanding, Jesus Christ suffered and died that we would have fellowship with God and each other. We cannot partake in communion while we hate our brothers and sisters. We have to recognize Jesus body was wounded that the body (the church) can be whole. (1 Corinthians 11: 27-33, Romans 5:1 ESV). "Paul says, however, that because it is one loaf, we are one body. So not merely does that loaf represents and becomes for me the body of the Lord that I partake of and feed on upon. It also represents to me the collective body of the Lord-the Church, which is his body" (Derek Prince, 2017).

In conclusion, The Holy Communion is a powerful act to partake in. While it is good to hang a portrait of the last supper in your living-room in remembrance of Jesus. It is the act that holds the power. Each time we participate in it, we proclaim, remember, anticipate and recognize that the Lord Jesus Christ suffered, died and resurrected, that we may Live a life of victory. We remember that Jesus Christ will return again one day. Jesus said, DO this in remembrance of me. (Luke 22:19-20 ESV). We remember.

Some insert taken from the book by Derek Prince "The Power of Communion", 2017, Dereck Prince Ministries-International.