Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

The Lord's Evening Meal

Throughout the world Christian's from all faiths gather for the Lords Evening Meal, different groups call it by different names, Ester, the Passover Meal, different days, and times . . .

Essentially they are commemorating the death and life of Christ, and what his life means to them. But what of the first Lords Evening Meal, what did it mean to the early Christian's? What were they gathering for, was it a huge event in bring ones to a meal to convert them to Christianity?

Was it a circus, a meal, a party, just what was the Lords Evening Meal to Christian's back than, and moreover, what should it mean to us today?

A Time to Reflect

First, let us dispel some myths! When a Christians' is born again, that is, into a new person from an old birth, they are given a Spirit of regeneration. Not a human spirit that is sold into sin and death, but a new Spirit from and incorruptible God through the merits of his Son life. God plants the seed of Christ Jesus righteous incorruptible eternal life in them. This seed is not dead or old needing a reminder it is a living hope in each child of God.

1 Peter 1:23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever.

This seed found in the new creation will produce certain good results, its not a matter of chance, nor is it an after thought an unplanned birth. No! God has foreordain each person in Christ before the founding of our world. Their birth is not a mistake, or an obligation, it is factually the eternal life of every person upon earth being restored and redeemed to God through the righteousness of Christ.

James 1:16 Don't be deceived, my beloved brothers. 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow. 1:18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

Rom. 8:28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. 8:29 For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} 8:30 Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.

The birth and the schooling of God's children are put into the capable hands of Christ Jesus, whom stated that he had not lost none of those God entrusted him with. Moreover, none will perish that are his sheep.

Rom.8:37 No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 8:39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So the Lord's Evening meal, is not a chance to commune with Christ, or to be accepted as a new creation, nor rejected as a new creation, it is factually a reminder of what our Father has done through the life of Christ Jesus for us.

John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."

Romans 8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Romans 14:4 Who are you who judge another's servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for God has power to make him stand.

Not a Physical Meal

Although, we walk in the flesh, we know no one by their flesh. Subsequently, we are found in our flesh, but we are not worshiping in flesh, but in Spirit and truth. Hence, our coming together physically is not the point. We are to commune with Christ in Spirit and truth by our faith.

2 Corinthians 3:8 won't service of the Spirit be with much more glory?

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.

When the physical event of the Lord's Evening Meal becomes the event than one is better not to attend. We are involved in a love feast with Christ and his life in us as the Spirit head of his congregation. Each member of the body of Christ are not communing just once a year with Christ, they are in a living state of commune with Christ working in them and through them. However, where two or more are gather together in his name there Christ will be.

2 Corinthians 4:13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, "I believed, and therefore I spoke."{Psalm 116:10} We also believe, and therefore also we speak.

If ones can only communicate by phone, or computer it is the Spirit that gives us life, not the flesh. But what a joy to be with our brothers and sisters in loving our Lord and Savor Jesus Christ in seeing and feeling the love of Christ our brother expressed in various gifts through them toward each other.

2 Corinthians 7:13 Therefore we have been comforted. In our comfort we rejoiced the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.

Faith In Christ

Romans 4:16 For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

We have been raised in Christ so let us fix our eyes on the things above not by human sight, but in the gift of faith distributed to each body member as God so pleases.

Rom.12:3 For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith. 12:4 For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don't have the same function, 12:5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

We have reason for hope, faith and love? We can rest upon God's promises that the gift of life in us will overcome this world, and will have certain success. Nothing could be more powerful, than the love of God which is so strong in us that we cannot be separated from it by anything in heaven or upon earth.

Song of Solomon 4:10 How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine! The fragrance of your perfumes than all manner of spices!

Song of Solomon 8:6 Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a very flame of Yahweh.

Why should we not rejoice in the faith? Why should any of Christ brothers care what the world thinks or judges them as. Let this night not be about judging conduct of others. But let us rather examine ourselves against the things above, remembering, why we need the undeserved kindness of our Lord and Savor.

Titus 3:1 Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 3:2 to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men. 3:3 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 3:4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, 3:5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

We are positively told that even if we don't examine ourselves correctly in relationship to Christ we fail not into the judgment of man, but into God's judgment, which can only bring us more life and positive growth in Christ. Let this not be a morbid meal of death by laws created for the wicked. But let this night be a night of life, in Christ Jesus whom we are promised will not leave us, nor leave us uncorrected, we are not bastards.

We are not fatherless, orphan with no direction or care. Do you trust your Father? Do you rather believe he does not care for his own progeny? If you do, than you are not walking in faith, and that my dear brother or sister is what this night is about. We are not here to control, or to make strong boast in our flesh, we are here truthfully because of God's own love.

Heb.12:5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with children, "My son, don't take lightly the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him; 12:6 For whom the Lord loves, he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives."{Proverbs 3:11-12}

We are remembering the very grace of God towards us, and that will be expressed into the groaning creation setting it free from the corruption of sin and death. We can rest in this hope, we can trust not one injustice will be left undone by our grand and wondrous Heavenly Father Jehovah.

2 Corinthians 1:20 For however many are the promises of God, in him is the "Yes." Therefore also through him is the "Amen," to the glory of God through us.

We can be like Christ, letting his positive and everlasting love bring us into the oneness with our Father. Let us not fear, let us each one know that if our own hearts condemn us God's love in Christ is greater. We can rest assured the life we hold works for good and righteousness in us each day, we have but a taste of the good things to come.

1 John 4:13 By this we know that we remain in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

1 Peter 1:22 Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth through the Spirit in sincere brotherly affection, love one another from the heart fervently:

We can rest assured that God will finish what he started in us, so let us remember these wonderful promises and rejoice in them and celebrate the Lord's Evening meal in peace and love.

2 John 1:3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

May the Lord Bless the Spirit we Show

Daniel

Completed on: March 16, 2014