Proclaiming His Death
I Corinthians 11:26 -- For everytime you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming the Lord's death until He comes again
In regards to this verse, I have always wondered, "Lord, when we take communion, why aren't we proclaiming Your resurrection? Why Your death?" I've had several "answers" to that pondering, but none that satisfied my spirit......until today.
When reading from Hebrews in The Message Bible, I read the following: Like a will that takes effect when someone dies, the new covenant was put into action at Jesus' death. It was then I truly got it! The New Covenant began at Jesus' death. The debt was paid. For a child of God, at the moment Jesus, while hanging on a cross, spoke the words "It is finished," the penalty of sin was forever paid. And everytime we eat the bread and drink the wine we are shouting to the enemy, "Thanks to Jesus' sacrifice, I am under a New Covenant and you have no rights to me!" As we do this in remembrance of Him, we need to remind ourselves that we are under a new heavenly contract. Here's what the Lord spoke to me: Dana, you need to remember that you fully belong to Me and as My child you have full access to My protection, My power, My Spirit, My love, My wisdom, My mercy, My goodness, My grace, My benevolence, My steadfastness, and My strength. Now if that doesn't make you want to shout for joy, I don't know what will.
For many, this will be very fundamental. I understand. For most of my life I understood that Jesus paid the penalty for my sin. But something happens when you really see it in your heart. We are proclaiming His death that forever swallowed up death, hell, and the grave. We abide under a New Contract -- a Covenant of Life. Spend a little time and examine that contract with your heart. That's what I'm doing........and boy, what a sweet deal it is!!!!!!
In regards to this verse, I have always wondered, "Lord, when we take communion, why aren't we proclaiming Your resurrection? Why Your death?" I've had several "answers" to that pondering, but none that satisfied my spirit......until today.
When reading from Hebrews in The Message Bible, I read the following: Like a will that takes effect when someone dies, the new covenant was put into action at Jesus' death. It was then I truly got it! The New Covenant began at Jesus' death. The debt was paid. For a child of God, at the moment Jesus, while hanging on a cross, spoke the words "It is finished," the penalty of sin was forever paid. And everytime we eat the bread and drink the wine we are shouting to the enemy, "Thanks to Jesus' sacrifice, I am under a New Covenant and you have no rights to me!" As we do this in remembrance of Him, we need to remind ourselves that we are under a new heavenly contract. Here's what the Lord spoke to me: Dana, you need to remember that you fully belong to Me and as My child you have full access to My protection, My power, My Spirit, My love, My wisdom, My mercy, My goodness, My grace, My benevolence, My steadfastness, and My strength. Now if that doesn't make you want to shout for joy, I don't know what will.
For many, this will be very fundamental. I understand. For most of my life I understood that Jesus paid the penalty for my sin. But something happens when you really see it in your heart. We are proclaiming His death that forever swallowed up death, hell, and the grave. We abide under a New Contract -- a Covenant of Life. Spend a little time and examine that contract with your heart. That's what I'm doing........and boy, what a sweet deal it is!!!!!!
