Anthony Wade Ministries

Cory was a member of a very progressive Local Church. However, he was having trouble with a portion of his pastors teaching. It wasn’t something that he could dismiss, because it came up every time his church enjoyed communion. Every communion service Cory would get very uncomfortable because he didn’t understand communion from the angle that his pastor was presenting it.

It became such an issue with Cory that he considered looking for another church. He carefully thought about finding a different place of worship, because he felt put on the spot every time he partook of the communion elements. Before he made his final decision he set an appointment with his pastor to converse about what was troubling him.

Cory had been raised in a segment of the church that didn’t really teach what the Word of God taught concerning communion. For the most part, communion was just another church ordinance with very little meaning. It was usually pushed off to the end of the service, once a month with inadequate teaching. It was a dead ritual, that had become just another religious thing to do; but not so where Cory was attending now. His pastor put a very strong emphasis on communion. He expressed the importance of taking part and what they were doing each time they received the bread and the grape juice. Communion was put on the front burner and was the basis of the whole service. The whole service was centered on the “Breaking of Bread.”

Cory was not used to this. His attitude about the Lord’s Supper was that it was just something between him and God. Cory’s way of thinking about communion was that it was private, and no one else had anything to do with that part of his Christian experience.

Cory was severely wrong. Communion is a private matter between you and God; but God included others – the whole body of Christ in the equation of the “Communion Table.” Cory’s attitude was wrong.

When we receive communion, there is an exchange, a union, a fellowship, an agreement; a sharing, an association, togetherness a synergy. In communion we bring others close to our lives. During “Holy Communion,” others are invited to have union, fellowship, agreement, togetherness and covenant. The communion table is not just between you and God we are commanded by God to include others during this time.

The “Communion Table” is the greatest expression of Love the Body of Christ has for one another. The greatest level of intimacy in the “Body of Christ,” is the “Cup ofBlessing.”

Communion could also be broken down to mean common-union. The Communion Table is an expression of the common-union we have. It’s a time of intimacy a time of INTO ME SEE a place of harmony and reciprocal respect. A place where we remind one another why we worship together.

1 Corinthians 10: 16-17, 21-22 NKJV

{16} The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion (unity,spiritual union, close association) of the body of Christ?

{17} For we,though many are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.

{21} You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s Table and of the table of demons.

{22} Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

The Lord’s Table is an identity of Christ Blood and His Body. Just as the loaf is a whole, the entire Body of Christ joins in on the sharing; the association; the agreement; the togetherness; the caring.

Every time his church had communion Cory was being challenged to answer these questions:

1.Was he receiving the Cup of the Lord in an unworthily manner?
2.What did it mean to be guilty of The Body and The Blood of the Lord?
3.Was he really drinking damnation or judgment to himself if he didn’t judge himself properly?
4.What does it mean to discern the Lord’s Body?
5.Did he open the door to become weak and sickly even untimely death?

See 1 Corinthians 11:23-33

Cory was having a difficult time with communion because he was harboring unforgiveness against a member of his church. There was a bitter root of judgment against someone that he worshiped with (James 3:11-18; Colossians 3:19).

Each time his pastor spoke on communion, Cory was convicted. Holy Spirit was giving Cory opportunity to examine where he was in his walk with the Lord. He was being affronted to take a good look at how well he was walking in Love. He wasn’tdoing as well as he knew he should. This created great difficulty for him. Instead of being honest with himself and making the proper adjustments—he considered running to another church. “What you run from—you will run into.”

Hebrews 12:15 The Worrell New Testament

{15} Looking carefully, lest there be anyone falling short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness, springing up, trouble you, and through it many be defiled.

Discerning the Lords Body; the Communion Table is not just between you and God. When we partake together every one is saying that we are in agreement with one another. We are saying, there is nothing between me and my brothers and sisters in Christ, anywhere especially that whom I worship with.

Cory did meet with his pastor; he was totally honest. Everything was resolved and he was able to stay with the church. Everything worked out for the good regarding everyone that was involved. -Peace

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (The Amplified Bible)

{4} Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. {5} It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

{6} It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

{7} Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. {8} Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end.

Some time ago I heard a quote that caused me to ponder. How does this quote line up with scripture – How does it fit? To be honest with you the text says it all. I reminded what John 8:32 says….You shall know the truth and that truth, shall make you free. Many times truth has a way of getting into our thinking that if we are not honest and forthright with ourselves, IT HURTS.

The quote I heard was “LOVE DOESN’T HURT — Oprah Winfrey
Now, If we are talking about natural human love, it is fickle and full of all kind of selfish ambitions. Anyone that is selfish has three things in mind, me, myself and I, the big three. It is our responsibility to be about doing everything according to The God Kind of Love. One step out of love is SIN. Everything we say, and do should have the foundation of the God quality of love in its roots. It doesn’t hurt. — Peace

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (AMP)

{4} Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

{5} It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

{6} It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

{7} Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

{8} Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].

The foundation of this writing originates in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. The Amplified Bible on these verses is a good consideration for where we are living, in view of the Apostle Paul’s encouragement to walk in the God Kind of Love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Amplified

{4} Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

{5} It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

{6} It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

{7} Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, it’s hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

{8} Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].

It was a portion of verse seven that Holy Spirit began to talk to me about. As I thought on that section of scripture it set off within me what you are about to experience.

“LOVE IS EVER READY TO BELIEVE THE BEST OF EVERY PERSON.”

There seems to be nothing to qualify that statement. That declaration seems to stand all alone with absolutely nothing else to support it. Actually the verses around it are all the reinforcement that is necessary.

Believing the best of every person speaks more about us than it does about the other person. This passage is speaking to us and probing us as to what relationship we have with ourselves. It is a good examination of what you think about you. The Bible commands us to “Love your neighbor as you love yourself,” seven times. This statement is found once in the Old Testament and six times in the New Testament.

In my humble opinion, in view of the fact that this expression is used so frequently in the scriptures, God is endeavoring to get something over to our manner of life, greater yet, our manner of thinking. Why? Because as a man thinks, so is he. As a woman thinks, so is she (Proverbs 23:7). It is extremely difficult to have positive thoughts about someone else when you have negative opinions about yourself. If we don’t love ourselves how on earth are we going to love someone else — we won’t. In all sincerity, the way we treat others is a good indicator of how we treat ourselves.

It doesn’t matter what anyone else has or hasn’t done. The other person actually is not the significant subject — we are. The subject matter under discussion is really you. It is an expose’ on how you view, treat, and think about you.

This is really brought to light in marriage. The closest person to us is our spouse. Yet, if we are not watchful we will take them for granted, and treat them in ways that we wouldn’t treat someone else. We will talk to them in ways that we wouldn’t talk to someone else, etc. Throughout the whole encounter all we are doing is exposing what we think, and how we view ourselves (Ephesians 5:21-33).

It is a given fact that what we think, we believe. What we believe, we will say. What we say becomes a part of our everyday existence — be it positive or negative. In order to change our everyday way of life, we must change what we are saying. To change what we are saying we must change what we believe. We will be hard pressed to change what we believe, until we change how we think. The only way to change how you think you will have to examine (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23).

What you think about others, is a sign of what you believe about them. What you believe about others is what you will say about them. What you say about them is exactly the way they will be in their connection with you. The whole experience is a clue of how you view you. It has nothing to do with the other person, it’s really about you.

Ephesians 5 sheds even more light on this principle:

Ephesians 5:1-2 (Amplified)

{1} Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well beloved children [imitate their father].

{2} And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.

First of all we are encouraged to imitate God. To some that is impossible; however in God’s economy it is possible. If you are born again you have a new nature (2 Peter 1:4).

The Greater One dwells on the inside of you (1 John 4:4). In Him we live, move and have our being (Acts 17:28). We were made in the Image and Likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27; 5:1-2).

Occasionally I have the opportunity to use a copy machine. If it is a good piece of equipment, it is very hard to recognize the original from the copy. The duplication is a replica of the original. That is exactly the way our life is supposed to be in relation to ourselves and to others. How does God talk to you? You ought to talk to yourself and to others the same way. How does God view you? You ought to view yourself and others the same way. What does God think of you? It is important that you think about yourself the same way that He thinks about you. Without this basic principle of human existence we have nothing to give to others — in fact we will find it difficult to think the best of others.

Ephesians five goes on to say we are to imitate Him just as our children imitate us. My wife and I have had the privilege to bring four children into this world. They didn’t always do what we said, but time and again they would do what I did, as their father. We are the original they are the reproduction. We are instructed to walk in the God Kind of Love, esteeming and delighting in one another. Now, before we can delight in one another we must first have a high estimation of ourselves. Before I can esteem you, I must first have a good view of myself. When I appreciate myself is when I have the ability to delight in someone else, not until. We have a command to treat others as we would like to be treated (Matthew 7:12).

Our model is The Lord Jesus Christ. He first of all loved us and gave Himself for us, so that we could love others and give ourselves to them. God’s view of you is tied to His view of Himself. He came as a slain offering in the person of The Lord Jesus Christ. This gives you and me the power to lay our lives down for others. Many times people don’t, and won’t lay their lives down for others, because they are too self centered — narcissistic.

The person that is self-absorbed, and egocentric, is operating in natural human love. Natural human love is fickle. Natural human love changes with the wind, it’s capricious. However, the God quality of Love is steadfast — resolute. When we do as we are commanded, our lives become a sweet fragrance to every one we make contact with. They may not be able to pinpoint why they like us — they just do. It all can be traced back to the fact that you chose to think and believe the best of yourself, and in turn you think and believe the best of others. -AWM

Copyright © 2010 Anthony N. Wade Ministries – All Rights Reserved.

It is silence, when your words would hurt.

It is patience, when your neighbor is curt.

It is deafness, when a scandal flows.

It is thoughtfulness, for others woes.

It is promptness, when duty calls.

It is courage, when misfortune falls.

Author Unknown