The Meal That Heals

The Meal That Heals

At age eighty-seven, Smith Wigglesworth passed away during a church service. He simply closed his eyes and “gave up the ghost” (Mark 15:39). He was one of the few people from his era who received Communion on a daily basis. Recently, we have seen several people receive healing from various infirmities and sicknesses by receiving Communion each day. It has been amazing to see those who began taking Communion in a sick, weak, or feeble condition and watch their progress over a period of days or weeks as they begin to recover and receive strength. Two Common Arguments As with all spiritual truth, there will be critics. Most will be a few theologians or ordained ministers within major denominations. For example, in a Catholic Church, only the priest can serve the Mass. Among the Protestants, some denominations allow only ordained ministers to serve Communion and only during a worship service. One person said he believed the act of Communion was too sacred to place in the hands of a common lay person. This mode of thinking would be like saying that only a minister can anoint the sick with oil. Yet, in the Bible, Ananias, who was called a disciple, prayed for Paul to receive his healing (Acts 9:10-12). In James 5:14, the elders were instructed to anoint the sick with oil. These were not the ministers in the church, but older members who were held in respect and esteem. There is no Scripture in the New Testament to indicate that a person must be a minister or be officially ordained in order to administer the bread and the cup. Although we know the Lord’s Supper was administered in the church (1 Corinthians 11), as previously indicated, the believers broke bread from house to house (Acts 2:46). What gives a lay person who is a common believer the privilege of daily Communion at home? It is the fact that all believers are now priests unto God. “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5

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