The Meal That Heals

The Meal That Heals

once a week. When Elijah was hungry, an angel of God prepared a meal for him, and the prophet went forty days on the meal of the angel (1 Kings 19:8). Certainly, God could have provided manna in the wilderness once a week or once a month and not once a day. Yet, God provided bread from heaven each morning. There is a Scriptural pattern here for the bread both once a day and once a week. However, note that Jesus didn’t compare himself to the bread in the Temple, but to the bread in the wilderness. The bread in the Temple was prepared by men, but the bread in the wilderness came down from heaven every day except the Sabbath. Under the Old Covenant, a lamb was offered once each day as a daily offering. In fact, a lamb was slain in the morning and another one in the evening (Exodus 29:39). Was the daily shedding of blood that necessary? Apparently it was in the sight of God. Most Christians agree that we should pray every day, read the Bible every day, and attempt to be obedient to God every day. Why, then, should we limit God by saying we cannot receive Communion every day? Two Important Points Two important points should be made here. First of all, receiving Communion should not be viewed as a magical formula that will work like taking two aspirins for a headache. This is a spiritual act and must be viewed as such. It is also a reverent act and must be received in a spirit of humility and purity. It must be received in faith and not in unbelief. If a person says, “I will do this just to see what will happen,” then I can assure you nothing will happen. God operates from the law of faith and not by hit and miss. Unbelief can make the Word of God of no effect (Mark 7:13). A person should continue to receive Communion, even if his or her physical condition seems to worsen. Secondly, it must not become a ritual or a routine that is enacted without thought or consideration. If receiving Communion becomes a lifeless routine that is done without true spiritual significance, then there is a spiritual danger, as we will see in the next chapter. The reason the bread and the cup are so powerful is

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