CommunionFire in Scripture from Weekly CF Gatherings

Philippians One Tuesday Night Surfside Beach Gathering

1Paul and Timothy, servantsa of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseersb and deacons:c

2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,10so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

12I want you to know, brothers,e that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guardf and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.14And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the wordg without fear.

15Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

Yes, and I will rejoice, 19for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.23I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

27Only let your manner of life be worthyh of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Footnotes:
a 1 Or slaves (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)
b 1 Or bishops; Greek episkopoi
c 1 Or servants, or ministers; Greek diakonoi
d 7 Or you all have fellowship with me in grace
e 12 Or brothers and sisters. The plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) refers to siblings in a family. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, adelphoi may refer either to men or to both men and women who are siblings (brothers and sisters) in God’s family, the church; also verse 14
f 13 Greek in the whole praetorium
g 14 Some manuscripts add of God
h 27 Greek Only behave as citizens worthy

Galatians One

1Paul, an apostle--not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2and all the brothers who are with me,

3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed (anathema).

10For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

11For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel.c 12For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15But when he who had set me apart before I was born,d and who called me by his grace, 16was pleased to reveal his Son toe me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;f 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. 20(In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!)21Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24And they glorified God because of me.

Footnotes:
a 2 Or brothers and sisters. The plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) refers to siblings in a family. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, adelphoi may refer either to men or to both men and women who are siblings (brothers and sisters) in God’s family, the church; also verse 11
b 10 Or slave; Greek bondservant
c 11 Greek not according to man
d 15 Greek set me apart from my mother’s womb
e 16 Greek in
f 16 Greek with flesh and blood

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Tuesday Night Surfside Beach Gathering Philippians 1

"Jesus Shares His Affection by the Bread of Revelation from His Heart"

Sharon Selected Philippians to start the Surfside Beach Gathering "Recognizing Communion in Scriptures" approach introduced by the Myrtle Beach Gathering. Karen was there to help us get started. We read Chapter One and then had several powerful observations.

"Confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Karen Comment: Communion iswhere Jesus is working transformation in us (2 Corinthians 3:18)

"God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus" Mary Comment: We learn from Jesus how affectionate he is in Communion. That's how Paul could say, "God can testify (in Communion) how I long for all of you with "The Affection of Jesus Christ"! Its something we learn when we encounter Him.

Karen shared about her first encounter with the Lord last week in Myrtle Beach. "While having the bread, I saw Jesus for the first time. He reach into His heart and pulled out the bread of His flesh and gave it to me." Jesus does share His heart with us in Communion. Its why He died and rose - because He loves us that much and He has so much He wants to give to us that we might know Him personally, intimately and eternally - beginning at his Table right now!

Then Mary shared verse '7a' from the Amplified "It is right and appropriate for me to have this confidence and feel this way about you all, because you have me in your heart and I hold you in my heart as partakers and sharers, one and all with me, of grace (God’s unmerited favor and spiritual blessing)."

Partakers and sharers sounds like the language of "CommunionFire". We have our Communion with the Lord and the transforming effect His love has on us helps us see the Grace of Jesus in others at His Table. As such we, like Paul, have one another in each other's hearts by the love we share from Jesus.

It took an hour for us to see the Holy Spirit reveal the language of Communion just in the first 7 verses... we will pick up there next Tuesday! The scriptures come to life in the light of CommunionFire - in the light of His glory and grace!

(to be continued)

Wednesday Night Murrells Inlet Gathering Galatians 1

The scriptures came alive in the glow of CommunionFire! In the Murrells Inlet Gathering tonight.

Jim set the tone for our CommunionFire study in the Scriptures. He introduced us to the book of Galatians and gave us a good overview. We read Chapter One out loud.

Paul shows that being embraced by God's radical grace brings us to the Lord's Table empty handed to receive all that the Lord has prepared for us.

In verses 7-9 Jim and Camille shared "if any angel or any man that brings any other gospel (even perverting the Gospel of grace as delivered by Paul) should be "anathema" set apart as those dedicated to evil. So whether on earth or in the spirit there are those who do not share the good news based on their relationship with Jesus. They intellectualize it with their opinion, twist it with the Old Covenant Law or seek to manipulate those who are new to experiencing the presence of the Lord and the embrace of his grace.

We all recognized the powerful reference to CommunionFire when Paul goes on to say, (verse 12) "I learned this not from any man but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." Revelation is powerful. It is triggered by the bread of life and the cup of blessing. We feed on the natural and feast on the eternal.Paul made it clear that His relationship with Jesus is what gave birth to His witness. He shared the testimony of Jesus by first person revelation in His Communion with the Lord. (Revelation 19:10 "The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy (revelation)."

Then we discussed verses 15-17 "He called me by his grace to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles."

Paul said the call of grace was upon his life from the moment he was conceived and that that same grace revealed Jesus inside him and by that relationship he gave firsthand witness to the presence of Jesus in His daily life once overcome by Jesus in the revelation of His glory on the road to Damascus. And Jesus confirmed this - not others like the Apostles in Jerusalem.

After this we had Communion and each of us had very powerful things to share from the CommunionFire. Karen even experienced something akin to Paul's witness "I bare in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus" as while eating the bread, the pain in both her hands were so powerful she had to open her eyes to look at them to see what was happening. She had a momentary experience of 'the fellowship of His suffering"

It was an amazing gathering tonight that brought to mind other powerful moments of those who experienced the miraculous during Communion at the Lord's table and the Communion of His suffering. In both cases it produces the revelation of God's grace, love and life in us and around us.

The evening was crowned by a prayer for those suffering in the middle east as given to Lori. She made copies for everyone. We all read and prayed it together. Perhaps she will allow us to publish it so you can join in prayer with us. I could go on for another hour trying to relate how much the presence of the Lord is increasing each time we meet.

Got Communion? Love to all our friends in the CommunionFire Experience

Last verse of Judges: Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Ruth Chapter One (Shared by the Pier Sunday morning.)

1Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. 

2And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethelhemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. 

3And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the onewas Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. 5And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

6Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread. 7Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. 

8And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. 9The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. 10And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. 

11And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me?are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; 13Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. 14And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

15And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. 16And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.18When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

19So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? 

20And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home empty again: 
why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

The House of Communion 


The House of Bread (Food & Fruitfulness) and Great Thanksgiving "Eucharist"

Elimalech - a type of Christ "The Savior King" (He died in Moab)

We look at Naomi and Ruth (after "God the King died' it is the relationship of Grace and the object of Grace.)

Hunger for Grace in Ruth's declaration  (Naomi a type of the Holy Spirit to Ruth)

The Savior King had to die to make way for the Holy Spirit

The husbands (the world) of the girls (one hungry to see and one blind) had to die for there to be a relationship with the Holy Spirit

Those of the promise left their domain to go to the "sin world" the king and 2 sons died there

One wife went back to her wordly home and Ruth clave to grace and returned to the domain of grace - the house of bread and fruitfulness of thanksgiving...

Bethelehemjudah: A place of bread
Bethlehem: House of bread

Ephrathites: (another name for Bethlehem) Bear fruit, be fruitful

Judah: (Yehudah) Praise to the Lord (yadah) Throw thanks as with the hands to throw a stone or arrow

Moab: Son of Lot where Lot's people settled after Sodom & Gomorrah

Elimelech: God is King (Royalty, Consult)

Naomi: Pleasantness, delightfulness, favor (Grace), 
beauty < see Zech 11

Ruth: Neighbor, fellow-woman, association, companion 

Orpah: Back of the neck, stubborn, obstinate

Mahlon: Beg, Worn out, weak, sick, diseased (from Chalah) (Naomi and elimalech's son, Ruth's 1st husband)

Chilion: Finished, spent, died, waste away (Naomi and Elimalech's Son, Orpah's husband)

Ruth's Desire and promise to Cleave (To the The her companion, friend fellow-woman)


Please I do not want to leave thee or to return from following after you (go back to my old world)

1) for where you go, I will go; and 
2) where you live, I will find life: 
3) your people shall be my people, and 
4) your God my God: 
5) Where thou die, will I die and will be buried there: 
the LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts us

Feeding on the Bread of The Fear of God = Harvest?
Barley: Rough Wheat - barley Or showrah {seh-o-raw'} (feminine meaning the plant); and (masculine meaning the grain); also s or {seh-ore'}; or s-owr {seh-ore'}; from sa'ar in the sense of roughness; barley (as villose) -- barley.

Sa'ar - be horribly afraid, fear, hurl as a storm, be tempestuousA primitive root; to storm; by implication, to shiver, i.e. Fear -- be (horribly) afraid, fear, hurl as a storm, be tempestuous, come like (take away as with) a whirlwind.

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