CommunionFire Vs. the "Olatries" (3 Parts)

INTRODUCTION

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

We are branches grafted into the life-source of Jesus when we Commune with Him. We present ourselves at the Lord's Table as a living sacrifice. We bring nothing of any merit to the Table except what the Lord has already given us. We have received His life full of grace and truth and we have received the Holy Spirit given to lead us into His presence and bring all things to our remembrance. (Romans 11-12)

Bibliolatry: Placing the written Scriptures, the "graphe" Word of God above the place of your personal relationship with the 'logos" JESUS.

Ritualolatry: Placing the disciplined activity of Christian ritual (taking the Eucharist) above your personal relationship with the Lord.

Does this happen?

Bibliolatry

I remember back in 1976 when I sat under the wonderful ministry of Dennis and RIta Bennett for a full week at Christ for the Nations in Dallas, Texas. In one message The Rev. Dr. Dennis J. Bennett said, "Some have made a God out of the Bible and are involved in 'Bibliolatry'!" This was a new word in my theological vocabulary. It is a seed that has germinated for almost 40 years. Where do we see this today?

Let me ask you another question first. How many Christians have Bibles? How many have more than one Bible? How many Christians are involved in Bible Studies? Go to worship where the Pastor 'rightly divides' the Word of Truth? How much Christian Media is tied up in Bible reading, studies, seminars, conferences, retreat centers and campaigns? I would venture to say that about 90% of non-Catholic Christianity have their heads buried in the scriptures. How did the Church survive the first 300 years without the New Testament? How did the Church survive without personal Bibles only possible after 1440 years? It was each believer's personal relationship with the Living Jesus, the Bread of Life and the Wine of Life by the Holy Spirit! It is a relationship based on regular Communion with the Lord Jesus.

Ritualolatry

Let me ask another question. How many Christians are involved in having daily Communion or who daily partake of the Eucharist? For non-Catholics I would venture a guess that 99% are not having Communion Daily and among Catholics (Roman or Orthodox) I would venture that on a good day daily Communion might be 10% of the membership of each Parish. I know this because when visiting these churches I would get in line to be blessed during the Mass and noticed that less than 10% of the membership actually showed up daily. Having been a non-Catholic pastor I never knew anyone in 40 years who had Communion daily outside of the faithful few who would attend Mass each day at lest in the western Church. Then of those who do faithfully 'take Communion' how many actually 'receive' Communion? One is bread and wine the other is the Body and blood of Jesus. When it is the Flesh, the Living Bread of Christ and the Blood or the Life quickening agency of the Holy Spirit then we truly encounter Jesus while consuming the Holy Meal He gives to us. We either come to a table in the Church (an alter) or we sit down at The Table of the Lord. It is the difference between 'doing something' and 'experiencing something'. It is the difference between formality and obedience versus encountering and experiencing our relationship with Jesus. 

How do these two observations relate to Bibliolatry and Ritualolatry? 

Just this: If we, the Church, were spending even 'weekly' time in the presence of the Lord through the means Jesus (logos) gave us, in Communion, the scriptures (graphe) would come alive (rhema)! The Bible alone as the means to knowing the Lord will not bring transformation. Having Communion as a ritual exercise will not bring transformation, only the experience of encountering the presence of the Lord in His glory. 

Part One BIBLIOLATRY

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

We are branches grafted into the life-source of Jesus when we Commune with Him. We present ourselves at the Lord's Table as a living sacrifice. We bring nothing of any merit to the Table except what the Lord has already given us. We have received His life full of grace and truth and we have received the Holy Spirit given to lead us into His presence and bring all things to our remembrance. (Romans 11-12)

Bibliolatry: Placing the written Scriptures, the "graphe" Word of God above the place of your personal relationship with the 'logos" JESUS.

Does this happen? Jesus defines the problem of 'Bibliolatry'

See what Jesus says in John 5: “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept glory from human beings, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”

I remember back in 1976 when I sat under the wonderful ministry of Dennis and RIta Bennett for a full week at Christ for the Nations in Dallas, Texas. In one message The Rev. Dr. Dennis J. Bennett said, "Some have made a God out of the Bible and are involved in 'Bibliolatry'!" This was a new word in my theological vocabulary. It is a seed that has germinated for almost 40 years. Where do we see this today?

Let me ask you another question first. How many Christians have Bibles? How many have more than one Bible? How many Christians are involved in Bible Studies? Go to worship where the Pastor 'rightly divides' the Word of Truth? How much Christian Media is tied up in Bible reading, studies, seminars, conferences, retreat centers and campaigns? I would venture to say that about 90% of non-Catholic Christianity have their heads buried in the scriptures. How did the Church survive the first 300 years without the New Testament? How did the Church survive without personal Bibles only possible after 1440 years? It was each believer's personal relationship with the Living Jesus, the Bread of Life and the Wine of Life by the Holy Spirit! It is a relationship based on regular Communion with the Lord Jesus.

How do these two observations relate to Bibliolatry? 

Just this: If we, the Church, were spending even 'weekly' time in the presence of the Lord through Communion, the means Jesus (Logos) gave us, the scriptures (graphe) would come alive (rhema)! The Bible alone as the means to knowing the Lord will not bring transformation. Only having Communion with Jesus will bring transformation, only the experience of encountering the presence of the Lord in His glory. Otherwise those experiences are rare and random. Fellowship with Jesus at His Table is where He prepares for us to meet with Him. (2 Corinthians 3:18, 4:18, Luke 24:31, 1 John 1:1, John 1:14)

A Further Look at Bibliolatry

Let's review the word, "WORD" in its three forms in the New Testament Rhema, Logos, Graphe.:

RHEMA: What God gives us in His presence. He breathes the Logos into our lives by the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. "Man shall not live by bread alone but by every RHEMA that is breathed into us from the mouth of God." (This does not happen through memorization, reading and studying the paper and ink) - although from time to time it may occur by His grace and sovereignty. The RHEMA is something that happens in a relationship. For example, if your wife or child tells you they love you it has a totally different meaning than a facebook message when someone you hardly know says I love you to their wife or child online. Its nice. (You may "like' it, but it is not said in the  context of a relationship with you.) 

In Communion the bread and wine have both physical and spiritual properties. When we eat the natural food it pulls back the veil to reveal Jesus and His life (the Logos) to us. We feed on His presence. We commune with Him. When we do, the Holy Spirit brings The RHEMA to our eyes, ears and hearts. It quickens our hearts and minds. The RHEMA infuses us with such revelation that we are transformed by it. It is not dead paper and ink it is the Living Bread, the Living Word it is JESUS become flesh and we feast upon Him. Our relationship is what brings us the Word of life. (Connect the dots between these three scriptures: (Luke 22:19, 1 Corinthians 11:24-25, John 14:26)

LOGOS: (1 John 1:1, John 1:1, John 1:14) The 'embodiment of the LOGOS' is the person of JESUS. JESUS is the Law, the Prophets, the Psalms, the Gospels, the Acts, the Epistles and Revelation made flesh who lives among us. First as the Word (LOGOS) made flesh and then as the flesh of the living bread in Communion. 

COMMUNION is what Jesus demonstrated, gave us, asked us 'to do this' because it is where the natural (the graphe can produce the RHEMA.) The LOGOS has been written down, printed, bound and shared in thousands of different languages to put man in contact with the 'readable' testimony of Jesus. Then the Holy Spirit confirms what is read. But it is Communion, the Eucharist - the Agape Meal, of the bread and the wine, where the LOGOS becomes the RHEMA and has the power to bring transformation to our lives. Not the Bible but JESUS! The Bible can change culture, influence society, inspire us and is used by the Holy Spirit to bring about conviction of sin righteousness and judgment. But it is the personal encounter and relationship with Jesus that allows for us to experience the personal life changing RHEMA of His presence. It is our relationship with Jesus not the Bible that brings transformation. Notice what Jesus says about Communion in John Six.

"Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 

Also John 6 - NOTE:  “Does this offend you? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The "WORDS" I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe. 'WORDS' here = RHEMA

GRAPHE: Holy, inerrant writings of the Scripture (Includes Old Testament and New Testament). See what Jesus says just before He prophesies about the life giving power of a personal relationship with Him through Communion in John Five! He warns those who 'worship the reading, study and practice of Scripture in deference to having a Communal relationship with Him. Read this careful and then go back and read what is written above from John Six. 

The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy. It is RHEMA from the Holy Spirit in the context of Communion. Our relationship with Jesus (LOGOS) is the center of our faith. The Scriptures (GRAPHE) are there to confirm what the Holy Spirit is speaking to us about our relationship with the Lord. Communion brings  the scriptures to life when we encounter JESUS when done in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit it will just be a piece of bread and cup of wine. The fire is the glory. The glory is what Jesus shares in Communion. We are being changed from glory to glory as we look to the images of Jesus projected by the Holy Spirit into our hearts when His presence is shown to us. He opens our eyes and we 'recognize' Him. When we do it is this power that transforms our life. It has nothing to do with something we read, study, memorize or fill our minds with. It is by the power of the glory of God we encounter when we feed on the presence of the Lord that transformation takes place. We cannot transform ourselves. His presence alone transforms us.

Where your treasure is there will be your heart also. Spend time in Communion with the Lord before you pray! Before your study scripture! By yourself or with your family - before you go to church. Encounter the same Jesus who you gave your heart to and get to know Him at His Table. Experience His love, peace and joy as a personal experience before you go share the 'good news' with others. You must have His life to share His life. You must be in His light before you can share that light. If you drink from His presence -  your life with flow rivers of living water!  


PART TWO: RITUALOLATRY
We behold His glory as the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth



INTRODUCTION

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

We are branches grafted into the life-source of Jesus when we Commune with Him. We present ourselves at the Lord's Table as a living sacrifice. We bring nothing of any merit to the Table except what the Lord has already given us. We have received His life full of grace and truth and we have received the Holy Spirit given to lead us into His presence and bring all things to our remembrance. (Romans 11-12)

Bibliolatry: Placing the written Scriptures, "the 'graphe' Word of God" above the place of your personal relationship with the 'Logos Word of God" JESUS.

Ritualolatry: Allowing our activity of Christian faith to become empty ritual (as in 'taking the Eucharist') replacing the Lord's intention to bring us into deeper personal Communion with Him by 'receiving Communion' from Him. 

Does this really happen? 

Yesterday I blogged about "Bibliolatry" - a profound distraction from having an ongoing personal relationship with the Lord Jesus and understanding the operation of the Holy Spirit in that relationship through Communion. Please understand that after more than 40 years of Bible Study, Bible School, Membership classes, teaching and preaching ministries and more Bible than any one person deserves I am not selling out on the need for the Bible. What I am calling for and believe the Lord is crying out for is for His people to return to Him! He is the Word. He is the reason for faith. Because of Him we have the gift of eternal life but He wants to share that life with you here and now. Jesus has prepared His Table and is waiting to see you. He has much to share and so few who want to receive what He has. Mostly He just wants to share the reality of His love for you. There is another distraction and it is less obvious but as much a deterrent to our relationship with the Lord as Bibliolatry. 

Let me ask another question. How many Christians are involved in having daily Communion or who daily partake of the Eucharist? For non-Catholics I would venture a guess that 99% are not having Communion Daily and among Catholics (Roman or Orthodox) I would venture that on a good day, daily Communion might be 10% of the membership of each Parish. I know this because when visiting these churches I would get in line to be blessed during the Mass and noticed that less than 10% of the membership actually showed up daily. Having been a non-Catholic pastor I never knew anyone in 40 years who had Communion daily outside of the faithful few who would attend Mass each day at lest in the western Church. Then of those who do faithfully 'take Communion' how many actually 'receive Communion'? One is bread and wine the other is the Body and Blood of Jesus. When it is the Flesh, the Living Bread of Christ, and the Blood or life quickening agency of the Holy Spirit, then we truly encounter Jesus while consuming the Holy Meal that He gives to us. We either come to a table in the Church (an alter) or we join the Lord t His Table. It is the difference between 'doing something' and 'experiencing something'. It is the difference between formality and obedience versus encountering and experiencing a living, day-to-day, personal relationship with Jesus. 

How do these two observations relate to Ritualolatry? 

Just this: If we, the Church, were spending even 'weekly' time in the presence of the Lord through the means Jesus gave us, in Communion, the scriptures and the Eucharistic experience would come alive! The Bible alone as the means to knowing the Lord will not bring transformation. Having Communion as a ritual exercise will not bring transformation, only the experience of encountering the presence of the Lord in His glory.

Having Communion Each Morning - This morning on the Front Porch

COMMUNION is what Jesus demonstrated. He gave us something very special and even more important than the celebration of Passover.  He said 'to do this' because it is where the natural leads us into the supernatural. It is Communion, the Eucharist - the Agape Meal of the bread and the wine, where Jesus sees you and you look back at Him. He shares with you. He opens His treasures to you. He tells you His promises and comforts you. He lets you know how much He loves you personally and how much your life means to Him. So He meets you where you are, as you are for who you are. It is when we look back (eyes closed) at Him that transformation happens. Not the mechanics of the Eucharist but JESUS! It is the personal encounter and relationship with Jesus that allows for us to experience the real presence of Jesus. 

When Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life" He is saying that as the Good Shepherd He leads us to His Table. He is the way. He leads us on paths of righteousness even through the valley of the shadows. He is the truth. His glory is where we encounter the reality of His presence. He shares His glory with us and in His glory we see Him as He is in that moment. When we do we experience eternal life. We see the unseen. He opens our eyes to His reality. That is the definition of truth, The reality of Jesus presence, the Kingdom of God. In that reality He shares His life with us. Whatever happens in His presence in Communion, as brief as it may be, it is life giving and life changing. When we encounter His image "as in a mirror's reflection" it changes us from one degree of glory to another. It is our relationship with Jesus not the ritual memorial of the Eucharist. Its what happens while having the Eucharist. Its what happens as we eat the bread and drink the wine that brings transformation. Notice what Jesus says about Communion in John Six.

(1) "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. 

(2) I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. 

(3) I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. 

(4) This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 

(5) Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 

When Camille and I have Communion each morning the presence of the Lord floods our home

Something Should Happen When You Receive the Eucharist - When You Receive Communion - The Greater Glory of the New Covenant - (Note the dynamic quality of the the glory of God)
2 Corinthians 3:7-18

"Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

We consider this in the context of Communion where we see Jesus in the glory (fire). CommunionFire is what happens when the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to recognize Jesus as we feed on His presence through the Living Bread of His Body and the Wine of Life in His Blood. (Consider Luke 24:13-49 specifically verse 30-31, 35-36; 2 Corinthians 4:13-18; 1 John 1:1-5)

Before there is Communion in the Body of Christ there must be CommunionFire between each person and the Lord. Only then will we see His glory as he intends. It is by revelation in CommunionFire that Jesus builds His Kingdom. "Upon this rock" (referring to the moment Peter sees Jesus and recognizes Him as the Christ, the Son of the Living God) Jesus says, "I will build my Church. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father who is in heaven!"

May the Lord pour out the renewal of CommunionFire as God's people receive the Eucharist; the Living Bread of His Body and the Living Wine of the Spirit in His Blood. and may we see the Scriptures in the light of His presence not just as paper and ink but as looking upon Jesus who quickens it by the Holy Spirit. Father we ask in the name of your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that you would pour out CommunionFire upon all who respond to your invitation to sit down at the Table of the Lord. May each of your children have their eyes open to recognize Jesus that each may feast upon His presence, life and love. Then by our communion with Him may we find our communion by Him with one another - that the world may believe that you sent Jesus. 

Notes
(1 John 1:1, John 1:1, John 1:14) The 'embodiment of the LOGOS' is the person of JESUS. JESUS is the Law, the Prophets, the Psalms, the Gospels, the Acts, the Epistles and Revelation made flesh who lives among us. First as the Word (LOGOS) made flesh and then as the flesh of the living bread in Communion. 

COMMUNION is what Jesus demonstrated, gave us, asked us 'to do this' because it is where the natural (the graphe can produce the RHEMA. The RHEMA has been written down, printed, bound and shared in thousands of different languages to put man in contact with the testimony of Jesus. Then the Holy Spirit confirms what is read. But it is Communion, the Eucharist - the Agape Meal of the bread and the wine, where the LOGOS becomes the RHEMA and has the power to bring transformation to our lives. Not the Bible but JESUS! The Bible changes cultures and is used by the Holy Spirit to bring about conviction of sin righteousness and judgment. But it is the personal encounter and relationship with Jesus that allows for us to experience the RHEMA of His presence. It is our relationship with Jesus not the Bible that brings transformation. Notice what Jesus says about Communion in John Six.

Also John 6 - NOTE:  “Does this offend you? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The "WORDS" I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe. 'WORDS' here = RHEMA

Part Three: All the Olatries!

We ALL have "Olatries"! You, me and everyone in between. What's yours? What keeps you away from your relationship with Jesus? What keeps you from having deepening Communion on a regular basis? What hinders you from responding to His invitation to "Do this"? He is waiting at a Table He has prepared just for you so that He can pour out His love and life to you! 

Bibliolatry: When written Scripture becomes more important than your relationship (Communion) with Jesus the Logos/living Word of God. As in Bible study, teaching, preaching, memorization of God's written Word replaces a Communion-centric/Christ-centered, life of faith. In other words: Is Communion with Jesus the hub of all aspects of your Christian devotion.

Ritualolatry: When function of ritual distracts from the real relationship/presence of the Lord in Communion. As in going through the motions without an active Communion with the Lord and the Holy Spirit. In other words - have you lost your passion for Communion with the Lord?  

It is just like Addiction-olatry, Success-olatry, Money-olatry, Greed-olatry, Sin-olatry, Vanity-olatry are tactics used by evil to keep you from knowing the love of Jesus and His power to give you new life. 

For the believer we encounter Bibli-olatry, Ritual-olatry, Prayer-olatry, Self-olatry, Worship-olatry, Discipleship-olatry, Media-olatry and the list is never ending. 

Well-intentioned, religious 'practices', anything that you feel you must be self-employed to do to "have Communion with the Lord" is an "Olatry" - as in "id-olatry". We simply cannot work our way into the presence of the Lord. We cannot study our way into the presence of the Lord. We cannot pray our way into the presence of the Lord. We cannot mission our way into the presence of the Lord. We don't "make the presence of the Lord happen by our will, determination and strength"

The glory and presence of the Lord through Communion, like His all-sufficient gift of grace 
and the gift of the Holy Spirit is a gift  of heaven to each of us as well! 

Communion Opens Our Eyes to Recognize Jesus and Prepare Us for the Wedding Feast of the Lamb

God does not hold a report card on you when it comes to having enough merit badges to get a pass into His presence. It is the gift of God lest any man should boast. He invites us to His Table. In fact He invites all who will come! In the end of days He sends His friends out to "Compel them" to come!" He wants every seat filled. He said the religious would be "too busy" with the rewards of their 'self-effort' to come. Jesus said the King sent those already at His Table to go and get the halt, the blind, the lame and bring them to my Table. He was speaking of those who could not get there on their own. He invites - the children and says do not prevent them, those who have no money - those who are hungry and thirsty - all who labor and are overburdened. Labor to enter the rest of the Lord! "If we rest, He works" - perhaps then if "we work, He rests". Then the people say, 'Lord we have done s you have asked but there are still more empty seats!" The King tells them to go into the highways and byways and "compel them" to come! I want my house to be full!"  Luke 14:15-24, Matthew 22:1-14, Matthew 13:24-29, 36-43, 25:1-13

In and of "our own strength" is part of the strategy of evil to dissuade us from knowing the power of Communion with the Lord. Gifts are given to receive! You can't earn them!

Once in Communion I saw the Lord sitting at a garden on a beautiful day with a 4 year old friend named Anna. A Bunny hopped past them and then a frog. Jesus was smiling as was Anna. Then I saw my youngest grand daughter walk up and she looked at me and said, "I want to be with Jesus like Anna!" I said, "You go ahead and sit down and look at how happy Jesus is to see you too!" The Holy Spirit then whispered in the cup, "His yoke is easy and His burden is light." With that i understood that the yoke was to sit down at the Garden with them and the burden was to just enjoy the moment! That's how it is in Communion. We eat and He shares His life and happiness with us. If we are not sitting down at the Lord's Table to enjoy the life He wants to share with us then something is an "Olatry" in our lives! Communion with Him is why He came, lived among us, suffered, died, rose and ascended! He wants to share His life with you! Not just the moment you ask Him into your heart but every day! He provides the means through Communion to see you! When He sees you and you see Him Communion happens! His presence transforms our life! 

How to be set free from ANY OLATRY in your life: 

Take a piece of bread and a sip of wine and 
ask the Lord to bless it as His Body and His Blood. 
Eat the Bread of Life and see Him - eyes closed - lets you see with the eyes of the spirit. 
Drink the Cup of Salvation and hear Him - eyes closed - lets you hear with the ears of your spirit.

Write down or think about what He shared with you in those few quiet moments. 

If not alone share with each other what you encountered. What you saw, heard, sensed or felt. When you do you have become a witness to the Testimony of Jesus.

When you do this all your Olatries will immediately disappear as the glory of the Lord quickly comes into your heart and mind. The "olatries" lose their grip. The power of the presence of the Lord will cause the enemy to scatter like darkness by the light or death and sickness by His life. Those who the Son sets free are free indeed. Our relationship with Him through His gift of the Eucharist to bring us into Communion with Him reveals His glory! When we encounter Him we are transformed from glory to glory!

Remember, He prepares His Table for you in the presence of your enemies. When you feast on His presence He anoints your head with the oil of gladness and revelation. As you drink from the never ending well of His salvation you are made new all over again. Every day with Jesus is better than the day before. Its that simple and that wonderful. Come to the Table. Sit down and eat and feast on His presence right there where you are. He comes to you to share something. Whatever He shares it is the sharing of His life with you. Jesus becomes your story. Drink in His salvation and realize you are clean through His blood of all sin, guilt, shame and condemnation. The law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death. It IS no longer you who lives, but Jesus who lives in you! When you drink from the cup of the new and everlasting covenant it causes a wellspring of life to overflow like a river in you and through you. 

"My the glory of the Lord cover your life as the waters cover the sea!" The peace of the Lord be with you!