| Chronically-ill Christians who do not believe in spiritual | | | | in the flesh)that we are healed today (Isaiah 53:5; I |
| healing of the sick today should examine their | | | | Peter 2:24). |
| participation in Holy Communion as to why they | | | | With this understanding in mind, consider the words |
| remain sick. | | | | of |
| The Lord's Supper (Eucharist or Holy Communion | | | | Pastor Henry Wright, Author of A More Excellent |
| accordingto your tradition) consists of two elements: | | | | Way: |
| The cup representing Jesus' shed blood, and the | | | | "If we come to a Communion service and partake of |
| bread representing His broken body (I Corinthians | | | | thecup and the bread but we deny healing and |
| 11:23-26). | | | | deliveranceas part of the atonement today, we |
| Traditional doctrine teaches us that the Lord's Supper | | | | eliminate the provisionof God in our lives as a human |
| isto keep us mindful that, as Christians, we are part | | | | being apart from salvationand eternal life in that day. |
| of the | | | | For that reason, because weeliminate the broken |
| Body of Christ, that we are one in Christ through the | | | | body, but we celebrate it, and wedon't believe it, |
| Gospel (I Corinthians 15:1-4), and that He shed His | | | | then we cannot partake. For that reasonmany of us |
| bloodfor atonement of sin, and rightfully so. | | | | are filled with disease and insanity todaybecause we |
| But Paul had grave concern for something more in | | | | have said in our heart that it (miraculoushealing) |
| partaking the Lord's Supper that was killing his | | | | passed away two thousand years ago, yet westill |
| brethren. It lies at the very root of God's Scheme of | | | | participate in the sacrament of Communion |
| Redemption, which is inclusive of healing body, spirit, | | | | whichrepresents its reality for today." |
| and soul (salvation). | | | | Celebrating the Lord's Supper can either deny or |
| Paul states that the lack of discernment of the Lord's | | | | provideus healing by how we accept or deny the |
| body | | | | spiritual healing power of the fleshly body of Christ. |
| (I Corinthians 11:29) is cause for damnation and is | | | | Could it be many of God's people are chronically-ill |
| why manyof us are sick today. The Greek word for | | | | today because they have eliminated half ofthe |
| body (soma) literallyrefers to the physical fleshly | | | | sacrament of Communion? |
| body of Jesus Christ. | | | | Think on this matter the next time you partake of |
| Jesus Christ, by His perfect life, sacrificed His body | | | | the |
| for our healing and blood for atonement of our sins. | | | | Lord's Supper. Our salvation is made complete in |
| These two realities both occur on the Cross. | | | | body,spirit and soul through both the literal blood and |
| Through the shedding of His blood, Jesus redeemed | | | | flesh ofour Savior. But, Paul said many of us are |
| usfrom the curse of the law of sin and death | | | | weak and sickbecause we fail to recognize (have |
| (Galatians 3:13). | | | | faith in) Christ's body |
| But the broken body of Jesus is not for the | | | | (soma). |
| forgiveness ofsin--It is for healing to be made | | | | This means those of us who are sick, while |
| possible. For without Hisbroken body, there could be | | | | werecognize (have faith in) the blood of Jesus Christ |
| no healing of any kind | | | | to saveour souls, we do not recognize (have faith in) |
| (Romans 11:36; Colossians 1:15-18), either before or | | | | His literal body |
| afterthe Cross. This is where many Christians lack | | | | (soma) to heal our literal bodies of |
| discernment. | | | | disease--here--now. |
| It is through His shed blood that we find forgiveness, | | | | Friends, I did not say that, the inspired Apostle, Paul, |
| not Hisbroken body (Hebrews 9:22; Leviticus 17:11). | | | | did! |
| And it isthrough His stripes (His suffering and torment | | | | |