The Holy Communion (A Covenant of Life & Divine Blessings) By David Odunaiya
David Odunaiya All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review. All scriptures in this book are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible, except otherwise stated. Email: rev.davidodunaiya@gmail.com Copyright 2014 David Odunaiya
DEDICATION This book is dedicated to: My Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. For His love and Mercies towards me My wife Titilayo Odunaiya, for her love, friendship and support Bishop David Oyedepo, Ladi Sanni, Pastor Korede Komaiya, Pastor Olusegun Abraham For your mentorship, constant inspiration and friendship.
Acknowledgment I like to acknowledge my Teacher and Inspiration, in the person of the Holy Spirit. Without you Lord, this book would not have been.
Foreword David Odunaiya has been a dear friend to my family for many years. My wife and I first knew about him in our university days before meeting him in the UK where both our families live at this present time. One thing that still thrills my heart about this man of God is the radical transformation that took place in his life when he gave his heart to the Lord while we were in university. At that time I was Pastor and President of our local Christian group at the time and the established Christian group on campus at the time found us too crazy and so we were treated as persona non grata. I must point out that our sin was that we were unreligious and non-conformist in our approach to Christianity. We were word folks and we just did not fit into the religious box they wanted to put us in at that time at that time. David on the other hand, unfortunately (laugh) found himself in this group while still young in the faith. That did not last long, as he soon joined the bandwagon of other radical believers on campus, who dared to believe God at His word, to the chagrin of the establishment he belonged to. He and his friends were figuratively set on fire by the word and they were too hot to handle. David Odunaiya s book on the Holy Communion is timely. I say this because over the years I have watched in dismay, as fundamental or foundational truths of the gospel has become scarce in our churches. As Christians, the tools that really help us develop a robust spiritual life can mostly be found in the epistles of Paul the Apostle to the church of Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul was a servant of
God, who had a deep understanding of the mysteries of Christ Ephesians 3:4. His writings share great insights into what Christ has accomplished for us as believers. In that same vein, David Odunaiya shares with us his understanding of the Mystery of The Holy Communion. The insights in this book are life-changing. This book, in all its simplicity deals with some of the myths that has hindered the Church from enjoying the full blessings of the Lord s Table. I pray that this book will not just become another addition to your collection, but a platform for greater supernatural experiences in God. Ladi Sanni Author and Life Coach
CONTENTS Introduction CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER 9 CHAPTER 10
Introduction Many people around the world today celebrate Easter for various reasons; some with a religious significance, to others it is just another Bank Holiday and a time to let their hair down, go out, and have fun with friends and family. For me it has become a season of expectation and inspiration. Last year, April 2013, the Holy Spirit inspired me to write a book which I titled, The Pain and The Passion of Christ. A book that shares revelations about the very foundation upon which the Easter season itself is built on The death and the resurrection of Christ. This year He has inspired me to write yet another eye-opening book about one of the greatest Kingdom mysteries ever known to man. A mystery that is tied to the Easter celebrations and for what it stands for. It is very important for you to understand that the Kingdom of God is governed by mysteries hidden truths or divine secrets - which can only be revealed to us, by the Holy Spirit. His key ministry is to guide and teach us in the word of God, until our life reflects the very image of, and the glory of Christ Himself I Corinthians 3:8-10. In this book I will be sharing with you deep insights form God s word that will help shed more light on the power and the blessings of the Holy Communion. John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
CHAPTER ONE It Is Not a Religious Ordinance For many generations since the birth of the Church, many of the so-called denominations have been treating the Holy Communion which is also known as the LORD s Table, as a religious ordinance; an ordinance that is only partaken of at certain Church gatherings or specials occasions. Part of my Christian experience was growing up in the Anglican Church, which I attended with my parents. They made us believe that Christianity was all about going to church on Sunday, reading the Bible with your family, and going to confirmation classes. It was not until I got saved, while at University, that I came to understand that Christianity was about accepting Jesus Christ as your LORD and Saviour and living a holy life. I have had my fair share of treating the Holy Communion as a religious rite, while I was still in the Anglican fold, and also when I became a born-again believer. It was not until I began to grow in the word of God, as the Holy Spirit began to teach me in the word, that I began to realize that the Holy Communion is not a religious ordinance but a Covenant of Life. The Holy Communion is one of the greatest mysteries that has ever been revealed to man. Its power and blessings have been hidden in Christ before the very foundations of the earth itself. Paul had this to say in Ephesians 3: 8-11; Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to
make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our LORD:" There are certain Kingdom Secrets relating to our Salvation in Christ and our purpose here on the earth that were hidden in God before He even created the first man. These secrets, which are supernatural weapons in the hands of the believer, are out of the reach of the devil himself and his forces of darkness. The Holy Communion is one of such Kingdom Secrets. There is so much power and blessings contained in this great Kingdom ordinance, that you can no longer treat it as just another Church ritual. There is more to the Holy Communion than meets the eye, and this is what this book is all about, to open your eyes and enlighten your spirit with the truth.
CHAPTER TWO The Old Testament Shadows and Types The Old Testament is full of shadows of things which only became a reality or came into existence in the New Testament. The Holy Communion as we know it today was introduced to us by Jesus at the Last Supper with his disciples. Luke 22:15-20 And he said unto them, with desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you." It was during the Israelites season of the Passover Feast that Jesus introduced this new order of breaking bread. So it very important to go back to the Old Testament where we will not only find a type of this great feast, but also where it all began, and what it meant to the Israelites at that time.
God Introduces the Feasts of Passover Exodus 12:1-14 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S Passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you
to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever." This is the most detailed Old Testament description of what the Holy Communion is all about. The lamb in this passage represents Jesus, whom the Bible describes as our Passover Lamb. 1Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:" God was set to punish the sins of the Egyptians against His people while they were in bondage.. He had already commanded Moses to release nine other deadly plagues against them. So the killing of all the firstborn in Egypt was to be the grand finale of His judgment against Pharaoh and his kingdom. God was going to visit the land with the kind of evil that had never been experienced by any nation before now. This judgment was not meant to bring any harm to the Israelites are they were God s covenant people. A covenant which God made with Abraham in Genesis Chapter 15:13-15 where He said unto Abraham, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age." God introduced the Passover Feast to Moses and the Israelites so as to bring them under the protection of the Covenant, as He had said, For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land
of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt." In the next two chapters we will be taking a closer look at the whole Passover Feast, as described here in Exodus Chapter Twelve, so that we can understand some of the concepts and grasp the underlining elements that govern this great ordinance, and at the same time deal with some church myths surrounding it.
CHAPTER THREE The Passover Feast A New Beginning: The Passover Feast was to usher in a season of New Beginning for the Israelites who had been slaves and under bondage to the Egyptians for over 430 years. God said to Moses, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months. The Passover was to mark the end of their captivity and the beginning of their freedom children of God. A Lamb to a Household This is a very important aspect of the Holy Communion. It has been the belief of many religious-minded Christians that the Communion can only be taken in Church and at special occasions such as Mass or other Church services. The Passover Feast began in the household of every Israelite that lived in Egypt at that time. Each family was commanded to eat the Passover in their homes and to invite their neighbours too if the lamb was too much for them to eat. The Holy Communion is a divine ordinance that should be partaken in Christian homes as often as possible. God said to Moses, "In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for a house:" The New Testament had this to say about the Early Pentecostal Church in the book of Acts; Act 2:46-47
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the LORD added to the church daily such as should be saved." The Apostles were taking the Communion from house to house on a daily basis! They understood the power of this mystery. There should be no Christian home on the planet today where the Holy Communion is not a part of their daily spiritual consumption.
Who Can Partake of The Holy Communion? We have already established that the Holy Communion is to be partaken of within Christian homes where Jesus is LORD and Saviour, but just in case there are arguments on whom within the household can or cannot partake of it, then we need to go back to God s exact instructions to Moses about the Passover Feast. God s instructions were very clear. He said, Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. Notice that He said, according to the number of souls. This includes the parents, children, and even their babies. No one was to be left out of this divine feast. God also said, Every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb." God did not categorize who can or cannot eat of the feast, as long as they are members of that household by birth or by choice, then they have to partake of the Passover. This was not a suggestion but a commandment. The faith of believing parents husband or wife sanctifies the children too. 1Corintians 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy."
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