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Prelude to Light |
The Non-liturgical Protestant Church.
The church portrayed in the first dream of, "This is My Body", on appearances seemed to have sincerity in teaching, with congregational enthusiasm in praise and music, but apparently the Church fell short of true exaltation and the worship of God in Spirit and TRUTH. I say this because the congregation's song of praise, appeared in the dream to be less than true faith in God and His Word, falling to an imperceptible whispering peep, rather than a glorious exaltation in true worship of Holy Yahweh God Almighty that is His due. Paradoxically, in the Spirit, this exaltation would be happening when the people of God would be entering through the Lord's gates with thanksgiving, and into the outer courts before the altar of sacrifice, giving praise for our God’s loving mercy. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all you lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: Come before His Presence with singing. Know you that the LORD He is God: It is He that has made us, and not we ourselves: We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His Name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His TRUTH endures to all generations. (Psalm 100 verse 1 thru 5.) In psalm 96 David sings: "Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His Name: bring an offering, and come into His courts. O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: Fear before Him, all the earth. (Psalm 96 verse 8 thru 9.)
In this church community, unbelief reigns in God's Communion rite of passage that takes the true believer into Holy Father's Eternal Presence. Apparently with their lack of faith and true humility, this segment of the church, as a would be collective priesthood in the Body of Jesus Christ, objectively failed to enter in Spirit and TRUTH, into the HOLY of HOLIES to worship God Almighty.
Holy Communion through the One Spirit of Christ Jesus takes the faithful believer out of the sinful flesh of man and into Holy Yahweh God's One Spirit of Truth that Glorifies the Word of Yahweh God. The cleansing of sin's bondage within the flesh through the Blood of Jesus Christ, is absent from this church of unbelief. The Spiritual altar of sacrifice that would bare witness to the Grace of the Almighty God, is replaced by a pulpit that supports the demigod behind the structure. The Altar of God is where the priesthood of believers, would partake of the Bread of LIFE and drink of the LIFE Blood of their Savior Jesus Christ, and would participate in the TRUE LIFE of their Savior. Seeing that the natural flesh and blood of man cannot enter into the kingdom of God, then certainly there can be no presumptuous access into the Presence of Holy, Holy, Holy Yahweh God Almighty. It is only by the Life Blood of the Only Perfect Man Christ Jesus that we are made worthy to enter into the Holy of Holies and the Throne Room of Grace, where the Presence of Yahweh God's Spirit of Holiness awaits for the submission of our Godly prayers and petitions. (See Hebrews 9 verses 1 thru 3, and chapter 10 verse 19 thru 23.)
The Word of Yahweh God not only sanctifies the offering of bread and wine, to become for the believer the Body and the New Covenant Blood of Jesus Christ, but by the One Spirit of His Word in Holy Communion, would sanctify the participating Communicants from sin, and to be made actively alive within the Body of God's Only Begotten Son.
Although the moral failure of one individual had not yet come to public light, in all probability, the unrepented infection of gross sin in a member of the family leadership, were also grave issues that prevented further spiritual blessings for this church from Yahweh's Spirit of Grace IN Christ Jesus. Unfortunately for the disillusioned congregation, sin brought compromise, and with the compromise of the leadership then came the destruction of the collective unity of this church, and in time it was dispersed to the four winds.
As an illustration in the dream of communion, and quite apart from the later tragedy of gross sin within the community, there was only my voice in the finale' of song, bellowing out, "Praise be to God". In the dream, I had indeed sanctified in my heart the fruit of the vine, as the real Covenant Blood of Jesus Christ, shed in God's love for me, even though in the flesh I was a sinner. Also very importantly, even with all my interpersonal failings, I had properly discerned the Body of Jesus Christ, and was at peace with His living members. My sinful flesh would not get the best of me. I had refused to remain in any form of judgment, or harbor any grief in my heart, for any possible human transgressions, or lack of consideration that can be displayed in any church environment. If there was any judgment on my part, in my eyes it rested in my inadequacies.
Another point!
This evangelical protestant church, which my wife and I were attending at the time of our conversion, was like so many other churches, that only serves Communion on the first Sunday of each month. There is an exception in the U.S.A., that being the Fourth of July weekend, when Communion might be deferred, in preference to this national holiday. The evangelical protestant church, in apparent prideful arrogance, tied to selfish idolatry, and with a lack of faithful understanding to the New Covenant Word's of God the Father, as given through His Son Jesus Christ, has concluded for itself that this allotted time is more than sufficient for the hearts of the people, seeing that they have deemed the table as ritualistic, and purely symbolic without any consideration, for the Power and Presence of God's Holy Spirit. Some protestant churches treat the sacrament as totally irrelevant, serving Communion only every quarter, and some churches like the Messianic synagogues, serve the people just once a year at the Passover. The whole of this matter, is like taking a bath monthly, or quarterly, or yearly, in accordance with our pseudo Christian opinion, as to whether we need the cleansing or not. Portions of the human communion concept, first originated out of the reformation, as the council of Geneva, employed a leverage against John Calvin's theological and punitive powers, thereby setting a minimal requirement for communion on a quarterly basis, which later became the standard for the maximum requirement for so many churches. All of this political pandering, led to further minimalist communion doctrines, justified with humanities self righteous interpretation of scripture.
Quoting John Calvin's original good understanding, and before his final thrust for theological and political power. - Institutes of the Christian Religion, book 4 chapter 17 section 44.
"What we have hitherto said of the sacrament, abundantly shows that it was not instituted to be received once a year and that perfunctorily (as is now commonly the custom); but that all Christians might have it in frequent use, and frequently call to mind the sufferings of Christ, thereby sustaining and confirming their faith: stirring themselves up to sing the praises of God, and proclaim his goodness; cherishing and testifying towards each other that mutual charity, the bond of which they see in the unity of the body of Christ."
"That such was the practice of the Apostolic Church, we are informed by Luke in the Acts, when he says, that “they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers”. (See Acts 2 verse 42). Thus we ought always to provide that no meeting of the Church is held without the word, prayer, the dispensation of the Supper, and alms."
The Apostle Paul, when writing to the Corinthian Church, begins by chastising the Christian community, by addressing their carnal irreverence and heretical disputes. (See 1st Corinthians 11 verse 17 thru 34.) Paul, further addresses the poor state of affairs of the Corinthian's Communion meal with the Lord. He makes it clear that it is not possible for them to be eating the intended Lord's Supper. The fellowship meal with the Lord is not in the common food and drink of the day, but through God's Spirit of the Holy Word of God, the provisions of bread and wine, are sanctified to become the Body and Blood of Yeshua. By Faith in the Word of God, we are One in the Holiness of our Savior Jesus Christ and are alive in the LIFE of the Lord. If we read Paul's admonishment and encouragement with an understanding heart, then whenever we come together to worship, it is to always be in unity with the members in the One Body of Jesus Christ. Holy Communion, is a Gift of immeasurable Wealth where we are made to be mutual partakers in the fullness of the Lord's Body, having been cleansed of sin by the Blood of Jesus Christ. Within God's Spirit of Grace, we are commemorating Jesus Christ's Holy Life, death and glorious resurrection from the dead. For as often as you eat this Bread, and drink this Cup, you do show the Lord's death (within you, for all sin) till He comes again (in His glory). (See 1st Corinthians 11 verse 25- 26.)
The vanity of the Church at Corinth, remains with all of the us today, for the same spirit of confusion has not gone away. Satan was in the Garden of Eden, bring his confusion over God's instructions and provisions there, and he is seated in the midst of our confusion over God's ultimate Provisions of LIFE, contained within the Body and Blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. The tragedy for all, remains in the unbelief of pastors, with their shallow teachings, made of man's traditions, that influence hearts that have not yet comprehended the full Power of the LOVE of God. The Love and Mercy of Yahweh God is contained in the sanctified Wine in the Communion cup, being expressed in the LIFE giving Blood of God's Son, Jesus Christ. For God is LOVE, and Light, with absolutely no shadow emitted from our Lord God, that could possibly deter from the Light and Substance of His Devine WORD, and only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. If any man should judge God, concerning the efficacy of His Word and His Covenant relationship to His Word of Salvation, that is given to free man, then that person shall loose greatly. And that servant, which knew his Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. (See Luke 12 verse 47 thru 49.) For whosoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: But whosoever has not, from him shall be taken away even that he has. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which has ten talents. (See Matthew 13 verse 12, and chapter 25 verse 27 thru 29.) The understanding of the protestant pastors and teachers, is further compromised by their scholarly indoctrination. Their protestant education, alone, has blinded the spirit of their minds, therefore the pride of the church leadership, does not discern that the Holy Spirit of Yahweh God, is One with the Blood and the Water of the WORD of GOD, Jesus Christ. If the Holy Spirit of the living God, indwells a person of leadership because of their faith in the New Covenant, then the spirit of the leader's words of faith, would bring Spirit and Life to the bread and wine, to be for the Lord's disciples, the real Body and Sanctifying Blood of our Salvation, Jesus Christ.
"And they shall overcome the evil (accuser) by the BLOOD of the LAMB, and the Word of their testimony, and they loved not their life unto the death." (Revelation 12 verse 10.)
To proceed to the next chapter, please click on The Roman Church.
Robert Glenn Pratten