Communion and Sickness

Not properly discerning the body of Christ:  

Paul said many were weak and sick because they did not properly discern the Body of Christ and took Communion unworthily. Communion is partaking of the bread and juice symbolizing the body and blood of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Paul warned:

Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.  But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's Body.  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.   (I Corinthians 11:27-30)

You can fail to discern the Body of Christ in three ways:

1)         THE MEANING OF THE BLOOD AND FLESH

You fail to discern the Body of Christ when you do not understand the meaning of the fruit of the vine and the bread. These natural elements are spiritual symbols of the blood and flesh of Jesus. Although many people understand Christ's blood for remission of sin, often they do not understand the true meaning of the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ was broken for your healing (see John 6:48-58 and Luke 6:48-51).

2)         DIVISION IN THE BODY

Sometimes we fail to discern the Body of Christ by not recognizing the true bond we have with our brothers and sisters in the Lord. When divisions occur in the Church, we are not properly discerning the Body of Christ. We eat and drink unworthily if we do not understand our spiritual union with brothers and sisters in the Lord. Paul explains in I Corinthians 3:1-13 that carnal Christians involved in division cannot partake of the Word because of carnality.

3.         EATING UNWORTHILY

We eat unworthily when we take communion with an unexamined life. Weakness and sickness result from doing this. This is why Paul says to examine yourself spiritually and repent before taking Communion.

God permits some to be turned to Satan for destruction of the flesh for disciplinary reasons. God does not put sickness on the person, but He does permit it. You can read about this process in I Corinthians 5:1-7. In this passage the Bible reveals how it is to done:

It is to be done in. . .

             l.         Unity.

            2.         The spirit and power of the Lord.

            3.         The name of the Lord.

It is to be done because of. . .

            1.         Fornication.

            2.         Behavior worse than that of the world (Gentiles).

            3.         Pride.

            4.         Lack of repentance.

            5.         Evil in the midst of the people of God.

Its purposes:

            1.         Individual purpose:  Destruction of the flesh in order that the spirit may

   be saved.

            2.         Corporate purpose:  Purge out the evil before others are affected.

Biblical Studies

Also see:

The Promise of Healing

The Word on Sickness

The Beginning of Sickness

Redemption from the Curse