29 Sep Celebrating the Lord’s Supper

Communion Origins Overview

Pastor explores the profound spiritual significance of communion by tracing its origins back to Abraham and Melchizedek in Genesis 14. This powerful sermon reveals how the Lord’s Supper wasn’t first instituted at the Last Supper, but thousands of years earlier when Melchizedek, the pre-incarnate Christ, brought bread and wine to refresh Abraham after his victorious battle. As king of righteousness and king of peace, Melchizedek served both as priest and king – roles that would later be fulfilled perfectly in Jesus Christ. The sermon emphasizes that communion is meant to be a ‘love feast’ that brings restoration, fellowship, and spiritual refreshment to believers. Through examining the parallels between Melchizedek’s ministry and Christ’s eternal priesthood, we discover that communion is far more than symbolic ritual – it’s a divine encounter that restores our energy, health, and fellowship with God, just as it did for Abraham after his exhausting battle.

Communion Origins Outline

• 0:00 – Jesus’ Intentional Last Days: Everything Jesus did in His final days was purposeful, including instituting communion.
• 3:00 – Understanding Communion’s Many Names: Exploring terms like Lord’s Supper, Eucharist, and the early church’s ‘love feast.’
• 6:00 – The First Communion Question: Challenging the assumption that communion began at the Last Supper.
• 8:00 – Abraham’s Victory and Rescue: The story of Abraham defeating four armies with 318 servants to rescue Lot.
• 12:00 – Melchizedek Brings Bread and Wine: The mysterious king-priest offers refreshment and receives Abraham’s tithe.
• 18:00 – Two Kings, Two Approaches: Contrasting Melchizedek’s fellowship with the king of Sodom’s business proposition.
• 22:00 – Melchizedek: King of Righteousness and Peace: Understanding Melchizedek as the pre-incarnate Christ without beginning or end.
• 28:00 – Christ’s Eternal Priesthood: Connecting Melchizedek to Jesus as our eternal high priest through Hebrews 7.

Scripture References

Genesis 14:14-20, Genesis 14:21-24, Jude 1:12, Hebrews 7:1-3

Key Takeaways

• Communion originated thousands of years before the Last Supper, when Melchizedek served bread and wine to Abraham after his victory.
• The early church called communion a ‘love feast’ – it was meant to be a celebration of fellowship and restoration, not just symbolic ritual.
• Melchizedek represents the pre-incarnate Christ, serving as both king of righteousness and king of peace without earthly genealogy.
• True fellowship comes through spiritual communion with God, not through worldly business arrangements or material gain.
• Abraham’s tithing to Melchizedek demonstrates the principle of honoring God with our victories and blessings.
• Communion serves as spiritual refreshment and restoration, just as Melchizedek’s bread and wine refreshed Abraham after battle.
• Christ’s priesthood is eternal and continuous, unlike the temporary priesthood of the Old Testament law.

Communion Origins Notes

This profound sermon takes us on a journey through Scripture to discover the true origins and meaning of communion. While most Christians believe communion began at the Last Supper, Pastor reveals that this sacred sacrament actually originated thousands of years earlier in Genesis 14, when the mysterious figure Melchizedek brought bread and wine to Abraham.The context is crucial: Abraham had just accomplished an impossible victory, defeating four trained armies with only 318 household servants to rescue his nephew Lot from captivity. Exhausted and weary from battle, Abraham returned to find two kings waiting for him. The contrast between these encounters is striking and spiritually significant.The king of Sodom approached Abraham with a business proposition, offering material compensation for the rescue. However, Abraham refused any payment, declaring his covenant with God and his determination that no man would claim credit for making him wealthy. This demonstrates the principle that our prosperity and success come from fellowship with God, not worldly arrangements.In beautiful contrast, Melchizedek, king of Salem, came offering fellowship and refreshment. He brought bread and wine – the very elements we use in communion today – to restore and refresh Abraham after his exhausting battle. This wasn’t a business transaction but an act of compassion and fellowship. Abraham responded by giving Melchizedek a tithe of everything, recognizing his spiritual authority.The identity of Melchizedek is fascinating and prophetic. His name means ‘king of righteousness,’ and as king of Salem (later Jerusalem), he was also ‘king of peace.’ Hebrews 7 reveals that he had no earthly father, mother, or genealogy – indicating he was the pre-incarnate Christ appearing in human history. This explains how he could serve as both king and priest, roles that were kept separate under the Law.This ancient encounter establishes the pattern for communion as a ‘love feast’ – a time of spiritual refreshment, restoration, and fellowship with God. The early church understood this, but over time, tradition has diminished communion to mere symbolism rather than the powerful sacrament of restoration it was meant to be. When we partake of communion, we’re not just remembering Christ’s sacrifice; we’re receiving spiritual refreshment and restoration for our battles, just as Abraham did.

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