Breaking of Bread is a Covenant -- Zac Poonen -- August 6, 2022

Zac PoonenAugust 8, 202238mWatch on YouTube

In this collectionZac Poonen Sermons434 messages

https://rlcf.church/media/sermons/breaking-of-bread-is-a-covenant River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA

Summary

The speaker traces the concept of 'covenant' from biblical history, citing examples like the rainbow after the flood, the covenant with Abraham (circumcision), and the covenant with Israel (shedding blood). He argues that Jesus established the New Covenant at the Last Supper, where breaking bread symbolized his body being broken for sin. The central message is a warning that many Christians treat the elements of worship, like breaking bread, as mere empty rituals without understanding the profound commitment and reality of the covenant established by Christ.

Outline

The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.

What is a covenant?The Bible frequently uses the word covenant, which is a solemn agreement between two parties, much like an agreement or contract signed today.

The covenant of the rainbow in Noah's timeIn Genesis 9, God made a covenant with Noah after the flood, using the rainbow as a sign that He would never again destroy the earth with water.

Covenants with Abraham and through MosesGod later made covenants with Abraham involving circumcision and with Israel through Moses involving blood sacrifice, each symbolizing death or cutting off.Genesis 17:10

Jesus establishes the New Covenant at the Last SupperAt the Last Supper, Jesus took bread and broke it, explaining that His own will had been broken for thirty-three and a half years before His physical body was crucified.Matthew 26:26

Signing an agreement without reading itNo sensible person signs a legal contract or bank loan without reading it, yet many believers participate in breaking bread without understanding the commitment they are making.

The danger of empty religious ritualsChristianity often becomes an empty shell of dead rituals where people sing familiar songs and go through motions without experiencing the real presence of Jesus.

What breaking bread actually signs you up forWhen you break bread, you are signing an agreement to put your self-life and anger to death every day, taking the covenant with absolute seriousness.

Passing on the revelation of truthHaving discovered these truths from Scripture rather than traditional preaching, the speaker emphasizes passing this serious understanding of God's agreements down to family and fellow believers.

Two symbols in First Corinthians 11The chapter outlines two symbols: the veiling of the head to represent divine authority and order, and the breaking of bread.

The New Covenant in His bloodJust as Jesus poured out His blood until none remained, believers agree to pour out their lives to build Christ's church rather than living for personal gain.

The severe consequences of taking communion unworthilyEating and drinking in an unworthy manner without self-examination makes a person guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, leading to physical weakness and even death.

Judging ourselves to avoid final judgmentIf we honestly judge and examine ourselves before taking the bread and cup, we will not be subjected to judgment on the final day.

The horizontal aspect of the crossThe cross has two arms: our vertical relationship with God and our horizontal relationship with fellow believers, symbolized by sharing one loaf of bread.1 Corinthians 10:15

Careful commitment to the local body of believersBecause partaking testifies that we are one body, participation should be limited to those truly committed to Christ and to one another.

Having our spiritual eyes opened like the disciples at EmmausJust as the disciples recognized the risen Jesus when He broke bread at Emmaus, believers should pray for their spiritual eyes to be opened to see Him and cherish the members of His body.Luke 24:30–31

Related messages

Back to the catalog

River of Life Christian Fellowship

Breaking of Bread is a Covenant -- Zac Poonen -- August 6, 2022

Zac Poonen · August 8, 2022 · 38m

The Bible Following Jesus