"Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you and in part I believe it. For there must be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. Therefore (regarding those unapproved factions) when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper. For in eating, EACH ONE TAKES HIS OWN SUPPER AHEAD OF others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those you have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you. For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes."
(1 Corinthians 11:17-26)
"Therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgement to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. THEREFORE, MY BRETHREN, WHEN YOU COME TOGETHER TO EAT, WAIT FOR ONE ANOTHER. BUT IF ANYONE IS HUNGRY, LET HIM EAT AT HOME, LEST YOU COME TOGETHER FOR JUDGEMENT."
(1 Corinthians 11:27-34)
Very important that the church, when we come together, be led by the words of our Master. He told His disciples that they should speak to that which impedes the receiving of His words. (Mark 11:20-26) With the removing of the impediment, the Living Bread, which He was, and is, which the Father made recognizable to man through the life of Jesus Christ, ministers to the hearts of the approved and gives the unapproved the opportunity to receive. Why would Paul admonish the church to wait for one another? There are those who, by reason of use, are ready to receive when they arrive at church. There are those who arrive unprepared, very busy with the cares of this world. At the last supper Jesus had with His disciples, He reminded them that His body was food indeed. Babies cannot receive solid food yet they must learn to accommodate it, one bite at a time.
When you enter the meeting place, speak to the mountain to remove it so you may receive that next bite of Living Bread. The church is a place where we are to learn to discern the Living Bread. Other foods/drinks should be consumed elsewhere.
