One of the advantages to role-playing in a fantasy setting, such as Dungeons and Dragons, is the use of potions and elixirs to improve your character. If you’re down on Hit Points (failing health), you drink a potion of healing. Want protection against fire-breathing dragons? You drink a potion of Fire Resistance. The list goes on and on. Sometimes you wish real life were this easy. Solutions in the form of pills seems to be hitting the markets almost on a monthly basis.

In the denominational churches, people believe that by partaking of the Lord’s Supper it increases their ability to combat sin or temptation. Some even say that it makes the body pure. Does that really happen? To answer that question let’s turn to the main source, The Holy Scriptures. Jesus was the one to institute the Lord’s Supper prior to his arrest and trial. In Luke 22:14-20, Jesus was seated with His twelve disciples and broke bread to celebrate the Passover. Here’s what he said in verse 19, "And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me." He said "In remembrance of me." Pretty simple.

Some people would say that there has to be more to it than that. Well let’s see what the apostle Paul has to say. In his first letter to the church in Corinth he wrote concerning the divisions found in the assembly. In 1 Cor. 11:23-26, Paul supports Jesus in the institution of the Lord’s Supper. "Do this in remembrance of me" (vs. 24,25) In verse 26 Paul adds, "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord's death till he come." That means as often as we eat the Lord’s Supper we think of Jesus and the sacrifice He gave for us. Which brings us to the next question of how often do we partake of the Lord’s Supper? There’s no clear answer but in Acts 20:7, there is and example of the disciples gathering together on the first day of the week to break bread. So that means every week on the first day we partake of the Lord’s Supper.

That’s not the case in denominational churches who only partake of the Lord’s Supper once a month or once every 3 months. Then there are the C and E people (Christmas and Easter) who only take it twice a year! Is this what Jesus means to them? Only to remember him twice a year? Most of those churches say that you only need to partake of the Lord’s Supper twice a year to still be a member of that church. That church and not the Lord’s church.

But Paul did not stop there as far as the Lord’s Supper. In verses 27-31 of 1 Cor. 11, the apostle goes on to write that we must partake of the Lord’s Supper in a worthy manner. A self-examination is necessary (v. 28).

Don’t expect to improve your ability to combat sin or ward off temptation. The Lord’s Supper is not some magical elixir to purify your body, soul and mind. Instead here are some passages to help you resist temptation and sin:

James 1:21

1 Thess. 5:15-22

1 Tim. 4:7; 5:6

Heb. 11:25; 13:6

Gal. 6: 7, 8

Col. 3:2, 16-17

Romans 8:8

2 John 9-11

See if you can add more verses to this list.