VI. Method to follow in conducting the holy feast

The method we follow in conducting the holy feast which is one of the sacraments of the church of God is important. It is necessary to know where to conduct this holy feast. We should also know how to conduct this holy feast. Let us meditate on these things under the heading “Methods to follow in conducting the holy feast”.

1. Breaking bread in homes

The church of Jerusalem which was established under the leadership of Peter did not have a permanent place for worship. In Acts 2:46 it is written that “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts…” In this verse we read about two things. Breaking bread and eating meat. The first refers to the holy feast that is breaking bread and the next refers to food that is being provided to the believers who took part in the holy feast.

We understand that, in those days since the church did not have a proper permanent place to gather they broke bread in the houses of the believers. Today the church gathers in the place which has been built for worship or in some temporary place which has been rented for worship. Therefore we can conduct holy feast in the church or in the prayer house. We should remember that Lord Jesus Christ also conducted the last supper in the upper room of the house.

2. First day of the week

Holy feast was conducted on the first day of the week. On the first day of the week we come together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.There were many lamps in the upstairs room where they were meeting. ” (Acts 20:7, 8). In Old Testament period Saturday was referred as Sabbath day. The first day of the week is Sunday. We understand that in the New Testament period holy feast was conducted in the first day of the week that is Sunday. We should also make note of another point. This holy feast was conducted in the night time. When we connect these two incidents we understand that holy feast was conducted on the first day of a week that is Sunday and that too in the night time in the New Testament period.

3. Washing the feet

The servant of God who conducts the holy feast and the believers of thechurch of God should wash one another’s feet and wipe the feet of each other with a towel before taking part in the holy feast. “So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” (John 13:14, 15). Lord himself has demonstrated this act of washing the feet before participating in the holy feast. Lord Jesus Christ has asked us to follow the same example that he had showed us.Lord Jesus Christ never sinned. No deceit was found in his mouth. He did not retaliate when he was insulted. When he suffered he did not threaten. “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. “(I Peter 2:21-23). Similarly Jesus had showed an example of washing the feet of believers for following his steps. “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.” (Luke 6:40). In I Corinthians 11th chapter St.Paul says the church believers to follow his example as he follows the example of Christ. “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (I Corinthians 11:1). In the same chapter 21st verse he has mentioned about Lord’s Supper.Churches that preach the full gospel have the practice of washing the feet of one another before taking part in the holy feast so that they could become perfect like Christ. Churches that preach about getting perfected like Lord Jesus Christ not only fulfill the purpose behind conducting the Lord’s supper, they also follow the same example which was set by Lord Jesus Christ before participating in the holy feast.

4. Declaring their readiness to participate in the holy feast

All the people who take part in the Holy Communion service do not take part in the holy feast. Opportunities can be given to the believers for declaring their readiness to participate in the holy feast. This opportunity can be given to the believers to confess their readiness to participate in the holy feast after washing the feet of one another. “I am ready to take part in the holy feast. I praise the Lord Jesus Christ, who made me qualify, to take part in the holy feast.” These two statements has to be made by believers those who participate in the holy feast. Then the whole church and the servant of God who is conducting the holy feast will come to know that particular believer is ready or qualified to participate in the holy feast.

5. Retrospection

One who participates in the holy feast should examine himself before taking part in the holy feast. In I Corinthians 11:28 it is written that “Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.”

It is necessary for the believers to retrospect themselves before taking part in the holy feast. Somebelievers can openly live a life of sin and other believers may secretly indulge in sin such as adultery, idolatry and fornication.“For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” (Ephesians 5:5).Such immoral, impure or greedy people should not take part in the holy feast.

Judas was also one of the twelve disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus Christ washed the feet of Judas Escariot too. Still he did not participate in the holy feast. Since he had determined to betray Lord Jesus Christ he lost his qualification to participate in the holy feast. Therefore he left even before taking part in the holy feast. This act of Judas Escariot leaving the place without taking part in the holy feast has actually been written as a warning to every believer. Even after participating in the washing of feet one can leave without participating in the holy feast. This self examination or act of retrospection helps in this.

6. Offering the bread and the cup

It is necessary to offer the bread and cup of grape juice in the holy feast. “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘this cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you“(Luke 22: 19, 20).

7. Tithe Offering

Melchizedek the king of Salem who brought out bread and wine was a priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram who returned victoriously defeating the enemies saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God most high, who delivered your enemies into your hand. Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” (Genesis 14:20). That is why it is been taught that believers should give tithes to the church of God where they part in the holy feast. Since Church of God is the place where the souls are being fed it is good for the believers to give the tithes to the church or where they take part in the holy feast. “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.“ (Malachi 3:10).

We can read about giving tithes in Numbers 18:26-31. “Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” (Galatians 6:6,7). Scribes and Pharisees who lived in the time of Lord Jesus Christ gave tithes from their income. Lord Jesus Christ told that the believers of the New Testament church should be more righteous than that of the scribes and Pharisees. Since the Lord says “You should have practiced the latter (justice and mercy and faithfulness), without neglecting the former (giving tithe)” we understand that believers should also offer tithes to the church of God. (Matthew 23:23). But this tithe should also be shared among five types of full time ministers of God. Every church should have all five types of ministry such as the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and the preachers of the word of God. Tithes must be shared among those five types of servants of God.

Another point we have to learn about the tithe offered by Abraham is that Abraham gave tithes not from his income but of the plunder that he had from defeating the enemies in the war. “Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! “ (Hebrews 7:4). We need not make it mandatory that believers who give tithes alone should participate in the holy feast because Lord Jesus Christ really appreciated the women who offered two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents in the altar (Mark 12:41-44).