BETRAYAL vs COMMUNION During the month of November, 2007, I repeatedly heard in my spirit the word betrayal. During the last week of November, I began an intensive scriptural search to know the mind of the Lord concerning betrayal. As I began my research, though basically ignorant of the truth, I could before researching recognize times past in which I had been betrayed. In confirming this God initiative, God gave my wife Kay a dream about a trusted friend who had betrayed us some 12 years ago. Kay did not know, prior to the dream that the Spirit of God had spoken to me concerning betrayal. Kay’s dream is definitely confirmation of God’s desire to impart revelation concerning betrayal. INFAMOUS JUDAS ISCARIOT It is almost universal revelation that Judas Iscariot betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ. The scripture is very clear also that many believers will in the same manner betray the faith of God and one another. I believe that the Lord is desirous to now reveal, in a more in depth way, the nature of betrayal and its purpose in the plan of God. Why is God now breathing this initiative to understand betrayal into the hearts of the discerning? As I will explain, betrayal is the opposite of communion and fellowship. As communion and fellowship increase so will the opportunity to betray. Betrayal is the surrendering or giving up of communion. The Greek word for betray is paradidomi (par-ad-id'-o-mee) and means to surrender, i.e yield up, intrust, transmit. COMMUNION WILL INITIATE & EXPOSE BETRAYAL God is not releasing betrayal into the earth! On the contrary, God continues to reveal His presence in the earth. It is the nature of the increasing presence of God in communion which will initiate and expose betrayal. Can betrayal, when properly understood and addressed bring forth God destiny? The scripture is very clear in defining betrayal as giving up or surrendering of communion. Betrayal, as defined, first requires possession. Betrayal is non-existent without ownership. I cannot give up that which I do not have. Jesus had fellowship with Judas Iscariot. Jesus called Judas His friend. Jesus not only called Judas friend but a trusted friend. Jesus had broken bread with Judas. Judas betrayed the trust which he possessed with Jesus. IN THE NIGHT IN WHICH JESUS WAS BETRAYED…HE (JESUS) TOOK BREAD As I initiated my search of the scriptures concerning betrayal, the following verse gripped my spirit and opened my eyes of understanding concerning betrayal. The Apostle Paul writes the following to the Corinthian church concerning communion. For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; (1 Cor 11:23, NAS) Why did the Holy Spirit mention in I Corinthians 11:23 that on the night in which Jesus was betrayed He also exercised communion? What is the significance of betrayal as it relates to communion? Communion is the Greek word koinonia (koy-nohn-ee'-ah) which means a sharer, i.e. associate: companion, fellowship, partaker, partner; communion. We who are truly in communion in the body of Christ are sharers and partakers of one another. We are members one of another. Betrayal is the antithesis of communion. Betrayal yields up or surrenders Godly companionship. BELIEVERS ARE MEMBERS OF A BODY…THE BODY OF CHRIST The relationship between communion and betrayal is more easily understood when the two are properly related to the body. Believers are all members of the body of Christ. We maintain that membership in the body of Christ as we present our bodies as living sacrifices. The breaking of bread in communion represents the body of Jesus Christ which was broken and shared with all believers. Through faith in the death of Christ’s body and His bodily resurrection we walk in true fellowship with Christ and have the very life of God himself.   LIFE OR DEATH   The difference between communion and betrayal is life and death. Separation from the body of Christ brings forth death. Our DNA is relationship. We are created to be in Godly relationship. The whole plan of Satan is to isolate and separate people(s) thereby stealing, killing and destroying the life given to believers by God. This is accomplished as members of the body of Christ believe Satan’s lies. Again, God’s truth declares that we were created to fellowship with God our Creator and all of God’s creation. We know from the Apostle Paul’s teaching that failure to properly connect and commune with the body of Christ leads to weakness, infirmity and sleep (death) (I Corinthians 11). Failure to commune or become partakers of saints with whom God has joined you constitutes betrayal. Communion produces life…betrayal produces death. Judas Iscariot physically died because of his betrayal of Jesus. EXAMINE YOUR HEART…IN THE FAITH? Faith is God’s plan for our lives. I feel and have taught for years the importance of finding our connection to the body of Christ. Everything not of faith is sin. Every believer has a Garden of Eden. The Garden of Eden is a place of righteousness, peace and joy and a place where the Kingdom of God and the righteousness of God rule. God communing with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden confirms that our DNA is relational. In His Presence            Gale Maiden Note: This is the 1st in a series of writings on communion and betrayal. I will both email and post on www.fathersheartministry.com