Hospitality Communion

// INTRO

Thank you to all those that prayed for our family over the last two weeks. Merinda, Wren, and myself travelled to Cape Town, South Africa in a very short amount of time for planning - leaving behind our two sons, Brooks & Corban. We truly saw the hand of the Lord over the entire situation and are incredibly grateful.

In light of our recent trip and our walking through the Foundation of this Revival House - I want to focus on our Value HOSPITALITY COMMUNION.

Pray

Hook & Tension

Think about a time that you walked in a room and immediately you felt that you belonged.

No one had to tell you. You just knew.

Feels good.

Now think about a time when you walked in a room and instantly felt like you didn’t belong.

Hmm…

What made the difference in those two scenarios?

Décor, lighting, music? > Or, was it the posture of the people in the room?

Belonging is rarely accidental > It’s created.

Understanding that belonging is a created thing, we must ask the following question

What environment are we cultivating to create belonging?

Love (agape) can be understood as the steady direction of the will for the good of another. We are not commanded to “feel” a certain way toward others, but only to “act” properly toward them.

David Walls; Max Anders

REVELATION

In Luke 10, we find some favorite characters, Mary & Martha, as they welcome Jesus into their home.

Practical & Relational

Luke 10:38–42 ESV

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Open Door, Open Seat

Notice Jesus enters the village and Martha welcomes him into her home.

Martha opens a door.

Mary sits at Jesus feet, giving him her full attention.

Mary offers a seat = relationship

We’ll come back to this.

HOSPITALITY IS WILLINGNESS

In 1 Kings 17 and 2 Kings 4 we have two stories back to back regarding hospitality.

Too many time I believe we get in our own way when it comes to hospitality.

Widow at Zarephath

The 1 Kings 17, the Widow at Zarephath gave out of her lack, desperation, and obedience to the Lord.

The woman did not believe she had anything worthy to host this man, YET she chose to be hospitable!

In her lack, she extended hospitality and her household was sustained through a drought.

The Shunnamite Woman

In 2 Kings 4, the Shunnamite woman gave out of her abundance.

This woman’s hospitality from abundance led to the fulfillment of her heart’s desire. Something money couldn’t buy – a child.

Willingness

Hospitality isn’t just for the poor.

It isn’t just for the wealthy.

It’s not about décor, square footage, or even your personality type.

Hospitality is about being willing.

Stop Waiting. Become Willing.

Some in this room are still waiting to become hospitable.

Waiting to have more money, more space, more time, a different season of life.

The scripture today has shown us that it’s not about capacity but rather a heart and hand that is open.

Traits of Hospitable People

Scripture shows us that qualifications for overseers, elders, and leaders is that they be hospitable.

1 Timothy 3:2 “2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,”

Titus 1:7–8 “7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.

One of the marks of a true Christian in Romans 12 is that they are hospitable.

Romans 12:13 “13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

Hospitality is mentioned as a result of good stewardship of the gifts God has given you.

1 Peter 4:8–10 “8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:”

Hospitality is one form of worship.

Anonymous

The standard of hospitality is not based on the person, but rather a manner worthy of the Lord.

3 John 5–6 “5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.”

Zaccheus’ household receives salvation upon extending joyful hospitality to Jesus.

Luke 19:6 “6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.”

Luke 19:9 “9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.”

Hospitality produces humility and sheds our flesh man.

Isaiah 58:7 “7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?”

Isaiah 58 is pointing out the type of fast that the Lord is requiring of them and it was a return to being a nation that was hospitable.

The nation of Israel had become prideful, arrogant, and selfish - not looking out for the orphan, widow, and stranger.

Christ’s humility is the standard for evaluating the worth of others and actions toward them.

Richard R. Melick Jr.

INVITATION

We could continue on talking about, Lydia, Abraham, David, Solomon, Mary & Martha, Gaius, Publius, Cornelius, Onesiphorus and we would find the same theme throughout…each person had a willingness to open their home, leave a seat at the table, and give what they could.

The Final Judgment

Matthew 25.31-46

The Final Judgment describes the separation of people based on their actions. The righteous, who helped those in need, are welcomed into the kingdom, while the unrighteous, who neglected the needy, face eternal punishment. This parable underscores the significance of compassion and service to others as a reflection of one's faith.

God cares greatly about hospitality.

In order to grow in our hospitality, we must treat every instance as if we are welcoming Jesus.

To give our Lord a perfect hospitality, Mary and Martha must combine.

Saint Teresa of Ávila

Mary & Martha Hospitality

we are practical

we are personal

A Call to Bless Others

Proverbs 11:25 “25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”

1 Peter 4:10 “10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:”

Romans 12:13 “13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

Hebrews 13:16 “16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

Proverbs 3:27 “27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.”

Luke 6:38 “38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.””

1 Thessalonians 5:11 “11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

Genesis 12:2–3 “2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.””

CLOSING