The Kingdom Table
Notes
Transcript
Our Theme for 2020
Our Theme for 2020
Last week we started our theme for the new year, entitled “Come to the Table.”
An invitation from our Lord Jesus to get involved with him.
To be an investor (so to say) in the Kingdom of Heaven.
And last week we started it all by looking at the table of His Last supper
The passover meal and our communion table.
Our scriptures for this year and this theme are found over in
14 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.
15 Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;
We said that this table was so important to him because
We are His Friends.
a distinguishing point between the servants of the Old Testament and who we are in this new Covenant.
this table becomes a place where love is expressed
a place where comfort is gained
a place where things are common and we have commonality and unity among us
We said that this table was important to Jesus because we are partakers in Him
It is here that he institutes their celebration and remembrance of what he had done
This is my body that is broken for you.. This is my blood that will be poured out for you
He invites us to share in that sacrifice. To benefit from it and be strengthened in it.
He invites us to be one with him
He invites us to catch his vision
And then lastly, this table is important to Jesus and us because, this is where committment is formed
Do we catch that vision? Will we be a part of it?
We looked at the parable that Jesus taught about a King going to war and how he accesses where things are to determine whether he will have victory or not.
And I likened it to this night for Jesus. He was a King going to war. He was about to pay the price for victory, but he wanted to make sure that around this table, that he had enough to keep that victory. Would these men be committed, even in the persecution and trials of the warfare to see it through?
I want to take that last point and expound on it a little deeper this morning.
Turn with me over to
24 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.
25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’
26 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.
27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.
28 “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.
29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me,
30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Luke 22:24-
I want speak this morning on the thought of
There is a Greater Table.
There is a Greater Table.
Last week I referred to the children’s table at big family functions.
The children’s table was a lot of fun, but how cool was it when we got called upon to move up.
Maybe a teen table or to the meeting of the ADULTS!
This is what we see here with the disciples.
Jesus says here that they are looking at their positions at the table, but its the wrong thing.
They are judging position by where they sit rather than where they serve.
And let’s not be too fast to judge them, because we are just like them.
We always have our eyes set on the adult table.
We always want to be somewhere where we are noticed
And when we treat heaven like that, we miss out on what is really important.
We miss out on the greater table. On the greater calling.
We miss out on the greater blessings that God has for each and everyone of us.
I told you last week that this moment was where Jesus was preparing his followers for their futures.
He was trying to get them to come to grips with they failures and weaknesses so that they could over come them.
and as they overcame them, then they would be available and ready for the work of the kingdom.
For the battle that he was about to enlist them in.
Look at verses 21-23
21 But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table.
22 And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”
23 Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.
Jesus warns about one who will betray him. And they all begin to ask each other and search their own hearts as to whether he is speaking about them or not.
So this table becomes a table of self searching.
The Table of Self Searching
The Table of Self Searching
So this table becomes a table of self searching.
Paul tells us that in 1 Corinthians in his teaching about those who are coming to this table in the wrong manner.
He says, first there are divisions among you. This should not be as you are eating and drinking as one in Christ.
There is no appreciation or concern for the other.
and look at verses 27-30
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
1 Corinthians 11:
It is important at this table that we search inside for those things that are causing us to betray our savior.
Is it our pride?
Is it some sinful lifestyle that we are dealing with?
Is it a lack of faith that causes us to trust in something or someone else?
We have to remember that there is a greater table awaiting us. And Jesus wants to make sure that we make it there.
Let’s go down to verse 31
31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.
32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”
34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
Luke 22:31-
Jesus warns Peter that Satan is out to test him.
But could you imagine what it must have meant to Peter, even believing that this could never happen, to hear Jesus say, but I’m pulling for you.
And so the table becomes a place where we can die to that which we used to be.
The Table of Change
The Table of Change
Peter was very prideful. Peter was very boisterous. He was questioning and he was action before thought.
But those things were going to be his downfall.
and so at this table, Jesus clues him in.
Peter, I believe that you have it in you to overcome.
Peter says, of course I do Lord, I would go to prison or die with you
And Jesus says, you still don’t get it, but you will.
Now I am sure that Peter did not appreciate these words when he first heard them.
We know he didn’t because of his response. What do you mean Jesus, I would die for you.
And Peter denies him, runs away, hides out with the other disciples for a while.
He goes back to his former life of fishing
But how much do you think these words meant to Peter as he was pondering all of the after death emotions?
Peter Satan wants to test you to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you. I believe that your faith will stand the sifting.
and I have a plan to use you to minister to the believers. So return to me.
This is that table in our lives brothers and sisters.
The table where we have a chance to become what we never thought we could be.
Peter thought he was tough. But he soon finds out that he can’t even stand up for his Lord.
Peter expected to act a different way than the did.
Anybody else like that in here? With me?
And Jesus calls us to this table where he calls us to search our inner self.
To see what we are really made of, knowing that we aren’t going to like it all that much
And then he gives us the chance to die to that self and take on his calling on our life.
To graduate to the adult table. The Kingdom of Heaven table.
The table of transfiguration. The table of change.
There is a greater table church family.
But we have to put our time in at the table of change first.
We have no right to sit at that future table if we cannot face the things that we see here.
Jesus speaks about this in one of his parables
7 So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them:
8 “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him;
9 and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place.
10 But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you.
11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 14:7-
My brother and sister, Fellow Christian, Jesus is calling us to the table that will prepare for us that place where we shall sit for eternity.
Come to the table of change and allow him to speak over you
Come to the table of change and allow him to refocus your future.
Come to the table of change and accept where you fit into His heavenly plan for your life
And then move into it. Go forward. Achieve, not the greatness of this world, but the service of the Kingdom.
As we just read, the disciples are arguing where they should sit. Or who will be the greatest. (It’s not the first time)
And as he usually did, Jesus takes the situation and makes it a great lesson of what the Kingdom of heaven looks like and how its citizens are to act.
It’s always contrary to the way that the world does things.
The world says to take the place at the table and that shows who you are in the pecking order.
But Jesus says, it how you serve that determines where you sit.
But then look down at verse 28 again.
28 “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.
29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me,
30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Luke 22:28-29
I see here the table of strengthening. or
The Table of Power
The Table of Power
When we have searched our hearts for what really ails us in this broken world
When we take the steps that Jesus offers us to correct those things and turn away from them
We are endued with a power on high that will give us the ability to live as a child of the living God.
Or as I’ve been painting a picture with this morning - move to the adult table.
We have grown up. Right?
Jesus says, when you have continued with me in my trials. (and they have no idea what is coming at them in just a couple of hours)
Peter, satan is out to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you and believe that you can overcome this attack.
And when you continue with me through all that we are about to face, I bestow upon you a Kingdom
bestow = speaks of being a testator - like one gives through a will and testament of their own affairs from something that belongs to them.
Think of New Testament = New covenant
And look at the phrase that follows there. just as my father bestowed one upon me.
So Jesus is saying, at this table, (and please keep this in mind for whenever you take of the communion table)
At this table, I am leaving you (those that overcome with me) all the benefits and powers and authority and rights of the Kingdom of Heaven, which is my right to do, because my father gave it all to me.
That you may graduate to the Adult table - or that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom (which is now yours) ((and only for the disciples now)) you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (but for you and I), we also will be put into places of authority and reigning with Christ when our works are judged.
That’s it church. The table of Power.
It doesn’t matter where you have been.
It doesn’t matter how much you’ve blown it.
Satan has tried to sift us all. But Jesus has promised us the victory.
Let’s stop trying to sit at the head of the table here and just do what Jesus has called us to do
Because there is a greater table.
There is a greater reward.
There is an eternity to live in.
But We’ve got to be busy now. AMEN? AMEN!
Let’s Pray.