More Good Than I Deserve
Notes
Transcript
Gathered at the Table of God
Gathered at the Table of God
Jesus calls us to his table.
He calls us to relationship and unity
If for some reason you haven’t been here for 7 weeks or if you are joining us online for the first time, our theme is “Come to the Table.”
And invitation that Jesus has given to every believer so that they can spend time in his presence.
It’s also an invitation that Jesus loves to make as we see in our scriptures for the year
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 see that Jesus anticipates and gets excited about his friends and followers being with him.
Why? The very reason that he invites us to a table and what the table represents.
Remembrance - a focus in our lives to recall what Jesus has done and live in the affects of it
friendship - we get to share his life and he shares ours on a daily basis
commitment - From Heaven to us and us back towards heaven
It represents the kingdom of heaven.
where Christ has enabled us to live in
It represents victory over struggling to exist
It tells us that we belong, that we are known and that we are secure
It represents action
Adoration and worship
accessing that which Christ died to give us
and abiding with him through every step of life
And then last week was my favorite. I have to tell you that it was so much fun to speak. And I felt that God was going to do something through that video.
It represents our Union or relationship with Christ
That we are seated together in his resurrection
We will rise from the dead because he did so long ago from that tomb
Our hopes and dreams and purposes would be brought back to life and be vibrant and exciting
That we are seated together with him in his ascension
That our spirits would be lifted up with him
That we would be able to live above the things of this earth that threaten us and our walk with him
That we would live in the power of heaven that Jesus came and died and rose again so that we might have it
That we are seated together with him in his present rule at God’s right hand
That we would live like a child of the king, like a child of heaven
We would have a new posture in life, where once we were defeated, now we are victorious in him
We would know that he wants us to grab our seat and move us into another dimension of life.
A Cornucopia of Goodness!
A Cornucopia of Goodness!
The cornucopia. We see it on almost every picture of the perfect Thanksgiving table.
We get the word from two latin words
cornu = horn
copia = plenty
The horn of plenty.
The greek legend tells us that Zeus’ foster mother, Amalthea (who was a goat) had accidentally broken off one of her horns. Zeus felt so bad for her that he blessed it or did what Greek gods did and promised her that the horn would always bring whatever she wanted.
Another reason why we use it at Thanksgiving is because it was a symbol of what the new world had to offer. So the horn of plenty was used to lure new settlers to come to America.
When I think of the cornucopia, I think of the 23rd Psalm
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
Emphasize verses 5 & 6
The Table of Provision
The Table of Provision
Now we have looked at provision as it related to the human behaviors of self-exalting and self-condemning
But I want to look at real provision today - That is a table set and full of the goodness of God over and in our lives.
I want you to know this morning that when you come and sit at the table with Jesus, that you are going to get more goodness that what you deserve.
The psalmist, David, says here even in the midst of his enemies, God sets up a table of provision for him.
That means while he is being attacked.
It means that when supplies are being cut off
And when he doesn’t have any place else to go - God puts out the table
Oil for the head
A cup that runs over
and goodness and grace that will be with us every day of our lives, no matter whether we feel like it’s there or not.
I want you to know today that nobody can put out a spread like your God.
And I’ve gone to some nice parties. Where people know how to decorate a table and everything that you touch is just unbelievable.
When I was dating my wife, I had to go visit the matriarch of the family, Aunt Josephine.
Aunt Josephine had 2 or 3 kitchens in her house
And she was already ready to feed you.
She put stuff on my plate that I didn’t like, but Kim reminded me that it would be an insult not to eat it.
In Africa - Closing the plate
People who had nothing would keep putting food on your plate if you left it opened.
God never looks for an closed plate and he is always wanting to pour out over his children’s life.
So this table is
A place that Invites God’s Provision
A place that Invites God’s Provision
You’ve heard me speak about the umbrella of God’s covenant
I’ve counselled couples who are living together or other people caught in things that are against God’s Word
And I tell them that even though they might be saved, that they are not living under the full blessing of the covenant that we walk in with God.
And they are missing out.
When we take our seat at the table of provision, we do so, by already having taken care of our stuff
You can’t sit at the table without self inspection and making a commitment to Christ.
This table is truly a covenant table.
That’s why David can write here in the way that he does.
When I’m in the valley of the shadow of death
When I’m being attacked by my enemies on every side
I know that I know that I can trust in God. He will not leave me alone. I stand in covenant with him.
Turn over to Proverbs chapter 3 with me today.
I’m not going to speak from it. There is already a message online about it, but I want to look at it.
1 My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;
2 For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
Proverbs 3:
When will these blessings flow in our lives?
When we are following the laws of God, and keeping his commandments
When we come under the umbrella of covenant, and then we step up to the table provision.
It is
A Place that Allows us to Bear the Fruit of God’s Kingdom
A Place that Allows us to Bear the Fruit of God’s Kingdom
When there is provision, there is fruit.
When a child is fed right, that child grows up to be healthy. Amen? (unless there is some other situation)
We know the scriptures:
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
It’s a picture of what we read in
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-
Or they cannot sit at the table.
but if we read on, we see that there are fruit that we should have.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22
The father calls us to this table so that we can have victory in our lives.\
Every one of these fruit of the spirit are our victory against the things of the flesh, are they not?\
When we are exhibiting these fruit in our lives, we are living contrary to the world
A world that hates
A world that is depressed and discouraged
A world that is impatient and cruel
A world of lies and deceit.
Brother and sister, you can leave from this table today and know that those are not the attitudes you need to have
Nor are they the attitudes that you have to live in.
There is joy and peace and so much more
Far greater things than we’ve ever deserved.
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
And then think about this today.
We are gathered at this table with the other saints.
A Place With Others, Just Like Us
A Place With Others, Just Like Us
Look around this room today. Look at all the other faces that have been called to this table with you this morning.
God calls us to a family (A Very Big Family) where we can be built up and encouraged by others who believe just as we believe.
A place where we can be strengthened when we are weakened by the attack of the enemy
A place where we can be prayed for and have others to fight in the trenches of spiritual warfare with
A place where we can just sit and talk
A place where we can read the scriptures together and worship together and share our Christian walk together
Youth Camp or seeing a new pastor come to National Conference
They get to see what they really belong to and it’s encouraging, it’s uplifting and God moves in that atmosphere
Kevin?
This is where we get to use our giftings and talents in each others lives
This is where we are strengthened for the battle in the Lord (David strengthened himself in the Lord)
This is where we really get to experience true love
12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,
My brothers and sisters, Father God has so much more planned for your life.
And he is not stingy. It’s just you have to align yourself up with his word to receive it
He is waiting to pour out in you and over you at his table of provision
He wants to see you mature in his word and rise up and overcome these things that are threatening to take you out
He wants to see you come to your full potential in Him
He wants to see us as a body, be truly ONE - in True UNITY (for that’s when the Holy Spirit moves upon the church in power and glory)
Let’s look at 2 more verses today in closing
A place that invites God’s provision
a place that allows me to bear fruit for God’s Kingdom
a place with a multitude of believers - giftings and talents
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
You see we aren’t talking about a table of physical food, but spiritual food
This kingdom won’t be about eating and drinking but about a people who are standing in righteousness with God and experiencing the peace and joy in their lives that only comes from the Holy Spirit
But you have to come hungry. You have to want to grow in spiritual things
And if we do, we will be filled.
PRAY