Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos
Pulpit Series Volume 21, Issue 16 September 11, 2011
“Jesus said to His disciples, I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father has appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom.” Luke 22:29&30
There is such a stunted understanding of Christ in the church. Even with all the preaching, the praising, the endless meetings few have a true appreciation for the Lord's table!
OK….let’s cut to the chase! Most of our revelation of Christ is historical, which causes us to have a very limited revelation of the Lord. Jesus invites us to fellowship with Him, yet we settle for a “Cole’s Notes or Readers Digest” historical overview.
Every day Jesus looks over the table He has prepared for us
but the fact is there are so many empty seats!
There is little spiritual joy. We are doing more and more for a Lord we know less and less about!
We seldom dine with Him.
Paul had experienced one of the most spiritual calls a man of God ever received, but Paul wanted more!
Something in his soul cried out, “Oh that I might know Him”! No wonder he could say, “I have determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” I Corinthians 2:2
For Paul….
- conversion wasn’t enough!
- a supernatural visitation wasn’t enough!
- a one-time blinding vision of Christ, a one-time miraculous hearing of His voice from heaven, wasn’t sufficient!
COMMITMENT #1
Seek a fuller revelation of Christ
- What was your prayer life like this week?
- What were some things you prayed about:
Praying….
- not for things
- not for blessings
- not to be used
- not for anything of self
You only get to know Jesus by being in His presence!
Busy, preoccupied people never do get to know Him in the deeper intimate way.
No freshness, just a rehashing of days gone by. Nothing but stale memories and dusty visions.
Our vision of Christ is too small, too limited and too safe.
If we had a true revelation of Christ - how measureless, limitless, immense - we’d never again be overwhelmed
by life's problems.
by life's problems.
COMMITMENT #2
Let Christ live through you with an ever increasing passion
Paul said, “In Him we live, and move and have our being.” Acts 17:28
True Christians live within this very small circle; their very existence is wrapped up in the interests of Christ.
COMMITMENT #3
Increase Christ's life in Your Life
Paul makes it clear that “Christ was revealed in him, not simply to him.” Galatians 1:16
DO YOU TRULY WANT NOTHING BUT CHRIST?
If you want nothing but Christ….
- you’ll hide yourself away with Him!
- you won’t have to be persuaded to seek Him!
- you will go often to your secret closet, knowing the moment you walk in, you are seated at His table!
- you will worship!
- you will sit in His presence, in no hurry, loving Him, longing to really know Him.
So many of us just use Christ to further our own dreams.
GOD HAVE MERCY!
Do you know what our Lord wants most of all from those who claim to be devoted to Him?
Do you know what would please Him?
I believe the Lord showed me the one thing He seeks above all else and that is for us to come to His table!
We’ve vacated our seat at His Table and settled for a sort of “take out” service. Choosing to go thru the Sunday morning “Drive Thru” rather than the intimate “sit down feast”!
We are hungry, but out of time….so we grab a “Happy Meal”. We shove fries and a burger in our mouth while we drive in rush hour traffic. But hang on it’s not in vain…. look there’s a “toy” inside.
We settle for gracelets…...bits and pieces of God as we rush through this life hoping to die well. But dear friends, you should be more concerned about living well.
You may think there are times you get so excited about God that you actually cry out to Him for more. But supersizing your take out order doesn’t change the fact it is still a take out order - you still have no time for Him.
Our Heavenly Father is looking for believers who will seek a revelation of Him - a very deep personal intimacy.
Amos 8:11 “Behold, the days come, says the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.”
Cherish His invite! Run to His table!
Don’t make Him call you twice!
Don’t make Him call you twice!
The word for table can also mean “spread”. God isn't speaking of just a little plate of food. He's talking about a spread of goods - a massive feast!
Furthermore, to set the atmosphere, God declares that this feast is a time for laughter, joy and singing.
Then! O saints hear me now - As you dine God anoints your head with the oil of gladness.
Psalm 23:5, 45:7 and Hebrews 1:9
Meanwhile, as God is preparing and serving your feast, He makes your enemies sit on the outer fringes, watching everything unfold.
“Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He comes shall find watching: verily I say to you, that He shall gird Himself and make them to sit down to meat and will come and serve them.” Luke 12:37
I tell you, no demon power, including the devil himself, could ever comprehend this kind of love, mercy and grace.
John 21:12 “Jesus said, Come and dine……”
Ask the Lord what He would have you do for Him this week!
No comments:
Post a Comment