DON’T GIVE THE ENEMY A SEAT AT YOUR TABLE – Part 2 of 2

“But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation -- but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.”  (Romans 8:10-12 NIV)

Allowing the Enemy to have a say in our lives should not be normal. In Jesus’ name, we can refuse him and all his ways. We don’t need to accept them. He leads us to sins that are harming us and choking the life out of this generation, but they don’t have to stay in our lives. Romans 8:10-12 says the same Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives inside of us. This same resurrection power is available to us. Jesus Christ has broken the power of sin, and God’s invitation to us is to embrace a new mindset and a new way of living. In Jesus’ name we don’t have to let the voice of the Enemy control the way we live. In Jesus’ name we don’t have to give in to sinful desires; we can win the battle for our minds. Thanks to Jesus, we are no longer slaves [to sin]. We are set free. We are alive. We are children of God. 

-- Louie Giglio in “Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table”

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DON’T GIVE THE ENEMY A SEAT AT YOUR TABLE – Part 1 of 2

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”  (Psalm 23:5 NIV)

In less time than it takes to snap your fingers -- if you’re not careful -- the Enemy can pull up a seat at the table your Shepherd has prepared for you.

We’ve come to accept the Enemy sitting at our table as normal. That’s a big problem. We give him permission anytime we say things like, “Oh, that’s the way it is these days. Anxiety is just a part of the equation. We’re all anxious, and there’s nothing we can do about it. Life’s just so chaotic today. Of course we’re all strangled by worry. Look at the news feed. Why wouldn’t I be afraid?”

In the same way, we accept the false narrative about our lives that we aren’t worth much to God… or anybody else, for that matter. We think people don’t get us. Or they don’t value us. Or that they are flat-out against us.

Or we flip to the other point of view. We think we deserve more, so we allow envy and greed and comparison to cannibalize our God-given identity. We scroll our way through social media feeds determined to get what other people have -- or, better yet, to get more.

More stuff. That’s what we need. More friends. More layers of protection. More likes. Or maybe another table. After all, we all live in a corrupted culture, and we know it. Why stress over a little lust here, or a moment or two of pleasure there? Before you know it, you talk like the Devil and think the thoughts he wants you to dwell on.

That’s just the way it is, right? No! 

-- Louie Giglio in “Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table”

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OVERFLOWING GRACE

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”  (Psalm 23:5 NRSV)

You have a place at God’s table.  And He is filling your cup to overflowing.

The overflowing cup was a powerful symbol in the days of David. Hosts in the ancient East used it to send a message to a guest. As long as the cup was kept full, the guest knew He was welcome. But when the cup sat empty, the host was hinting that the hour was late. On occasions, however, when the host really enjoyed the company of the person, he filled the cup to overflowing. He didn’t stop when the wine reached the rim; he kept pouring until the liquid ran over the edge of the cup and down the table.

Have you noticed how wet your table is? God wants you to stay. Your cup overflows with joy. Overflows with grace. Shouldn’t your heart overflow with gratitude? 

-- Max Lucado in “Traveling Light: The Promise of Psalm 23”

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