1 Corinthians 10:21-22 KJV
[21] Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. [22] Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
What does it mean to partake from The Lord's table and drink from His cup?
It is beyond a symbolic communion we may do at church service or anywhere else... it is partaking of the life of Christ!
How can one partake of His life and yet entertain themselves with things that do not edify God in their life, but rather worldliness or Satanic ways! Think about it.
I remember back when I wasn't living for The Lord, though I attended church, I would listen to worldly music (cursing, songs promoting sexual lust, etc.). When my mother would find the hidden CD's I had (probably stole), she would ask me in what way does this music edify me in Jesus.
Well I had no answer, because Jesus was not who I was looking for at the time of my life. Meanwhile I would still go to church and religiously partake of communion. I was once a hypocrite. I would eat from the table of Christ without saying thank you. I truly did not realize what communion was all about, nor the lifestyle that followed.
Now what Paul is dealing with is not just the act of communion we do corporately on Sundays from time to time, but the lifestyle of partaking the life of Jesus! Not just on Sundays, but every day when you get into His Word, to live off the spiritual bread and to partake of the cup of His life and all that comes with it!
Once I gave my life fully to Jesus, I left the table of Satan.
My heart saddens for many in this generation, who claims to have a love for God, but looks like they been stationed at the enemy's camp. I am not talking about new born babes in the Kingdom, but those who have sat under the preaching of the Gospel for some time.
For many in my generation, it seems like people have gave heart to the lie of adolescence, allowing that to exempt those in that age group to be exempt from living a life fully for God and just waiting until they get older and "find themselves".
Listen, there is no such thing as adolescence and the only one people need to find is Jesus and they will find themselves once they let Him first find them, first love them, fist call them!
It is like High School days, everybody had their own table and click of friends. Me? I went from to table to table. I didn't really identify with a certain group but got to know everyone. That was a reflection of my life at the time. I went from one place to another, looking for love and acceptance in all the wrong ways.
BUT WHEN I CAME TO THE TABLE OF CHRIST, the table He called me to fellowship, my life was never the same!
So what table are you partaking from? Once Sunday service is over and you go to the movies, listen to your music, dress in ways you like, hangout with people who you call your friends...what table are you partaking from and what cup are you drinking?
Just a thought to seriously ponder as we continue the rest of this week before get to next Sunday unless The Lord comes.
1 Corinthians 10:21-22 KJV
[21] Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.[22] Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
Last night my wife and I were watching a film that I remember seeing long ago and thought it was funny. It involved a "Church" setting and from what I remember it wasn't as bad as I thought. As we watched the film, I found something different than before when I watched it. The difference was...this time I was not laughing as scenes of a church service were being depicted as a mockery as well as some characters who claimed to be Christian but were acting just as bad as the world and living as hypocrites.
After some time into the film I turned it off and Laurel and I did not finish it. Instead we discussed how true some of those depictions of the church are in the world, especially in the US. Where those who treat church more as mere entertainment, rather than the House of The Lord.
Instead of concluding the film, once shut off and after some discussion about it, we concluded in prayer and intercession for the church in America, as well as for our own lives and walk in Christ.
Laurel brought up how that when Jesus ministered, He never did nor performed miracles to merely entertain people. He preached the Gospel to open the door for transformed lives and a new opportunity to live a whole new life from now until eternity.
The Bible clearly shows this when Jesus was presented before Herod.
Luke 23:8-9 KJV
[8] And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season , because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. [9] Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.
Herod...this man of high authority, bound as an un-repented sinner, desired to see Jesus perform a miracle and be entertained!
Jesus did not operate in any power. He did not preach an anointed fiery sermon. He did not do a thing!!! Why? It was because Herod was only wanting to receive Jesus as an entertainer, but not a Savior!
Folks, there are many churches that merely entertain the congregations to fill in the time when Jesus is no longer operating in their midst!
It is not God's desire to refrain His spirit and power from a people, but when we seek our own entertainment, own satisfaction, own comfort and ease, well then God has departed and we've known it not!
If this fact doesn't convict us, I don't know what will!
What does1 Corinthians 10:22have to do with this? ...Everything!!!
I have come to realize more and more than when we live lukewarm (wishy washy) Christian lives, partaking from the Lord's table on Sundays and then the table of our entertainment in godlessness Monday through Saturday, we then find our selves removed from the alter of communion, which is to say the place of intercession.
Simply put, we can not serve God's plan and also our self preservation/ self centered ways. Jesus said if we are to follow Him, to deny ourselves and he that seeks to hold on to his life, to preserver himself, shall ultimately loose his life! (Matthew 16:25)
When we remove ourself from the place of prayer and intercession and glean more to our church programs and entertainments, we then try to take matters into our own hands and God is saying...are you provoking me to jealousy? Do you think you are stronger than I am? Do you not realize to see divine results in your church fellowship, in you family, in your life, comes not by your might, your power, but really it is by my Spirit?
I believe we would come to daily know this as a personal conviction if we never remove ourselves from the secret place of prayer, from the table of communion with Him!
I am admired, yet saddened when others like my posts as this one and yet when I look on their Facebook page, they seem to demonstrate everything but a life after godliness. I simply hope their approval to my posts provokes them, as us all to get closer to Christ and to enter in to a more blessed life in His righteousness. I say this not to condemn or withdraw anyone from The Lord, but rather to convict and draw people to the table of His fellowship...to the alter of intercession!
I encourage you, instead of entertaining your life with things that do nothing to edify God in your life or provoke you to get out of your comfort zone and reach to others for their gain in Christ, then simply shut the program of life's distractions off and get into your prayer closest and visit the King of Kings and The Lord or lords in the secret place!
You are only one prayer away from seeing His glory and returning presence to your life and upon the lives of those you cry out for!
God Bless
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