Enemies at the table Apostle Sergio G. Enriquez O. Sixth Communion Service Guatemala, June 5th Year of Abundance
Proverbs 15:17 (ESV) Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it. In this verse we see it is in poor taste to seat at the table with another person, and to argue continually, mainly if it is with our family, although there are other types of discomforts, or distractions like watching TV, and captivating the attention of everyone who are joining us, or suddenly someone wants to discuss a general topic, and everybody else reject that person, simply because there is no communion at the table. Proverbs 17:1 (ESV) Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife. It is better to eat with peace, no matter what are you having, as long as you have peace to go with it, than to have a banquet with contention; thus we look forward to share a meal with people whose company we enjoy, otherwise we would rather be eating on our own. Psalm 23:5 (ESV) You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. As we read this verse, we could thing at some point that it would be better to forget about our enemies, especially when we are seating at the table, however when God states that He prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies, it is because it is beneficial in a certain way, since God has perfect plans. Obviously, we could suggest the Lord to avoid the presence of our enemies when we are about to eat, however, it is at that moment when our enemies are manifested; Judas was evidenced as a traitor at the table. Now, God allows our enemies to be present at the Communion table to enable us to defeat them in due time; certainly there are enemies, but in the name of Jesus we will defeat them. FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD James 4:4 (ESV) You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. This could be one of the enemies affecting our spiritual lives, whether we still are friends of the world, or not; because maybe worldly customs are attracting us in a very subtle way, and this could be leading us to develop attitudes similar to the people of this world, even if we are not directly treating with people who do not know Christ; since a worldly custom could contaminate Christians, disregarding if we are treating with an unbeliever or not, the simple act to watch some sport game on TV, we could even get to curse someone we dislike. Therefore, as we come to His table, let us meditate if we still have attitudes dragging us to behave like the people of this world. Today, through Communion, God is enabling us to put our feet on the necks of our enemies, like it happened in this verse:
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Enemies at the table Apostle Sergio G. Enriquez O. Sixth Communion Service Guatemala, June 5th Year of Abundance
Joshua 10:24-25 (ESV) And when they brought those kings out to Joshua, Joshua summoned all the men of Israel and said to the chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him, “Come near; put your feet on the necks of these kings.” Then they came near and put their feet on their necks. 25 And Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. For thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.” Perhaps there are attitudes that bring shame on us, since they keep returning to our lives continually, and we would like to delete that memory, God is bringing that enemy to this Communion in order to empower us to defeat it in the name of Jesus. THE ENEMIES OF GOOD 2 Timothy 3:3 (NRSV) inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of good, Currently, the laws of the world are diverting more and more regarding what has been called sexual preferences, to the point that in some places restrooms are used a common service, both men and women are allowed to use the same toilets no discrimination at all; we can consider this is wrong. Another situation is that this world has begun to legally approve sex between parents and children, which is disapproved at the eyes of anyone with common sense; then we could say this is another enemy of good. Recently, there appeared a person who has been looking forward to promote a law that would enforce the mandatory reading of the Bible, however we do not agree since that would lead many to fall in the same attitude that Israel had: Numbers 21:5 (ESV) And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” Israel was eating manna from heaven, angels’ food, nevertheless they rejected it. Communion help us to distinguish between right and wrong in order to avoid underestimating God’s blessings. MINDS BUSY WITH EVIL DEEDS Colossians 1:21 (NRSV) And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, Occupying our minds with vain things would even lead us to the extreme of blasphemy against God, and the saints of the Lord. How could we blaspheme against the saints? When we state
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Enemies at the table Apostle Sergio G. Enriquez O. Sixth Communion Service Guatemala, June 5th Year of Abundance
that we do not make business with our brethren because all of them are bandits; that would be blasphemy against the people of God. Romans 12:2 (NRSV) Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. We must transform our minds, and get rid of this enemy who intends to make us behave like the people of this world, yet if we set our minds on the matters of the Kingdom, we will find a figure of what God’s teachings wherever we go.
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