Daily Diary - February 2nd 2016

Setting the Table

(Revelation)

Scripture of the Day:  Matthew 9:16-18 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. ¹⁷ Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Parable:  The revelation I received came from when you go into a restaurant and you are waiting for a table.  The waitresses are trying to clean off a table and make it ready for the next group.

When the table is covered with partially eaten plates of food, a dirty tablecloth and half empty glasses, you are not in a hurry to sit down.  We gladly wait until the table is cleared, a new tablecloth is set and fresh dishes are in place.  The table becomes very inviting and excitement builds in us for the upcoming meal. 

When the table is set there is an expectation and anticipation to the goodness of the food that we will receive. When our food is served to us our experience of the restaurant is based on how good and nourishing the food is.

This parable represents the new church movement and what God is doing today.  God’s word is powerful and the anticipation of it should be high.  The setting should be clean and fresh.  The environment should create anticipation and excitement for the Word of God to be served. 

The older church setting that represents the 1950’s church seems to be that of an already eaten environment.  These churches are serving the same setting from an already served table.  The word of God is unchanging and is very exciting.  The environment from which we serve the word should change to maintain this level of excitement and expectation.

God is continually refreshing the table, which is the church to serve His word from.  We are growing as people and society changes.  The expectations of what people receive change.  God’s word doesn’t change but the environment changes from which it is delivered.

When Jesus walked in His ministry He was constantly doing something fresh and new.  He was demonstrating the love of God and the Victory we have in His name through many ways.  The revelations were strong because He was willing to do what was necessary to reach the lost.  He did the impossible and improbable things so we could gain the revelation of God and His goodness.

Our church environment should be fresh and exciting.  We should be willing to follow our hearts and reset the table’s of our churches to be able to reach the ongoing changes of society and culture.  We truly must ask the question. “What would Jesus do?” 

Jesus wasn’t worried about a building or a structure.  He had no concern for serving the same food from the same table with the same tablecloth.  He simply did what was necessary.  We must begin to follow Jesus example and deliver the Word of God from an environment that people will receive from.

The Lord wants to unleash a gushing river of new wine into the church today, but we must leave some things behind.  First of all the message of the Gospel is both timeless and flawless, but how we package it makes a difference.  God is not watered down or boring.  His Word and our relationship with Him is the most exciting thing I have discovered in life. 

I believe it’s about our expectation.  I grew up in church somewhat bored of the environment and not feeling fresh and alive in the atmosphere.  Today I can’t wait for the new thing that God has in store for me.  It is a feeling of learning something new and fresh and it is an expectation of something great!

Thank you Jesus that your word never changes and it is alive and life changing.  We ask for you to show us the new ways and fresh movement you have in store for this time we live in Jesus name! Amen