Managing The Table: Getting Your Posture Right. 2/3

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Psalm 23:5

The Heart posture of men is something God takes keen notice of. By your heart posture you either qualify for the next level of divine engagement or you are disqualified and remain as you are.

Judges 7:2-8 serves as a clear example:
⁶ Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. ⁷ The LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.”

When you become born again, one of the first things Christ does for you is that He sets a table before you. Now understand that Christ’s positioning of the table before you [not behind you] indicates:

1. The Table must take priority in your life.
2. The Table is for your benefit and equipping for the journey ahead.
3. Set in the presence of your enemies means you must carry the consciousness that you are before an audience as a witness to God’s redemptive character and goodness. Your table manners matter!

Failure to assume the proper postire can cause an endless cycle of defeat and deficiency in your journey.

5 Postures at The Table

1. The Posture of a Dog. | Living on Crumbs

²⁶ But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread (from the table), and to cast it to dogs. ²⁷ And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Mathew 15:26-27

• There are degrees of entitlement relative to your position in Christ.
• As a born again believer, He prepares a table before you and expects you to sit at the table! Yet many of us prefer to degrade ourselves, rejecting our birthright at the table but rather settling for the heathen position of dogs who are only qualified to receive the crumbs which do fall.
• When you pursue after ‘all other things’ to the detriment of seeking 1st the Kingdom, then you are under the table as a dog.
• The crowd of miracle seeking believers, prayer only seeking believers, prosperity seeking believers, are nothing more than a pack of dogs! Not because Christ had made them so, but because they have chosen to be so.
• Dog-postured believers never sit at the word long enough for it to clean them and wash them and establish boundaries in their lives. As a result they live as they like; talk as they like; dress as they like; but still come to church and the place of prayer seeking the boon of the Kingdom. They look to the opening of the windows of heaven but never hold any real interest to go in through the door!
• The best such a Christian can ever get to is Matt 11:28 never graduating into Matt 12:29
• Remember the prodigal son descended to swine level as well, though he never ceased being a son.
• Examine yourself and amend your ways.

2. The Posture of Martha. | Distracted to Deficiency

⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” ⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, Luke 10:40-41

• When anxiety and worrying regularly causes you to miss your quiet time or not profit from it, you have assumed the posture of Martha.
• When you cannot schedule yourself for proper study because of office work/family commitments over a long period of time, you have assumed a Martha posture.
• It is a posture that is encumbered with much activities and pursuits but never commits serious time to proper consecrated study and meditation of the word. That which matters most.
• When you assume this position you are always close to the table but never truly profiting from it. Your case is like that of one who works in a kitchen but is chronically malnourished!
• When you often find yourself spiritually/emotionally depleted and always losing your peace, You may need a change of posture.
• Many church workers are often prone to this error of being too busy serving God yet not actually having time to be with God. You may need to change your church!
• The proper sequence in Mark 3:14 is ‘being with Him’ first before ‘going for Him’
• Examine yourself and amend your ways.

3. The Posture of Mary. | Proceeding to Overflow

 ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42

• Mary’s position is commendable and is the standard we ought to strive for regularly.
• Sitting at the feet of Jesus with a heart of simplicity and desire waiting to be filled.
• When done in consecration and meekness, revelation begins to flow; strength is established and the process of conformation is given room to flourish.
• Greatest of all is that you become much more intimate and familiar with the voice of God.
• When you take time to sit like Mary, it shall later be said of you ‘blessed art thou amongst men/women‘. Because the light the entrance of the word brings will distinguish you from the crowd.
• Those who assume Mary’s posture, graduate from Matt 11:28 and become firmly rooted in Matt Matt 12:29 because they find rest for their souls anchored as they are in Christ

4. The Posture of Lazarus. | A Living Testimony

²So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. ⁹Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. John 12:2,

• Lazarus reclined at the table with Jesus.
• He has sat at the table long enough for the power of resurrection to fully work in him.
• He lives above anxiety and worries in the realm of continuous rest in God.
• The reality of passing from death to Life has made him unshakeable
• He is a living testimony! Men can not only see Christ with him but Christ in him.

Discipleship living is for those who examine themselves regularly and allow the spirit to align them accordingly that they may bear fruit

What has your posture at the table being like of late?

Shalom Brethren!