Guess Who’s Coming to Breakfast

God loves tables!

Throughout Scriptures, we see God drawn to a table. The reason is because he desires a relationship with you and me!

Biblically, tables mean something:

• The first relationship between God and humanity started in a garden centered upon food.
  

• Before priests of old could enter into the presence of God, the holy of holies, they had to pause in an inner court and partake of sanctified bread at a table in preparation for the next level of relationship with God.
  

• When Jesus was on Earth, he was accused of spending too much time at tables with the wrong kind of people, gluttons and winebibbers.
  

• Jesus famously visited the house of close friends in John 12 for a meal, a gathering at a table. Spectacularly, that table turned into a platform for a worship service.
  

• When Jesus was preparing to depart his disciples and go to the Cross, he called them to a table to celebrate Passover and install the elements of Communion.
  

• When we get to Heaven, one of our first experiences will be to gather at a table with people from every tribe and tongue to partake in what is biblically referred to as the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
  

• In John’ Gospel alone there are 21 stories that deal with food or eating either with direct references or used in metaphors.
  

• Jesus instructs us to remember him by visiting his “table” and partake of the sacraments of bread symbolizing his broken body and the cup signifying his poured out blood.

Most likely, the Bible’s consistent references to a table provides visualization of God’s desire to grow his relationship with us. After all, our first job is to be with him. Being with Him changes us! This follows closely with what the apostles are called to do in Mark 3. It says, “Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.”

Yes, the disciples are called to serve Jesus, and they are being sent out – but before departure they are appointed to be with Jesus. We are to walk and talk with Jesus, growing in a deep meaningful relationship with Him.

How can we grow and enjoy God if we don’t spend any time with him?

For context, a 2018 study of 2,000 families with school-aged children showed that the average family gets just 37 minutes a day of time together. (1) We can think about how Covid changed that. Families have been spending more time together because of stay-at-home orders and avoiding crowds. But it seems as though our schedules are getting packed again, leaving less family time than before. How can families truly enjoy one another, grow, and care for one another when they’re spending less than 45 minutes a day together? The principle applies to our relationship with Christ, how can we grow and enjoy God when we don’t spend any time with him?

Ironically, after Simon Peter had denied having ever known Jesus during the events of the crucifixion, Jesus invited Peter to a makeshift table, beside a campfire and morning breakfast, to mend the relationship.

“Come and eat breakfast…” (John 21:12 NKJV)

It was at that “table” that Peter was given the opportunity to amend for his three denials of Jesus by offering three affirmations of his love for Jesus and transition from a fisherman to a shepherd at Jesus’ invitation.

Again, God loves tables! And, there is an invitation for you to join him in deeper relationship at your own table of relationship with Heaven. Take some time to meet Him at the “table” by investing time into prayer, mediation, and His Word.

I invite you to view this message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/pPak8_syxOQ

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUID| MESSAGE NOTES

We want to connect with you and help you take your next steps!

1. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? This decision is the first step in receiving peace in your life. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.

2. Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.

3. Do you feel God prompting you to take your next steps? If yes, BEGIN is waiting for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin

4. Would you like to make a difference in our community? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.

5. Subscribe to EricGilbert.org using this link:https://www.ericgilbert.org/subscribe. You'll be able to receive updates directly to your email inbox as we post blogs every Monday, Thursday, and Friday morning.

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1) Sam Paul, “American Families Barely Spend Quality Time Together,” New York Post, March 20, 2016, https://nypost.com/2018/03/20/american-families-barely-spend-quality-time-together/.

Follow Me

The first conversation Jesus had with Simon Peter is recorded in the book of Matthew,

And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. -Matthew 4:18–22 (NKJV)

And the last conversation Jesus had with Simon Peter is recorded in the book of John,

This He spoke, signifying by what death he (Peter) would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” -John 21:19 (NKJV)

It ended the way it started! Jesus giving a commanding invitation, “Follow me.” That reminder extends to you and me. We are all under the same instruction to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Jesus. The number one goal in our lives should be to keep following Jesus always.

There are approximately two to three years that passed between the two verses above. In between these two moments of conversations from Jesus to Simon Peter, many events took place which are recorded in the Gospels of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. All of these Gospels describe Simon Peter as having zeal and being very out-spoken. He could also be very impulsive, which led him to make many mistakes. He experienced spiritual highs, such as walking on water, and he experienced spiritual lows, such as denying that he was a follower of Jesus during the events of the Crucifixion. His life was like a roller coaster of extremely high-highs and extremely low-lows!

Maybe you can relate your spiritual journey to Simon Peter’s turbulent example. Of course, you've never walked on water – unless it was a block of ice – but I suspect you have had some very high moments in your walk with God. Moments of great victory! You’ve also probably never had Jesus call you, “Satan.” Still, you’ve most likely experienced some really low moments in your relationship with God. Maybe even some moments of deep regret over sinful acts and disobedience to God.

Simon Peter was grieved by his failures, filled with shame as a result of his sin, and embarrassed by his weakness. Each of us can remember times when our faith has been weak or we’ve messed it all up. We all know the reality of low-lows.

One of Simon Peter’s lowest moments involved denying any relationship with Jesus, even though he said he never would do such a thing. I wonder is it possible that in your life you actually have had a similar moment? Perhaps, at the time you were surrounded by close friends, family members, or acquaintances? Did you – have you ever – denied God’s grace in your life? Maybe, in specific moments, you’ve been hesitant to associate yourself with Jesus, a church, or Christianity?

The enemy is actively trying to make people deny that they are followers of Jesus Christ. We see this happening globally, people are actively denying Christ and turning away from Christianity.

BUT we know the back of the book, and we know who wins!

On the other side of denial, mess up, and mistakes the invitation is still the same.

Follow Me.

Follow Jesus!

This He spoke, signifying by what death he (Peter) would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” -John 21:19 (NKJV)

I invite you to view this message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/pPak8_syxOQ

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE | MESSAGE NOTES

We want to connect with you and help you take your next steps!

1. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? This decision is the first step in receiving peace in your life. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.

2. Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.

3. Do you feel God prompting you to take your next steps? If yes, BEGIN is waiting for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin

4. Would you like to make a difference in our community? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.

5. Subscribe to EricGilbert.org using this link:https://www.ericgilbert.org/subscribe. You'll be able to receive updates directly to your email inbox as we post blogs every Monday, Thursday, and Friday morning.

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Two Things You Can Do Right Now To Stabilize Your Faith

Earlier this week we talked about how when it mattered most, Elijah showed up and his faith was on fire. He stood against over 850 false prophets by himself. Deeply believing in faith that revival would happen in his nation. He diligently sought God, and he believed that God would send fire to the Earth and prove His presence. He also believed that God would respond to the people's spiritual alignment by sending a physical reward of restoration and renewal to the land. Through Elijah's strong faith, faith on fire, God ended the drought and famine. He brought rain and healing to their nation!

We can glean a great deal from Elijah when it comes to having stable faith; a faith that is not double-minded. Here are four takeaways from his experience on Mount Carmel that help us learn how to stabilize our faith:

1. YOU MUST BE WILLING TO SAY WHAT YOU HEAR

Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” -1 Kings 18:41 (NKJV)

2. REALIZE OTHERS MAY NOT SEE WHAT YOU HEAR (Elijah) said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” -1 Kings 18:43 (NKJV)

3. NEVER FORGET, MIRACLES USUALLY START SMALL

Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” - 1 Kings 18:44 (NKJV) 4. FAITH LOOKS AGAIN

(Elijah) said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times, he said, “GO AGAIN.”

-1 Kings 18:43-44 (NKJV)

Maybe you’ve thought things like, I know God would do it for him… but I don’t think He would do it for me. Or I know that God would do that for that family, but I don’t think He’d do it for mine. We begin to think we heard God wrong, or maybe we missed something. Our faith begins to become double-minded and unstable, and before we realize it we are making God sick. Our faith should not waiver! Our faith needs to be stable and be a look again type of faith.

Here are two things you can do right away to activate stable faith in YOUR LIFE NOW:

1. Create a culture that looks AGAIN

Set the example. Elijah required those around him to look again, even though they continued to see nothing each time they went to look for a visual that correlated with what he said he was hearing. When you have a promise from God’s word, don’t be afraid to look again or challenge the people in your circle of influence to look again. Don’t miss your miracle by walking away right about the time it is getting ready to be revealed on the horizon.

2. Speak the word AGAIN and AGAIN

And Elijah came to all the people and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. -1 Kings 18:21 (NKJV)

We learn from this passage that a sign of backslidden faith was silence. The people couldn’t even state which God they served. Meanwhile, Elijah was stating over and over, that he heard God’s rain on the horizon, so someone should go look again!

When you stop decreeing the Word in faith, it might be an indication that you are backsliding in your faith and the enemy is choking your voice. He wants to squeeze the life out of your voice so you will NOT speak the word of God over your life. After all, even Jesus stated in Mark 4, “The cares of this world choke the word and make it unfruitful.”

I challenge you to look again! We need to have faith like Elijah that is on fire to see revival in our nation and stable enough to see it through. And, if we listen closely, like Elijah, we will also hear the sound of an abundance of rain:

“Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, and he will cause the rain to come down for you- The former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, my great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; and my people shall never be put to shame. Then you shall know that I am… the Lord your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame. And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, you old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on my servants...I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” (Joel 23-29NKJV)

We will all walk through what feels like seasons of drought and famine in our lives, but we must press on, pursue God, and stay focused on God in great faith. Keep seeking God with a diligent heart. Don’t stop looking again!

Something good is about to happen! https://youtu.be/vjLKClOF-Is

1. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? This decision is the first step in receiving the anointing in your life. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.

2. Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.

3. Do you feel God prompting you to take your next steps? If yes, BEGIN is waiting for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin

4. Would you like to make a difference in our community? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE| MESSAGE NOTES