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/.

People of the Bible: Gideon

Book of the Bible: Judges 6-8

After Deborah’s death, Israel began to sin again. This led God to hand them over to the Midianites for seven years. The Israelites prayed to God to be rescued from Midianite control, and God sent an angel to speak to a man named Gideon. The angel told Gideon that he was a mighty hero and that God was with him. The angel also told Gideon that God was sending him to rescue Israel from the Midianites.

But Gideon didn’t believe he could do it because he was from the weakest tribe in the whole nation of Israel. But God reassured Gideon and told him that he would certainly destroy the Midianites very easily because He was going to be with him. But Gideon still didn’t fully believe, so he asked God to show him some signs that He would be with him.

Gideon asked for 2 signs. Gideon placed a fleece outside and asked God to allow the fleece to be wet with the morning dew but the ground around it to be dry. And God did it. The second sign was like the first, but the opposite. This time Gideon asked for the fleece to be dry and the ground to be wet. And God did it.

After these signs, Gideon knew that God was with him. So, Gideon gathered an army of 32,000 people and headed to battle. But God told him something very strange, He said that the army was too large and it would have to be made smaller. God told Gideon to let anyone that was afraid go home, and 10,000 people left. But God said the army was still too big. God told Gideon that whoever drinks water from the stream like a dog should be sent home. After all these tests, Gideon was only left with 300 men in his army.

Gideon had heard that the Midianites were afraid of God and Gideon so he was eager to attack them. Gideon gave each of his 300 men a ram's horn and torch and at night surrounded the camp. Once they had the camp surrounded they blew their horns and raised their torches. After seeing and hearing all of this, the people in the camp panicked and started to fight each other.

The people that didn’t fight tried to escape but Gideon and his small army were able to run them down and Gideon defeated the Midianites. Gideon, with an army of 300 was able to defeat over 100,000 Midianites not alone, but with God’s help.

The story of Gideon shows us that God wants to use all kinds of people. Gideon didn’t think God would want to use him because his family was small and weak. But God used Gideon in a great way and it led to a lot of people being saved. The story also shows us that God wants all the glory. There’s no way 300 people could have beaten 100,000 by themselves. But with God, all things are possible.

We even see that with Jesus. Jesus grew up in a small little town called Nazareth. No one expected anything good to come out of Nazareth, but God was with Jesus and Jesus listened to everything God told him. And because of his relationship with God, Jesus was able to offer everyone salvation if they would just believe in him.

Key Takeaways:

• God can do a lot with a little

• God’s plan may seem strange

• With God, all things are possible

Parents, 3treesKIDS will be covering “Gideon", both in-person and online this week. Be sure to check out their lesson at www.3trees.com/kids.

To find service times and locations, visit https://www.3trees.com/planyourvisit.

You May Be Ruining Your Reputation

Even though we have a whole market of products available to repel insects, flies, and mosquitoes – any insect for that matter – can still be quite a nuisance. Now imagine a time, thousands of years ago, when the same market of repellant products did not exist. Flies and other pests were overwhelming, not just as an aggravation to leisure times but also as a liability to valuable merchandise such as food, drink, or even fragrances.

With this context in mind, Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, provides this insight, "As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor."

Solomon clarifies that little foolish things that slip into our lives can dramatically affect us. Moreover, little foolish choices can outweigh big wise decisions. Envision this Scriptural reality: foolishness weighs more than wisdom when one's reputation is on the scales!

When Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes, there was no indoor plumbing, meaning people bathed less than once a week. The atmosphere was ripe with fleshly stench, and perfume helped mask the smell of disgraceful body odor. Because of the great need for perfume, the apothecaries held a position of honor in Jerusalem. The guilds belonging to them had special bazaars where they made their essential products available.

Understandably, the sweet-smelling perfumes sold in the marketplaces attracted flies. And if the flies succeeded in accessing the products, they could ruin the entire batch, causing it to smell bad through such effects as fermentation.

Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench… -Ecclesiastes 10:1 (ESV)

But, even more interestingly, "dead flies," as directly translated from the Hebrew text, actually means "flies of death." This variation in understanding brings us to a greater level of clarity. It suggests these flies are considered to be CARRYING DEATH – transporting dangerous bacteria from dead carcasses to society. So Solomon is not referencing flies that flew into perfume and died. Instead, he is warning of a type of fly that carried death! These "flies of death" poisoned and contaminated anything they contacted. They may have been little things – just flies – but they caused massive destruction and loss.

Why is all of this important? Because it is a spiritual metaphor. King Solomon is revealing a spiritual truth through a natural occurrence. Therefore, it is helpful to read Ecclesiastes 10:1 in conjunction with Ecclesiastes 7:1.

Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. -Ecclesiastes 10:1 (ESV)

A good name (or reputation) is better than precious ointment…-

Ecclesiastes 7:1 (ESV)

The point is that the enemy wants to bring dead flies – the flies of death – into your life so he can destroy the sweet-smelling things in it. In this context, the sweet smell in your life refers to your reputation. It is the good name God is trying to give you in your community, business, and relationships – especially your meaningful connections.

Take a minute and think about this: What is your reputation?

There is no one you want a better reputation with than the people who know you the best. But unfortunately, this is often not our reality because, too often, the people who know us the best respect us the least.

We are all wrestling with little things, but these little things become significant over time. Therefore, we must be cautious about the little things – the little follies in our lives – because, as Christians, we must never be a stumbling block to someone in need of Christ. Of course, we can't always get it right, but please acknowledge this reality. If sin doesn't bother you any longer, there's something wrong in your heart, and you probably need to have a come-to -- or, back to -- Jesus moment! It's time to repent before the Lord.

Unfortunately, hypocrisy starts small. It's the little things in our lives that can lead to becoming a thoroughly hypocritical person, and no one wants this to be their reputation. The Pharisees were prime examples of this failure. They looked great on the outside, but they were still a mess on the inside. Don't let this be your story. Don't appear to be one thing when you're something else. One of the most powerful things the Church can do is stop trying to live in a realm of pretense and start living out authenticity.

My encouragement is for you to hear what Solomon tried to teach us: dead flies – little foolish sins – can creep into your life in one place and begin to outweigh the wisdom you are displaying in other areas.

If you're struggling with hypocrisy in the church, you're probably not alone – we all come short of our goal at times. But, if you are a follower of Jesus, you must take time to evaluate and acknowledge your reputation. Are you a hypocrite? Have you unknowingly allowed dead flies into your life that are now poisoning your meaningful relationships and bringing a stench to your walk with God? Perhaps, even stopping someone else from stepping into their meaningful relationship with God and others?

The people who know you the best should respect you the most.

Allow this to be your story.

I invite you to view this message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/bybm_0IrRE8

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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