“Setting the Table”

Recently, our church was planning a special service with a focus on worship and prayer. As the time for the service drew near, I realized that we would be meeting on the same night as the Feast of Tabernacles. I shared this with our pastor and he asked me if I would bring a teaching that night on the meaning of the feast. I told him I would and began to study and prepare. 

When the night of our special service began I spent a few moments mentally reviewing the main lessons I wanted to share about the feast. Three of the things that came clearly into focus were:

1. The feast was a time of joyful celebration.
2. The feast had a strong emphasis upon water and the blessings of rain.
3. The feast was a time of thanksgiving for Gods abundant provisions.

Before I got up to speak, the pastor asked if anyone had a word to share. Three people responded and each one read a different passage from the Bible.

The first one read a Scripture that spoke about joy. As I listened, it blessed me to think that someone was led to read a Scripture that covered one of the things I wanted to share about the feast.

The second person read a Scripture that included these words about water, “God brings rivers in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” Once again, it blessed me to think that someone was led to read a Scripture that covered something else I wanted to share about the feast.

The third person read a Scripture that spoke specifically about God’s bounty. By this time, I was totally amazed! 

As I got up from my seat and walked toward the front of the church to speak, I smiled inwardly as I thought about what God had done. It was His way of “setting the table” and preparing the hearts of His people to receive what He had for them that evening.

Comments

[Gwen Faulkenberry]

Totally cool!

[Joy]

This is so neat brotha!