THE PREPARED TABLE IN THE PRESENCE OF THOSE WHO STAND AS ENEMIES

THE PREPARED TABLE IN THE PRESENCE OF THOSE WHO STAND AS ENEMIES

5 YOU PREPARE A TABLE BEFORE ME IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES; You anoint my head with oil; MY CUP RUNS OVER.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever."
Psalm 23:5,6 (NKJV)

• Usually, God would want to do whatever He purposes to do in your life, without minding who's ox is gored. That is, He would not mind doing it even in the presence of those who would not be happy seeing it done—those who stand as the enemies.

• You might not want your blessings, what God intended to do in your life, be made known to the people who might want to hinder it. But, God at times may want such a person or people to see It, but incapacitate them not to be able to hinder you from getting it or do you any harm while enjoying it.
• The psalmist in our text, Psalm 23:5, says God prepared a table before him, right in the presence of those who were against him. In other words, God wanted those who would not be happy with His blessings in the life of the Psalmist to witness or see the blessings; but they would be made powerless to hinder or debar the materialization of it, or stop him from enjoying it.
• If you had someone or people who did not want your success, God might render them inoperative or inactive; being unable to hinder the blessings from coming forth. And At times, God might want to humiliate them, and channel the blessings through them.
• Hamman who hated Mordecai and wanted to ask the King's permission, for Mordecai to be hanged on the gallows, was later appointed by the King to take Mordecai around the city and parade him as the person whom the King wishes to honour (Esther 5:14; 6:6-11).
• The same person who wanted Mordecai to die—who was plotting and planning his death—was asked to take him out and parade him and celebrate him. God honoured Mordecai in the presence of his enemy—the person who hated him and wanted him dead.
• God humbled Hamman, who because he hated one person, Mordecai, he decided to exterminate or annihilate the whole race of Jews.

• The table said to be prepared here, in the passage of the Bible, is the blessings of God which could provoke the envy or jealousy of those who oppose you—those who are not happy with your success or blessings.

• If you noticed that someone or a group of people are not in favour of whatever God wanted to do, or is doing, in your life; do not be afraid, allow God to handle them, alongside with what He wanted to do.
• Let God humble them through what He has chosen to do in your life. The blessings might even be channelled through them and they would not be able to hinder or stop it.
• Note: regardless of some people's feeling about God's goodness in your life, If He has chosen to bless you, or honour you, even in the presence of the opposers; He would not hesitate to do it.
• Those who hate you cannot stop God, If He chooses to do it right in their presence. A believer in Christ Jesus should not live his or her life in the fear of the enemy; the devil and those who are loyal to him.
• A believer should always bring to God in prayers, whatever anyone has planned to do negatively against him or her. Yours is to live and walk in the light of the Word of God, and tell Him to handle the opposers: "WHEN A MAN'S WAYS PLEASE THE LORD, HE MAKES EVEN HIS ENEMIES TO BE AT PEACE WITH HIM" (Proverbs 16:7 NKJV).

• That said, there are times God may want to conceal what He purposes to do in the life of a believer in order to shield him or her from the attacks of the enemy (Matthew 2:13-15,20-23).

• When the Baby Jesus was born, God instructed Joseph to take, both the baby and the mother, down to Egypt to shield them from the attacks of those who are after the life of the Baby (Matthew 2:13-15).
• While in some instances, He would want His doing in a believer's life, to be known or seen by all, friends and foes; and would cause or make no one to hinder.
• If God wanted to display His power, prove His supremacy, He could even choose the person who poses as a threat, to be the channel through which the blessings are delivered.
• The person, Moses, whom God would use to deliver or liberate the Israelites from Egypt was raised in the same palace of the King, Pharaoh, who was oppressing them; who ordered the killing of Israelites' male children and would not want them out of the slavery (Exodus 1:8-14,22; Acts 7:18,19).
• In the presence and palace of Pharaoh who stood as an enemy, God prepared and raised Moses who would be used to humble and deal with him (Acts 7:21,22).

• Thus, do not be afraid of the enemy, the devil, and those who have sold their souls to him and being used as instruments against the Believers (2 Timothy 2:26).

• Let God work and demonstrate the supremacy of His power through the circumstances and events in your life.
• If any human agent of the devil wants to stand on your way, tell his or her matter to God in prayer.
• Let God deal with your opposers while you are busy enjoying the goodness of God (Romans 12:19).

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Whatever is contrary to your health is rebuked and uprooted in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
• The hold which is broken now will never rise again in Jesus' name.
  Peace!

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!