​THE WORD
Parable of the Farmer Scattering SeedMARK 4 Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. 2 He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: 
 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. 4 As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. 5 Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” 9 Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
10 Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.  11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, 12 so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:
‘When they see what I do,
    they will learn nothing.
When they hear what I say,
    they will not understand.
Otherwise, they will turn to me
    and be forgiven.’”
13 Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? 14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. 15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. 16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. 20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Parable of the Growing Seed   MARK 4   26 Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. 28 The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. 29 And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.”Parable of the Mustard Seed30 Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? 31 It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, 32 but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.”  33 Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand. 34 In fact, in his public ministry he never taught without using parables; but afterward, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.

Parable of the Farmer Scattering SeedMARK 4 Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. 2 He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: 
 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. 4 As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. 5 Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” 9 Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
10 Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.  11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, 12 so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:
‘When they see what I do,
    they will learn nothing.
When they hear what I say,
    they will not understand.
Otherwise, they will turn to me
    and be forgiven.’”
13 Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? 14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. 15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. 16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. 20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Parable of the Growing Seed   MARK 4   26 Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. 28 The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. 29 And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.”Parable of the Mustard Seed30 Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? 31 It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, 32 but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.”  33 Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand. 34 In fact, in his public ministry he never taught without using parables; but afterward, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.  Philippians 2:9-10
Once you make up your mind to keep the commands of Jesus and begin to allow the Word to dwell in you richly, the Name of Jesus will become far more powerful to you. It will become more than just a word. It will become a force that will cause every circumstance and every demon that tries to stand in your way to bow its knee to your command.
I tell you, the Name of Jesus works. There is far greater power in it than any of us have yet realized.
My faith is so set on the authority of the Name of Jesus that there are times I just say, “In the Name” and the power of God comes on the scene.
In fact, I’ve discovered that the Name of Jesus—just the Name alone—is effective when spoken by a Word-abiding believer. Revelation 19:13 says the Name of Jesus is the Word of God! So, when an evil spirit is trying to bring sickness, poverty, depression or any other garbage into my household, I don’t have to quote every scripture I know to stop him. I can just point my finger at him and say, “Jesus!” That’s like throwing the whole Word of God in his face at one time!
Discover for yourself what the exalted Name can do. Begin to speak it with confidence and authority. There is power in the Name of Jesus.
Scripture Reading:
Acts 3:1-16NLT
Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar
3 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.  4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”  7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.  9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! 11 They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.
Peter Preaches in the Temple
12 Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? 13 For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. 14 You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!  
16 “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.

SEEDTIME AND HARVEST  (Part 1)
The law of seedtime and harvest is God’s way.   Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. 
And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.  (Genesis 1:11-12NKJV)
God made a promise to Noah in Genesis 8:22  “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.”
This is God’s commitment concerning our planet, and it will be that way as long as Earth is in existence.
Law of the Seed
The Law of Genesis is one of God’s laws, which governs the seed.  Everything produces after its kind, and the ability of the seed is in itself even in the natural.  
For instance, the seed of strife is in strife itself.  If you get into strife with someone, it will create more strife.  Yet if you speak kindness and love, it will produce the same.  The harvest is inside the seed itself even before you choose to plant it.  No matter who chooses the seed.  
Faith-filled words produce more faith.  Fear-filled words produce more fear.  The heart, or the human spirit responds to the words (seeds) planted in the heart.  Jesus in His Own Words reveals how the Kingdom of God works: 
Mark 4:14  The sower sows the word.  
The Parable of the Growing Seed
Mark 4:26-29  And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.  
For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.  But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
God furnishes the seeds, but we must choose to plant them and be patient for the harvest.
In Luke 17:6(AMP), Jesus tells us who will plant and how to plant. 
So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.  
That implies that if you don’t have faith as a seed, you won’t plant it by saying.  But if you have faith as a seed, you will plant (speak) the Word of God in your heart, and it will produce after its kind.
The heart of man is the soil where the seed is planted.  When you speak the Word of God, that seed becomes planted in your heart.  There it begins to grow and produce after its kind.
Mark 4:15-20  “And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
Mark 4:28  For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.
Many give up before harvest time. They give up during the growth process.  Then some try to reap the blade (too soon) and, therefore, destroy the harvest.
Jesus tells us the principle of the law of faith in: 
Mark 11:23,  For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  
That is the way the God-kind of faith works.

WEEK 4
FIRST JOHN CHAPTER 4 
LOVE FOR GOD AND ONE ANOTHER
4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.  4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
KNOWING GOD THROUGH LOVE
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
SEEING GOD THROUGH LOVE
12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
THE CONSUMMATION OF LOVE
17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.
OBEDIENCE BY FAITH
20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
 
FIRST JOHN CHAPTER 5
OBEDIENCE BY FAITH
5 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
THE CERTAINTY OF GOD’S WITNESS
6 This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.  9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
CONFIDENCE AND COMPASSION IN PRAYER
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.  16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.
KNOWING THE TRUE – REJECTING THE FALSE
18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.  19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.  20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

WEEK 3
FIRST JOHN CHAPTER 3
THE COMMAND OF LOVE
3 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
SIN AND THE CHILD OF GOD
4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.  7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
THE IMPERATIVE OF LOVE
10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.  13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
THE OUTWORKING OF LOVE
16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?  18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH AND THE SPIRIT OF ERROR
24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

WEEK 2
FIRST JOHN CHAPTER 2
​​THE TEST OF KNOWING CHRIST
2 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
THE TEST OF KNOWING HIM
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.  7 Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.  9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
THEIR SPIRITUAL STATE
12 I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
13 I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.  I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one.  I write to you, little children,
Because you have known the Father.  14 I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.  I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.
DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
DECEPTIONS OF THE LAST HOUR
18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the[d] Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.  20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.  22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
LET TRUTH ABIDE IN YOU
24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.  26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you [g]will abide in Him.
THE CHILDREN OF GOD
28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that [h]when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

WEEK 1
THE WORD OF LIFE 
FIRST JOHN CHAPTER 1
WHAT WAS HEARD, SEEN, AND TOUCHED
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.  
FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM AND ONE ANOTHER
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Just imagine, as Thanksgiving approaches, you may be eagerly anticipating the smell of turkey roasting in the oven, generous portions of stuffing, and the perfect slice of pumpkin pie heaped with fresh whipped cream. It is a special time when friends and family will gather for fellowship and a time of reflection on the abundance we enjoy. Even more exciting and bountiful than a Thanksgiving table are those blessings that await at the table of God. Maybe you don’t realize it, but you have a place at God’s table. However, if you don’t even know you’re invited, then you won’t take your seat, and therefore, you won’t feast on the banquet of blessing He has set before you.
So, what’s on the menu at God’s table? You’ll find an answer to every need, the fulfillment of every desire, and a helping of every good thing—in short, you’ll find THE BLESSING of the Lord. When you take your place at the table of God, His menu includes helpings of grace, healing, peace and abundance, and they are all for you to taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8)!
Blessing #1: Grace at the Table
“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy…. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” Titus 3:4-5, 7
At any good, full-course meal, there is always a main dish, which is the primary part of the meal. The appetizers, side dishes and desserts are all intended to complement and add to the enjoyment of the main dish.
At the Thanksgiving table, the main dish is typically turkey, but at God’s table, the main dish is grace. Every part of THE BLESSING is centered around and based upon the grace of God. A simple definition of God’s grace is “God’s unmerited or undeserved favor.” Many people believe they don’t deserve a place at the table, so they don’t even show up. But the very definition of grace gives everyone a right and a place at God’s table.
God has been trying for years to get us to come to His table, but we’ve been crawling underneath it, begging for the crumbs. If you will truly grasp the significance of the covenant of grace, you’ll never be the same again, and you won’t hesitate to come to God’s table.
What exactly is the covenant of grace? It’s a relationship of favor that gives you access to God’s power. If you’re under the blood of Jesus, you’ve been made a covenant child of the most powerful Being in the universe by grace. That’s something to shout about!
Are you tasting God’s grace? If you’ve been leading a life of fear and doubt, you aren’t enjoying the feast! To take your place at the table, you must lay hold of God’s promises and be fully persuaded that what He has promised belongs to you. You have a covenant, so stop talking about how unworthy you are and take a heaping helping of the grace that belongs to you!
 
Blessing #2: Healing at the Table
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”  Isaiah 53:5, NKJV
When you serve your Thanksgiving meal at home, you are expecting and desiring all your invited guests to partake of everything you’ve prepared. In fact, some might even consider it impolite to pass on one or more dishes. You went to a great deal of work to set this feast before your family, and it gives you great pleasure to see them enjoying it.
At the table of God, God has set before you healing as a byproduct of His grace, and it is yours for the taking. He does not serve healing to certain people, while withholding it from others. He is a good God! Many people will accept grace and come to the table, but they pass on taking a helping of healing.
Jesus didn’t just work hard in the kitchen to provide the feast at His table—He died to give it to us. First Peter 2:24 says that Jesus “Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (NKJV).
Did you get that? By His stripes you were healed. Healing has already been provided for you, and all you have to do is take it! To leave healing on the table is to disrespect the sacrifice required to put it before us at the table of God.
The Word of God is true, but if you waver and doubt, you won’t receive. The only cure for doubt is to settle on the integrity of the Word of God. He has set THE BLESSING of healing on the table before you. Don’t let it pass you by! Take and eat.
Blessing #3: Peace at the Table
“My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.” Proverbs 3:1-2, NKJV
 
The Hebrew word for peace means “nothing missing, nothing broken.” It refers to a life that’s good and satisfying in every way. That’s the kind of peaceful life we all want, and it’s the kind we can have, if we’ll pay attention to and obey God’s Word.
His Word is THE BLESSING book—the Bible! To tap into the wonderful life the Word makes available, you must find out what it says about everything and obey it, and as a result, you will experience the peace of God.
Don’t allow Satan to substitute anxiety and ulcers for the peace and undisturbedness that Jesus bought for you. Be willing and obedient to cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). When you trust in God’s goodness and believe His Word, you will be doing just that.
Take peace from God’s table by making Proverbs 3:1-2 a staple in your life! Length of days and peace will be added to you. You’ll receive God’s best plan for your life, marriage and children. Don’t settle for the ‘norms’ of the world that are filled with anxiety and directly contradict God’s Word. Live above them in a home full of love and harmony—just like God meant it to be.
Blessing #4: Abundance at the Table
“Let the Lord be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”  Psalm 35:27, NKJV
A healthy body. Enough money to pay all your bills and extra to invest in the work of the gospel. A godly marriage and happy, healthy children. Peace of mind. That’s THE BLESSING of abundance!
God has prepared a banquet full of abundant blessings for you at His table. However, those blessings are not just going to fall in your lap. You must be willing—as well as obedient—if you’re going to eat the best from God’s table. So, be willing!
Refuse to live in lack, but be willing, instead, to live in divine prosperity and abundance. Refuse to allow Satan to stop the flow of God’s financial blessings to you.
Refuse to be robbed of the banquet of blessings that has belonged to you since you became a believer. Be willing to eat the good of the land!
Many believers limit God without even realizing it by training their eyes to be fixed on the limited resources of this world rather than the unlimited riches of God’s kingdom. The Bible says God will meet your needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19)! You can live by heaven’s economy, not earth’s economy—and in heaven there is always more than enough.
Wake up to the abundance of heaven that’s been made yours through Jesus. Wake up to the fact that you’ve been translated out of a world of poverty into a Kingdom of abundance. Rejoice. Heaven’s unlimited resources have been made available to you at the table of God!