When we discern an enemy, the first thing in our flesh is to get as far away from our enemies as we can. Not only do we want to get away from them, but we also want our friends to unfriend them and sometimes we believe if they don’t, then they are not our friend. We sometimes don’t have a clear perspective on kingdom friendship. The scripture says in Proverbs 27:16 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. A faithful friend will wound you and always tell you the truth. So, you need discernment to know the difference between a friend and an enemy. Then on the other hand, the other side is we don’t want them to have what God has for them, justifying our reward that they should get what they deserve for how they have hurt and offended us. Although at times, we have also been on the other side, operating as an enemy of God and He didn’t give us what we deserved.
You may be asking, what does this have to do with the table the Lord has prepared. The word says in Psalms 5:23 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies: thou anoint my head with oil; my cup runneth over. The number one take away is that we all need to know is first we must have discernment to know is it the table the Lord has prepared for us. Second, we need to know our enemies will be present with a seat. Thirdly, we need to make sure we don’t allow our enemies to make us give up our seat. It’s the only way we get to the next level of anointing and our overflow.
Let’s examine the night Jesus was brought to the table the Father had prepared for him. In John 13 Jesus acknowledges his hour had come. We must ask God for the wisdom of the sons of Issachar that we can know both the times and seasons of God for our lives and those we are called too in this hour. We don’t want to miss our moment. He knew it was time for him to be betrayed and die. We need our Judas as much as we need our Peter. I pray God continues to give us all the ability to discern between our Judas and our Peter. It is a difference. Jesus let’s Peter know he will betray him three times and prays for him to be restored. However, He tells Judas to do what he is going to do quickly while allowing Judas to give Him a kiss. He does not attempt to stop him nor restore him.
Before this time, He never once gave the faintest indication that Judas would betray him to the others. He treated Judas with the same love that he did for the others. He knew the whole time Judas would be the one to betray him. He was a vessel of dishonor although he had a purpose. In Matthew 5:44-But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Yes, we know Jesus was the only one perfect but when we obey and bless our enemies and pray for them from the pain and persecution, it purifies our hearts and allows God’s love to be perfected in us towards our enemies. God is calling us higher in Him. God is causing us to recognize our table He has prepared for us with the knowledge that our enemies will also be present. He is separating us from our Judas and restoring us to our Peter in this hour. It was time for God to be glorified through him. God is coming after his investments and wants to be glorified through us in this next level of death and surrender. Don’t give up your seat because your enemies will be present at the table the Lord has prepared for you and remember, he saved us a seat not just a crumb.