Cribz Week 4

for tuning in here at Free Life Chapel, where we help you discover and live the free life in Christ. My name is Kadi, and I'm so glad that you're tuning in with us. If you ever find yourself in this central Florida area, come visit us, we wanna connect with you, face to face. But until then, visit our website, freelifechapel.org, to find out more about what's happening at your church. There's a phenomenal message in store just for you. I hope you're encouraged. - The reality is this. Some of you fought through some things to get here this morning. You fought through some fear. You fought through some shame. Maybe you fought through some questions. Maybe some of you are fighting through a loss that you've experienced. We've, some have fought through some things, but the only reason why you're here is because of God's grace. It's the only thing that keeps us moving because the reality is you and I can't win our way to heaven. Can't win our way to Jesus. But I can't accept the gift that he gives with being around him. Now before, before you could ever lift your hands, before you could ever do anything, Jesus said, I pick you, I want you. The Bible actually says it this way,

that while you and I were yet sinners, Christ endured the cross, that he paid a price for you and for me, before you and I even had the option to decide, what are we gonna do with this man named Jesus? He said, you belong with me, you belong at my table. I want you to be with me. God is famous for giving people an invitation to belong. Belonging, have you ever wanted to belong before? Maybe you wanted to find your end crowd, you ever transferred to a new school? It's like, all right, who do I fit in with? Who can I engage with? Where are my people? Maybe you went to a different job and you're trying to figure out, all right, where am I folk at? Who am I gonna be eating with? Who am I getting coffee with? Who am I connecting with? Moving to a new neighborhood? Where am I gonna go? Maybe you moved cities and states and you find yourself here at Free Life Chapel, which I think is a great decision, but you find yourself here this morning and you might even be feeling, where do I fit in? Where do I belong? God is so relational.

He knows that the idea of belonging is something that you and I want in life because really what we want is the relationship. We want acceptance from people. We want to know that somebody's looking out for us. We want to know that somebody's there, that somebody cares, that they're not enduring us. They are actually inviting us. That's exactly what Jesus does and what God does and what he's been doing throughout the Bible. In Genesis, very beginning of the book, we see God in his first essence of creating a table, creating a place of belonging for man. God created the heavens and the earth, everything that you and I see, everything that we can smell is amazing. God created all of it, created man and then he rested on the seventh day. And then in Genesis chapter two, God begins talking to Adam. And here's what the Bible says in Genesis chapter two, verse 16. And the Lord God commanded the man talking about Adam saying, repeat this with me. You may surely eat of every tree of the garden. You may surely eat, which doesn't just say, I mean, I guess you can if you wanted to. You may surely, it's an emphasis showing I have prepared things for you.

This is just for you. I would love for you to engage in this food. God's first interaction with man was one of hospitality. Was one where God himself was providing something for man and was serving man not because of what man did in order to deserve it, but because of it being a gift from God. And about like the idea of God serving your house, God serving you, God serving your money, God serving your mind, serving your life. I love this idea. Before Adam could give an offering, before he could sit inside of a message, do connect for, before he could tend to the garden of Eden, God showed Adam that he belonged. The table, the table, this idea of hospitality, this idea of belonging, this idea of bringing somebody food, breaking bread. Doesn't just end there. There's several different verses and themes throughout the Bible that talk on this idea of the table. Genesis 18 said that Abraham, he hosted God and his angels for meals. That's why I say the table, the table. Exodus chapter 12 talks about the Passover and there was actually a salvation meal that families would have at the table. Say the table. Exodus 24 talks about how the elders, they ate and they drank with God

everybody say the table. Psalm 23 says, "You prepare a table before me "and the presence of my enemies." Everybody say the table. Acts chapter two talks about how the church gathered around a table to increase in dialogue together. Everybody say the table. And Revelation 19 reminds us that the history will end with the feast, the marriage supper of the lamb, which will happen at the table. Everybody say the table. I think God cares about a table. But I mind you, it ain't a table just like what you and I are thinking of. Like it has less to do with what we're eating on and more to do with the invitation to sit down with him. 'Cause mind you, I could be around some folk eating and not be included. Jesus said, "I don't want you to be around. "I don't want you to be a bystander. "I don't want you to just pass by. "I need you to know that you are welcome to my table." That head table, the table of acceptance, the table of grace, the table of salvation, the table of forgiveness, you have a seat that is there. It's not one that you have to take. It's one that has been given to you. It's not one that you have to fight for. It's just one that you and I have to accept. 'Cause there's this biblical rhythm that as you read

the Bible, you'll find this pattern that comes out, okay? God provides you and I humans. We receive the provision from God and then relationships begin to form. God provides humans receive relationships perform. The idea of God preparing an area for Adam in order to eat wasn't just for his craving or his hunger for food. It was also for his craving of relationship. It was a place for them to be able to ask questions, a place for them to be able to dialogue, a place for them to be in communion, common union together where they could laugh, they could joke, they could cry, they could relate with one another. That's the benefit of the table, the provision from God and then as humans we receive it and then relationships begin to form. And this is an idea that Jesus only continued. He didn't replace, he just continued it. The Bible talks about this in Luke chapter five, Jesus was rounding up his crew to see who his disciples was gonna be, he was going and he was very intentional about what he was doing and there was this cat named Levi that Jesus walked up to. Now Levi was a tax collector and then nobody mess with the tax collector. It's like the IRS, didn't nobody wanna be with him. In Levi, this tax collector, he was an outsider, the only people that he was cool with were those who were like him.

Everybody thought that tax collectors were shady. They're like, you couldn't believe them, you couldn't trust them, that they might even be your own kinfolk but they still gonna take something more from you. They would add a tax on to whatever it was that they were doing. They weren't considered good people or good folk in the community, they had a reputation with them. And Jesus went up to Levi and said, "Levi." Man, drop everything and come do some stuff with me. Counterculture and then Jesus, he actually put Levi down at a table. Jesus, Levi and some other tax collectors was all sitting around and then church folk who know better but weren't doing better, the Pharisees, they got real tight with it. They got real tight. Jesus, don't you know who you sitting with? Jesus, don't you know what you're doing? And Jesus showed us, man, I ain't scared to get their smell on me. I ain't scared to get their reputation on me. I'm not scared for what they have done to get on me. Why? Because my invitation is more important than what they've done. My invitation is more important than the reputation. My invitation of acceptance, my invitation of them feeling like they belong

has a greater reward than the risk of me leaving it for them to find on their own. That risk is too great, I can't afford that. So I'm gonna go in and get it. Jesus, he realized this tableship of fellowship and Judaism and he brought it culture. The table, if you got invited to there, you were accepted, whether it was that friend group, whether it was that family, whether it was that prestige, you were accepted into that level. And here's what Jesus did not say. Jesus did not say go get your life put together and then come sit down at the table with me. Here's what he did say. Here's basically what it did say. Hey, sit with me and then everything else is gonna get better. Because when you add me into the mixed things change because if you could have done it on your own, you would have done it on your own. So you can't go clean it up. I'm grateful that I don't have to be clean in order to first come into the church. 'Cause if that was the case, this place would be empty. Wouldn't none of us be here. But thankfully because of the grace of Jesus Christ, when we sit with him, things begin to change. At the mention of his name, things change. The point of the table was not for them

to see and to feel His heart, to feel a love that was different than a love that they had ever known, to feel an acceptance that wasn't based off of what you do for me, I can now do for you. There was no way for them to repay Jesus, and He was still given love. He was still being hospitable towards these men. You see it again in Luke chapter 19 with His kind name Zacchaeus. I said, "Kheus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he. He climbed up on that sicklemo tree in there. I grew up in Sunday school flannel boards, my bad. Half my music playlists. I had Zacchaeus. Luke chapter 19, Bible talks about His man names Zacchaeus again, another outcast, another outsider, that people didn't like him. He didn't have a good reputation. But He heard that Jesus was coming to town, and actually, rather He heard that He was actually in town right then and there. Zacchaeus, He suffered from me. He was too tall. He was six foot eight like me. And so He wasn't the joke yet. Zacchaeus, He wasn't a tall cat. He wasn't a tall cat. And He was discouraged. I'm not going to be able to see Jesus. He's right here in front of me. This is what I've been looking for. I've been hearing people talk. I want to be able to see Him for myself, but I can't see Him. What He did not do is just blame His circumstances and then just walk away. He said, "My need for Jesus is greater than my lack of ability to get to Him." And so what He did is He climbed up on a sicklemo tree so that He could at least just see Jesus. But then Jesus taught us another thing about His character. There's no such thing as a bystander with Jesus. Zacchaeus was just hoping to just be there and watch Jesus go through it. Jesus walking down the street. He pointed out Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus thought that He was away. He wouldn't be recognized. He wouldn't be seen. He was an outcast to everyone else. But when Jesus walks through, He's the one that got singled out. And Jesus said, "A Zacchaeus, I'm coming to Yo crib tonight. I need you to make me some food. We're eating at your house tonight."

Singled Him out. He picked Him out. He made Him feel like He belonged. He brought Him in to be a part. And then after they continued engaging in conversation, Zacchaeus completely gave his life to Jesus. He showed us this principle, belonging produces transformation. That when I feel accepted, when I feel like I belong, when I feel like I'm supposed to be here, there's a seat for me here. Then it puts guards down and it puts walls down and it puts biases down. And it helps me to engage Jesus, which always leaves with me being transformed. The reality is this, some of us may have forgotten what it feels like to belong. Or maybe we've forgotten what the desire to belong is like. Maybe we've been around it for so long or we've felt like we've belonged for so long that we're no longer offering it to somebody else. We've forgotten the gift that this is and what this makes us feel like and how accepted we feel to where now, not even because I'm being bad. I'm not even thinking about it anymore. I'm now offering this essence of belonging to anybody else. But God wants to do two things I believe today. But one, restore your sense of belonging to his table. But then number two is restore somebody else's belonging to his table through you. Yes, we're invited to the table, but we're invited to invite others to the table as well. If we're going to live in God's crib, the crib that he's building, then we have to start with the table of belonging. It's one of my favorite phrases that we say here at Freelive Chapel. I didn't really understand it. I understood the words. It didn't connect to my heart as much until this week while preparing this message. We say this, we want people when they walk into the doors here at Freelive to feel like they belong even before they believe.

I don't know where the headspace is and then and really it doesn't matter where your headspace is because Jesus already said that you belong. And so because he's the one that put out the invitation, because he's the one who owns the guest list, my bias or my understanding is completely irrelevant. Let's open up the doors. People need to feel like they belong even before they believe because God's table is radically inclusive, radically, Not, not, not just- The Bible goes on to tell another story. In Luke 14, I call the feast. If you look at the top of your Bible, mine is labeled the feast. And here's what's going on with the banquet. It's just going on. Jesus is telling this story about this guy, rich dude, who he wants to throw this big old banquet. And so he invites all of his people, all of his homies, those higher ends. He's inviting everybody to this banquet. Everybody's sending in the RSVP. And everything's going well good until day of. People started saying, hey, I know I RSVPed for the wedding, and you already bought me that plate for the reception, but I'm not going to be able to make it. Sorry, PTSD. Did they say? Real talk, people that had RSVP. Things kept coming up. Life happened in convenience over here.

The new Netflix series just came out. And I want to binge watch that. I want to go to this food truck. I'm not going to be able to make it. I'm not going to be able to go. With his cat who was putting on the banquet, that he was like, I got all this food. I got all this preparation. He was talking to his services. I need y'all to go get some folk. They said, well, what you mean, who you want us to get? We don't send out the invitation to everybody on the guest list. Here's what the Bible says, Luke chapter 14, verse 21. Go as fast as you can to every street and alley in the town. Bring in who? Who? Who? Who was poor or paralyzed or blind or lame? Bring in everybody. Everybody's welcome. Everybody. But what if everybody's welcome? But you know that they-- everybody's welcome. Well, you know they don't really say everybody's welcome. He didn't put in a caveat. He didn't put in a bias. He didn't put anything else with it. He said, what?

Everyone. Everyone is welcome to this table. Everyone's welcome to this feast. There's a spot for everyone. Why did he name those four? The poor, the paralyzed, the blind and the lame? Because culturally, those were the outcasts. They weren't allowed. Those people weren't invited to be at these type of banquets. This was for a whole nother realm. This was for the elite. They don't have that kind of value. They shouldn't be sitting here. This story was showing that this cat who we put on the banquet, he wasn't worried about what culture was saying. He wasn't worried about the social norms. He wasn't worried about the prejudices that people had had. He said, I just need everybody together. There's a seat at the table for them, for sure. Has to do with some physical limitations that these folk were coming through. But I think that there's also some spiritual implications that we can take from this as well. The poor, those that are in lack, those that are in need, in lack of joy, in lack of strength, in lack of faith, hey, you're invited to the table. The paralyzed, those who feel stuck, they feel over their head because of what life has happened to them. They don't know what to move or where to move.

Hey, you're invited to the table of Jesus Christ as well. The blind, those who don't know about the free life that we're able to have through a relationship with Jesus, they're invited to the table as well. The lame, those who have a pass. Those who when you look at them, they kind of walk with the limp 'cause you can see what has happened in their life. They are invited to the table as well. Everyone is invited to the table of Jesus Christ. Doesn't matter what has gone on 'cause you're not defined by your past. Jesus says, I'm the one that defines you and I'm the one that says that you belong, that you're valued, that you're a part of this family, that you are welcomed. And if God before me, who could be against me? So if he's the one that said it, everything else has to bow to whatever he says. He's the one that sets that authority. Heaven's guest list is a lot bigger than my guest list than our guest list if we're gonna be honest. And so what I have to do, maybe it's just me, maybe you don't have this problem, but I have to make sure that my preferences are not louder than God's guest list. My biases don't scream louder in my life than God's guest list. These are the people I like to hang with,

they gotta look like this, talk like this, know this, dress like this, look like this, you gotta be six, eight to be around me, 'cause I'm tall. So you gotta be, I only hang with tall folk. I gotta make sure that my preferences don't alienate people that Jesus is also trying to bring in. That's counterproductive, because you and I, we gravitate towards comfort. So I naturally like to do life with those who are like me, who think like me, who are interested in things that I'm interested in, who have maybe some similar mindsets that I like, we naturally gravitate towards comfort. Heaven naturally gravitates towards diversity. Which means it's gonna take some work for me because it's not how I navigate. because watch this. God's plan is to expand his family. But he does it on a very particular Okay, so he's God. He could do what he want to do. But he doesn't need you. He don't need you. But he allows you and I to partner alongside of him and do him what it is that he's going to do. So he does want to expand his family. But he expands his family by expanding your table. He expands his family by giving you and I the opportunity to partner with him to say, invite more people. Bring more people in. Don't just wait for me to do it. I want to give you an influence over where you're at. I've given you the influence over school, influence at your job, influence in your family, influence in your neighborhood, influence in your community. I've given you that for a reason, not just for your benefit, but for my glory. I did it so that you could shine a light in an area and help people feel like they belong. That might feel like the outcast. That might have never, that might always feel like they're neglected. I want them to know that they're welcome, that they're accepted, and that there's a seat with their name on it at my table. But I need you to do things with me. He could do it on his own, but he don't. He allows you and I to partner alongside of him

so that revelation is going to come to pass. Revelation chapter 7 verse 9 says that a great multitude from every nation, from every tongue, from every tribe, from every language will join together at the marriage supper of the Lamb seated at the table, worshiping together the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. That means that you and I need to get busy. We need to get connected with people. Our invite needs to be there because the need is too great. In the same way where that cat who was putting on the banquet said, I need you to go. We have more area, more room for people than what we have in here. I think Jesus is telling us that same exact thing. Y'all, I have more love to give. I have more peace to give. I have more strength to give. I have more miracles to perform. I'm here and I have it. It's not because I have a lack. It's because people have a lack of not knowing me. I'm not knowing that they're accepted or like they're able to come. And so I need you to go out to the highways and byways and get folk into here. That's God's table, his heart and his crib in full color complete. Diversity. It's God's idea. Heaven doesn't have assigned cedings by culture. His table is diverse and his diverse on purpose. In God's crib, every single person gets a seat. One more story in Acts chapter two. I talked a little bit about this last week. The Apostles, they were all gathered together, went into an upper room. They were praying. They were looking for something from Jesus. But didn't really know what he was going to be doing. But God, Jesus has said, "I'm going to be bringing you something." Anybody you want to know Jesus' plans for your life, I show enough, do. And then at the same time, I'm going to type that with self-sabotage it. Because I would try to get it like yesterday, not today. So I'm glad that you kind of know what you're doing, not telling me. They want to know what God was going to be doing. They were waiting. They were praying. They were worshiping, trying to figure this out. Holy Spirit gave them the gift of speaking languages that they had not yet studied. They might have even spoke Polk County then too. But they were doing four languages while they were there. But here's the thing. They didn't just stay in that upper room with those languages.

They went down into the street. And from the street, they began speaking with people. Because at this time, there were people from all over the world who were in Jerusalem that were worshiping God. They were on a pilgrimage. And so whenever the apostles went out there and were speaking, people from other countries were listening to the stories of God in their mother language and their native tongue. Helping them feel accepted that I could even have this for me. I don't have to translate. I don't have to go through somebody else. I can receive this for myself. And then what happened is they continued doing life in ministry together. That it wasn't just a one-time hit. Here's the message and then they ran off. No, they sat down together. They were doing life. They were dialoguing. Hey, here's what Jesus has for you. But now let's talk what does this mean to walk it out. And the Bible actually says this in Acts chapter 2 verses 42 and 47. The believers spent their time listening to the teaching of the apostles. They shared everything with each other. They ate together the table. were being saved every day. And the Lord was adding them to their group. Why is this so important? Daily meals brought an opportunity for daily salvation. 'Cause you gotta think, some of these folks, they were hearing about Jesus that had never heard about him before. They had never heard about God. They had worshiped another God. They had worshiped every other God besides Jehovah, Yahweh, God. And so they have questions. What does this look like in parenting? What does this look like in my marriage?

How do I do this while I'm running my business? How do I do this as a scholar athlete? How do I do this as a single, being successfully single, but one honor and worship him? How do I do this? And it was at the table where they were able to create the dialogue, discuss, disciple others in order for them to continue to add multitudes daily. Wasn't just from the church service, it was from the relationship. It wasn't, they were added because they were great cooks, like y'all are gonna be on Thanksgiving. Let me get some mac and cheese. (congregation laughing) Here is the formula. The tables created belonging. Belonging created discipleship, and discipleship created multiplication. Invited them to the table. Invited them to the table to eat, to break bread, to relate with one another on a human level. Let's be humans for a bit. Let's talk about the worries. Let's celebrate, let's cry. Let me know where you're struggling. I'll let you know where I'm struggling. How can we grow together? The table created belonging. You have a place here.

The belonging created a room for discipleship. What is discipleship? A process where you're helping somebody get closer to Jesus. So because of the relationship, they were able to help them get closer to Jesus. Well, when you get closer to Jesus, you don't gatekeep. You start telling other people about Jesus too. And that's where the multiplication can take you to go on. That daily, they got added to their numbers, those that were being saved, not because of the good food, but because somebody felt like they belonged. And once they felt like they belonged, there was somebody who was sitting at the table who said, I want to help you, like somebody has helped me. I'm not perfect, but let's follow him together. And what does he say? Let's do that. And as we do that, I want you to continue inviting more and more people to this table. Not because you have all the questions answered. Not because you're living perfect. Not because life is going great, but because you recognize your need for Jesus. You recognize your need for a seat in grace. Your need for a seat in mercy.

Your need for a seat in his love and his forgiveness. And it is out of that place that I continue to open up an opportunity for others to be able to come in. (congregation applauding) I need this so much so that I know what's gonna impact you. I know I can't do it on my own. So I know you can't either. This is the only thing that is gonna be able to help us. Let's do this thing together. We're gonna be honest. Lakeland doesn't need better messages. We need better tables. Messages are great. Messages are great. Biblical, zero issue with the message. Here comes the problem if it only stays a message. How can I take what we talk about in here, the experience that we have in here and now put it into application with folk, inviting other people who might not ever step into the room on a Sunday, but that doesn't mean that they don't have your voice in their ear. That doesn't mean that you don't have an influence over them. They might not listen to somebody up here

on a stage in the mic, but they will listen to you sipping on a cup of coffee on Monday morning. How can you give what you have received to be the church? So Lakeland doesn't need more churches or more messages. Needs better tables. It doesn't need another church. It needs more of us, me, to be the church. Tour is not just this Sunday thing. It's the Monday through Saturday thing. Tour, when someone cuts you off a Chick-fil-A on South Florida at 1203. Still working on forgiveness. We're being the church. We're being the church. We're, I don't find anywhere in the Bible where grace is only given on Sunday. Love is only given on Sunday. Forgiveness is only given on Sunday. Relationship is only for a Sunday. Diversity is only for a Sunday. I need to be the church. I don't need a new guest list. I just need to continue Jesus' guest list. I'm not able to throw my own party. I don't got it like that. I'm just happy to be invited. Not because I got it down, but because I know what is done for me, it'll do something for you. Everybody, stand up to your feet.

The table, everybody say the table. It's a place of belonging. It's a place of belonging, and when you and I realize that without Jesus, we're outcasts. We're misfits. We don't fit in. I don't have anything good about me. I don't have anything credible towards me. I don't have anything worth doing anything for, except for the grace of Jesus. And it's because of the value that He placed on me, that now I'm able to place that value on other people. It changes my perspective. When I realize that I belong, then my mission becomes to help other people feel like they belong as well. Here comes the shift. The table is not just the one in your living room or dining room or breakfast nook or whatever you have. Don't limit a table to there. The table is any place, any space, that someone can belong. That's what God is able to use as a table. Any place where you can help somebody feel like they belong to the kingdom of heaven. And so your table might be your job site, the break room, the office hallway. That's a table. It's a place where you can help somebody feel like they belong. The desk, the classroom, the office, the team huddle, the field, the court, that is a table. The coffee shop, the gym, the neighborhood, the Uber that you're riding in. Later when you go to a restaurant, the table that you're sitting at, those are places that you and I are able to partner with heaven to help people feel like they belong before they even believe. Because at the table, we're reminded of a couple of things. We're reminded that we belong only because of grace. Not because of what we do, what we can quote, or how our bank account looks. It is only because of grace. At the table, we're reminded that God is being hospitable to us. That before we could do anything for him, he's done everything for us.

So my lifestyle is a lifestyle of thank you. My lifestyle is a lifestyle of gratitude. Why? Because he's already done everything. There's no other response for me to have but to understand the hospitality that God has had towards me. At the table, I'm reminded that I'm included in God's family. But at the table, you and I are also commissioned because we are reminded that others are invited as well to the table. You and I were carriers of God's table. Wherever you go is where God's table goes. His ability to help people feel connected and like they belong. And trust me, God is using you wherever it is that you have an influence, not by coincidence. It's by divine intervention for you to be able to connect to those who can help them feel like they belong just like you do to the kingdom of heaven. Let's pray. Father God, we love you so much. We thank you for allowing us to belong to a place that we couldn't purchase in. We couldn't network in. We couldn't bribe our way in. We couldn't finesse our way in. We couldn't use riser charisma to get in. It had to be a gift that you had given us through this thing of grace. Thank you for providing for us, for your hospitality towards us, for the way that you consistently have been serving us all the days of our life. That there's never been a day that I can say that your hand has not been over our life. Organizing and orchestrating and protecting and providing for God. I pray that you help me, help us bring others to the table. Not being elitist, thinking that this table is for me and no others, but being reminded that you said go out into all the world and preach the good news to everyone. Everywhere, and so God, I pray that you help me see people the way that you do. Rid me of my biases, rid me of my preferences, and let me see them with the love, the dignity, the honor, and the grace and mercy that you look at them through. And Father God, as we do this, I pray that you help free life chapel. Welcome all of those from whatever background, from whatever history that they come from, from whatever their past looks like, whatever they're currently involved in, whatever they smell like. Look like, dress like, think like, it doesn't matter because they are welcomed to the table by you.

So God, will we continue to be good ambassadors of your table. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Did I or did I not say you were going to be encouraged? Yeah. Feel free to check out our website free life chapel dot org for more encouraging messages. Until then, I hope you have a great day. (upbeat music)