THE TABLE OF THE LORD -- Tomorrow:
"Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils" -- 1 Corinthians 10:21
The word of the Spirit is most precise on this point. "You CANNOT drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we?" (1 Cor 10:21-22, NASB). The point of immediate reference was the idolatry prevalent in Corinth. This was Satan's way of soliciting service to himself. Thus the Spirit says, "the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons" (verse 20).
The cup and table of demons, however, are not limited to sacrifices made to statutes of wood and stone. Wherever God is not dominant, Satan spreads his table and places his cup. Men either commune and fellowship with Christ or the "old serpent" and "demons." They are either in league with evil or good. They participate in the nature of the devil or Jesus. Either God works in them (Phil 2:13; Heb 13:20-21) or the "prince of the power of the air" works in them (Eph 2:1-2). There is no neutral ground! A godless life is the result of drinking the cup of demons and eating at their table. A godly life, on the other hand, is evidence that one has drank from the Lord's cup and eaten at His table. The Lord is zealous to have our heart and affection. If we eat from the table of demons, we provoke Him to jealousy--a response from which many have never recovered.
At this point, there is a strain of theology that views the Lord's table as a place where we reflect upon the members of Christ's body. This persuasion builds upon the following words. "I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread" (1 Cor 10:15-17). Here, it is reasoned, we are drawn together into oneness by reflecting upon one another. This is not, however, the intent of the passage. It is our ingestion of the "one bread" that draws us together, not our recollection of one another. The partakement of "one bread" is not accomplished by recalling other partakers, but by reflecting upon the "Bread" that "came down from heaven" (John 6:50-51). The supreme incentive is Jesus Himself, not His people. As believers gather at His table and remember Him, they are brought together. It will not be easy to eat with Jesus and be inconsiderate of His people!
There is no saving efficacy in identity with the people of God. It is identity with Jesus Himself that saves us! The people of God were not broken for us. Christ's body was! We do not ingest the people of God, but Jesus Himself! These things are too self evident to spend longer upon them.
PRAYER POINT: Father, thank You for informing us of the table of demons, and of its negating power. In the name of Jesus, I ask for grace to consistently and effectively spurn the advances of the demonic world. I choose to sit at the table of Your Son, who loved me and gave Himself for me.