Infinite Fellowship Ministries

Come & Dine, RSVP: Sermon By Rev. Daniel Kamau

One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way. Then he asked them, “If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” And they had nothing to say.

When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.

But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

“The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’” 

Luke 14:1- 23 (NIV)

The invitation to dine in the Kingdom is different from the world’s invitation. At the same time, the response to the invitation is also different.

There must be Kingdom decorum and etiquette. We must respond to the invite in a spiritual manner.

In the spiritual, when we are responding to the Lord’s invite to dine, He looks at our internal configurations. God does not look on the outside. He is no respecter of persons. He responds to they that respond to His invitation.

The way God has packaged the invite is such that if we are not careful we may miss it. Especially when we are in transition.

How we respond to the Father’s invitation to dine is an affront to our natural appetites.

It calls for sacrifice to respond to the invite of the King. We should be careful not to miss out due to the physical constraints and circumstances around us.

The protocol to demonstrate in response to the invitation by our King is relationship.

As we transition, let us not miss out on the invite.

In the world, an invitation issued with the expectation that it shall be reciprocated. This is not the Kingdom way. Do not give with the expectation to receive.

Giving with the expectation of receiving robs us of the genuineness of relationship.

When we respond to the invite, we are to eat what is on the table, and not be choosy.

When you dine, there is a spiritual angle to it. When covenants are ratified, a meal is shared. When we share a meal there is an emotional and spiritual transaction.

In every season, God will issue an invitation to dine. Be careful not to miss out on the invitations.

It is up to us to respond to the invite. Depending on where we are on our journey we will eat what we require.

Some believers have not yet entered the rest of God because they are yet to consume that which the Lord has prepared for them.

There is a dimension of hospitality that attracts angelic hosts.

When we dine we partake of the nature of the one who has prepared the meal.

Just like construction work, resetting foundations is hard work. If as a believer you do not spend inordinate amount of time in the presence of God, you will not be able to finish the work. We should consider that our spirit man needs to be fed and needs to be strong.

“When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and when he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.” 

Exodus 17:11 (AMPC)

Moses was not just lifting hands, he was conducting spiritual warfare.

There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of wealth and valor. Kish had a son named Saul, a choice young man and handsome; among all the Israelites there was not a man more handsome than he. He was a head taller than any of the people.

The donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. Kish said to Saul, Take a servant with you and go, look for the donkeys. And they passed through the hill country of Ephraim and the land of Shalishah, but did not find them. Then they went through the land of Shaalim and the land of Benjamin, but did not find them. And when they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, Come, let us return, lest my father stop worrying about the donkeys and become concerned about us.

The servant said to him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, a man held in honor; all that he says surely comes true. Now let us go there. Perhaps he can show us where we should go. Then Saul said to his servant, But if we go, what shall we bring the man? The bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no gift for the man of God. What have we? The servant replied, I have here a quarter of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God to tell us our way— (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, Come, let us go to the seer, for he that is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer.) Saul said to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went to the city where the man of God was.

As they went up the hill to the city, they met young maidens going out to draw water, and said to them, Is the seer here? They answered, He is; behold, he is just beyond you. Hurry, for he came today to the city because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place. As you enter the city, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes to ask the blessing on the sacrifice. Afterward, those who are invited eat. So go on up, for about now you will find him. So they went up to the city, and as they were entering, behold, Samuel came toward them, going up to the high place.

Now a day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed to Samuel in his ear, Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be leader over My people Israel; and he shall save them out of the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon the distress of My people, because their cry has come to Me. When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, There is the man of whom I told you. He shall have authority over My people.

Then Saul came near to Samuel in the gate and said, Tell me where is the seer’s house? Samuel answered Saul, I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today, and tomorrow I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind. As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not be thinking about them, for they are found. And for whom are all the desirable things of Israel? Are they not for you and for all your father’s house? And Saul said, Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And is not my family the least of all the families of the clans of Benjamin? Why then do you speak this way to me?

Then Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the guest room [at the high place] and had them sit in the chief place among the persons—about thirty of them—who were invited. [The other people feasted outside.] And Samuel said to the cook, Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, Set it aside. And the cook lifted high the shoulder and what was on it [indicating that it was the priest’s honored portion] and set it before Saul. [Samuel] said, See what was reserved for you. Eat, for until the hour appointed it was kept for you, ever since I invited the people. So Saul ate that day with Samuel.

When they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel conversed with Saul on the top of the house. They arose early and about dawn Samuel called Saul [who was sleeping] on the top of the house, saying, Get up, that I may send you on your way. Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out on the street. And as they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us—and he passed on—but you stand still, first, that I may cause you to hear the word of God. 

1 Samuel 9 (AMPC)

There is something reserved for you when you respond to the Lord’s invite to dine. You get what you thought you lost together with what God has reserved for you.

Unless we respond to the invitation to dine, we shall not be able to walk the length of our journey on the earth.

What you get will cause your journey to be successful and effective.

Your identity coupled with prophetic insight informs your executive ability.

As he lay asleep under the broom or juniper tree, behold, an angel touched him and said to him, Arise and eat. He looked, and behold, there was a cake baked on the coals, and a bottle of water at his head. And he ate and drank and lay down again. The angel of the Lord came the second time and touched him and said, Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you. So he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

1 Kings 19:5-8 (AMPC)

Spiritual transactions have an effect on the body.

The journey ahead needs spiritual food.

Prophetic word is packed with the prerequisite energy/nourishment for your life’s journey.

If the word of God does not dwell richly in you, you will not make it. We need a tracking mechanism for the Word God speaks to us.

The enemy steals the word so that we don’t survive the journey.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 

Ephesians 6:13 (NIV)

You need the word of God to equip you for where He is taking you.

God will only provide to the degree that you are aligned to His Kingdom.

“Pray, therefore, like this: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed (kept holy) be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.” 

Matthew 6:9-11 (AMPC)

We cannot fulfill purpose in our own terms. We must fulfill all righteousness.

The meal that God has for you is for your satisfaction. It is what you need and not necessarily what you want.

If you respond to the Lord’s invitation to dine, you shall be satisfied.

I am the Lord your God, Who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it. But My people would not hearken to My voice, and Israel would have none of Me. So I gave them up to their own hearts’ lust and let them go after their own stubborn will, that they might follow their own counsels. Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways! Speedily then I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their adversaries. [Had Israel listened to Me in Egypt, then] those who hated the Lord would have come cringing before Him, and their defeat would have lasted forever. [God] would feed [Israel now] also with the finest of the wheat; and with honey out of the rock would I satisfy you. 

Psalms 81:10-16 (AMPC)

The works of the flesh in Galatians 5 became an automatic response of man outside of grace. If we continue to dine with God, the works of flesh will continue to diminish.

The spirit man grows when we accept what God gives us and the portions in which He gives us.

And Jesus increased in wisdom (in broad and full understanding) and in stature and years, and in favor with God and man. 

Luke 2:52 (AMPC)

When we feed right in the spirit we will not be prone to spiritual obesity.

When we commune with God, our saltiness increases and saltiness will be restored back to the Body of Christ.

And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers.

His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church)[That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.

So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead.

Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:11-16 (AMPC)

There are different parts that are to supply to the Body. When all believers supply to the Body, the imbalance in the Body of Christ will cease.

When we do not eat well, we are not able to supply to the Body. When we do not dine with the Father, we cannot supply power to the Body.

The offices [apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher] need to work in sequence. Per time per season. God releases mysteries and truth for the equipping of the Body of Christ.

If apostolic and prophetic truths were restored to the Body of Christ, we would be a force to reckon with.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound,

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion—to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit—that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

Isaiah 61:1-7 (AMPC)

Isaiah 61:4 speaks about foundational work. Before God can entrust you with restoration on a large scale, He first carries out restoration in you [Isaiah 61:1-3].

Gather the people, sanctify the congregation; assemble the elderly people, gather the children and the nursing infants; let the bridegroom [who is legally exempt from attending] go forth from his chamber and the bride out of her closet. [None is exempt from the humiliation.] Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar; and let them say, Have pity and spare Your people, O Lord, and give not Your heritage to reproach, that the [heathen] nations should rule over them or use a byword against them. Why should they say among the peoples, Where is their God?

Then was the Lord jealous for His land and had pity on His people. Yes, the Lord answered and said to His people, Behold, I am sending you grain and juice [of the grape] and oil, and you shall be satisfied with them; and I will no more make you a reproach among the [heathen] nations. But I will remove far off from you the northern [destroyer’s] army and will drive it into a land barren and desolate, with its front toward the eastern [Dead] Sea and with its rear toward the western [Mediterranean] Sea. And its stench shall come up [like that of a decaying mass of locusts, a symbol and forecast of the fate of the northern army in the final day of the Lord], and its foul odor shall come up, because He has done great things [the Lord will have destroyed the invaders]!

Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things! Be not afraid, you wild beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness have sprung up and are green; the tree bears its fruit, and the fig tree and the vine yield their [full] strength Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord, your God; for He gives you the former or early rain in just measure and in righteousness, and He causes to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, as before.

And the [threshing] floors shall be full of grain and the vats shall overflow with juice [of the grape] and oil. And I will restore or replace for you the years that the locust has eaten—the hopping locust, the stripping locust, and the crawling locust, My great army which I sent among you. And you shall eat in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord, your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you. And My people shall never be put to shame. 

Joel 2:16-26 (AMPC)

1 Samuel 9, Isaiah 61, and Joel 2 were the Lord’s response to the cry of His people. God is a respecter of a covenant. When you cry out to Heaven in line with the covenant that you have with the Father, He shall respond.

The prodigal son was washed, anointed and given a signet ring. Then, a feast was prepared for him.

The Father is waiting for people to respond to His invitation to dine. He has already prepared the meal.

We need to ask ourselves where are we in light of the concerns of the Father and what our response is.

There is an influence God wants this community to have in this city, country and nation. 

If we do not dine with the Father, we shall not be strong enough to contend against the things in our homes, schools, and places of work that contend against the glory of God.

There is a need to reinstate apostolic decrees in Kenya.