Dinner parties and banquets play a prominent role in scriptures...and we are counseled to continue steadfastly by sharing and communicating with one another. It brought incredible encouragement to the early believers after their salvation and baptisms.  This "koinonia" (fellowship) brought a closeness and unity which was birthed by the Holy Spirit.  By coming together, the individuals shared a common bond and began to cement the believers to each other and to Jesus.

They began to realize who they were in Christ and more importantly who Christ was in them.  By sharing intimately with one another, a partnership was formed and the unity of the Holy Spirit brought great impartation.  This intimate bond of fellowship was the "glue" for all power to flow out.  The power of unity has always been attacked by the "powers of darkness."  It is why the Apostles continued "steadfastly" in the doctrine of the Word and in prayer.  By committing to remain in relationship with one another and devoting themselves to both fellowship and the "breaking of bread" with one another, they participated in a "deep sense of spiritual unity" with the Lord and each other.  Their priorities escalated with each new convert and their testimonies of faith increased each day as they began a "new lifestyle of living in the light."  Their entire focus was "Jesus and Him Crucified," the Resurrection and Baptism.  This bond was being perfected to draw each of them to the Master as they become a many-membered body of Believers, and their entire focus was on "unity," oneness; as they had all things in common.

Every true believer became "Christ-like" in deed and appearance.  Acts 2:43, Their commitment to God and to each other brought fear upon every soul, and many signs & wonders were done through the Apostles.  vs. 44, Now all who believed were together and had all things in common and vs. 45, sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all as anyone had need.  vs 46, So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness of heart, vs 47, praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

We actually could chart the growth of the Body by watching the "Power of the Holy Spirit" being released through both the Apostles and the Believers themselves.  As the new believers engaged in the supernatural activity of fellowship, they began to demonstrate consistantly the full embodiment of the Kingdom of God to powers and principalities.  They were daily "announcing" their walk with God in unity and power and like an athlete exercising muscles daily, they began to be "built by repetition" into a formidable opponent of satan himself.  In Philippians 3:10 Paul prayed that "I may know Him in the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, vs. 11, if by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead, vs 12, not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may "lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me."  Paul went on to say; But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind "and reaching forward to those things which are ahead."  

Forgetting the past and reaching forward to the future is the Christian life, without it we have only "ourselves," and not each other, which is where satan wants all of us to dwell...ALONE, without power, independent of God and each other.  Paul went on to say in Phil 3:14, "I press toward the goal of God in Christ Jesus, vs 15, therefore let us as many as are 'mature' have this in mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you."  Therefore revelation comes from God on how to walk, how to overcome, how to move forward and be released from the isolation and desolation bred by satan to cause you to succomb rather than overcome, vs 16, Nevertheless to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind, vs 17, Paul gives the clearest word, Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.

 

We are to continue steadfastly.  In 1 Cor 9:26-27 "Therefore, I run thus; not with uncertainty, thus I fight, not as one who beats the air.  But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.  We must exercise ourselves to come together once more and allow the "Power of God" to flow out again.  You never know what Kingly decisions will be made in your favor when the King entreats you to come closer.  Many world decisions, business deals, and lifelong relationship began over a meal together!  Partnerships bring forth creative ideas, witty inventions and even heavenly favor have all been birthed at the table of kings!  Faith was released by a woman with only crumbs on her mind.  She valued the crumbs that fell from the table of the Master which in turn released favor from the King!  We hardly value relationships and breaking bread while others perceive the value of what's falling down unperceived.  

In Esther 7:3 Queen Esther answered and said, "If I have found favor in your sight, O King, and if it pleases the King, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request, vs 4, For we have been sold, my people, and I, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated.  Had we been sold as male and female slaves, I would have held my tongue, although the enemy could never compensate for the King's loss."  Esther sought favor and insight was given as a gentle reminder of the value of these servants to the King that the "enemy" could never repay to the King what he (the enemy) was daring to steal from Him.  In Vs 5, So King Ahasuerus answered and said to Queen Esther, "Who is he and where is he, who would dare presume in his heart to do such a thing?"  Vs 6, And Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!"  So Haman was "terrified" before the King and the Queen.  This is the main reason satan wants to keep you from fellowship with the King and each other. Because the communication cuts off his plans, exposes his position, terrifies him and contradicts his imitation and unclean divination.  His determined evil plans are exposed and he is confounded and separated from you!

In Esther 7:7, "Then the King arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden; but Haman stood before Queen Esther, pleading for his life; for he saw that evil was determined against him by the King. It seems that even after the Lord brings terror upon our adversaries, that satan will still try to find that unsanctified mercy in the Queen (church) to give him another chance.  Vs 8, When the King returned from the garden to the palace of the banquet wine Haman had fallen across "the couch" where Esther was. (place of intercession)  Then the King said "Will he also assault the Queen while I am in the house?"  The enemy wants to stop your intercession, break into your communication with the King and even after he's exposed  wants to "Stop" your communion and fellowship with each other.  The enemy always overplays his hand.  And as the Word left the King's mouth, they covered Haman's face.   This was the one sign of his being "condemned to death."  Vs 9, Now Harbonah, one of the Eunuchs said to the King "Look!  The gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good on the King's behalf is standing at the house of Haman.  Then the King said, "Hang him on it!"  Vs 10, So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai.  Then the King's wrath subsided.

Even as Haman was caught in His own trap, satan is always caught in his.  The enemies devices are used by God to bring a full deliverance from our adversaries.  The Crucifixion of Jesus was intended by satan to undo God's plan of redemption but instead stripped satan of all his power thus his plans utterly failed and instead sucked the air and life of satan from him.  The gallows built by Haman were a device to humiliate Mordecai and the Jews and instead were used by the King for Haman.  We must employ courageous preparation and intercession to cutoff our advesary, the devil, and deliver the final blow to him when we simply surrender to God's plan to meet with Him daily and, of course, each other.   Matthew 18:19 "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in Heaven."  In the Greek the word "Agree" or "Sumphoneo (soom-foe-neh-oh) Strongs #4856 is from Sum, "together", be in accord, be in harmony.  The word "symphony" is rooted in this word.  Metaphorically speaking we could say our prayer of agreement is concordant.  Matthew 18:20 "Jesus said, 'For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, I am there in the midst of them."

For this reason, Jayne and I have followed this pattern of scriptures for nearly 20 years to...continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, eating our food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all people...Come and gather and be refreshed in the presence of the Lord and His Body as we continue in Charlotte, Tucson, Scottsdale, Superior, Kansas City, St. Louis, Daytona...to the ends of the earth.  Remember the plans of the enemy are exposed and he's terrified of you and the King coming together.  "I saw satan fall like lightning from heaven!"

Those words Jesus spoke after the 70 were joined and walked with joy together...it was then that they received authority over all the power of the enemy and nothing by any means could hurt them anymore!