A Table Prepared Before Me

By Professor Samuel C. Obi

A Table Prepared Before Me is written for Christians and all who want to reach their God-ordained destiny. Its aim is to encourage Christians to live for the Lord as He expects us to live, and to understand who they are and the magnitude of the table prepared before them. This book tries to bring to the attention of readers the fact that there are tables prepared before Christians, and these tables are the reason for enemy attacks. It motivates, advises and engages Christians on how to successfully defeat the enemy.

The Christians life is an interesting one. It is full of fun and adventures great by all standards. It is also full of serious challenges as we struggle to maintain that honor bestowed on us from above. The Christians life is filled with opportunities designed by God for the benefit of His people and His kingdom. These opportunities are placed there to help Christians aspire, grow, mature, and be better so that they will live more fulfilled lives and be more useful to God and to their fellow Christians.

This book is divided into six chapters. Chapter 1 offers an introduction to the origin and description of the table prepared before me. Chapter 2 looks into the nature and characteristics of this table the psalmist is talking about. Chapter 3 discusses and sheds light on who the enemies are and their general characteristics. Chapter 4 answers the troubling question about why a table must be prepared before us in our enemies presence. Chapter 5 explores how Christians can occupy and maintain their positions at their tables. Chapter 6 discusses how non-Christians can qualify for this table, and how they and other Christians can strengthen their position in their Christian walk. Also, there is some supportive scripture material at the end.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496919854

Professor Samuel C. Obi

Professor Samuel C. Obi is a Professor and Director of Technology at San Jose State University where he has taught since 1989. He also teaches courses in the Manufacturing Systems program in the College of Engineering. His expertise is in Manufacturing Systems, including manufacturing processes, manufacturing planning and control, quality control, product prototyping and development, green and sustainability product design, computer-integrated manufacturing, general material processing, industrial ethics, and technology and civilization. Dr. Obi has helped to found and lead many programs and organizations throughout his career. He is also an active technology transfer agent. His specific research interests are in manufacturing systems, technology transfer to developing economies, and ethics and the technologist/industry. Presently, he is the Trustee of the Rho chapter of the honorary Epsilon Pi Tau, an honorary organization for professions in technology. He also served as the Regional Director for the Honorary for many years. He has served on numerous departmental, college, and university committees as well as being an adviser to various university student clubs. He has also helped to found programs and cultural organizations geared to helping Nigerian and African immigrants adjust to life in American society. Prevailing Love, which is his 12th book, is written to enlighten and encourage its readers to endeavor to go the extra mile to increase love in their lives, families, neighborhoods, workplaces, societies, and the world in general. His other books include: Altars of Living Sacrifices; Overcoming Your Losses, Giants, and Mountains; Building Attractive Christianity; Exalting God’s Faithfulness; In Remembrance of Christ; Purpose in Waiting; God’s Kingdom First; A Table Prepared Before Me; A Handbook of Productive Industrial Ethics; Introduction to Manufacturing Systems; and Readings for Amerigerian Igbo. He has also authored many peer-reviewed and technical articles in his profession, and has presented at numerous professional conferences and events.

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© 2014 Professor Samuel C. Obi. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 06/23/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-1986-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-1985-4 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1: Introduction: A Table Prepared Before Me

Some Observations from Other Tables in the Bible

A Table of Leadership and Honor

Christians and Their Tables

Key Questions to be Answered

Chapter 2: The Nature of My Table

Leadership and the Elevated Nature of Our Tables

Responsibility Issues

The Table was Prepared by God

His Table is for Service

His Table is Holy

His Table is Expensive and Meticulously Constructed with Details

His Table is High and Honorable

His Table is Expandable

His Table is Progressive

God Gives His Table to Responsible Children

Chapter 3: The Enemies Before My Table: Their Characteristics

Enemies Make-Ups

Fellow Humans

Satan and Demonic Agents and Forces

It is All About Your Table

Chapter 4: Why My Table is Prepared Before Me in the Presence of My Enemies

There is Only One Earth

We Need to be Cleansed as Well

The World is Our Training Camp

We Need Experience

It is a Great Opportunity to Exercise Our Faith

We Need to Make Disciples

The Challenge of Long Waiting Times

Chapter 5: How Christians Can Occupy and Maintain Their Positions at Their Tables

Why We Must Not Quit the Fight

We Must Grow with the Table

Glorifying God

Showing Examples

Defending the Weak

Putting on the Full Armor of God

Stand Firm with the Belt of Truth Buckled Around Our Waist, and to have the Breastplate of Righteousness in Place (Verse 14)

Have Our Feet Fitted with the Readiness that Comes from the Gospel of Peace (Verse 15)

Take Up the Shield of Faith, with which We Could Extinguish all the Flaming Arrows of the Evil One (Verse 16)

Take the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Verse 17)

Pray in the Spirit Always on all Occasions with all Kinds of Prayers (Verse 18)

Opportunities at My Table

Preparing Myself for My Table’s Expansion

Being Aware of My Table

Chapter 6: How to Position Myself to Qualify for My Table

You Must be Born Again

You Must Denounce and Abandon all the Worldly Evil Things of the Past Lifestyle

You Must be Serious with Yourself and Live a Life that Pleases God

The Process of Spiritual Growth

Christ as the True Vine

Be at Peace with Yourself

Search Your Life Continually for What Should be Improved and What Should not be in It

Final Words

Further Readings

Psalm 18

Other Supporting and Encouraging Related Scriptures

About the Author

Preface

A Table Prepared Before Me is written for Christians who are on their way to their God-ordained destiny. It is also for anyone who wants to reach their God-planned destiny. Its aim is to encourage and to lift up the Christian in this world’s struggle, to live for the Lord as He wants us to live for Him. It also aims to help Christians to understand who they are and the magnitude of the table the Lord has prepared before them.

The Christian’s life is an interesting one. It is full of fun and adventures – great by all standards. It is also full of serious challenges as we struggle to maintain that honor bestowed on us from above. The Christian’s life is filled with opportunities designed by God for the benefit of His people and His kingdom. These opportunities are placed there to help Christians aspire, grow, mature, and be better so that they will live more fulfilled lives and be more useful to God and their fellow Christians.

This book tries to bring to the attention of readers two important things. The first is that there is a table prepared before every Christian. Most Christians recognize this, but still many do not. For those who do not have (or recognize) their tables, some suggestions on how to obtain or recognize them are provided. But with the recognition of the table comes an important responsibility which the Lord expects of His children. The nature and processes of maintaining their tables are also explored.

The second area of discussion in this book is intended to call the attention of Christians to the fact that their table is a reason for enemy’s attack. Many folks are finding out that living a godly life is not as easy as it sounds, especially when living it on an elevated level of career or leadership life. That is when the reality that Satan is alive can set in from any angle. Such a situation has caused the destruction of untold number of opportunities for many thriving Christians. Jesus Christ Himself said in John 16:33 that in this world we will have trouble or tribulation, but to take heart because He has overcome the world.

The book is, in part, based on the author’s own experiences in his personal, career, and spiritual life as a Christian. No Christian is immune from the enemies of God in this world. But these enemies can be overcome through the power and grace of God. It is only by recognizing and practicing these God-given principles that Christians can overcome and thrive as God planned for them.

The main purpose for writing this book is to encourage and strengthen Christians in their various career, personal, community, local, state, national and international engagements where they find themselves elevated to different levels of authority in corporations, industry, education, business, governments, private, and other career and personal engagements. Too often, these folks find themselves in the middle of issues and enemy attacks, the causes of which they don’t understand. This book can also be a powerful witnessing tool to anyone who is not growing in the Lord. It is ideal for meditation on a personal level and on specific issues during quiet times. It is also designed to be a good witnessing tool to folks who are not Christians. Except for the Further Readings section at the end of this book, all Bible quotations or references in this book are taken from the New International Version (NIV).

This book is divided into six chapters. Chapter 1 offers an introduction to the origin and description of the table prepared before me, providing further opportunities for wider discussions in the following chapters. Chapter 2 looks into the nature and characteristics of this table the psalmist is talking about. Chapter 3 discusses and sheds light on who the enemies are and their general characteristics. Chapter 4 answers the troubling question about why a table must be prepared before us in our enemies’ presence. Chapter 5 explores how Christians can occupy and maintain their positions at their tables. Chapter 6 discusses how non-Christians can qualify for this table, and