Sunday 13 September 2015

Hebrews 10:24-25 “We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.” NAB

This is such a great time to be alive, to know God, and to take advantage of every opportunity to make Him known to others.  What a great love He has bestowed on us.  And He has called us to make a difference in the world.

Being the first full Sunday of the Daniel Fast I want to encourage you today in regard to your local church.  Did you know that on any given Sunday there are more Christians in the world who stay home than those who seek out other believers to worship God and to hear from Him?  If every Christian in the world (and especially in western nations) decided to go to Church on Sunday morning there wouldn’t be enough space in Church facilities to accommodate them all.  It would seem that the custom of some mentioned in the above text is the still the custom of many today.

Christians began meeting together on Sunday mornings within a few short years after the birth of the church in the book of Acts. (See Acts 20:7)  And for the better part of 2000 years, this tradition has continued. Here is why meeting with other Christians is so important.

1. Corporate worship: Nothing should ever replace our personal relationship with God.  However, just look at the pictures of heaven revealed in the Bible, especially in the book of Revelation.  You rarely see believers worshipping God alone. They are always in crowds!  That is because God loves corporate worship.  And when His people come together to worship Him, He manifests His presence in their midst.
2. Hear from heaven: God spoke to Israel in the exodus saying,  Shama, Israel! Hear, O Israel. (See Deuteronomy 6:4)  One of the most repeated rebukes of Jesus to the religious of His day was they had become slow to hear.  There is something that is revealed from heaven to God’s people when they come together to « hear from heaven. »  There are certain things that God will speak to the hearts of His people when they are in the assembly that He WILL NOT speak when they are alone.
3. Love one another: Nothing is easier than loving others when you are all alone in the comfort of your home.  Nothing is more difficult than when you come together with people who are not like you but who love the same God as you.  And God commands you to serve them, bless them, and to love them.

Christian, don’t let the devil rob you today of your daily bread.  It is waiting for you in the place where God has called you to be a faithful member of the family.  So go there.  Be blessed.  And be a blessing!