Jumbo jets crashing.
Nations coming against nations. Invasions! Wars and rumors of wars. The Middle
East. On a more personal level, people who are living for themselves instead of
God, and people basing their lives by their emotions and falling away from the
truth. What do we do in the days in which we living? Where is THE most
important place to be in the days that are before us? It’s simple and the Bible
tells us clearly. Be in church! Be a part of church! Love church! It is your
true life-support line in these days!
Our key verse in the
New Testament is Hebrews 10:24-25.
"And let us
consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one
another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (NKJV)
Notice how The Message
Bible reads. "So let's do it--full of belief, confident that we're presentable
inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He
always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love
and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each
other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching." (The Message
Translation)
The Word of God said to
not forsake our coming together. It says not to avoid worshiping together
because it spurs each other onward. We live in a society today that chooses to
magnify hurts, depression, emotional issues, and problems in general. We live
in a victim society; an issue-driven society. Sadly, that attitude has crept
into the church. The Bible tells us that some will "fall away" in the
last days. When we submit to the "world system", or the way the world
is thinking, we will pull away from the things that have remained stable and
sure for generations. The local church is one of those sure things.
The world now mocks the
church. We must be careful not to allow this world system to drive our
attendance habits through the cares and things of life and everyday living.
This way of thinking is completely apart from what the scriptures tell us about
coming together. We need to come together on a regular basis as believers. We
need to hear the preaching and teaching of the Word of God to encourage us and
help us in living a life of hope and victory. The preaching and teaching of the
Word of God helps us to have a stable focus. It helps us, as believers, to be
accountable as well.
The local church is a
life source for all of us. We individually need it. We see it in the book of
Acts. The church was the place where "it" was happening. It was
exploding with growth, excitement and the power of the Holy Spirit. The church
of today should exemplify that same excitement and growth. Excitement breeds
excitement. How you come to church affects the service. When you come to
church, come excited and ready, and just see what happens and what the Lord
will do.
Look at some other
verses here.
Psalm 122:1 "I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house
of the LORD." (NKJV)
Psalm 42:4 "When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I
used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God With the
voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast."
(NKJV)
Notice being glad to go.
Going with the multitude.
If you just do a word
search of the Bible with the words "temple" and "Jesus"
you'll find that Jesus was there, in church, over and over and over. It was a
part of His life, not just His ministry. One that I love is this: Luke 4:16, "He went to Nazareth, where
he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as
was his custom. And he stood up to read."
The Apostle Paul had
"customs" or "habits" too! Notice Acts 17:2, "As his custom was, Paul went into the
synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the
Scriptures."
Acts 5:42 says, "And daily in the temple, and in every
house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."
There are many, many
references to coming together throughout the Word of God. Being in the
sanctuary, the temple, the church, needs to be a part of our lives for so many
reasons. Let me give you some straight points as to why it's important to you
as an individual.
1. Important for family relationships and life.
The Local Church is a
very important place for family and relationships. Strong, godly relationships
"spark" you. "Iron sharpens iron." (Proverbs 27:17)
Families and individuals learn about life and how to live it. We learn about
walking in victory and being happy. We learn about giving to our fellow man
through outreach and community projects. We learn as a family the power of
walking with Christ living big in our lives.
2. It's a community of faith.
In this community of
faith is where we gain a revelation of Jesus Christ. Church is about growing up
and maturing, not about what level you're on. It's where you have a Pastor who
ministers the Word of God to you so that you can run and step out in faith and
be a doer of the Word. Your Pastor and the other relationships that you have
are there for you in a tough time or to celebrate the joys of your life. It's a
place where we develop personal and lasting friendships and relationships that
endure a lifetime.
3. It's a non-threatening place.
There are no perfect
people, but we are a people who have a perfect God. In this place you don't
have to put on a performance. Jesus loves and accepts people the way they are.
Church is that kind of place. It's a place where people find empathy, not
sympathy; a place to be lifted up and encouraged to live for Christ.
4. It helps people face difficult & conflicting areas of
their lives.
While dealing with
struggles, sins of the past, lack of self-confidence, and more, we learn that
the precious blood of the Lamb has been given for our freedom. It's a place
where there is comfort in a time of loss or need; a place where Jesus' arms are
spread wide through the love of a congregation of family and friends.
5. A place of spiritual strength.
Church is a place where
people can find out who they are in Christ and grow in the things of God. It is
a place where your giftings from the Lord can be developed and shine. It is a
place where you are encouraged and uplifted to step out and serve the Lord. It
is a place where you can be sent out to do the calling of God that's on your
life.
6. A place of accountability.
At church we learn
about life and that we are accountable to the Lord. We establish relationships
where we are accountable to one another. Church helps in establishing
accountability in our personal walk of life and to the Word of God, by
fostering healing, evangelism, deeper faith, family roots and more. Plain and
simple, it helps keep you from becoming "flaky"! When you are off on
your own, your imagination about what's spiritual and what's not, can go to all
sorts of places that can mislead you at a time and place in your life where you
need "your" pastor and "your" church family for life,
encouragement, and rock solid consistency.
7. A place for marriage, family, & home.
You can be on your way
to church and arguing about what seems huge, but when you get to church and are
in the middle of worship, the Holy Spirit deals with you. The message seems to
be just like the Lord was personally talking with you. It changes you and
changes your home. It brings the two of you closer as a husband and wife.
It works on your kids.
They're learning how to live for God and not just play like it. They learn that
a relationship with God is a personal experience and that it's real.
The Bible says to, "Train
up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from
it." Proverbs 22:6
As a parent, your
responsibility is to plant those seeds of training in your kids. If church
isn't important to you, don't expect it to be important to your kids. If
praying is not important to you, don't expect it to be important to your kids.
If giving is not important to you, don't expect them to be givers either. You
train them up... they will follow. Your emphasis will be the foundations for
not just you, but for generations to come. Fear breeds fear. Joy breeds joy.
Godliness breeds godliness.
Dads need to set that
example. Moms too! What you tolerate in moderation, your kids will tolerate in
excess. The seeds that are sown will produce when they are older. Psalm 78
tells us that these things also pass down to their kids, your grandkids.
Generation to generation! Think and do what's important to you, and your kids
will do it too, good or bad. Galatians 6:6 says that you reap what you
sow.
Dads, how you treat Mom
is contagious. Moms, how you treat Dad is contagious. How you both treat
spiritual things is contagious too. Being in the local church helps all of the
family to grow and mature and send a message to the next generation. As
parents, we are sending a message through our children into a time we will not see.
The local church is so
very important to all of us. Being around those of like faith can spark us to
greater things in God. Sharing a meal together, fellowshipping, laughing and
enjoying the Word of God together is so very vital and important in the days in
which we live. All of us need to plug in, be active, and be excited. We need to
live this life of Christianity and bring others to church! Bring our families
to church! In the days that we live in right now, it’s not just vital, but
critical! Church is what we each make it to be individually. Plug in as they
did in the book of Acts and let excitement breed excitement. Today is here and
now, but the seeds of today will produce tomorrow! Let’s get ourselves at the
most important place to be in the days in which we live! Let’s go to church!
We'll see you there! Amen!
Prayer:
Father, I know that your Word says that a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Being together with a local body of believers, fellowshipping around your Word,
building relationships is a source of strength and a faith builder for my life.
I choose to make time to be hooked up with my local church family. Amen.
