One of the greatest lies robbing the Body of Christ today is the idea that it’s ok to be a Christian and not go to Church.
The Church is the people, so when we decide to leave the Church, we leave the people we are called to love.
You see, we are not called to love the world but we are called to love one another! The Church…
God tell us in Scripture
Hebrews 10:24-25 “let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
The Word for forsaking in the Greek is “egkataleipō” (G2641)
It means:
- abandon, desert
- leave in straits, leave helpless
- totally abandoned, utterly forsaken
- to depart from, leave
- to forsake, leave to one’s self a person or thing by ceasing to care for it, to abandon, leave in the lurch
- “leave”, leave alone, disregard
- of those who sail past a place without stopping
This same Greek word for forsaken was used in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34 when Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” “Why have You deserted Me!
The word for assembling in the Greek is “episynagō” (G1996)
It means:
- to gather together besides
- to bring together to others already assembled
- to gather together against
- to gather together in one place
This same Greek word for assembling in 2 Thess 2 which speaks of gathering together to Him, is the same word used to describe the gathering, the assembling of ourselves.
Meaning we are to come together with those already assembled, gathering together against the enemy, gathering together in one place!
An ASSEMBLY is A GATHERING of PEOPLE who ASSEMBLE together in one place for a common purpose.
Don’t abandon, disregard, forsake or desert (the Church/the Body of Christ) our Gathering together.
I’ve had so many people tell me that you don’t have to go to Church to be a Christian.
I agree.
However, if you neglect or forsake gathering together, how will you ever be able to see what God will do through your obedience in loving His Church and the assembling thereof?
John 13:34-35 Jesus said “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
By loving one another ALL MEN WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE HIS DISCIPLES!
The scriptures speak loudly of how we are to love each other and encourage each other.
We are to be at peace with one another (Mk 9:50)
We are not to grumble among one another (Jn 6:43)
We are to be of the same mind with one another (Ro 12:16, 15:5)
Accepting one another (Ro 15:7)
Be Gentle and patiently tolerate one another (Ep 4:2)
Be kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving to one another (Ep 4:32)
Bear with and forgive one another (Co 3:13)
Seek good for one another, and don’t repay evil for evil (1 Th 5:15)
Don’t complain against one another (Jas 4:11, 5:9)
AND Confess our sins to one another (Jas 5:16)
A Christian was never meant to live independent from the vine – my prayer for us as the Church is to see a growth in our love towards each other, that we have each other’s back in the battle, encourage and spur each other on through our trials – that we gather together and worship Jesus in Spirit and Truth, that we reach our community and we make disciples, teaching how to obey God’s Word, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
God bless you richly as you put your trust in Him,
See you in Church
love, Pastor Jackie