Gathering Together in His Name. AKA Church
Hey folks, welcome today. Today, we will conclude our current series titled “How to Grow in Faith.” How do you overcome the world, and how can a newborn child of God grow in faith, knowledge, and wisdom? We have already discussed these.
1- Having the right mind.
2- Praying and talking to God.
3- Repentance. Turning away from the world's ways. Repent
4- Keeping company with like-minded folks.
Today, we will essentially continue our conversation from last time, “Keeping company with like-minded folks.” Well? Where do you find, or where should you see, like-minded folks? Yep. That’s what we’re discussing today. Let us pray.
God, we are doing what you call us to do today, we are gathering together in your name. Your Word declares,
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." Help us, LORD, to understand your word. We ask for eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit to not only understand your Word, but to receive it into ourselves and fully understand what this means, its importance, and its benefits, keeping your command. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen!
Now, if you have been around for a bit, you may recognize that I have been saying “In Yeshua’s Name.” As well as using Jesus. However, I feel that this may have caused a bit of confusion. His name is now, and always will be Yeshua. However, not to get too sidetracked here, his name has been translated into "Jesus" in English. The Bible you are reading most likely calls Him Jesus. There is nothing wrong with this. My name in Spanish is Pedro. Does this mean someone calling me Pedro is wrong? My name in English is Peter. No, of course not. I know who you are talking about. Anyway.
If you have your Bible, turn to Hebrews 10. Start at verse 19
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:19-25
Did you know His name was Yeshua? Chances are, you did not. How did you learn this? Church. The coming together of like-minded folks.
Now the Church is not the building. It is the people. We discussed the concept of 'garbage in, garbage out'. You are the company you keep. If they are not children of God and have no knowledge of the things of God, what will you learn from them? That is right. You will learn worldly ways.
Turn to Colossians 1:1-23
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”
Who is he talking to? Children of God. Not the unsaved but the saved. If you are a child of God, he is talking to you also. If you were not, you would never hear this letter.
“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing--as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant.”
What is he talking about here? The Gospel. The Word of God. Where did they hear it? When they gathered together with Epaphras as their teacher or Pastor.
“He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit. And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”
Now stop there for a second. I have a couple of questions for you to think about. First,
“you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” How do you get that? Not from the world. Rather, you get that from hearing the Word, by someone whom God has appointed a teacher, Pastor, or Evangelist. Someone mature in the Word and mature in faith. Someone who has been where you are and understands what you are experiencing.
“Being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”
Church is not just a routine. It is not just tradition for tradition's sake. It is where you go to be filled up with faith and knowledge. Remember,
”How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” Romans 10:14, as well as this fact.
“Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17. Back to Colossians, verse 13
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him.”
Who? Jesus.
“And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”
Do you get this truth from
“the domain of darkness?" Of course not. Did the world create itself? Of course not. Did the world shed its blood for you? Of course not.
“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.” Colossians 1:1-23
How do you become saved from the world? How do you remain
“stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard?” Church. Coming together in God’s name to hear His Word. To learn his way.
Here is another reason that the church is so important. We are a family. Or at least we should be. Remember what Jesus said about family?
“While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. Someone told him, ‘Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak to you.’ But he replied to the man who told him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." Matthew 12:46-50
We also read things like these.
“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” Romans 8:16-17
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor the will of the flesh nor the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13
Remember how Jesus answered Peter?
“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.” Mathew 19:29
On the cross, Jesus said this to John.
“When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, 'Woman, behold, your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” John 19:26-27
Why did He say this? He was leaving. So He told His mother to look after John and John to look after His mother. This is what church is—a family. God’s family. Do you not have a Father? God is your Father. However, if you want a father figure here on earth, there are fathers in the church ready to help. Lost your mother? Or something happened? Many mothers are willing to nurture you.
In the family of God, there are many brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, and even grandparents. Aunts and uncles, even. Oh, and as a side note? Well, not really. But something to think about. Church has never been about gathering for an hour and a half, weekly, if you go when you feel up to it. It was twenty-four/seven. Turn to Acts 2, start at verse 42.
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.”
Say, “They took this seriously.” Now, am I telling you to go out and sell all you have? No. I’m illustrating how they saw gathering together as an honor and privilege, and that nothing else was important to them. Continue.
“And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47
Week by week? Nope. It says
“Day by day.” EVERYDAY!. It was not their “religion,” it was their way of life. If someone was in need, they were there. They were there to teach, listen, hug, love, and comfort. Cry with. And celebrate as a true family should.
If you want to grow in faith. Go from drinking milk to solid food. From students to teachers. Grow from a child to an adult in Christ. Hebrews 5:12-14, then perhaps following this plan will help.
1-
Having the right mind. Start reading His Word. Learn good from sin. Learn what He says about this or that. Think up, and not down, as the world does.
2-
Praying and talking to God. Ask Him. Remember;
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:5
Talk to your Father. Spend time with Him.
3-
Repent. Turning away from the world's ways. They will not help you. They will kill you. Jesus came and died for you. Stop being carnally minded. That only leads to death and destruction.
4-
Keeping company with like-minded folks. Do not try to live for both God and the world. It will not end well for you. It will complicate your spiritual growth.
5-
Gathering together in His name. Spend time with people who love you. People who will encourage you. People who will be your new family. Learn, grow, and love God in His family.
May the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the peace of our Lord Jesus be with you all. May God bless and be with you always.
Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!
The email, if you wish to contact me, is
truthbygod1@gmail.com
.jpg)
