Why should you take church meetings very seriously, and why should you be present in church services?
I believe that one thing that matters a lot in how life will turn out for a person of faith is how he or she treats coming to the presence of God.
Even though it is true that God is omnipresent and everywhere, the Bible teaches that He is in the midst of any two or three people who gather in His name. God always shows up when we gather. He is among us by His spirit.
[Hebrews 10:25 KJV] “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching”.
I want to share four reasons why we must not take the opportunity to meet like this for granted.
1. It will save you from backsliding
The Psalmist said he nearly backslid and gave up on faith when he saw the prosperity of the ungodly; until he came to the sanctuary of the Lord.
[Psalms 73:12-18 KJV] “Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.”
“For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;”
“Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction”.
2. You will receive the glory of God upon your life
When Moses spent time in the presence of God, he changed. Changes are taking place in us daily as we gather in His presence.
Sometimes, you don’t see the change that is going on in you but those around you see it. Sometimes, they don’t tell you but they know that you’re changing.
[Exodus 34:29-30 KJV] “And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.”
“And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him”.
3. When we gather, God speaks to us concerning our lives
When we gather, the Lord gives us insight into the past and present and foresight for the future.
God speaks to us when we gather. When the apostles and prophets gathered to pray, the Holy Ghost spoke to them;
[Acts 13:1-2 KJV] “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.”
“As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them”.
4. Joining church meetings makes you accountable to the leadership
Those who attend meetings are accountable; that is why when people want to be irresponsible, they begin to cut meetings and not attend the services.
God wants to gather us under shepherds to feed and to guide us.
[John 10:16 KJV] “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd”.
5. We sharpen each other when we meet
What most of us don’t know is the reinforcement that we receive when we gather. Two are better than one; they have a better reward for their labour and they keep each other warm.
We sharpen each other. When the early apostles were threatened not to preach in the name of Jesus Christ; they found reinforcement in their company.
[Acts 4:23-24 KJV]“And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.”
“And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:”
I pray that you will take our fellowship meetings seriously from today in the name of Jesus Christ!
Stay blessed
