Series: March Forward & Stand Firm

Title: March Forward by Gathering

We live in a day and age in which technology makes it possible to connect to people around the world through the internet and through social media platforms.  These platforms can be used for good as they provide great opportunities for “The Church” to promote the gospel to a broader audience.  While listening to sermons online or watching your favorite tv preacher is generally a good thing, however you should make a conscious effort, to the best of your ability, to gather in person with God’s people.  

Now we know that sometimes circumstances may not afford you the opportunity to gather.  But we should never get to the place in life in which we do not see the value of meeting together.  This happens gradually as we allow circumstance to lead to isolating patterns in our lives. 

As a believer in Christ our desire should be that we want to gather with one another and in gathering we also serve one another.  It should pain us when we are not able to gather.  

We Are Healed in Gathering

It was extremely difficult for me as a pastor to preach to empty chairs when we were not able to meet during quarantine.  I also discovered my dislike for zoom meetings and the like.  Quarantine affirmed my position that nothing can replace being in fellowship with a body of believers.

On the flip side I was extremely encouraged when we were allowed to meet again.  God has created us to communicate through a variety of different ways such as eye contact, facial expressions and even body language.  These are often loss during an online presentation.  

As a pastor, I feed off the excitement that you all bring, with your Amens, go there, say that etc… As a congregation you can connect with the words of the sermon when you sense the heart and passion of the speaker.

The apostle Paul gives us an example of how we are healed (encouraged) when we gather.

2 Corinthians 7:5-7

⁵ For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. ⁶ But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, ⁷ and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. 

This verse gives us some insight of what Paul was experiencing internally after having endured all that he had up to that point.  (Tired, afflicted, physical struggles, internal fears)

But at the coming of Titus, God provides Paul comfort for his weary soul.  It is through being in community with one another that we experience such comfort.  Gathering in community is God’s way of restoring the weary soul.  Through Gathering we are healed; we are comforted we are encouraged so that we may endure in the faith.

There is much to be gained when we gather.

We Grow in Gathering

It is in gathering that we hear the word of God either at a corporate level or in a small group setting.  Jesus had both.  We encourage you to be a part of both.  Corporate learning happens on Sunday mornings and discipleship happens on Wednesdaynights as we dive deeper into the word of God.

Jesus taught when the multitudes were gathered. An example of this is found in

Matthew 5:3-6

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴ “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

⁵ “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

⁶ “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

He also taught some unforgettable lessons when it was just His disciples who were gathered around Him.

Matthew 8:23-27 (Jesus and His disciples get into a boat, He teaches them about faith)

Being they had experienced that boating incident together they had the faith to believe in Jesus’ delivering Power.  This would become a vital lesson for years to come as they would face persecution, even martyrdom, for the cause of Christ.

The main idea is that the disciples grew spiritually from that experience because they were together.  If it was only one person in that boat with Jesus, then perhaps no one would believe his report.  But being all of Jesus disciples were in that boat, their testimony is more plausible.

This brings about a certain level of accountability amongst believers.  If one of the disciples were to question Jesus’ authority over His creation, they could then be reminded of the time when Jesus spoke to the waves, and they obeyed.  If everyone in the room hears a message about forgiveness, then everyone is responsible to act accordingly.   So, if someone instead chooses to hold a grudge, then other members of the body can confront the unforgiving person in a loving way. 

When we gather, we hear God’s word, we grow spiritually, and we are then held accountable to be doers of His word.

There is Power in Gathering

We are more powerful when we gather than when we try to fight the enemy on our own.  We all are familiar with the story of the Israelites as they crossed over the Jordan and into Jericho.  God had instructed them to march around Jericho in silence for six days and then on the seventh day they were instructed to shout with a loud voice.  But what if God had told Joshua and only Joshua to march around that city and then shout.  How different sounding that shout may have been. 

There is power in numbers.  (Men’s conference)

Worship is more powerful when we gather. 

Prayer is more powerful when we gather

Matthew 18:20

¹⁸ Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. ¹⁹ Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Anywhere, Jesus is there is power.  When Jesus steps on the scene, things must change.  Just ask the man who was possessedby demons, he sat among the tombs and cut himself with rocks.  But when Jesus gets out of the boat and steps on to the shore near where he was, the demons inside of him began to beg for mercy.  That is the kind of power that is available when two or more are gathered in His name.

Our Heavenly Father acts on our behalf when we come together in prayer.  A great example of this is on the day of Pentecost.

Acts 2:1-4

¹ When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³ And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

(KJV) they were all with one accord

One accord- with one mind, with one passion

They were all together in the same place, for the same purpose and of the same spirit.  They were all filled with the Holy Spirit.  The power of God filled that room, empowered Peter to declare the word of the Lord and the result was that 3000 people were saved.  

There is power when we gather for corporate prayer and worship.  God’s presence become evident, and lives are changed as a result.

There is Hope in Gathering

Hebrews 10:23-25

²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 

A few things about this passage. 

• We are to hold fast the confession of our hope. Hold fast-Keep a firm possession of.  Meaning you have been given hope at the point of salvation and you should hold on firmly to that hope. 
  • The hope that Jesus is coming back for His church and
  • the hope of spending eternity with God.
  • It is the hope of leaving everything that is broken in this world in exchange for a life filled with ultimate satisfaction.

Yet the struggles of life tend to diminish our hope.  But when we come together, we are to hold fast and confess our hope to each other so that others would then hold fast to the hope that they have in Christ.

²⁴ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ 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.

Have you ever considered that when you come to gather for a church service, that part of your responsibility is to inspire others to have hope? Therefore, we should not neglect the assembling of ourselves, not only for our own good, but also for the good of others.

In essence Paul says “How can we stir one another up to good works” and then he answers his own question by suggesting that we do so by meeting together on a continued basis.  We stir up one another to good works by meeting together regularly.

Furthermore, Paul suggests meeting even more as the day of Christ approaches. Why is that? Because as the day of Christ approaches satan knows his time is coming to an end. So, his attacks on believers will intensify.  We will need to be in fellowship with one another more than ever.

Because just as sheep are protected from predators when they gather in large flocks, so it is with the body of Christ.  There is a certain level of protection that is found when we come together as the sheepfold of Christ.

When a sheep wanders off in isolation, then it does not have the same protection as if it were with the sheepfold under the shepherd’s care.  The sheep is more subjected to an attack from a predator when it is isolated from the rest.   Just as you will be an easy target for satan, when you remove yourself from community. 

We Are Healed in Gathering

We Grow in Gathering

There is Power in Gathering

There is Hope in Gathering