Why do we need to go to church?
Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV (24) And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, (25) 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.
Forsaking – leave behind or desert
Assembling – a gathering and putting together (implication is the same as puzzle pieces)
This is not a haphazard gathering of believers.
Matthew 18:19-20 NKJV (19) “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. (20) For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Agree – to be harmonious, in accord (one heart)
Gathered – comes from same root word that we find in assembling (sunago) – there is a place that you fit.
Jesus did not say that the prayer of agreement would work with just anyone, but with those that the Lord has gathered you to be a part of it is most effective.
Acts 4:23-24 NKJV (23) And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. (24) So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them…
The word for their own company should be more correctly translated, “they went to their own…” The implication is that there were other groups of believers, but they went to the ones that were their own.
Acts 4:31-35 NKJV (31) And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (32) Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. (33) And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. (34) Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, (35) and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
The power that manifested because of the local body being assembled caused the building to shake, great boldness to win the lost, power for manifestations to be present, eliminate lack and insufficiency and caused the church to grow.
Understanding why it is important for us to go to church,
then where are we supposed to go to church?
1 Corinthians 12:12-18 NKJV (12) For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. (13) For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. (14) For in fact the body is not one member but many. (15) If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? (16) And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? (17) If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? (18) But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
We must find the place where God desires to set us in the Body as it pleases Him.
There is a church that it pleases God for you to be a part of in the Body of Christ.
Whatever body part you may happen to be, God knows exactly where you would fit the best.
You could also say that a body part that has been separated from the rest of the body has been cut off from the life that it needs to live and function and will wither and die.
How do I find the place, the local church that I belong in and pleases God for me to be? God has made it very easy for you to find it.
- Ask God to show you the place, the church where you need to be.
God will begin to bring people or something into your life to invite you to visit.
- Follow the inward witness of the Spirit – God’s way of verifying a good decision for you.
Follow after peace; Feels good OR like finger-nails across a chalk board.
- The sheep know the voice of the shepherd.
John 10:3-5 NKJV (3) To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. (4) And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. (5) Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
You will be able to be comfortable with the under-shepherd of the church and receive from his ministry.
God will not send you to a place that you will have a problem agreeing with in some area of major importance. (Amos 3:3)
- Statement of Faith – what do they believe
- Church Vision – both short and long term
- Conduct of Ministry – organization, church government
Once you find the local church that you are to be a part of,
what do you do now?
Ephesians 4:15-16 NKJV (15) but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— (16) from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Edifying of itself in love – Building up of itself in giving love to meet the needs of others.
God desires for the church to increase so that it’s ability to meet the needs of mankind grows and increases.
The first and primary way we meet human need is by the Word of God.
He desires churches to be built up in their capacity to be able to reach and meet the needs of others with the Word of God to bring lasting change to their lives.
Two contributors that produce increase:
- Making a supply – a spiritually supply, soulish supply and natural supply.
- Effectively Working – being productively involved in an area that you are talented and gifted in.
If you want to increase, the body you are a part of has to increase.
All the body parts grow and increase together in a normal healthy body. If the body part is making a contribution to the growth of the body then it will increase and grow. The greater the increase, the greater the impact on the world!
Hebrews 10:24-25 TPT (24) Discover creative ways to encourage others and to motivate them toward acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love. (25) This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing, because we need each other! In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning.