Christians, Assemble!

The character of God can be summarized by how he engages humanity and what he desires our response be when we read about his commands and communicate with him through prayer and supplication (Philippians 4:6-7). For example, God specifically lays out a foundation for how we should treat one another. On multiple occasions, the power of our influence is well documented in Scripture. Hebrews 10:24-25 says,

“And let us consider how to spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

God created us to be in community with one another. Fellowship matters to him because it is a reflection of him and his deepest desires. In fact, our influence on one another withholds so much power, it will even prepare us for the dark days that are ahead of us. All the more is a key phrase used to explain how much more important it will be when the men and women who serve the Lord will be put on trial for their beliefs (see Matthew Henry Commentary of Hebrews 10:25).

In addition to all the more, another phrase that is important to focus on is as some are in the habit of doing. Long before this day and age, God knew the greatest weakness that could potentially eliminate the positive influence of man, and it would come in the form of isolation. Commentary suggests ‘assembling Christians’ (found in Hebrews 10:25) translates to Christians who publicly worship (Barnes’ Notes on the Bible). The problem, unfortunately, is the lack of meeting and publicly worshiping God together in word and deed. What looms larger is the disguise: Isolation and comfort often go hand-in-hand, and filling our schedules with busy seems to be the norm. Even when there is meeting up with others in worship to God, we are not spurring one another toward love and good deeds as much as we should. We forget and abandon the unlimited power of influence we are given when we meet with the purpose of encouraging one another on.

While Hebrews does provide clear instruction on how to engage with one another, it is not the only reference in Scripture that cites the importance of meeting together. Matthew 18:20 also promises, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Sure, alone time with God is good for the soul and the relationship, but a fellowship of believers makes a strong impact as well. When those who come together with a common desire to make him the vocal point of conversation and action, God’s presence is multiplied. Why? In the context of Scripture, it’s simple. Take a look at how influential fellowship works:

First, we are called to be “imitators” and to “imitate God” in everything we do (see 1 Corinthians 11:1 and Ephesians 5:1). This means Jesus didn’t just come to save us from sin, but he modeled for us what it looks like to imitate God in all we do. Second, being imitators of Jesus means this: when we are filled with the Holy Spirit and adhere to its promptings, we are very much like Jesus. Now imagine a room full of Jesus’, loving on one another, instructing one another, admonishing one another, etc. Our words, actions, and deeds, when prescribed in the context of imitating God’s goodness (the fruits of the Spirit), carries so much power because God is in the midst of it.

God earnestly desires for us to be committed to one another in Christ because in doing so, we are intentionally engaging in the mission statement of God: to bring Love and Truth to a world who so desperately needs it. Men, women, and children so often struggle to be like Jesus; to live like he did and imitate him in all they do. When we meet together and spur one another on, we collectively see that living like Jesus is possible, and it strengthens our desire to continue living that way.

Those closest to me, the men who run the race with me, know me well. When I am feeling down, or I let my circumstances define my faith, these men give me a pep talk; they snap me out of my mindset. Like a star athlete huddling around his teammates to remind them the game is not over, my buddies will yell in my ear who I am in Jesus and that I am bigger than Satan’s flaming arrows; that I have the armor I need to fend off any attack from him. My friends are good at giving me the pep talk because those pep talks are grounded in Scripture and aligned with God’s promises. When Jesus feels invisible to me, the Holy Spirit living in my friends is what catapults me into Truth and Victory. When Jesus fees non-existent in the midst of my problems, my fellow warriors show me Jesus in them and how that same Jesus still resides in me.

Again, the problem remains. We don’t gather together as much as we should (Hebrews 10:25). We don’t spur one another on enough through meeting one another and worshiping together. Too many people live outside of the realm of this possibility. If we do gather together, God isn’t in the picture as much as he could and should be. Fortunately, each day is new, and each day is another opportunity to flip the script. If you’re not spurring one another on towards love and good deeds and getting spurred on as well, your life will lose Biblical, godly purpose.

We were designed to gather together and encourage one another towards being imitators of Jesus. We were designed to publicly worship together. In today’s age, we have become distracted, and distraction is one of Satan’s tricks. If he can’t take us out, he will use daily distractions to prevent us from living in the complete blessings that come from God. Fellowship is a blessing, and isolation is Satan’s way to eliminate imitating God. When we see another believer properly living out his faith, we are inspired to begin or continue that process. If we are not inspired, we should be. If we are not inspired to meet with others, Satan could be using distractions, busyness, and other excuses to eliminate that desire.

There is a reason God gives the command of meeting together. It works, and it brings us closer to His likeness. Jesus walked with twelve disciples. This means he didn’t go through life alone. We too are not meant to go through life alone, so it is critical to be proactive in this area, because God says it is important.

1. The way to combat complacency and enter into a spiritually Christ-centered community is by doing some of the following. 
2. Making a local church your home and attending (maybe even serving) regularly.
3.  Finding spiritual brothers (if you’re a guy) and sisters (if you’re a girl) and becoming genuine friends with them (one of the most powerful accountability tools is putting yourself around godly people and allowing them to show up in your life)
4. Finding a same-gender leader who is willing to mentor and/or disciple you to become or continue being an imitator of God. 

Never give up on opportunities to meet with others, worship God together, and spur them on toward love and good deeds – this is a command that God gives us, so it is important to not become lazy in this area.

There is a reason God gives the command of meeting together. It works, and it brings us closer to His likeness. Jesus walked with twelve disciples. This means he didn’t go through life alone. We too are not meant to go through life alone, so it is critical to be proactive in this area, because God says it is important.

*Additional verses instructing the engagement of brothers and sisters in Christ: Romans 12:10-21, Colossians 3:12-17, 2 Timothy 2:23-25, Matthew 5:21-23

"Spit" Decisions

Littered through our lives is one thing that will never go away. It can be the toughest challenge to face, and it is always fought best when confronted personally. No one can make it for you, yet so many times we do not know what to do about them. These are infamously known as "decisions". Lebron James made one in 2010, President Barack Obama makes them all the time, and as Christians, we constantly have to be mindful of them. Unfortunately, many times in our lives, we are indecisive; with our jobs, our lifestyles, our friendships, etc. Worst yet, we are indecisive as Christians. We are not sure whether we should stay in the boat or whether to trust God and get out. We are not even sure whether or not we should "really" live for God. Oh, decisions, decisions, decisions.
In Revelation, there are seven churches that are mentioned. Each church has made some decisions and has to deal with them, and at each church - Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, a letter is written to the angel that resides there. To the church in Smyrna, the letter encourages the angel saying, "I know about your suffering and your poverty - but you are rich!" (Rev. 2:9). As opposed to the church in Smyrna, the church in Laodicea claims it is rich materialistically, but it is really poor in spirit. Furthermore, what the church struggled with greatly was what is was doing in the sight of the Lord, and it was all...worthless.
As a matter of fact, if we are to fully understand the meaning behind the letter written to Laodicea, we would have to understand the context in which it was written. Around this church was a source of water in the form of a fountain and water tower. Along with the tower, an aqueduct was constructed from hot springs four miles south of the town. All around the Laodicea, cold and hot water was used to take care of the people and the land. Hence, giving some context to the letter to Laodicea, which boldly states:

"I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!" (Revelation 3:15-16)

The Laodicean church was doing things (and/or not doing things) that were unacceptable in the eyes of God. The letter is explaining that, like lukewarm water, there was no use for it and it might as well be tossed out (or more repulsively, "spit out"). There are many who are hot and seek the Lord faithfully, while cold water people have a heart that rejects God. Laodicea?  It couldn't make up its mind. In this context, it is far better to be cold and stone-hearted than be halfway between yes and no. A relationship is  unhealthy when one desires to go to his/her lover and then rejects the relationship moments later. Being indecisive is one of the worst strategies to use to get into or out of relationship because it is dishonest. This is how Laodicea was treating its relationship with God.

As Christians, we can easily become a Laodicea. We proclaim, as the Laodicean angel did: "I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!" (v. 17) We get swept away by our comfortable decisions and our comfortable lifestyle. Our lives become about us. We may not like to admit it, but we become so full of ourselves that we become stagnant, stale, and unworthy of carrying the most prized possession: Jesus Christ. In the next season, we praise and love God for what he gives  us ("everything I want"). We can't make a decision on whether to be 100% in or 100% out, so we lower our expectations to maybes. God makes it clear we need to knock it off.

Coffee, in our generation, comes in all different forms. We need to stay awake, so a good shot of espresso almost becomes a necessity. In order to provide it year round, coffee joints sell iced coffees in the summer and hot coffee in the winter. 

Never do they sell lukewarm coffee. It is gross, and it can be compared to the coffee you leave sitting out all day. Just like the town of Laodicea, the hot water and cold water was used for something, but the warm water could not be put to use in any way. It was worthless.

Many times, we are that coffee that sits out too long. The ice melts and becomes watery; the hot coffee reaches room temperature. We sit out and do nothing with the spiritual blessings God has given us. And, God does give us them:

Paul says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ." (Ephesians 1:3)

Unfortunately, after we make the decision to follow Christ, we tend to pull Laodiceas all the time. We sink into a comfortable lifestyle and become useless couch potatoes, and because of our indecisiveness, we look less like volunteers for our most High God and more like lazy servants who do nothing with their gift (Matthew 25:14-30). 

If we dare sit still, yet claim we have made God our Lord, we are merely trees tossed out and thrown into a fire (Matthew 7:19). In fact, just because we cry out, 'Lord, Lord,' this does not ensure eternity with him:

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven," Jesus said (Matthew 7:21)

We need to constantly be aware of His will for us. We need to "...use whatever gift [we have] received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 4:10-11). In doing that, we can then "...make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19), all for God's glory.

Despite all of the decisions we are constantly making each day, one decision that should never be difficult to make is to live out our commitment to Christ Jesus our Lord. Make yourself of use for the glory of God, and see how He can personally make you a vessel for His Kingdom.

So, what will your decision be? Will you be a stagnant servant, lukewarm in all your ways? Or, will you live out 1 Peter 4:10-11?

See also: James 1:22-25, Matthew 7:19, Matthew 25:14-30, 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 1 Timothy 1:6-7, 1 Timothy 4:11-14

Pointing at the Wrong Person

Where is God leading you? Is it what you hoped for? Do you even know what His plan for you might be? Out of fear, you refuse to seek God and His plan for you because, on the surface, you believe ignorance is bliss. You can run about, unknowingly rebellious, and it will all work out in your favor. Wouldn't that make you happy? After all, isn't your relationship with God all about making you happy? Unfortunately, we tend to believe this is the case. Our delight in the Lord is predicated by the moments when he acts as slave to our needs. When we get what we want, we praise God for all He has done for us.

Life is good when He does that. When we are given blessings, we are thankful and content. Is it good to have a thankful heart? Of course. We are called to rejoice and give thanks for his blessings. David writes about how we should "...give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name," and to "...make known his deeds among the people" (1 Chronicles 16:8).

Sometimes, though, it appears we think that is all God is around for. We believe God has an agenda to stick to; every Sunday, provide my precious child with good words on Sunday and a restful upcoming week. As long as my precious child prays an egocentric prayer, I will bless him and he will love me for what I have done for him.

Today's view of God is a lot like this. God is the life raft when we are sinking in life's problems, and when we are not, we give God the ol' shout out. Sadly, we fall into the lie that God is our servant and the way life treats us is an excuse for how we should treat him. When life is gravy, we give God a figurative pat on the back and remind him that he is doing a good job. When things are not going our way, we question God's authority and wonder what we have done to deserve such pain.

Like Job from the Bible, we ask, "If I have sinned, what have I done to you, you who see everything I do? Why have you made me your target? Have I become a burden to you?" (Job 7:20) We feel the troubles and trials in life are God punishing us because we are bad. We begin to falsely accuse God of his ability to love us because he has not made us happy children.

If we can't look in the mirror and reflect on our own selfish tendencies, maybe a life lesson from Abraham will help. 

Abraham was the ultimate symbol of loyalty to his Creator. He knew his place, even when it did not make sense. The story begins when God calls out to Abraham and says, "Take your son, your only son, whom you love - Isaac - and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you" (Genesis 22:2). This is a command to Abraham to slaughter his one and only son [sound familiar?]. To add to it, this is the same son it took Abraham 100 years (Genesis 21:5) to have as his own. However, it is not God's command that is the focus of the lesson, but Abraham's response: "Early the next morning, Abraham got up and loaded his donkey" (verse 3). There was no hesitation, no argument, and no questioning of authority. Furthermore, whenever God asked for Abraham, "Here I am" was Abraham's reply. As Isaac caught on, he asked his father where the burnt offering was; Abraham's response? "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son" (v. 8). From the moment the journey to Moriah began, Abraham took on the "humble servant" approach. He not only kept perfect obedience with the Lord, but he also relied on God's plan without pouting.

An angel sent by God then responded to Abraham's faithfulness: "...because you have done this and withheld your son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore" (v. 16-17).

God is the ultimate authority, and as we remain faithful to his plans through humble submission each day, we will see what the Lord can do in our lives, as Abraham saw in his own life. Sometimes the Lord places trials and unique situations in our lives to test us as he did with Job and Abraham. Sometimes, he wants to strengthen us like James 1 promises. Most importantly, when trials do come our way, he wants to remind us that he is fighting with us, not against us. John 16:33 says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you will have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

As you begin delighting in the Lord, he will reveal his plan to you. He wants you to succeed (as Jeremiah 29:11 states); but, you need to know your place and trust that "God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). You need to stop pointing your finger and learn to rely heavily on him for everything, because, after all, He did save you from your sin. Instead of shifting the blame, recruit your leader to guide you through life's trials, troubles, and consequences.

So, do you delight in the Lord and all he is doing, no matter what? Do you trust him, despite the troubles this world brings? Is he only your God on Sundays, when it is easy and it confirms your place in heaven? Or, is he literally the Lord over your life? 

He loves you, so why fight his love when you can bask in it, through the good and bad?

The lyrics express how we should view God and his plan for us.

Credit: Hillsong United, Youtube