The Christian life is lived effectively by knowledge.
Philemon 1:6 (NKJV)
6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
The word “acknowledgement” is “epignósis” in the original Greek manuscript. Thayer’s Lexicon defines “epignósis” as “precise and correct knowledge.” So, there is a precise knowledge which the believer ought to have as touching his Christian faith if he must be effective in same. The right knowledge leads to effective Christian living.
The same applies to Christian meetings. The believer must have SUFFICIENT information as touching why EXACTLY we hold Christian meetings and what EXACTLY he is to expect there if he is to make the most of them. In Christianity, EVERYTHING must be taught. No assumptions. We don’t suppose folks already know stuff. You’d be shocked! We teach EVERYTHING in order to get them to know EVERYTHING. The teaching ministry is VERY important. An error in teaching would lead to an error in the believer’s life all together.
“A lying doctrine soon begets a lying practice” — Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
That said, Christian meetings are not a “suggestion” in the Scriptures. They are not optional! The gathering of Saints is an instruction, just like prayer.
Ephesians 6:18 (NKJV)
18 PRAYING ALWAYS with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV)
17 pray without ceasing,
Romans 12:12 (NKJV)
12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, CONTINUING STEADFASTLY IN PRAYER;
Colossians 4:2 (NKJV)
2 CONTINUE EARNESTLY IN PRAYER, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
We pray for ourselves and for others. The Epistles instruct that.
Hebrews 10:22-25 (NKJV)
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 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.
Here, we see the writer of the book of Hebrews make a salient point. The Book of Hebrews might appear a little difficult to understand due to the complexity of the material. It is a material that requires GREAT SKILL in Bible interpretation to be able to be nagivated through accurately. The Book of Hebrews was written to the Jewish nation in an attempt to convince them towards faith in Christ Jesus. In this nation is a mixed audience:
— Firstly, believing Jews
— Secondly, unbelieving Jews and
— Lastly, unconvinced Jews
So, context would determine who the writer was referring to at a particular time. In Hebrews 10, we see Paul address the unconvinced Jews in vs. 22
Hebrews 10:22 (NKJV)
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
The writer of the Book of Hebrews admonishes this doubting Jews to have a true heart in FULL assurance of faith. This is in reference to their minds which still doubted the authenticity of the message of Christ.
Then in verse 23, the writer of the Book of Hebrews refers to believing Jews
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
These believing Jews endured persecution for their faith and were considering turning back to Judaism. The writer of Hebrews encourages them by reminding them of the faithfulness of God.
The same flow of thoughts continue to the next verse
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.
Actually the originals read: Not forsaking the assembling together of ourselves. “Assembling together” is just one word in the Greek. It is the word “episunagógé.” It means “a specific grouping together that fulfills the specific purpose of the gathering together.” Note the prefix “epi” which is an intensifier. The word in the Greek denotes a complete gathering. Hence, in Christian meetings, NOTHING is missing! The Christian meeting has ALL that is needed to meet EVERY need! Notice also that it is SPECIFIC with SPECIFIC PURPOSES. This is VERY key.
Why do we hold Christian meetings?
..but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
“Exhorting” is “parakaleó” in the Greek. It means “encourage, strengthen, to comfort, stir up, refresh.” It is a restorative term. In Christian meetings, there is encouragement, renewal of strength, comfort, refreshment of mind and spirit and folks leave stirred up, spiritually ignited! This is WHY we hold Christian meetings! The way we stir up one another is by assembling together.
In Christ, we have been born into a family.
1 Corinthians 12:13 (NKJV)
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.
One body. One Spirit.
Galatians 6:10 (NKJV)
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH.
Household is an intimate term in the Greek. It refers to folks of one blood, kindred.
Ephesians 2:19 (NKJV)
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD
Same word, household.
So, God meant for a family in Christianity. We are His Sons and brothers, one with another. All one. We have love in our hearts towards one another. This love leads us to desire fellowship with one another. We are all one big love family!
The Apostle Paul ALWAYS linked faith in Christ with love for the Saints.
Philemon 1:5 (NKJV)
5 hearing of your LOVE AND FAITH which you have toward THE LORD JESUS and TOWARD ALL THE SAINTS,
Ephesians 1:15 (NKJV)
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of YOUR FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS and YOUR LOVE FOR ALL THE SAINTS
Colossians 1:4 (NKJV)
4 since we heard of YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS and of YOUR LOVE FOR ALL THE SAINTS;
The believer was not born into isolation, he was born into supernatural relationships. It is an anomaly for the believer not to be in the company of other believers. Like a pack of wolves, we are stronger together! The local church and the meeting of believers is God’s design for the believer. The Church was purchased by the blood of Christ and is fit for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:22 (NKJV)
22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
God is at home there! This readily shows that ALL Christian meetings MUST be treated with reverence. The manifested presence of God is present there AT ALL TIMES! Such meetings must NEVER be missed. They are not ordinary, they are supernatural! Orchestrated by God Himself!
Christian meetings are for edification
Ephesians 4:11-16 (NKJV)
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 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.
The ministry gifts (apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher) were given to edify you and equip you for the work of the ministry and these ministry gifts can only be found in the Church (gathering of Saints)! Hence, your edification (spiritual growth) is tied to Christian meetings. Christian gatherings are for mutual spiritual development — we grow one another. They are one of a kind, matched by none other elsewhere in the world. Christian meetings are for the enhancement of your spiritual life and for your ministry in the Body of Christ.
God orchestrates Christian meetings in order to meet the needs of His people! Christian meetings are for you!
Christian meetings are God setting you up for a blessing! Whatever you do, never miss them! Even if it would cost you money or to travel long distances, do so! We see the Ethiopian eunuch travel across continents just to attend a meeting of God’s people (Acts 8:26-28). It was in the process then he got saved, that could never have happened via a “Facebook livestream!” Sometimes your physical presence matters more than your online presence! God wants you there BODILY!
How do you see Christian meetings? Do you esteem them highly? Answer this truthfully to yourself. Have you neglected the gathering of the Saints? I trust this has been able to change your perception of Christian meetings. They are as important as the very air you breathe.
Value Christian meetings, they are God’s delivery system to tremendously bless you, in life and ministry! It is in Christian meetings that ministries are birthed and strengthened! There is clarity as touching direction in Christian meetings! You leave knowing EXACTLY what to do! An invitation to a Christian meeting is a blessed one already because no one goes before Jesus and leaves the same way. His fragrance rubs off on you and you are FOREVER changed! I hope this blessed you. Let me know.
© Josh Banks Ministries. 2019.
