GOING TO CHURCH
Going To Church: How Important Is It To You
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 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 (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Some Christians think they should only go to Church when it’s convenient. They believe God is everywhere, so you don’t necessarily have to go to Church to serve or worship Him. It’s not right. Our opening Scripture expresses the importance of going to Church. It chides those who don’t and admonishes us not to be like them.
There should be a compulsion in your heart to be in Church when you should. Cultivate that personal discipline. God says it’s important so it must be to you too.
In the Old Testament, He said to the children of Israel, “Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel. For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year” (Exodus 34:23-24)
Notice what He told them; He promised them those lands, through their fathers: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But the lands were occupied by enemy nations who were naturally stronger than Israel. However, God was going to cast out the nations from before them, give them their possessions, enlarge their borders and protect them. The blessing of verse twenty-four was fully dependent on their obedience in verse twenty-three; their being in the designated place of worship when they should. It’s all about priorities.
As you make it a priority to be present in your Church, fellowship and cell-group meetings, God’s mighty hand of protection will rest upon all that you do! His Word that’ll come to you will lift you, and keep you perpetually above every evil, destruction, hardship and terror. You’ll ride upon the high places of the earth, walking in abundance, and in the wisdom of the Spirit.
REASONS WHY YOU MUST GO TO CHURCH.
Some believers don't think it is necessary for them to belong to a particular local assembly - Church. While some attend a different Church every week without commitment to any, some don't attend at all. As Christains, it's important for you to identify with a local assembly, a Church you can call your HOME and participate fully in the activities. Otherwise, you'll deprive yourself of a lot of God's blessings and you'll be walking out of line with His Word. Here are some of the reasons you must go to Church:
1) GOD SAID SO:
The Scripture is unambiguous in letting us know that God desires His children to attend Church meetings. In Hebrews 10:25, the admonition is clear not to forsake the assembly (meetings) of the brethren, and even goes on to indicate that some were erroneously doing so.
2) JESUS DID, SHOWING US A PATTERN TO FOLLOW:
The Scriptures show that the Lord Jesus had a culture of going to "Church." It was part of His personal discipline and devotion - His custom: "And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read" (Luke 4:16). The Master took going to "Church" as an important activity, and having been called into fellowship with Him we should follow His example and live as He did.
3) IT IS THE VEHICLE BY WHICH YOU FUNCTION IN THE BODY OF CHRIST:
A Christain is not a committed Christain until he demostrates his commitment in the local assembly, because the local assembly forms an integral part of the spiritual body of Christ, which is God's representative on earth. You can't function in that body until you function in the local assembly. The early Church was made up of local assemblies, and several were mentioned in the epistles, for example Romans 16:5 and Revelation 3.
4) THE CHURCH IS THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF TRUTH (1 Timothy 3:15):
God wants His children to know the truth about life, because the truth makes you free from bondage and sets you at liberty. In the Church, you're taught the truth. In the absence of the truth, a man will believe a lie and be a victim of it. For example the Scriptures tell us that Jesus has abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. In th Church, these truths are not only taught, but explaned. The teaching of God's Word is crutial for victorious living, and the Church is the primary place for this.
5) THE CHURCH IS A PLACE OF FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER CHRISTAINS:
Fellowship with other Christains is crucial to the growth of a believer. In Hebrews 10:24-25 we're admonished to provoke one another to love, and to good works. We're also to encourage one another. In Proverbs 27:17, the Scriptures indicate that we sharpen ourselves as we fellowship. The company a man keeps will affect his life and growth (1Corinthians 15:33). So keeping and being found in the right company is desirable, and going to Church facilitates this.
6) THE CHURCH IS A PLACE WHERE CHRISTAIN GROWTH AND CHARACTER ARE ENHANCED:
In Ephasians 4:11-16, the scriptures clearly state that God ordains certain offices for the benefit of the Christain, for growth and to sharpen his spiritual development. These offices are found in the Church, and men are ordained into them for the local assembly, for the benefit of those in that local assembly.
7) THE CHURCH IS A PLACE WHERE YOU HEAR THE WORD REQUIRED FOR FAITH AND LIFE:
God requires us to live by faith, for without faith it's impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). The preaching of the Word imparts faith and the teaching of the Word helps that faith grow as you understand and put what you've learnt to work.
8) THE CHURCH IS A PLACE OF TRAINING:
In 2 Timothy 3:16, the Bible lets us know that the Word of God is given to train and instruct you. In the Church, God sets instructors who are able to instruct you in the truth, and help you culture your life. The Church is a place where discipline and proper conduct are imparted. These are required for your spiritual growth and effective service for the Lord (1 Corinthians 14:40).
9) THE CHURCH IS A SOLUTION TO LIFE'S QUESTIONS:
In the Epistles we see the Apostles sending letters to the Churches to address questions that the brethren had. It hasn't changed. The Church is uniquely equipped by the Holy Spirit to communicate wisdom from God for questions a Christain might have. Getting answers from the world is a dreadend, since the wisdom of the world can't satisfactorily provide solutions to life's issues, because it's destined to fail (1 Corinthians 2:6).
10) THE CHURCH IS A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN EXPERIENCE THE CORPERATE ANOINTING:
As brethren dwell together in unity, the Scriptures tell us in Psalm 133 that it provokes a corperate anointing that blesses everyone. The anointing is contagious and in the Church, by association, a Christain can do much more with other believers than he could by himself.
11) THE CHURCH IS A PLACE OF REFUGE, COMFORT AND REFRESHING:
A Christain is guaranteed to receive encouragement and words of refreshing in Church. This is often needed after the travails of the market-place of life. The Church is a place where you can receive the undiluted truth, and learn new things that are progressively to your benefit. The Church is a place of upliftment, encouragement and refuge. No wonder David was always delighted about being in Church (Psalm 122:1, Psalm 27:4).