“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 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.” (NKJV - Heb 10:24-25)
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. (NLT -Heb 10:24-25)
My dear brothers and sisters, the Lord has been laying on my heart many of those in our Fellowship who have not been around lately, or who attend church very sporadically. Everyone is busy and has reasons why it is difficult to ‘make’ church on a regular basis. But to the Lord, our attendance is very high on His priority list. There are many reasons for this.
First of all, we need one another. If you come to church in order to ‘receive’ only, you are missing half the boat. Half boats don’t float very well. The rest of the Body of Christ needs you in order to make it whole. Each member has an important role in making the Body of Christ a whole, living organism.
The apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 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.” (NKJV - 1 Cor. 12:12)
Paul wrote later in the same chapter, “For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? 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? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. (NKJV - 1 Co 12:14-27)
What the Holy Spirit is saying through the apostle Paul is that every member of the Body of Christ is needed to make the Body complete. Without any part, it is lacking. If you think you don’t play an important role in the fellowship, you are wrong. God says that on those members that seem less honorable, on these we bestow even greater honor. You may think you simply ‘occupy space’ at church, but that is a lie from the enemy.
Also in 1 Cor. 12, Paul speaks about why the need for every member of the Body to be present is so important. “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. (NKJV - 1 Co 12:4-12).
You see, God knows that each one of us are different. Each of us have different strengths and weaknesses. And God adds to our individuality by giving us the gifts of the Holy Spirit in different measures to different people so that when the whole Body of Christ comes together – it is complete; whole; lacking nothing.
If any one of us misses an opportunity to fellowship at church, we are not only depriving ourselves of the blessing of God using us, but we are also depriving the Body of our special and unique gifts. It’s like a car running on 3 cylinders. It will get there eventually, but it will be a rough ride and much slower to complete.
In the Book of Acts we see the first century church behaving the way God intended for the church to function. “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. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 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, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. (NKJV - Act 4:32-35)
You see, when the Body of Christ functions as God intended – all of the members are equally needed and used. They may not be as ‘visibly’ used or ‘stand out front’, but a prayer worrior is worth more than a musician any day. “The effective and fervent prayer of the righteous avails much.” (NKJV - Jas 5:16). When a member of the Body of Christ has a need, if the Body is functioning properly, the need can be met by the whole Body coming together. No one should have to suffer loss if the needs can be met through the common resources of the Fellowship. I have seen men, proud men, work on their houses or kitchens or bathrooms or yards by themselves because they were too proud to call the brethren and ask for help. “Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (NKJV - Jas 4:2-3). I have seen some families go without food, or diapers for their children, because they didn’t feel like they could ask the fellowship for help. That is understandable – if you are only a pew warmer and not a vital part of the Body of Christ. But that is not what God intends for any of us.
The Lord wishes the each of us have enough, - not too little that we have to steal nor too much that our heart grows far from the Lord. “Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches— Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the Lord?” (NKJV Prov 30:7-9).
So, what is the end of all this? Don’t forsake the fellowship of the Body of Christ. Be there and be an active member whenever it is at all possible. And the Lord will see to it that you are used mightily by the Holy Spirit and that you never lack for anything. “Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.” (NLT - Psalm 37:25).
I hope to see you at church tomorrow! I love each of you and pray for you every morning. May the Lord richly bless you.
Much love, Pastor Tony Marinelli
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. (NLT -Heb 10:24-25)
My dear brothers and sisters, the Lord has been laying on my heart many of those in our Fellowship who have not been around lately, or who attend church very sporadically. Everyone is busy and has reasons why it is difficult to ‘make’ church on a regular basis. But to the Lord, our attendance is very high on His priority list. There are many reasons for this.
First of all, we need one another. If you come to church in order to ‘receive’ only, you are missing half the boat. Half boats don’t float very well. The rest of the Body of Christ needs you in order to make it whole. Each member has an important role in making the Body of Christ a whole, living organism.
The apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 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.” (NKJV - 1 Cor. 12:12)
Paul wrote later in the same chapter, “For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? 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? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. (NKJV - 1 Co 12:14-27)
What the Holy Spirit is saying through the apostle Paul is that every member of the Body of Christ is needed to make the Body complete. Without any part, it is lacking. If you think you don’t play an important role in the fellowship, you are wrong. God says that on those members that seem less honorable, on these we bestow even greater honor. You may think you simply ‘occupy space’ at church, but that is a lie from the enemy.
Also in 1 Cor. 12, Paul speaks about why the need for every member of the Body to be present is so important. “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. (NKJV - 1 Co 12:4-12).
You see, God knows that each one of us are different. Each of us have different strengths and weaknesses. And God adds to our individuality by giving us the gifts of the Holy Spirit in different measures to different people so that when the whole Body of Christ comes together – it is complete; whole; lacking nothing.
If any one of us misses an opportunity to fellowship at church, we are not only depriving ourselves of the blessing of God using us, but we are also depriving the Body of our special and unique gifts. It’s like a car running on 3 cylinders. It will get there eventually, but it will be a rough ride and much slower to complete.
In the Book of Acts we see the first century church behaving the way God intended for the church to function. “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. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 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, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. (NKJV - Act 4:32-35)
You see, when the Body of Christ functions as God intended – all of the members are equally needed and used. They may not be as ‘visibly’ used or ‘stand out front’, but a prayer worrior is worth more than a musician any day. “The effective and fervent prayer of the righteous avails much.” (NKJV - Jas 5:16). When a member of the Body of Christ has a need, if the Body is functioning properly, the need can be met by the whole Body coming together. No one should have to suffer loss if the needs can be met through the common resources of the Fellowship. I have seen men, proud men, work on their houses or kitchens or bathrooms or yards by themselves because they were too proud to call the brethren and ask for help. “Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (NKJV - Jas 4:2-3). I have seen some families go without food, or diapers for their children, because they didn’t feel like they could ask the fellowship for help. That is understandable – if you are only a pew warmer and not a vital part of the Body of Christ. But that is not what God intends for any of us.
The Lord wishes the each of us have enough, - not too little that we have to steal nor too much that our heart grows far from the Lord. “Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches— Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the Lord?” (NKJV Prov 30:7-9).
So, what is the end of all this? Don’t forsake the fellowship of the Body of Christ. Be there and be an active member whenever it is at all possible. And the Lord will see to it that you are used mightily by the Holy Spirit and that you never lack for anything. “Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.” (NLT - Psalm 37:25).
I hope to see you at church tomorrow! I love each of you and pray for you every morning. May the Lord richly bless you.
Much love, Pastor Tony Marinelli