April 19, 2024
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.
- Hebrews 10:25 NLT
In Matthew 24, Jesus’ disciples had asked Him what the signs of His coming and the end of age will be (v3). He responded to them in verses 4 through 14. Of particular interest, especially with regard to recent events, was His response in verse 7b “And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places” (NKJV). The Modern English Version (MEV) reads “There will be famines, epidemics, and earthquakes in various places”.
The global pandemic was a pandemic because it was a disease that spread across the globe at the same time. An epidemic spreads within a geographical region. In the real sense, the pandemic was a collection of epidemics. This occurrence, the Bible says, are signs of His coming…the end of age and why it has become more important than ever for the Local Church to meet in person to fellowship.
We are in the end times and God in the infinity of His foreknowledge does not leave us without guidance. The Scriptures admonish in Hebrews 10:25 to not forsake the gathering of the brethren but to encourage one especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. In the New King James translation, the “d” in the day is in capital letter. “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”. The day being referred to is the day of our Lord, the day of His return. This day is a day not to be feared but to be eagerly anticipated and welcomed for every true meaning believer of Jesus Christ. “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching” Luke 12:37.
Between present day and the day of our Lord’s return, we should not give up regularly meeting with believers. For in regularly meeting with believers, we behave like the apostles of old as in Acts 2:46-47 “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved”.
By fellowshipping with one another, darkness within progressively gives way to light. Through corporate prayers, praise and worship, preaching, bible study, sacrificing, offering and serving in the house of the Lord. We are able to walk in the light truthfully with one another and eventually with God (because there is no darkness in God at all). In fellowshipping with one another, the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses us from all sins (1 John 5-7). May we receive the grace for continual fellowship in-person in Christ in Jesus name, Amen.
Song of Worship
We are gathering together unto Thee (unto the Lord )– 2x
For to the Lord shall the gathering of His people be, we are gathering together unto Thee.
Prayer - Dear Lord, thank you for giving us guidance in these end times. Thank you for the gift of Your Church, New Covenant Assembly, a place where I can fellowship with true brothers and sisters in Christ in Jesus name. Amen.
Bible in 1 year: 2 Samuel 12-13; Luke 16