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How will you know ??
how will you know if you have built your life on the sayings of Jesus ?? It would be a tragedy to find all is lost by a storm due to lack of diligently aligning life, actions, faith, everyday choices with the sayings of life Himself….
Imagine two families, one on the rock up the hill, the other down by the water on the sand… the families lived in peace for some time. The family by the water saying how marvellous it was to be so close to the beach, where they swam every day enjoying life.. often inviting the family on the hill to join them in regular bbq hangouts… after all it was a prime location.. They would wave at each other as they left for wok each day. The family on the rock loved their neighbour, as their children played together and shared life’s milestones.
After many years suddenly a
terrible tragedy arose as the storm rolled in unexpected.. great waves like a giant forced began to beat down upon the coast land… it was all the family on the hill could do to contain the horror as they witnessed their beloved neighbours house, belongings, even their lives utterly destroyed in this storm.
On that terrible day, the family on the hill knew how much more valuable their lives became by building it up on that rock and not down by the sand.
Both families were in the storm. Both were surrounded by the thrashing of wind, rain and the waves beating at the rocks edges.. you’ll find this story in
Matthew 7:26-27 NKJV
"But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: [27] and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
There is a storm coming.. .you will know if you have built your life on His sayings or on sayings that feel good at the time..
Let me ask you a question, do you believe we are in the end times ? Do you see the Day of the Lord fast approaching ?? Your actions will reveal your beliefs.. your beliefs will reveal your foundations. Those foundations will keep you anchored in the storm.
The sayings of Jesus is His Word John 1:1. What have you done with this saying if you truly believe we are fast approaching the return of Jesus ?
Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV
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.
Our job is to encourage you to come together more often!!!! Not less.. the work forsake means to leave the option of coming together over something you have deemed more important.
G1722 and G2641; to leave behind in some place that is (in a good sense) let remain over or (in a bad one) to desert: - forsake leave.
Jesus said He would never leave you.. Hebrews 13:5-6 NASBS
Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," [6] so that we confidently say, "The LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?"
The gathering together requires time and effort.. the more time you spend gathering, the less time you have for making money, Time and effort cost money.. you exchange your time for money in your place of work.
Jesus said He will never leave us, yet we have happily left Him thinking it won’t affect us… I’m sure that’s the definition of insanity right there.
What keeps anyone away from comings together more often now as we see the day approaching??
Is it the lack of understanding that a storm is approaching??
Is it wilful disobedience??
James 4:17 NASBS
Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.
Is it ignorance, they do not know the sayings of Jesus ??
Hosea 4:6 KJV
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
Forsaking is a wilful choice to turn away and do something else.. you have to know it to forsake it..
The devil will always make sure to give way better options than meeting together..
You actually have an adversary that knows the power of gathering.. he is an expert at scattering
John 10:12 KJV
But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
If he can get you to forsake the assembling, your easy pickings for his destruction.
The strength of the body is when it’s together.
New wine is found in the cluster. Isaiah 65:8 KJV
Thus saith the Lord, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all.
Strength is found in the gathering. After Peter and John were released from their arrest they immediately went to the assembly to report and then pray together. Acts 4:23,29-31 NKJV
And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. [29] Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, [30] by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." [31] And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Spiritual fortitude, enduring power, revelation, healing is all found in the assembling.
Colossians 2:19 NKJV
and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
Why do it more ?? Because it’s His sayings …
That should be enough for us but it really isn’t.. Or is it?