Why Should I Go To Church

by Loy Clements
(Springhill, LA. U.S.A.)

Text: Hebrews 10:19-39

Introduction: What does it mean to forsake the assembly? When we forsake getting together to worship God, and to be partakers of His Word; our faith fails to grow. Life in this world without our faith maturing, is putting a bulls eye over our lives for the devil to have a target that makes firing shots at us easy.

Giving the devil a target is like giving him free shots at our families, jobs, finances, and so-forth. He is the thief, and not getting together with others believers on a regular basis makes us naked solders all alone on the battle field of life.

I. Without fellowship there is no companionship

We cannot become foolish believers, and allow the enemy to deceive us into thinking I don't need those folks at the church. From Genesis throughout Revelation we find scriptures like "One will put a thousand to flight, two ten-thousand."

James in Chapter 5 of his book instructs us to "confess our faults to one another, and pray for one another." Paul in Ephesians 3:14,15 calls God the Father of The Family both in Heaven and in Earth. Assembly is what the family is doing in Heaven, and assembly is what we as the family of God are supposed to be doing in the earth.

II. A house divided will fall

I have learned that when the Word of God uses the word house, it is not referring to a building. House in scripture is always referring to households or family. When a house or family is divided, there is no peace, joy, or happiness for any member of that family.

What we find in this family is heart-ace, misery, depression, and defeat. Our Father God desires His family to be whole, strong, healthy and victorious. Here we find the supernatural-power of a Body of Believers United in Faith which works by love.

God has called each one of us to the life of Love, and faith. This is our commandment 1st. John 4 and 5. I don't have the time and space to go into all the Holy Spirit is teaching us about fellowshiping together as family; but you have a Bible and you know the voice of the Good Shepherd. John 10:1-18

The Good Shepherd Jesus throughout His three and a half years of ministry continually taught those that followed Him to not forsake the assembling of themselves together. Stop being the divider, and start bringing unity to the Body of Christ.

Jesus last command to his followers were in Acts 1:4 "And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of Me."

We are a nation united under God as Americans. Looking around today, this doesn't look to be true. Why? Whatever is going on in the church, will be how the nation follows. Jesus has commanded us as the church to take up our cross, and follow Him.

We are to change our nation one soul at a time. You become faithful to uniting as a Body of Christ, and the power of unity will effect this whole nation for God!

III. Eternity will be a place of fellowship

As believers whose names are in the Lambs Book of Life, we are going to be together for eternity. Do we really think we're going to get along there, if we cannot join, and supply our part here. As a friend of mine says, earth is our boot camp, and training for the eternity we will live with Jesus, Father, and Holy Ghost.

We must learn our lessons of faith here on the battle field of life, so when we have no more battles to fight, we will still have the discipline we learned in the times of heated battle.

Some folks think that when they get to Heaven, all they are going to do is relax, and the Angels are going to wait on them hand and foot. Sorry, Heaven is a place of workers. God's Word will stand forever. Laziness will lead to spiritual poverty in Heaven, just like it does here in the earth!

I will tell you now, our faith will work better there than here. Why? There is no devil coming against our faith. But, yet we will still have to live by faith. The scriptures are filled with this one statement. "The just shall live by faith."

This is not only true while we live in the earth; but it is truer for those in Heaven. Why? Hebrews 11:6 "For without faith it is impossible to please God." We not only must please God for this short time here in the earth; but more important we must be pleasing to Him when out assignment here is done!

Heaven is a busy place; our works is the work of faith, and love! One question that should be in our hearts and minds twenty-four hours a day. "Are we really ready for eternity?"

Conclusion: I have three questions for you, and I want you to be honest with God and yourself in your answers to these questions.

Question #1: How is your fellowship with other believers in Jesus Christ? I'm not just talking about your local church, and denomination. I'm referring to the Body of Christ as a whole. Are we really following God's instruction through Paul the Apostle in Ephesians chapter 4?

Question #2: Are you causing division, discord, and strife in the family of God? Do you always have to be right? Is your church doctrine the traditions of men, that is keeping you from supplying your part to the Body of Christ in the Earth according to scripture?

Scripture teaches two things about strife in the Body. "Where there is strife, there is confusion and every evil work," and the second thing is "where there is strife, Satan takes at his will."

Question #3: Are we truly ready for eternity? Don't forget now that you are to be truthful to your own heart, and before God! Let us come together in the unity of the faith, and establish God's Kingdom on the earth, just like it is in Heaven.