If we are to be built up together as believers to be the Church and the Body of Christ?
December 172009
then do we see that forsaking to gather together for fellowship with the Lord and other believers is something that hampers the Lord’s way to move forward in us as the church that He wants to build?
How important is meeting together to you?
What do you see as your main purpose in meeting with other saints for fellowship, to break the bread and drink the wine and to function in the Body?
Ty for posting
In Christ
sandy
JV there is a lot of sense in what you are saying, but when I say " church" i do not necessarily mean a building somewhere. IN the book of Acts we see that the saints met in the temple and from house to house. We are the Church and if there are believers meeting together as the church locally, then the Lord in us desires for us to be a part of this kind of fellowship, to be built up together. This question is really with the burden for some of us who have been discouraged from meeting together with others. Spirituality in not just an individual matter.. but truly a Body Matter. We are the Spiritual Bride of Christ and God is building us all up together as His dwelling place in spirit ( Eph 2:22)
PLEASE PLEASE .. ready CoG’s response to this question. It was AMAZING and full of light and truth. Hallelujah.
~ the Body builds itself up in love~
Hi sister Sandy
Interesting question, thank you. It’s awesome that we are built up together..!! I was considering the points that you mentioned and I found a few verses, about building up. 1 Cor 3:9 says that we are God’s building. We are a building..??!! 1 Peter 2:5 says that we are living stones that are built up as a spiritual house
Romans 14:19 tells us to pursue the things for building up one another. 1 Cor 14 also talks about building up, verse 26 says "let ALL things be done for building up". Ephesians 4:16 says that we are joint and knit together causing the Body to be built.
I am very impressed to see how much the New Testament talks about building. Considering the verses that say that we are living stones and God’s building, a picture that came to my mind was a construction site. In a construction site different building materials are brought together to be built up as one building. If the materials are not built together, what purpose would they serve? They would just end up being a pile of building materials in the yard. Even if the materials are perfect and of great quality, they have no purpose if they are not part of the building.
It’s the same in the Church, the Body of Christ, God’s building. If we are individual Christians, however perfect we may be, if we are not built up as one building, we would just be a perfect building material lying in the yard.
I believe that’s what meeting and fellowshiping with other believers mean to me, I get built up together with other believers into the Body. I picture myself as clay that’s being transformed by the Lord into living stone, only to be built up as one Body. When I go to meetings or even as an individual seeking the Lord, I slowly get transformed to be living stone, but the eventual goal is for that living stone to be built up in the building along with other living stones.
I think I am going too long on this 
Thanks sister.
December 17th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
God made us for the community. We are here to help each other.
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December 17th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
What?
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December 17th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Meeting with other Christians is very strengthing for me.
The bible says to build eachother up. How can we do that if we don’t meet with eachother?
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December 17th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
this is important for motivation for where one or three of us are there is God. The devil waits roaming like a lion to see who he can devour. In groups is the Unity.
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December 17th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
We do gather together: physically and spiritually. The true Church is in union with the successor of Peter and is truly the Body of Christ: the saints on Heaven and Earth, with Jesus as its head.
The mass has been around for two thousand years. The Eucharist – the true presence of our Lord – truly brings everyone together, uniting everyone physically in the church and spiritually within the Mystical Body of Christ.
It’s not a very hard question or answer. If you’re Catholic, it’s all about being one…and catholic(universal). That’s the faith: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.
That’s why division is so wrong. The New Testament, especially St. Paul, frowns upon it. But look at the date this year: Over 33,000 Protestant groups!!! Doesn’t matter if there’s that, 20,000, 100, or 2! The Church is ONE!
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December 17th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
When 2 people come together in agreement, that is also consider a church.
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December 17th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Great question. Check out this website really cool Bible study guides for adults, teenagers, Native Americans, children etc.
Have fun! http://nad.hopetalk.org/
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December 17th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Do ;not forsake the assemblying of yourselves together as the manner of some is, and much the moreso as ye see the time(days of end) approaching is our admonition. Assemblying is good for fellowdship, receiving spiritual food for the soul, public avowance to God.
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December 17th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
"With all the strength of my soul I testify that our Heavenly Father
loves each one of us. He hears the prayers of humble hearts; He hears our
cries for help. . . . His Son, our Savior and Redeemer, speaks to each of
us today: ‘Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my
voice, and open the door, I will come in to him’ (Revelation
3:20).
"Will we listen for that knock? Will we hear that voice?
Will we open that door to the Lord, that we may receive the help He is so
ready to provide? I pray that we will."
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December 17th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
I think it is important so we can be there for each other, to laugh, love, learn, encourage, help, and praise God together and yes to break bread and drink wine and remember Christ and what he has done and is doing in our lives. This doesn’t have to happen in Church.
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December 17th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Meeting together keeps us from straying and helps us to continue to learn and grow. We can do more as a group than we ever could as individuals. We are to encourage each other and work together for the glory of Christ Jesus.
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December 17th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
This is the Church that the Son built, without hands for His Father, This is the true church of God the Father.
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19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Matt 18:19-20 (KJV)
————————————————————————————
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me:
and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him,
and will manifest myself to him.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him,
If a man love me, he will keep my words:
and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and
make our abode with him.
John 14:21-23 (KJV)
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December 17th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
We should get together.
I believe it is very important for many reasons, love, family, friendship, relationship, accountability, different perspective, Kindness, acceptance,etc- this is what fellowship teaches.
In terms of breaking bread in remembrance of Christ Jesus- what is more important then acknowledging your savior and Lord!?
the function of the body- In the Bible people often met in fellowship- even Jesus did this- and as Christians(little Christs) we should follow Jesus’ lead and fellowship as well. How can we be good examples if we don’t practice what we preach?
Please e-mail me on the topic. spook.home@gmail.com
I’m interested in your views and find your question to be valid. I’d also like to learn and share views.
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December 17th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
I don’t believe anything will hamper his will. If we didn’t praise him the rocks would. It is our loss only to forsake the assembly.
A church is important but finding the right church is difficult. If the church doesn’t match your own walk, it’s better to not be there than be there but not of one accord. When Elijah felt cut off in fellowship, God reminded him there was a remnant – I see it like that for those who cannot find a church who live by the bible (assuming they are not opting out to be lazy etc). I see the main focus of the church to simply exist in this generation – we are together in Jesus in his Spirit – irrespective of whether we meet. To not forsake the assembly is a great thing, to break bread and celebrate and hear teaching – to build a community that is a little salt and a light for the world. But there is so much deception going on with church destiny, church planting, the Toronto blessing style of pentecostalism (barking and mooing etc) – and the politicals of the legalistic at the other end; heirarchy etc. And then there are the mission driven churches who see a service as a time to preach – it’s not there to preach, the service is for the saints and fellowship!
I don’t believe anyone should compromise themselves to meet with those people who aren’t real spiritually. There are other forms of meeting instead, in our own families, media, internet, books and study aids, normal friendships that grow naturally because we have a deep foundation. Where 2 or 3 are gathered is better than mixed up churches imho. the days are deceptive and increasingly so – it is wise and comforting to meet with our spiritual family, but it’s sadly not always an option, if even for a time.
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December 17th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
I have met many ‘born again’ Christians. I often wonder if they actually understand what it’s all about. Most of these male attenders have affairs, or are players or deceivers in their actions towards women.
I therefore have to re-think what ‘Church’ and the ‘Body of Christ’ is actually about. He was a proficient, Spiritual Being, made in the image of God. I don’t agree with mankinds releigeous intepretation. God and Christ have already given us the answers. Exactly what kind of church does he want us to build? Certainly not the ones that exist but the purist, simplist that was not built on the blood of others, i.e. destruction of innocents in the name of the Lord, i.e. Native American, Aboriginals, Women. I cannot condone a religeous movement that has built it’s backbone on shedidng the blood of others for it’s own names sake. Christ would never have wanted this. The backbone of his churchw ould be bloodshed free, apart from his own of course.
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December 17th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
I think that the scripture about gathering together has been abused by organized religion.
We should be communicating and coming together every day in every way that is good and right.
We should be taking care of one another and encouraging one another. We should not ignore our brothers and sisters when they are veering from the path of the Lord. We should get to know our brothers and sisters and understand where God has brought them from. We should understand that we are like infants who cannot feed themselves when we first come to Christ and those of us who are more mature should be feeding, guiding and nurturing those who are recently reborn.
We are God’s family not like a human family–broken and biased; but a spiritual family–full of mercy and grace.
To take communion in rememberance of Jesus is to dine with our brothers and sisters–not with a wafer and a swallow of juice–but with the feast of the Word of God.
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my point of view
December 17th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
I like this question because so many people are of the attitude, "I don’t have to go to church to be a Christian."
While this is a true statement, it is also true that the person who chooses not to go to church and worship and fellowship with other believers is a weak Christian.
We, as believers, grow stronger when we have like-minded Christians around us to strengthen what we believe and know about Jesus Christ. The love for the Lord and each other is essential for our well-being as Christians, as well as human beings..
None of the gifts of the Spirit is present in one single person. So, when we come together, we complete one another as the Body of Christ.
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**MS**
December 17th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
We are the body of Jesus Christ. We are different body parts and we work the best together
I love the fellowship with other believers
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December 17th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
No, nothing will hamper God’s will.
God is reviving His church (the body of Christ) at the moment.
The prophetic word that came through Bob Jones in the 70’s (i believe it was) started in Lakeland Florida in May this yr.
The Holy Spirit is breathing new life into the church in these days, just as He said He would in Joel2 – this supernatural move of God will equip the body for the end-time harvest — it’s all about Him – and He has everything under control, i’m very glad to say…HALLELUJAH!
There are many reasons some people do not belong to a particular church ~~ some people don’t need constant support ~~ you will find Intercessors go it alone a lot of the time, it’s a calling ~~ then there are disabled people like myself ~~ and it can depend where one lives.
Personally i do church on-line these days and i love it. I also have a few close friends who are like-minded, and we have wonderful fellowship together, a lot of the time over the phone.
I have some lovely contacts here and we encourage each other. We are all different – and it’s the heart God’s interested in. I think i’ll stop there LOL
blessings : )
Note to MOLLY – i’ve read your answer a number of times – are you saying Christians who don’t attend church regularly are weak? – haven’t heard that one before LOL
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December 17th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Hi sister Sandy
Interesting question, thank you. It’s awesome that we are built up together..!! I was considering the points that you mentioned and I found a few verses, about building up. 1 Cor 3:9 says that we are God’s building. We are a building..??!! 1 Peter 2:5 says that we are living stones that are built up as a spiritual house
Romans 14:19 tells us to pursue the things for building up one another. 1 Cor 14 also talks about building up, verse 26 says "let ALL things be done for building up". Ephesians 4:16 says that we are joint and knit together causing the Body to be built.
I am very impressed to see how much the New Testament talks about building. Considering the verses that say that we are living stones and God’s building, a picture that came to my mind was a construction site. In a construction site different building materials are brought together to be built up as one building. If the materials are not built together, what purpose would they serve? They would just end up being a pile of building materials in the yard. Even if the materials are perfect and of great quality, they have no purpose if they are not part of the building.
It’s the same in the Church, the Body of Christ, God’s building. If we are individual Christians, however perfect we may be, if we are not built up as one building, we would just be a perfect building material lying in the yard.
I believe that’s what meeting and fellowshiping with other believers mean to me, I get built up together with other believers into the Body. I picture myself as clay that’s being transformed by the Lord into living stone, only to be built up as one Body. When I go to meetings or even as an individual seeking the Lord, I slowly get transformed to be living stone, but the eventual goal is for that living stone to be built up in the building along with other living stones.
I think I am going too long on this
Thanks sister.
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December 17th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
One of the reasons why many Christians in the West don’t attach great importance to worshipping together, as the Body of Christ, is that we are affected by post-modernism. That system says we must find ‘our own’ truth and happiness; if it’s right for you, do it; if it’s true for you, it’s true; there is no objective truth; we all have our rights. The media piles upon us the idea that we are individuals who ought to find satisfaction with material things, and money, and positions. We live in little boxes and drive in little cars and increasingly fragmented families. This adds up to fragmentation and alienation.
Instead of this causing Christians to value fellowship all the more, we are duped into thinking we can pick and choose when to mix with others, to suit ourselves, to convenience ourselves. But we are SO busy, we have no TIME to take a couple of hours once a week to meet! Sunday is catch-up day, for laundry, shopping, cleaning the car….
Never has the injunction not to forsake the gathering of ourselves together been more vital! Christians ought to shine as beacons on a hill – strikingly different to the darkness around; not conforming to the world’s thinking and pattern. Only as the Body of Christ, worshipping joyfully and faithfully, will the world notice that we have fellowship that their bursting hearts are breaking for. In the bread and the wine, that fellowship is supremely hallowed.
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