Forward In Faith 4: Together In Faith

2013 03 03 ASH PM TOGETHER IN FAITH

As we continue our theme of Forward in Faith, this evening for our communion service, I want us to consider what it means to be Together in Faith.

To focus our thoughts lets look at

Hebrews 10:19-25 (New Living Translation)

19Dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

23Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. 24Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25And 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 10:19-25, New Living Translation)

The writer to the Hebrews is clear that an essential part of the Christian life that should not be neglected is meeting together - motivating and encouraging each other.

Yet, there are hundreds, thousands, or perhaps even millions of people in this world who would claim they are Christians -

But they choose to never attend a church service, a bible study or participate in any other church activity.

In fact the only time you might find them in a church is to attend a Christening, wedding or funeral.

The thought of spending time together with other believers is not on their agenda.

They don’t see the importance of regular commitment of time in Corporate Worship with others as an essential part of their lives.

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In New Testament times, if a person consistently and deliberately missed opportunities to join with others as church, the assumption was that person had chosen to abandon following Jesus and was no longer part of the local church.

New Testament Christians saw meeting together to worship as a privilege, a priority and a duty to God.

Three times in these verses the writer uses the phrase, “let US,” to emphasize the importance of being together in faith as the church of God.

While it is true that God is everywhere, and that we can personally worship Him anywhere.

When we come together in faith, when we meet together as church, we can glorify God together, we can demonstrate our unity in Christ, we can share, care and support each other.

We can motivate and encourage each other to be the people that God has saved us and called us to be - together.

19Dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

Together we are to worship God,

together we are to enter into His presence.

Friends why are we here together this evening?

Why do we meet together on a Sunday Night?

To draw near to God!

What motivates us to be here tonight?

Our motivation to come to church is not just to listen to a sermon,

Our motivation to come to church is not just to

sing and enjoy the music,

Our motivation to come to church is not just to have fellowship with others or to put our offering in the collection bag.

Our motivation to meet together must be for us, by faith, to draw near to Jesus together.

It is easy to say “I can worship Christ alone.

I don’t have to attend church to do this.”

Yes, we can to worship Christ alone; but corporate worship is taught in the Bible.

And together in faith, as the body of Christ, we are commanded to draw near to Him.

Together we can boldly, come before our Lord, together we enter the Most Holy Place, by the blood of Jesus.

The Most Holy place these verses speak of is the Holy of Holies.

The innermost part of the tabernacle.

The place where the Shekinah glory of God was revealed to the High Priest.

Together we have access through the curtain, through the veil, into the Holy of Holies.