Circle the Wagons.............

Good morning everyone! We were blessed at the Potter's House last night by Pastor Mike Helton. Mike is a missionary in Mexico. He came to share about God's people getting to work and sharing Jesus with the world. As I sat and listened to brother Mike I got to thinking. We have all heard the saying that 10% of the church do 100% of the work. Well, I want to help change that. That brings me to today's Bible verse. Let's get out of shovels and dig into the good stuff!

Bible verse: Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 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.

Folks, have you looked around lately? Have you looked at what is going on in America? We have had two earth quakes here in East Tennessee in the last week. A volcano erupt in the Mediterranean causing problems everywhere. War in the middle east. Tsunami's, famine, school shootings, suicide's, crime rate rising, and so much more evil. Look around at the rest of the world? People who are claiming to be Christians are not getting involved. Some of us are not being faithful to our churches. Some of us are not being faithful to our pastors. Some of us just don't want to get our hands dirty. What is going on? We can't abandon gathering at every possible time with other believers in local fellowship. We gather together to strengthen and sharpen one another. It starts here at home. In little ole' Kingston, Harriman, or Midtown, Tennessee. We have to circle the wagons. When the cowboys saw trouble coming ahead, they would circle their wagons and get encouragement from one another and help. They would let everyone come inside for protection. Our wagon circle is our church body. If we are not gathering together at every possible time. What do you think the rest of the world is doing? Probably the same thing. It is like a huge wave rolling through our country and the world.

Let's look at why we should gather together at every possible time. First, we gather together to share our faith and to strengthen one another. Next, to be an encouragement and help to one another. The closer we get to the "Day" when Christ will return, the more struggles we are going to face, the more persecution we are going to see. The anti-Christian forces will grow tremendously. Heck, they are already pretty strong at my work place at times. Difficulties should never be an excuse to miss gathering at church services. Really, when difficulties arise and they will. We should make a greater effort to gather together. Look at Christians in the Bible, they would walk long distances to gather together in the name of the Lord. They would sacrifice much to gather together. What are we willing to sacrifice to gather together. Back in the Bible if you quit gathering together people thought you were guilty of apostasy (an abandoning of something that one once believed in, such as a faith, cause, etc.). Now, I know that sounds harsh. But what is so different now compared to then? It is so important that we gather together now more than ever, to strengthen each other for the coming times. The days are truly getting shorter. We should be a visible expression to our community of the body of Christ. We must gather and honor God in worship. Let's look at our schedules this week. Can we make some more time for God? I know we can. Let's have a great day, I love you, and God bless!