The Parchment 25-March-2001: The Joy of the Assembly

I was recently talking with Sharon Cox after the sermon that mentioned the Crossroads or Boston Movement. She said a person she knows said she felt sorry for Sharon because she had to assemble set times with the saints each Sunday. The lady stated that their church does not have set times for assembly but only gather when an assembly is called.

I felt sorry for that lady. First, I know when we are going to meet and arrange my schedule around that time. What if you had plans and got a call the congregation is coming together? Does it become calculation time, or do you ignore the call (like many people)? This is reasoning from the earthly viewpoint.

Actually, I feel sorry because she misses so much and has a lack of understanding of the church that Jesus died for. To her, a regular assembly is a burden. But Jesus states, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light,” in Matthew 11:30. Some versions read, “...it is not burdensome.” Likewise, Jesus states, “If you love me, keep my commandments,” in John 14:15. We come together to please the Lord God of our salvation. The psalmist stated, “The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart.” (Psalms 19:8) Do we understand what is missing in our lives with a hapless religion?

Again reading in the Psalms, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go unto the house of Jehovah.” Paul states in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 to the church in Corinth, “Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man destroyeth the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye.” And Peter says in 1 Peter 2:5, “Ye also, as living stones are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” We should be glad when we can go unto the house of Jehovah. Too many people want to be a lonely brick among the world and not know the blessings of assembling with the saints. They do not understand Paul when he says, “but speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him, who is the head, even Christ, from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16)

We come together to glorify God. Paul states, “To the end we also pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire of goodness and every work of faith, with power; that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12) Likewise, he states, “that with one accord ye may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:6) God is glorified when we come together in praise and devotion to Him and with one voice sing songs of praise to his name.

These same songs edify and build up those who are present. “Speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.” (Ephesians 4:19) The music we hear on the radio does not do this for us. It is a great occasion when we make a joyful noise unto the Lord in song.

We come together in the assembly on the day the Lord has designated to commune with our Lord, remembering his death, burial, and resurrection. 1 Corinthians 10:16 states, “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ?” Many people ignore the assembly or just occasion the assembly not communing regularly with the Lord.

One great thing about assembling with the saints is the fellowship we have. If you do not bust out the door at the end of the closing prayer, you will notice the friendship and personal feelings the brethren have one for another. Paul states, “In love of the brethren be tenderly affectionate one to another.” (Romans 12:10) Do you prefer the people of the world as friends over the people of God? You have to be a friend to have friends.

People who do not gather regularly in the assembly have themselves on a spiritual diet. They need to see God may not be pleased with them. They need to come to the Great Physician. They are anemic and may even be anorexic.