Why Meeting in Person is Important - Pastor Daniel Batarseh

Good morning, everybody. Welcome to the Sunday morning

service through our livestream, trusting that all is well with

you. As you are still in your home in

Jesus name. And before we jump into the word

of God, that's posture hearts in the place of prayer and ask him

to help us by the spirit of God. Lord, you know, our situation.

And you know how this is even still a little fresh to us and

we just ask now that you would help us hear from you that you

would help us communicate. You would help us understand

your word, Lord, more than anything.

We don't need the right Graphics.

We don't need the perfect sound. We don't need all these

different tricks. Lord, what we need right now.

More than anything. Is your presence.

We need your power. We need your voice.

We need you to help us. Is so Lord, as we expand your

word, do what you need to do to our minds and our hearts to

understand your will and then to conform to it.

Lord, even in this moment. We asked for the empowerment of

the Holy Spirit. Lord that your Holy Spirit would

rest upon the ministry of this word and that Lord, he would be

driven into our hearts and changes as a result.

We wait on you and we look to you. assist us now in Jesus

name, Damon, I can tell you this.

I'm eager to again. See you.

I know I say that every time we come on the live stream and I'm

eager even to communicate God's truth in person as much as this

is a blessing. It's so much more different to

look at the eyes of those that you love instead of a camera,

but you see me and hopefully, that's okay with you.

And I want to take the time to speak.

Something that perhaps we've all been feeling in our hearts over

the past few weeks. If you are a part of this local

church United, Evangelical Church, you're well aware that

we meet at least three times a week.

Some meat twice out of those three meetings, some meat.

Once out of those three meetings, some have different

circumstances and family lives that permit them to do one or

the other. But for many, they meet, every

single one of those meetings, the ones they permeate the

Friday night bible study the Sunday morning service and on

top. Top of that, they meet outside

of those meetings and it's a wonderful thing because I'm sure

you can testify to what I can testify to.

The fact that this church is like a family, this isn't like a

drive-through church where you come and get what you want for

half an hour and leave with something of a minimum,

emotional stirring. No, this is a family.

It's a Concrete, solid body. That is intricately woven into

one another's lives. And that's a blessing.

It is a tremendous treasure that God has blessed us with and as

you're well aware, it went from three times a week to now coming

to almost a month and a half of none of that.

And we still have a few weeks to go where we are isolated from

one another, I bring that up because some have brought up and

entertained the possible threat of what this prolonged online

Church might do to some. These are not It's that are

within our local church necessarily.

I might might be a temptation to some but some leaders of

different local churches who are experiencing what we're

experiencing have been voicing through blogs and different

things of what this prolonging of online.

Church the way we've been engaging even can be an actual

threat to some if they're not careful.

And what might be that thread, exactly the threat is that by

being so used to what's been happening and by even being

blessed, to a certain measure of receiving God's word, through

the live stream through social media platforms.

And not only that, we know that we are able to even engage, we

can communicate through these different Outlets.

It's possible that some might think, you know, this isn't as

bad as I thought it would be. There might be some who might

even think more than that and say this is actually more

convenient to me. This is actually a lot more

comfortable for me. I mean, what can be better than

rolling out of bed. Five minutes before the live

stream still with a crust of my eyes, and being able to watch a

sermon and scroll through my social media and eat my

breakfast and still stay in my pajamas.

Or some might say, you know, with my busy schedule.

This is this is really fitting and I'm still receiving

something. And I'm still keeping in

communication with those that are called brothers and sisters.

No matter how much of a blessing, this has been and we

are living in such a unique time of History where the word of God

can go forth to millions of people in one moment.

No matter how much of it is something of benefit.

This is not the way God intended Church to be done.

And I'm not saying that because this is a threat to us.

I mean, again, it might be a Temptation for some but what I

want us to do is to understand God's standard for the Search to

a certain degree, not that we would be discouraged further

because we're not experiencing his standard and this moment,

but that we would have a built up, understanding of the Beauty

and the wisdom behind, why God wants it to be.

The way he wants it to be somebody wrote it in this way.

And I thought it was beautifully, said that what we

are experiencing today. These online services is a

circumstantial compromise. It is not an ongoing

convenience. Let me say that again, these

online services that you and I are experiencing that other

local churches are experiencing are a circumstantial compromise.

We are forced in some way to do this, but they are Not and

ongoing convenience that is crucial in our understanding.

And we have to understand one thing that we even vocalizing.

How much we miss each? Other is a beautiful thing and

that's why I personally do not think it's a threat to many

because we have been longing to see each other.

And we've been voicing that over and over again, but I want to I

want us to think further than that.

We can miss each other. For many reasons, but perhaps,

we are limited in our understanding of the death of

the spiritual value. That face-to-face

person-to-person regular consistent meeting with one.

Another actually carries. Its the impression that we get

from the New Testament writers to is that meeting together,

physically is something to be longed for and is something to

be kept and protected, and that, if there's any Hint of

separation. That it would cause an ache in

the heart of the True Believer, even if there's conveniences

with that. Let me give you an example.

Turn your Bibles to first Thessalonians chapter 2.

1 Thessalonians 2 · chapter mention

And I want us to see, Paul's language, and what we're talking

about and maybe we can Echo what he feels.

Paul says, in 1st Thessalonians, chapter 2, verse 17, but since

we were torn away from you, he says he's talking to the

Thessalonian church, but since we were torn away from you,

Brothers, for a short time in person, not in heart.

We Endeavour the more eagerly in with great desire to see you

face to face. Now.

Look at the wording. He's using here and notice that

the first thing he says is that he was torn away from a

Thessalonians. That's strong language.

That's almost like you forcefully, ripping something

apart that's supposed to be connected and that's It's what

he says, concerning his relationship with them that he

was torn away. Implying that there was

something outside of him. There was something overpowering

him that forced him and that limited him from having the

freedom to be able to meet with him, on a regular basis.

And this is something that we see in the next verses caused by

Satan. Actually because he says, I try

to come to you over and over and over again, but Satan hindered

us. Now, we don't know how Satan

hindered and we do. What he did specifically.

But Paul received the Revelation that as he was trying to find

his way towards this church, the enemy continually put roadblocks

in. Hindered him.

What I want us to focus on is Paul's attitude towards the

separation that he was experiencing with the Believers

and it's important one because it shows the valley that he

places on the church meeting together the way God intended it

to be. He's trying to say Century that

the only reason why I shouldn't be meeting with you.

And the only reason why we shouldn't be meeting with one.

Another is only on the basis. If we are actually being torn

away from each other, then if we are being forcefully, dragged

outside of our control and our being overpowered by something

outside of us, that is causing us, not to be able to see each

other face to face. That is incredible because we

have to admit that. There are some people who have

to be dragged to get to church. Nevermind dragged away from

church. Paul said, no.

Listen, you don't have to drag me to go to church.

You have to drag me away from my church, for me not to meet with

them. That should be convicted because

surely for Paul to say this implies that he understands

something of the value again of the local Gathering.

And so he wasn't comfortable where he was at.

In fact, look what he was saying here.

He was saying with his language here that he endeavored, the

more eagerly and with great desire to see them face to face,

that is language of desperation. That is language of priority.

That is language of Revelation to know something of the beauty

of being in the presence of other believers.

Now, he was separated says, for a short time.

So just because it was a short time, didn't mean that Paul

Kickback to relax and say, well it's a short time.

So we'll get back together and we'll just we'll just return to

the way things were and we'll just go off where we left off.

No, even though he was separated for a short time.

Paul still made the effort as we've talked about before to

remain in contact and to give a source of encouragement and

exhortation towards the Believers, even though he was at

a distance. And that's what he's doing with

this letter. He's staying in communication

with these Believers by writing to them.

So this is as modern-day Zoom. This is something that he was

able to do this. This is social media Outlet, so

to speak. But nevertheless is much of

value and importance. This was.

He still knew. Oh no, to be with you

face-to-face, is what I'm aiming for.

That's what I'm praying for. That's what I'm fighting for.

That's what I'm that's what I'm fighting Satan for.

Can I ask you something? Do you feel that way about the

local church? I pray with all of my heart that

once things change again and were able to meet that.

We would never treat the meeting the same way again.

That we would never think so lightly of what it's like to

walk into that building on a Friday night on a Sunday morning

on a Wednesday evening. I don't think Satan has to fight

many Christians in the west not to go to church.

I think they found many different ways to excuse

themselves from coming to the meeting that is foreign to the

understanding of the New Testament Christians.

And so, what did Paul have is a revelation for him to think this

way to feel this way. Did he know something that we

didn't know? They have some secret insight to

the local church. Now, it's sprinkled all over the

New Testament and I present to you at least a few points to

why. Listen this right here does not

substitute nor is it equal to you getting in your car driving

to church shaking hands. Giving hugs, sitting beside

somebody hearing from a person in the building getting up

shake. Hands and fellowshipping.

Nothing will replace that. No matter how much of a

convenience this is. Why the points I want to bring

up? Are things that cannot be

equated to the blessings that we are experiencing now, in other

words, the things that we want to surface from the scriptures

are what the physical Gathering offer that this cannot offer

that YouTube church does not offer that fill-in-the-blank

offers. It's something that not only

promotes the physical Gathering but it consistent and a

commitment to the physical Gathering.

Here's number one. Turn your Bibles to Hebrews

Hebrews 13 · chapter mention

chapter 13. And let's look at verse 7 to see

an important point. And Hebrews 13:7, we get an

Hebrews 13:7

insight to why it is important to meet physically.

At least one angle from it. The author of Hebrews says to

these Hebrew Christians, remember, your leaders.

Remember your leaders? Those who spoke to you the word

of God. Now, if you would stop there, we

don't have a point to make, because he goes on to say why

they should remember their leaders.

But if you would have stopped, remember you leaders?

Those who spoke to the word of God?

We would say, well, I can get that from going on YouTube.

There are so many better preachers even and greater

studies on YouTube than, perhaps my local church, and so I'm

Actually more blessed by these things.

And I'm not shooting down. YouTube sermons.

Are you to preachers? I've been greatly blessed by men

of God who don't even live now and have been recorded based on

their messages and have been blessing blessings to me, but he

doesn't stop there. It doesn't just say, remember

your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God.

No, he says, remember your leaders, those who spoke to the

word of God. And then, he says, two things

after that, that are in line with the relationship that you

might have with somebody who invest in you, the spiritual

truths from the scriptures. The first thing he says is

consider the outcome of their way of life.

Think about that. He means you're that the

preacher and teacher of any local church.

Must also be a person who lived among the people.

Who was among them, who was there?

In fact, when you look at the Old Testament and you see the

Tabernacle going through the Wilderness, I challenge you

because there's a portion of scripture in the book of numbers

that tells you the placement of where the different tribes would

be whenever the tenth would park whenever the cloud would say,

you're stopping here. They would have to be placed

specifically around the Tabernacle and what you actually

see is that the Levites, the priests, the teachers of the law

were parked. By the Tabernacle, they were

surrounding the tent, they were in close proximity to the place

of worship and for different reasons.

One of the main reasons was to protect from people just coming

in and Waltzing. In, and being casual.

They would set a standard and they would protect it

physically. But that says something, the

fact that the Levites were so close to the place of worship

implies that they were near to the house of worship and near

the people who would come and worship.

And so, what do we see here? Those who spoke to you the word

of God consider there? Welcome, how can I consider the

outcome of somebody's life? If my relationship to them, is

simply through a screen for an hour, a week for maybe two hours

a week. This is telling us plainly that

the pastor or the Elder of a church must live amongst his

people, not just to preach them and to teach them, but to embody

the message and to display to them as an example of what it

means to live. The very thing that I'm

preaching. And so they must have some

certain exposure to the people that they are ministering to, in

the people must have some kind of exposure and availability to

their personal lives to certain extent to know if they are

living, what they are preaching now, why is that?

Because the authority of any message being declared?

Is it proportion to the authenticity of the messenger?

See for this to actually carry some kind of power.

And weight is not based on gifting.

It's not based on insight and knowledge.

That's certainly true. There is a level of that.

But how much more when you see a person regularly preaching and

teaching and then you see that their lives are backing up the

message that they're declaring, how much more weight.

How much more conviction is there?

And that's the way God designed it to be that the person that

you would be sitting under who had preached to, you would also

display to you how they should live it out.

So that you would have a model to follow and you would have an

encouragement to look to and say, hey if this person whose

Flesh and Blood like me can live out the things that he's

preaching and I can That clearly then it's possible for me.

You can't get that from having a relationship with a pastor

online. You can be blessed by the

insights, concerning the word of God, but the power for the word

to be driven into, your heart, was designed by God, to be lived

out before a people continually. That's the only people think

that they can just be distant from the church and say well I

get so much more blessing from just hearing messages.

You're actually robbing yourself of Greater blessing.

Because he says here, that you should consider the outcome of

the way of life. When you see a pastor, how he

communicates with people in the church, when you see social

abilities, when you see how he responds to crisis, when you see

how he treats, his wife, and how he raises his children, you get

something from that and we need that as a sheep.

We need to be exposed to leaders who live the message out before

us so that we can do. The second thing.

He says, consider the outcome of their way of life.

And what does he say? Imitate their faith.

So, leaders must live in such a way in which their lives are

worth imitating. Leaders are to be above reproach

and to give people a standard to meet.

Well, no, he's a pastor and he's this and he's not, he's going to

live differently to me. No, you know, often times we go

to those scriptures that talk about the qualifications of an

elder Titus 1. First Timothy 3, we go.

That's for pastors is true this for passes, but it's really a

model for all people. But we can't just say that's

four passes for them, not to be lovers of money not to drink too

much wine. And to be respectable.

Is that really just for leaders? Now the leaders.

Yes. Are called to a standard, but

they are also to live it out so that the people can say, that's

something that I must imitate as well.

You can't get that again from this is something that is

fleshed out and something that can be measured and studied.

And then again, to be inspired by, I want us to see this in

first Thessalonians 2 again. In the first verse that we

talked about in chapter two, but look at verse 10.

Just to see an example of this, a first Thessalonians 2 verse

1 Thessalonians 2:10

10. Look what look, what is said

here. You are witnesses.

That's what he says. You are witnesses.

These leaders are saying that. And God also how holy and

righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.

So he's telling these Believers, you can testify of how we lived

amongst you, and you can see from every corner of our lives

that we are. In fact, holy righteous and

blameless. But then he goes on to say the

next things for, you know, how like a father with his children.

We exhorted each one of you and encourage you, and charged you

to walk in a manner, worthy of God, who calls you into his own

kingdom, and Glory. They see the connection.

There. He goes, you are witnesses of

how we lived that is important. And then he goes on to say and

we exhorted, you and we preach to you and we charge you.

We decide to do to live in a manner worthy of the lord.

Well, you can't really charge people to live in a certain.

Wayne expected to live in a certain way and let's first you

are embodying. What you want them to be.

You have to first give them a reason to hear you out.

That's what he says your witness is because there's nothing in us

that you can say. No no.

And he goes because of how we lived among you and now we have

the authority to speak into your life.

And we can show you that it is possible.

So the local church. This is important in the

physical Gathering offers inspiration and guidance to

God's people through God appointed leadership.

Inspiration and guidance comes that when you come into those

Church doors, and you have a relationship with the leaders,

there. There is something offered to

you, that is greatly needed for our sanctification.

Be mindful of this wonderful truth that even God himself came

into our world took on flesh and lived out the life.

That is an example for you. And I even God himself, came to

our world. Yes to die for our sins.

But also to be able to say to us follow me imitate me.

Look to me and that's what we do.

We look to Christ who took on flesh and we see how he

responded and lived according to the father's will and we go

That's my standard. And those who are under, the

chief Shepherd, must do the same and you and I, as the Sheep must

be able to link ourselves to such people, by the local

church. So, the first point I want to

make is that the physical Gathering provides us examples

to follow and again, you can't get that from Facebook live.

Number two, not only examples to follow in the spiritual sense.

But secondly that in the local church are reserved

manifestations of the holy spirit.

So go to First Corinthians chapter 12 and look at verse 7

1 Corinthians 12 · chapter mention

to understand what I'm trying to say here.

Paul in this chapter First Corinthians, 12 13, 14 is honed

in on teaching on the gifts of the Spirit.

And he says in First Corinthians 12:7 a specific phrase.

1 Corinthians 12:7

That is so pregnant. With truth says here to each,

he's talking about Believers to each is given the manifestation

of the spirit for the common good.

This is glorious for the church to understand.

He says each believer has been given a manifestation of the

holy spirit for specific purpose.

It's been granted. It's been deposited.

It's been given into you at the moment of Salvation.

Something has been Checked into your heart and mind of a

supernatural value and worth. And he's saying here, that that

thing that's been given to you and me, listen to the power of

this contains, the ability to manifest an aspect of the person

and the ministry of the holy spirit of God, each person.

Not just leaders, not just pastors out.

Those who just speak the word each has been given the ability

to manifest a component of the Holy Spirit.

You know what? That means?

Again. It means that each Born Again

blood, wash Christian. Has the ability and the

responsibility, the ability and the responsibility to do what to

share something of Supernatural value.

So that others around them would experience Supernatural,

goodness. It's an ability and a

responsibility in what way will you look at verse 4 and it says

variation of gifts, and variation of services and

variation of activities. It's in different ways that

these manifestations of the Holy Spirit make themselves known in

the context of the local church. So, let me give you an

illustration that will hopefully make this clear concerning the

responsibility element. I have siblings.

I grew up with my siblings and we were all close in age.

So we did a lot of things together, and I'm not saying

this actually happened. I'm just saying, here's an

illustration. If you have siblings, perhaps

you can understand where I'm going with this.

It's a simple illustration of a father, who would give, let's

say me $50 and he told me strictly.

He gave me instructor says this $50 is for you and your three

other siblings to go and grab lunch.

I'm giving you this, the pause it so that you can go and you

can provide for the rest of Brothers and sisters, something

to eat. Okay, so that deposit has a goal

and there's an intention behind that deposit.

But can you imagine if he gave me that fifty dollar, bill, and

I agree to that or perhaps I was ignorant of his instructions.

Either way. Can you imagine if I took that

$50 and in my own heart I said, I'm not going to tell my

brothers and sisters, that Dad gave me this $50 and then I went

off to only spread that $50 out for the rest of my week.

Like to know that I can have lunch at my favorite restaurant

during my school semester and they knew nothing and they

didn't receive anything from that fifty dollars.

What would you think of such an act?

Whether you are ignorant of it or whether you chose

deliberately not to do? So that is purely selfish.

Right? That is, it's purely motivated

for my own needs to be met. And we look at that and we

understand that principle and we almost rebuked such a thing and

we score in a, such an act. And yet, we are hesitant to do.

So, when we translate that principle in the spiritual

sense. In God's economy, and with

spiritual currency. See, I give that illustration to

say that God has given you and me something.

He's given us a certain amount of a gifting a deposit for the

purpose of sharing it with our brothers and sisters.

God did not give us a portion of the Holy Spirit and his in his

abilities, so that we ourselves will be blessed.

Yes will be blessed in the process.

But the goal is always outwards is always towards those around

us and it is equally just as selfish to say why I'm saved.

I have the Holy Spirit, but I'm not going to intentionally and

prayerfully invest in other people's lives because of fill

in the blank. The reason why so, when people

think to themselves that they don't have to, Bind themselves

to a local church. Again, it's like receiving 50

dollars from your father, as a teenager and choosing to keep

that all that money for yourself when he says, go and share with

your siblings. Here's a verse for us to

understand that first Corinthians 14.

Remember the same context of the gifts of the Spirit, being

exercised and practice an order. And First Corinthians. 14:20.

1 Corinthians 14:20

60co. Paul says what then Brothers is

like so, so what am I trying to get at concerning my teachings

on the gifts when you Come together again.

Coming together. Each one has a him a lesson, a

revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation.

Each person is coming to the gathering with something to give

which something to offer and that can range from a sermon

being preached to an encouraging message and everything in

between that can go from counseling.

Somebody on the side with the wisdom that God has given you,

that can go from Financial giving, because you've been

given us an extension of Mercy in your heart, and compassion in

your heart and a giving heart to give it can be anything, but

every person who calls themselves a Christian, When

they come together specifically in the church Gathering is

coming to give something that's been deposited in them.

See, you're familiar with this. So I'm not going to tell you

something new, that we have been plagued in the west with this

consumer mentality where it's the opposite.

We're coming to get something. And if we don't get it, we go

through another church. That's going to give it to us.

What would it look? Like?

If every person came to a church with a mentality, say, no.

I'm going to give something, everybody's going to be blessed,

including the one who gives. And so, Paul by the spirit is

trying to get them to understand that the gifts of the Spirit are

not for yourself, selfish purposes, and part of that

understanding is that you wouldn't do.

Way. You think you should be done?

He goes? No, there has to be order or as

people are not going to be blessed.

There's chaos. And then he goes on to say in

this little verse and when you come together, you're giving

something you're giving something for what purpose, the

last part of the verse. Let all things be done for

building up. That will be the experience

every Friday night, every Sunday morning when we choose to come

to church. Pray for rethinking and

meditating upon how we can give coming to church.

Not necessarily to be filled with the spirit, but already

filled with the spirit to pour out to others.

And, you know, what will happen. And perhaps you've experienced

it. You will leave the meeting

feeling full. Have you ever experienced that

when you leave the church, you are built up.

You came in one way. Perhaps, Perhaps you were.

So being a beauty, even even think about how you can get.

But just because you came to a church that tries and

prayerfully seeks to know how they can bless one another,

you're leaving built up. And that's what we continually

want to experience on a weekly basis, but it's going to require

this understanding that I've been given something.

So I'm going to now, give it to others.

By the way. This is a side note.

This is a great verse 2, gauge another aspect of your life.

So pay attention to this. This is just a side.

Note. Would you like to know how you

can measure if your circle of friends is the will of God for

your life? Would you like to know how the

people that you choose to call Best Friends?

Your your group of people that you seem to be more connected to

do? You want to know if they are the

will of God for your life? I think this verse is a

beautiful example, ask yourself this when I come together with

them. Am I being built up in my faith?

Or is my faith being torn down. When I come together with them

during the day, let's say on a Saturday afternoon.

Do I come home at night? With my love for got assaulted,

and me point being pulled back from a greater Devotion to God,

or am I coming back home with a freshness?

That's been given to my faith because of the fellowship of

others. He says, when you come together,

let all things be done for building up.

If you hang around, people who call themselves Christian and

you leave with your flesh, arouse more than your faith

being built up. You got to reconsider your group

of friends, doesn't matter. If they go to church every week.

Think about that for a second. That doesn't mean that when you

hang out with your friends, all you do is read and pray and fast

and you can't do other things. No, it means that you walk with

people who walk with Jesus. So no matter what environment

you're in, whether you're playing sports, or going out to

a restaurant because Jesus is the center of their lives.

You have Jesus. In the midst of that Fellowship.

Just a little nugget there that has nothing to do with the

sermon necessarily, but maybe somebody needed to hear that.

Let's think another Point here. Not only do we have to give

something, but I think this verse of each one being given

the manifestation of the spirit should Inspire the person who

Longs for the manifestations of the spirit.

What I mean by that? Are you a person that has ever

prayed? Lord.

I want your Holy Spirit to be more real to me.

Lord. I want your nearness.

I want you to draw close to me. I want to experience your voice.

I want to experience your power. I have, you ever prayed that

have you ever longed for the, have you ever ached for that

saying God Almighty, make yourself more clear, more

obvious in my life. Lord do something in me in such

a way that it will edify me and encourage me and strengthened me

to live a Godly life For Your Glory.

Have you ever prayed that? If you have prayed that, and I,

that's a prayer of my heart longing for that and, and

seeking God for that on a personal level.

But I remember even in the midst of reading 1st Corinthians, and

I've read it a few times. But one time, I remember reading

this specific chapter and this verse popping up to me in a way

that it's never had before. Remember it says to each has

been given the manifestation of the spirit for the common good.

And I remember reading that verse and this thought came to

me. If you want to know greater

manifestations of the spirit. Get around people who are filled

with the Holy Spirit. If you want to know greater

manifestations of the spirit, get around those who are filled

with the holy spirit because Paul says, each one has been

given the ability to unveil and unpack and almost release

something of the spirit of God that you will benefit from.

And I never saw this versus same way gay and ever saw the local

church. The same way again.

See God in his wisdom. Designed the church to be

listened to how profound this is that those who would long for?

Jesus Christ to be more real in their lives.

Would have to link themselves to the local church in order to

experience it. So it's not a subjective thing.

You know, people say well, I just need me and Jesus.

And Jesus is more real to me and I can have church in my own

house and I can just do my own thing and walk with Jesus.

Hold on. Are you a person that wants more

of Jesus? Oh, yeah.

I do want more of Jesus. I long for him.

I want to know his voice. I want to see it.

Is what Paul says that there is a manifestation of the spirit

reserved. In the context and within the

bounds of you committing to a local church with a, with a

people that are filled with the holy spirit.

So even something of experiencing of God cannot be

attained apart from the body of Christ.

So you see that, even Jesus in being the head of his body has

made something of his person available to us, only if we

commit to meeting with the Brethren regular and I can tell

you that more one of the most personal and impressing moments

of my life concerning God making himself.

Real was through other vessels. Was coming to a prayer meeting,

even if it was a handful. And as though we went to the

throne room together, like in Isaiah 6, I can tell you people

who are sensitive enough to the Holy Spirit coming to a church

Gathering. And then approached me with a

Word of Wisdom or an encouragement.

Something that was experienced in the house of worship and I

can testify Journal full of moments that God has used

people. Maybe even people that don't

necessarily know even, even if I went to a different churches

just to go and worship God, the boy How do you of Christ?

How wonderful, how beautiful it is?

I'm telling you. If you do not value the body of

Christ. You do not value.

The manifestations of the spirit of God.

Lastly. We can speak about another

component of what the physical physical Gathering brings, and

that is spiritual protection and restoration, spiritual

protection and restoration. I am in.

No means. Deep in my medical understanding

of how the body works, but I am aware enough of the, the Beauty

and the amazing aspects of the human body.

I remember the first year when I got saved a moment in my life.

It was like an epiphany where I realize how complex, and how my

own body is like a machine, unlike any other thing.

And it, and it took me back because I realized, though, I

was saved that strengthen my faith even more.

To see that I am created by somebody and to see how things

function and flow and all these different matters.

I go God, you are amazing, the body alone, testifies of your

glory. I remember even having

conversation my roommate about that.

He laughed at as though. I just realized that I was

created or something. I was all realize that the human

body is an amazing. I said, can you imagine?

Can you understand how glorious? This is the fact that I can see

through these things and I can taste things and all these

different things and he kind of laughed at me as though, I was

just new to this or something. But have you ever considered?

The ability for the body to heal itself.

Have you ever considered that? Maybe you've experienced it on a

small level where you cut your finger or something and it was

an open wound and you close that wound.

And I don't know how it works in the body.

But all I know one thing is that if I've cut my finger and I have

many times before over a few period of days, it begins to

collect skin and there's a scab there.

And then over time, the brain is doing what it needs to do.

In an offer. A sudden fresh skin covers that

wound. It's amazing.

How one part of my body can be harmed and the rest of my body

is being aware of that, and now is doing what it needs to do.

In order to heal that. And we look at in the physical

sense, and we're in amazement. And this is one of the

advantages of being a member of the body of Christ that you, and

I get to experience a spiritual nourishment, a spiritual

protection. And even, in some cases

restoration. But if I cut this hand off and

it's, they're laying on some table.

You can cut that hand all you want but because it's not

connected to the body, the brain is not able to signal to the

rest to the blood and to the nerves.

And whatever else you need to speak to, to come in to bring

the restoration that that hands knee.

It is isolate. It is severed.

And therefore it has severed itself from again, the healing

power that comes from being a part of a body.

That is crucial to us to understand because this is the

reality for the spiritual body of Christ as well.

You and I have been identified as different parts of one body.

One is a near one is an eye, one's a foot one's nose, one's a

mouth, and we all need one another.

You can't be your role Christian.

You, you need to be a part of something so that you can know

the fullness of what it means to be a body and just like a

physical body. It is very much possible for a

part of the body to be exposed to danger, to give itself to

danger to be unwise, and for something to happen, and to

cause harm. And just like Christians.

There are Christians who are not careful and their walk with the

Lord. And they give themselves to

something or they bite into temptation and and doing so

cripples them, or hurts them. And sometimes even is that risk

of infecting, the rest of the body.

If you don't take care of a part of the body and you're not

giving attention to, it has the potential of infecting the rest.

I say that because here to scriptures that you're very

familiar with, but I want you to consider commonality between

them. To, here's James 5, let the

James 5:19. He says my brother's If anyone

James 5:19

among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back.

Let him know that whoever brings back a sinner.

From his wandering, will save his soul from death and will

cover a multitude of sins. We know that scripture.

It's a warning and it's an encouragement to those who are

part of a church that have one amongst them wanders away.

It's the church's responsibility to do something about it.

Here's another familiar passage in Galatians. 6:1 Brothers

Galatians 6:1

Again. Brothers.

If anyone is caught in any transgression, Galatians 6:1

Galatians 6:1

you, who are spiritual, should restore him in a spirit of

gentleness. Keep watch on yourself.

Lest you too be tempted. What are the commonalities

between these two scriptures? You might say?

Well, they both present the warnings and the possibilities

of a Christian doing harm to himself spiritually and that is

right. James talks about wandering

Away, Paul talks about falling into sin.

But that's not the similarity that we want to focus on the

similarities that we want to focus on between these two

passages of many others. Is that?

Because of a fallen brother, and if somebody is caught wandering

or in sin. The source of rescue and

restoration is going to come from other Christians.

The rescue and restoration of a fallen or infected or broken or

cut open. Body part is going to come from

other body parts. And so, there is something a

preservation and there is something of healing and there's

something of nourishment. Yes, but even when things get

bad and there's an openness to infection and harm, all of that,

by God's wisdom, is designed within the realm of you being

connected to other people. And if you choose not to be

connected to other people, you are setting yourself up to be

like a Sitting Duck. For the enemy.

And so the more I connect myself, the more I keep myself.

Connected with other people. The more I know something of a

shielding. Let me put it this way, if

you're a Christian. You will commit your life to a

local church. That is God's design and in

doing. So, you know what that doesn't

mean? Doesn't mean that you just come

to church. Maybe three times out of the

month and you hear a message because that's what you think

church is all about to come and hear the pastor speak any

better. He better be better than last

time because last time was getting bored.

I was tempted to look at my phone that is not true church.

You might have been sold that through the Western idea of it,

but that is not a church. The church is in part, hearing a

message on a regular basis, but you as a And committing to a

local church are giving other, the people the right to keep you

in check. That's what you're doing.

So, if you're a person who is not in a good place in your

faith, even if you're watching this or you're half asleep, or

maybe you're not watching this right now, you're going to watch

it later and you are not in the right place.

Spiritually. Don't get offended if your

leaders or your friends in the church are going to check up on.

You. Don't get bothered.

If you're going to get text messages, don't get bothered.

People are going to show up to your door and knock on and see

where you're at. Why?

Because the church was designed for you to give your life.

As an accountability to others to speak into your life and you

might not like the feeling in the moment.

You might not, you might ignore those text messages and those

emails but one thing is for certain God designed it for the

body to heal itself. And to reach out and to Signal.

When something is not right and for something to be done about

it. And it's a beautiful thing.

How many people over the ages have been rescued from wandering

away because of a faithful brother or sister who reached

out how many new restoration and the grace of God to the mercy

and the tenderness and the compassion of another brother or

sister in Christ that took the time patiently to restore them.

You can't get that on YouTube Church.

You can't get that on Livestream.

You might get more done in your house.

You might get more time to relax and enjoy your life and do some

gardening and stuff on a Sunday, but you will never know a

spiritual protection and restoration if you do not commit

yourself to. Ships of other people who love

Jesus. Perhaps you're saying, amen,

throughout this whole message because you're an agreement with

this and you don't understand how this could even be a

temptation to think that I can pull away from the church, but

you'd be amazed to know how the enemy might use this time to

Temp some people and to convince them.

Otherwise, let me repeat the statement that I made first that

these online services are circumstantial compromised.

They are not an ongoing convenience.

Why? Because you and I have leaders

in our Lives to set examples of the be models for us you and I

if we long for the manifestations of the Holy

Spirit, we have to wake ourselves up and we have to get

to church and you never know how God will touch you that day

through the worship to the message through, somebody coming

over and prank. You never know.

If you want more of God, you're gonna want more of church.

And lastly you will not know a protection.

You will not know restoration, especially in times when you

need it. This is for you.

And I the local church. Let's pray like, Paul and ask

God for it to be a reality again.

And for us to not be separated for much longer.

You have every right to pray that even while you're trusting

God during the season. So let's connect our hearts and

faith and ask God for that. Amen.

Amen. Lord, you know.

What is separating us from one another during these couple of

months, but we also know that it is your standard and your plan

for the church to meet together. Physically.

We're asking for our government to operate under wisdom, were

asking for this virus to be reversed.

And we're asking that we would be together in a way in which we

would appreciate the church. And the meetings that we have

more than before, don't let us fall into the Trap of thinking

that this is something that we can consider to be a regular

convenience. Lord.

Keep us in your word and to see what your word says about the

church or for now, though, not in person in heart.

Keep us United. When we trust Lord.

That we will get the news that we can come again and we can

experience all the blessings that are packaged in the local

church and Jesus name we pray. Amen.

God bless you. We'll see you next week.