ATTENDANCE IN CHURCH

*Why You Should Attend Church Meetings - Part 5*

There is no good reason to forsake Church meetings. You may have many of them but none is from God.

If people's weaknesses or bad behaviors stop you from going to Church, why has it not stopped you from going to work? Are there no weak or bad people in your office?

We get offended always by our biological siblings but we don't leave the family or change our surname. Why do we leave our spiritual family - God's family on earth because of offenses?

Hebrews 10:24-25

[24]And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

[25]Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

We cannot forsake the assembling of fellow believers because of the danger. We lose so much forsaking Christian gatherings. 

They're things we only get from these gatherings. You can only be provoked unto love and good works and truly exhorted in these trying last days in church meetings. Only in such meetings will you receive godly motivations.

Church meetings are organized to provoke you to love to do good works. It's where you hear words that inspire and provoke you to dare big things for the kingdom. Where you're corrected, taught, reproofed and instructed in righteousness. No where else.

We are not just ministered to from the pulpit In such meetings. We're also ministered to by the presence of other believers in Christ. There is a mutual flow of the Spirit amongst ourselves in corporate anointing. And we all benefit from each other.

I call these meetings family meetings. We come together as brethren to exhort one another in fellowship. Everyone who truly loves God will love the family of God and look forward to the next family meeting.

We need regular believers meeting these days more than ever. They're what will keep us strong and free from filt in these perilous times.

The believers the book of Hebrews was written to were in danger. They were killed and maimed for their belief in Jesus Christ so they had good reason to stay away from Church meetings for their life's sake. They were hunted from one Church gathering to the other. Going to Church was a death sentence.

Yet they're here admonished not to forsake Christian meetings. What is that your good reason, again, for absconding from Church meetings?

Beloved, let's meet in the next Church meeting for provoking and exhorting ourselves unto love and good works.

More in the book *"Is Church Attendance Compulsory?"*

Kevin Ashwe

Why You Should Attend Church Meetings - Part 6

The gathering of believers should be your greatest joy. Like king David, you should be glad when it's another opportunity to be in the house of God.

If your desire for Church meeting is waning down then you need to be in a spiritual Intensive Care Unit. You're in a delicate and dire condition.

Like a fish in the water, so is the house of God to a Christian. Except if that Christian is backslidden.

John 9:22-23

[22]These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, *he should be put out of the synagogue.*

[23]Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.

Jesus healed a man born blind, the Pharisees were not happy about the healing especially that it was done on a sabbath. The parents were interviewed but they were scared to give the right answers not to anger the Pharisees.

There was a law by the Pharisees that anyone who acknowledges Jesus will be put out of the Synagogue (Church). The parents of this boy, for their love for attending the synagogue for worship, didn't want to offend the Pharisees so they wouldn't be thrown out. So they declined giving an answer.

They didn't want anything to come between them and their opportunity to be in the house of God. Today many are in fact looking for opportunities to stay away from the house of God.

Let's see another instance:

John 12:42

[42]Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, *lest they should be put out of the synagogue:*

Here again we see some chief rulers who didn't want to do anything that will stop them from coming to the synagogue for worship.

This would have been a good excuse to stay away from Church but they refused to entertain it. Satan will give you a million and one good reasons to stay away from Church. The thing is, will you entertain them? Or have you been entertaining them?

See David in the Old Testament:

Psalms 122:1

[1]I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

He was excited about attending Church. He looked forward to when he'll be in Church. He was a King and a very rich and powerful one for that matter but he never saw himself too important for regular Church attendance.

We relocate because of our school or a new job but we can't relocate because of Church. Instead, we give the excuse of distance. Why not give the same excuse for the school or job?

Beloved, what did king David and these men see that made them desperate to be and remain in the house of God that you're not seeing or don't want to see?

More in the book *Is Church Attendance Compulsory?*

*Kevin Ashwe*

*The School of the Local Church

*Why You Should Attend Church Meetings - Part 7*

Show me one great Christian who was not groomed in the local Church. The Church is the only place Christians are trained and equipped for kingdom exploits.

Your commitment and regular attendance of Church meetings will bring out the gifts of God resident in you. 

Paul was a product of Church meetings. Let's see one of the many examples:

Acts 11:25-26

[25]Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:

[26]And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Paul got born again in chapter 10, now in chapter 11 we see him participating in a one full year long program. People complain about just a week long church meeting, here is a year long meeting.

The result of this meeting was that the participants were so Christlike that unbelievers started calling them Christians. Unbelievers saw the mighty impact and impartation on the lives of the participants and recognized it.

They saw physically what took place spiritually as they gave attention to hearing continually the word of God everyday for one whole year. We'll get the same result if we do the same thing.

Note that this only happened after the meeting, not before. It was a direct result of this Church meeting. This was how the early Church groomed militant believers in Christ. It's also how Jesus raised the apostles.

This was the kinds of meetings that turned a celebrated terrorist into a great daring apostle. Paul did not become what we know him for overnight. It was a result of committed participation in Christian meetings for a long while.

We get the same result when we come together giving protracted attention to the word of God. The inner man is built and strengthened, weaknesses are yanked off and the new creation man is manifested.

Long meetings like this cuts us off from distractions and keeps us in a state where the Holy Spirit can work on us unhindered.

Beloved, attending Church meetings regularly is for your own good. Make time and sacrifices to always be there.

*Kevin Ashwe*

*The School of the Local Church

Why You Should Attend Church Meetings - Part 8

People should know you for your love for Church attendance. The number one sign of a true child of God is Church attendance. 

Good kids don't sleep out. They're always at home or go home regularly to fellowship with other siblings.

A Christian should be known for regular, punctual and consistent Church attendance just like a doctor is known with the hospital, a teacher known with the classroom, a lawyer known with the courtroom.

The hustles and bustles of life must never take us away from Church meetings. We ought to makeout time for it, if we consider it important.

Luke 4:16

[16]And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, *as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.*

One major example Jesus left for us is consistency in attending Church meetings. He was regularly found in the temple daily participating. He was known for it.

Jesus was out of town and that was a good opportunity for him to stay off the synagogue. But he looked out for the nearby synagogue and attended.

He didn't only attend but he participated, he went up to read. Don't be idle in Church. Find something to do. Be involved. Let things happen because of you. Don't be on the sideline. Don't watch things happen. Be the reason good things are happening in your Church.

We are told going to the temple daily was his custom. His way of life. Part of the integral schedules of his itenary. 

Being in Church regularly and punctually should be your custom. Your life should be planned around it like Jesus your master did.

You can't say you follow Jesus and yet Church attendance is something you do when you feel like. It must be an important part of your life as it was for Jesus, the one you follow.

See what he did daily:

Mark 14:49

[49] *I was daily with you in the temple teaching,* and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.

See what the people he directly pastored did daily:

Acts 2:46

[46] *And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple,* and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

These are the examples we should all imbibe as today's christians who are interested in playing important roles in God's agenda on earth. 

Every sacrifice you make to be in the house of God regularly will be duly rewarded with spiritual stamina, growth and fruitfulness for yourself and our kingdom.

Get the book *Is Church Attendance Compulsory*? for more.

*Kevin Ashwe*

*The School of the Local Church*