I have been thinking about all that has been going on with our church family these past few weeks, and being able to come together this Fri. night is a blessing for us all. I have been thinking about the scripture:
Heb 10:19-25 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching
Having a place to go to outside of the church building, where we can meet and have fellowship with one another strengthens our hearts. Our Life Group is a place where we can experience what it means to be a family, and not be alone. As times get darker, the scripture encourages us “not to give up meeting together”. The enemy always wants to isolate us and bury us with his thoughts. When we come together the scripture says we “spur one another on toward love and good deeds”. This fills us with Hope and Faith.
Sometimes we say “oh I am in a Job trial”, well the answer out of that circumstance is what Job did…….Job 42:10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. Something really happens to us when we turn our attention from ourselves to the Lord. He wants us to Love one another. At our Life Groups we learn how to pray for one another and comfort one another. We then see prayers being answered and faith being built up in our lives. There is something wonderful when a person comes up to you and says “you prayed for me, and God has answered my prayers”. The Lord is in the business of wanting to answer prayer, but we are being distracted by the enemy to focus on problems and circumstances that we can’t control, but remember we know who does control everything……His name is Jesus.
Blessings,
Steve Lappin
704 766-0090