The Need To Meet

Heb 10:19-25

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² 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. ²³ Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. ²⁵ 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.

Matt 18:15-22

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. ¹⁶ But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that `every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' ¹⁷ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

^{MT 18:18} "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

^{MT 18:19} "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

^{MT 18:21} Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

^{MT 18:22} Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

The verses above show us the need for us to meet each other (in a small group manner) though we may not want to. It is a matter of the will to decide even if my body, mind or emotions do not want to.

I have found out that 9 out of 10 times when I willed myself to go to a small group (cell) meeting, I am blessed with renewed strength, faith, commitment and a joyful hope. The 10% is often due to my own walk – I have not yielded an area, or I was in a bad attitude that day.

I also found that my presence at a meeting often makes others stronger, gives them hope and increases their faith. This is the encouragement that God desires one of another.

We can easily make the excuse that we need to do this or that or whatever (too busy due to work, family etc) BUT if we are WILLING, God will make a way. Let us decide that we will commit to help one another on this journey of faith.

Remember the example of Jesus our Lord. He met his disciples in a small group. This model from the Lord is clear enough to show the vital importance of cell life. The cell allows God to minister to each individual as well as allow each person to minister one to another. Let us not deprive ourselves of such a blessing. Let us pray and encourage all whom we know need to be involved in cell life.

The habit of regular cell and celebration life is critical in our growth in the Lord – to know Him and to make Him known.