In todays age of internet and techology there is a growing trend in the church that people are leaving the church structure and not attending with other people. They say they are NOT forsaking the assembling but rather are assembling with their internet pastors and fellow believers on the internet. Is this the Will of GOD? Is it His Will for us to stop attending regular meetings with the local brethren? Is it His Will that our number one source of being fed His Word is the internet?

Let's take a look at the word "assembling". Strong's G1997 - episynagōgē ἐπισυναγωγή Transliteration episynagōgē Pronunciation e-pē-sü-nä-gō-gā' Part of Speech feminine noun Root Word (Etymology) From ἐπισυνάγω (G1996) Outline of Biblical Usage 1) a gathering together in one place
2) the (religious) assembly (of Christians)
Authorized Version (KJV) Translation Count — Total: 2 AV — gathering together 1, assembling together 1

To "assemble" means to gather together in a group. It does NOT mean to leave the congregation.

James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
How can you call for the elders of the church if you have no church? or no elders?

Joel 2:15-17:
:15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
:16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of (from) his chamber (come out of his dwelling place to gather with others, come out of isolation), and the bride OUT of her closet (come out of her dwelling place to gather with others, come out of isolation).
:17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar (of the temple), and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

What is the context and timing of this assembly? It is in the End Times!!! Notice again in Hebrews 10:25 "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".
Notice it says that we should assembly together MORE as the day approaches! GOD knew that we would have the internet! BUT He tells us that we are NOT to forsake the assembling! As the day approaches of the Return of King Jesus, we are to assemble MORE, NOT LESS! Sure it may be in barns or living room congregations. But regardless of WHERE, we are still told in GODs Word TO assemble.

In Lev. 23:3 we are commanded to keep the Sabbath. Rest is part of the Sabbath. But a commanded assembly is also part of the Sabbath!
Lev. 23:3 "Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day [is] the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work [therein]: it [is] the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings. "
What is a Convocation? Strong's H4744 - miqra' מִקְרָא Transliteration miqra' Pronunciation mik·rä' Part of Speech masculine noun Root Word (Etymology) From קָרָא (H7121) Outline of Biblical Usage:
1) convocation, convoking, reading, a calling together a) convocation, sacred assembly b) convoking c) reading
Authorized Version (KJV) Translation Count — Total: 23 AV — convocation 19, assemblies 2, calling 1, reading 1
Gesenius's Lexicon: a calling together, to call together an assembly, an assembly called together,
Conclusion: A Holy Convocation is a sacred gathering (assembly) for the purpose of the reading of Holy Scriptures, in this case on the Sabbath Day.
We also see the commanded convocation on the High Holy Days throughout the year. But Hebrews 10 tells us to meet MORE often as we see the day of Christ's return approaching. In Hebrews 4:4-10 we see there still remains a Sabbath Observance. Hebrews 4:9 contains the Greek word "sabbatismos" which means the observance or keeping of the Sabbath. Jesus told us to Keep the Commandments. However, if that said, In the Place of Safety during the Great Tribulation, there WILL BE both Sabbath Keepers AND many OTHER denominations! At first, GOD will call many people from different backgrounds with different doctrines. During the GT, the flocks will be brought together in unity and many false doctrines will fall to the ground.

Many people believe that attending church is bad because of the many false doctrines being taught in many churches. I am not saying that we should attend a church that teaches false doctrines from the pulpit. If i was sitting in a church and the minister was to do a sermon teaching a false doctrine, i would walk out! In these last 5 years of attending and visiting many church congregations, I have heard ONLY ONE sermon of false doctrine. Of course, I have heard a sentence or two on occasion that is not correct, but overall, the sermons have been correct. That is not to say that there isn't false ministers out there. There certainly are many false ministers. And Many false doctrines. But if you have the Spirit of GOD abiding within you and you have the discerment of Spirits and can test the spirits and know the Word of GOD, then you know when to walk out. Just because there are bad programs on the television set doesn't mean you should NEVER watch ANY thing on tv. You know when to turn the channel. You know what not to listen to. You also know that when a minister teaches an antichrist doctrine that you should not listen to it and walk out. And this is not to say that the doctrines of the local congregations and ministers are always in total alignment of the Word of GOD. But neither are 100% of the doctrines being taught on the internet!

The church has a structure. There is a 5-fold ministry of the Apostles who are regional district managers, Prophets, the Evangelist who travels to each congregation, AND THE LOCAL PASTOR and then the elders and other teachers in the local church. To believe that we are to come out of the local assembly is to ignore the 5 fold ministry and to ignore the institued church structure. The Apostle Paul traveled to start local congregations and then put them into the hands of the LOCAL Bishop/Pastor.

It is true that the church is not the building. It is the people. It is the body of Christ with many members. The church is a spiritual organism consisting of human temples. Each human unit/member fitting into each member body coming together as a church congregation which is biblical. You are NOT a computer unit. Don't get caught being a computer chip in the electronic matrix. You were born from a human matrix and you should remain a human in this life eventually to be translated to Spirit. Don't become a robot of the electronic matrix! Robots don't need human contact! They don't need human fellowship. Just feed them with electronic information. They can be fed electronically. We need human fellowship. We should NOT forsake the human body of Christ. The Head of the Church is Christ, Not the internet. Your brothers and sisters are human, NOT internet profiles. We are sheep, NOT computer chips. We should assemble to be fed. We do need to be careful where we get fed. We should not let just any body feed us. We should pray about where to attend. And whether to return.

In Lev. 23:3 we see that a Holy Convocation (gathering/assembling) on the weekly Sabbath is a commandment. In the context of Hebrews 10:19-39 we see that forsaking/deserting/abandoning the gathering/assembing into the House of GOD is a sin (vs.26). The Greek word for "forsaking" in vs. 24 speaks of abandonment and desertion. It is the opposite of considering one another. Those that are faithful to GOD are also faithful to the body of Christ (the Church, the people) and will continue in the faith (vs.36), not wavering (:23), not drawing back (:39), not departing from the faith and not deserting the assembly (:25). It is not always about you (:24). By gathering together, you are a blessing to others. By Gathering together we can share blessings, testimonies, songs, edifications, doctrines, revelation, etc. We are encouraged to consider one another (:24).
1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments (including the Sabbath Commandment to Gather).
:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous".
Singing, praying together, studying together, human fellowship, partaking of the Lord's Supper (Passover), builds us up and make us stronger. It is good for us, NOT bad for us.

You will never find a church were you agree with them 100% on all doctrines. This is not only true with the baptist and pentecostals but also true with the Messianic groups. It is true no matter what church branch or denomination that you are talking about. But peoples inperfections should not detour us from gathering together with other people who are also trying to worship and serve GOD. Iron sharpens iron. You could be the person who helps others to understand the Word of GOD better. Many congregations have bible studies. Some allow you to ask questions or to share your understanding. Many congregations have deacons for personal one on one sharing of Gods Word. But remember it's not up to you to correct them on every issue. GOD is the one that opened our understanding and it will be GOD that will open their understanding. We should not bicker over doctrines. The point of assembling is to Worship GOD and to edify one another and support one another, NOT to correct everyone. But you can make a difference. It is also true that many churches do not have true fellowship. True fellowship is NOT just shaking hands and then seeing each other the next meeting. True fellowship is inviting each other to each others houses for fellowship and meals. But you could be the one to get this started in your local congregtion! Everyone body brings something to the table. 1 Cor. 14:26 "How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying".

Some people say they don't have time to go to church. They have jobs/careers. Jobs bring money and material possesions. But there is no life in those things. There is temporary pleasure/gatification in them. But they do not bring eternal satisfaction or eternal life. Don't think that every job is a blessing from GOD. The devil can give you stuff also! See Matt. 4:9. The devil would love to buy your inheritance (1 Kings 21). He will pay you to stop attending church! Only GOD can give you eternal joy, life and salvation. Therefore we should put Him first. Matt. 6:19-34 tells us to not put the drive for material possesions ahead of GOD. It tells us that if we put GOD first that He will take care of the rest including food and shelter. We should be more than willing to sacrifice a couple of hours each week to enter into the House of the LORD GOD.

Psalms 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

Ps. 122 begins and ends with speaking about the House of the LORD. It is a song they sung when going up to Jerusalem at the Feast of Tabernacles each year. The context is to pray for the Peace of Jerusalem BECAUSE of our brethren, our human companions! This was a commanded gathering to the Temple. But it goes beyond commandments. It goes to the heart of considering one another.

Psalm 133

1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Psalm 27:4-6:
4One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
5For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
6And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

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