Fearfully Assembled Together
Or
Behind Closed Doors
Sunday Oct. 8, 2023
Scripture To Consider:
“Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews [Jewish religious leaders], Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.”
“So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’”
“Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ So Thomas said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger in the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.’” John 20.19-25
Something To Consider:
Our text today points out that the very first church service was held on Sunday evening, the very same day Jesus was resurrected from the tomb. The text also points to the fact that this first Sunday evening service was held behind closed doors for fear of the Jewish religious leaders.
But the most important aspect of their assembling together, even out of fear, was that Jesus was there in the midst of them. In Matthew 18.20, Jesus promised, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” This promise of Jesus is still applicable to us today in this 21st century generation.
So whether fearfully assembled together behind closed doors or joyfully down by a riverside, what truly constitutes a biblical church service? According to Jesus, “For where two or three are gathered together [wherever] in My name [in the name of Jesus], I am there in the midst of them.”
As mentioned in an earlier lesson, gathering together in the name of Jesus, is not a lone ranger religious sporting event. But neither must it be a mega gathering! Whenever and wherever two or three gather together in Christ’s name, it is considered a church service with the biblical promise that Jesus will be there in the midst of their gathering together.
Something Else To Consider:
So the disciples were assembled together out of their fear of the religious men who had crucified Jesus, God’s anointed and their spiritual leader, for there were rumors that Jesus was alive. It was a fact that His body was missing from the tomb. And His followers do a good and wise thing; they assemble together with those who are spiritually likeminded.
The writer of Hebrews instructs believers in verses 24 and 25 of chapter 10, by stating; “And let us consider one another in order to stir up [or to encourage] love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much more as you see the Day approaching.”
The day that is being referred to in verse 25 is the Day of the second coming of Jesus Christ. That Day is fast approaching! And before it arrives we must be prepared for end time events and the coming first of the Antichrist, a religious counterfeit of the real deal, Jesus!
According to Daniel, Paul, John, and Jesus, false prophets, great deception, strong delusion, departing from the faith, betrayal, hatred, and the killing of true enduring to the end Christians must and will, and is already taking place around the globe before the coming of Jesus Christ. Are we prepared? Are those we love and are responsible for prepared for all that is coming before the coming of Jesus Christ? Now is the time to prepare!
Something More To Consider:
In the Old Testament, in Deuteronomy chapter 31 and in verses 6 and 8, as well as in Joshua 1.5, God Himself declared; “I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you.” And the writer of Hebrews 13.5 proclaimed the same message, saying, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
And in verse 6 of Hebrews chapter 13 the writer continued, by announcing; “The LORD is my Helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” The early disciples were assembled together out of fear while Jesus was pronouncing peace to their souls. He was also attempting to offer them the Holy Spirit by breathing on them.
Later in the book of Acts they once again were behind closed doors and they finally received the power of God in the form of the Holy Spirit. From that point their lives were forever changed. Have our lives been forever changed by the Holy Spirit? And if not, why not?
Therefore, whether we find ourselves in the future, fearfully assembled together behind closed doors or openly and publicly in a flower strewn park or in prison; if we are gathered in the name of Jesus, we can have hope in His presence and in the power of His Holy Spirit!
A Few Final Words:
The writer of Psalm 31.24, knew what it meant to grasp for hope in the midst of surrounding evil, therefore, he declared; “Be of good courage, and He [God] shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” And in Psalm 33.18 we are admonished, “The eye of the Lord is upon those who fear Him [those who reverence God], upon those who hope in His mercy.”
The first message of hope that was preached at the very first church service, to those assembled together out of fear, could have been entitled, “Peace Be With You.” Two millenniums later, Jesus’ message is still as relevant for us today!
And according to the written record left us by John, “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews [Jewish religious leaders], Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’”
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, teach us to be bold and unafraid as we face these end times. Let us be found looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, knowing that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. Thank You Jesus. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 