So I Missed Church-Big Deal

I am a firm believer that we are living in the end times.  I am not setting any date or day for the LORD to return.  The signs of the time are in the air and are most visible among those who call themselves Christian.  Jesus gave us a warning about becoming “lukewarm” and thinking everything was alright spiritually.  Many Christians have become so entangled in the affairs of this world that they are no longer doing the will of the LORD.

There are about 2.2 billion people who identify themselves as a Christian. They have stopped going to church on a regular basis.  They no longer see the importance of prayer meeting and Bible study.  They no longer have time to study the Bible, witness for Jesus or doing the will of LORD.  If these things are no longer part of your Christian life, then you have allowed the cares of life hinder you from doing the will of the LORD.

In the parable of the Sower Jesus tells how you can lose your desire to serve the LORD. The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

I do understand that we live in a different culture from the one in which I was raised.  The rule in our family was you did not miss church.  That included Sunday morning worship, Sunday night evangelistic service, Wednesday night prayer meeting, revival services, (which went on every night for two weeks) Bible study, and mid-week calling on the “lost.”

I am aware of the bondage of debt that requires both parents to work.  The limited amount of time one has during the week to accomplish all the tasks that seem to grow every week.  The endless task of taking your children from one event to another.  The need to have some time for yourself—the get away from it all day to keep your sanity.  I understand how all this may seem extraordinary. We use many of these things as the reason why we can’t do the will of the LORD.

One of Satan’s devices that he uses in a person’s mind is he gives an excuse and then the reason why we cannot obey God’s will. Satan may lie to your mind saying, "You can’t do what God wants you to do, because you have to take the kids to practice, or there is a club or organization you belong to that is meeting, or you wanted to spend time with some friends.  The list of excuses may go on and on.

Luke 21:34 "And take heed to yourselves, lest any time your "Hearts" be overcharged (weighed down) with Surfeiting, and Drunkenness, and "Cares" of this Life, and so "that Day" come upon you unawares (unexpectedly)."

Are Monday morning things more important to you than the Sunday morning services? Is your mind focused "On Things Above" or "Things on the Earth"? Has your faith prompted you to let Jesus become the "Lord" of your life?

Other things that may stop you from totally surrendering to the LORD’s will are peer pressures. Friends may come into town to visit you at that same time you were to go to church.  One of the things I remember about my mom and dad was if someone came to visit during the time to go to church.  My dad would invite them to go with us or waiting until we returned from church.  People soon learn when to visit.

I say this with as much love and understanding I can express.  If the LORD is not first in your life, then you are living in disobedience by allowing the cares of this life to choke out your spiritual life.  Then you have the nerve to pray to the LORD to help you with this or that problem in your life.  Is it any wonder your prayers are bouncing off the walls?

Whatever comes before the LORD, is an idol and is a sin.

Deuteronomy 31:29 "Evil will befall you in the Latter Days; because you will do Evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to Anger through the work of your hands (your job)."

The generation we are living in, is so evil, that they wipe their mouth and say, "I have done no wrong." And this generation Rev 9:20 "Repented Not of the Works of their Hands."

As a pastor I am not saying you need to be in church every Sunday or Wednesday because we need the numbers or the money, I am telling you need to be in church because it is a command of the LORD.

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. Heb. 10:25

We assemble as members of the LORD’s church in spirit, not to exalt our position in the body of believers but to find our place as a working member of His church.  As we see the day approaching, it is essential to develop a secure connection with likeminded Christians.  The coming together of those who would overcome will find this time of worship and fellowship a joyful completion to the genuine true heart to do the will of the LORD.