When Christians Gather Together

Human beings enjoy getting together – both in good times and in bad times. All of us have gathered together with other people on many different occasions. For example, we gather together to party and welcome the arrival of a new-born baby. We gather together to mourn the dead at funerals. We gather together for weddings and other marriage ceremonies. We gather together to watch and cheer our sports teams. We gather together in schools and other learning settings for educational and training purposes. We gather together at workplaces to achieve the goals and objectives of our employers. Some people gather together for political reasons. And some even gather together for no reason at all; they just want to hang out. If you are a parent, you know what I mean. Sometimes when you ask your child why he or she is going to a certain place to meet certain people, the typical response is “nothing.” Yes, the young ones are able to gather together for nothing! In good or bad times, gathering together provides strength and comfort. It creates a sense of belonging and symbolizes unity of purpose, even if that purpose is nothing.

Christians also like to gather together – at Church services and other Christian occasions. The good news is that when Christians gather together, something marvelous happens. You may not see or feel it, but something marvelous happens. That “something” is the divine presence of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus said that where two or three are gathered together in his name, there he is in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20). This is a promise the Lord keeps whenever people gather together in his name. And we know that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Therefore, those who argue that it is not necessary to go to Church and that a person can pray and worship God alone on Sundays are not seizing the assured opportunity of the divine presence of Christ in the assembly of his children. We should neither overlook the presence of Christ nor underestimate the awesome power generated when Christians gather together in one place.

Christ’s disciples found out about that power several years ago on the Day of Pentecost. As many of you know, today, May 24, 2015, is Pentecost Sunday. Several years ago on this day, the disciples were all gathered together in one place in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit descended on each of them (Acts Chapter 2). This was a fulfilment of the promise made by Christ to his disciples that he would ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit to be with them forever and that the Holy Spirit would be the Counselor and the Spirit of truth, among other things (John 14:16-17). That promise was for the disciples and all believers in Christ forever. Claim yours!

On that Day of Pentecost, the disciples spoke in languages that were understood by people of different nationalities and languages who had gathered in Jerusalem. Similarly, we may be from different Christian denominations, tribes or countries, but the Bible is our Constitution, and so we can understand each other if we speak the language of the Bible and let the Bible and the Holy Spirit be our guide. A gathering that is Christ-centered, Bible-based, and led by the Holy Spirit will create peace, harmony, and unity that will help Christians to achieve our common goal of winning many souls for the Lord.

Of course, not everyone would be impressed by what happens when Christians gather together. On the Day of Pentecost, for example, some people made fun of the disciples saying they had had too much wine. Making mockery of Christians goes way back. They even mocked the Lord Jesus Christ himself. We should not be discouraged by those who do not know what they are doing. Instead, we should pray for them so that they, too, would come to know the Lord.

It is noteworthy that the disciples were all gathered together in one place when the Holy Spirit descended on them (Acts 2: 1). The Apostle Paul advises Christians not to give up meeting together, as some people are in the habit of doing, but to encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25). Gathering together promotes peace, unity, and understanding; encourages the brethren to know that we are not alone, reaffirms our commitment to the Lord; and opens up Heaven for God’s blessings to reach us.

Happy Pentecost Sunday! May every Christian gathering today and henceforth be a Pentecost occasion where Christ would be seated as the head, and where we would be refilled with the Holy Spirit such that, despite our different backgrounds, countries, races, tribes or languages, we would still understand and love each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Prayer is the key. May God grant us the grace to seek Him daily through our prayers.

Dr. Daniel Gyebi, Attorney-at-Law, Texas, U.S.A., and Founder, PrayerHouse Ministry, Kumasi, Ghana.

PrayerHouse Ministry is dedicated to providing a quiet facility for Christians to pray individually by themselves without any intermediary priest, pastor or any other person. This is a free service. No money is demanded or accepted. The facility is located at Kyerekrom / Fumesua, near Building and Road Research Institute Offices, one mile off the Kumasi-Accra Road and next to a house called Grace Castle. If you are interested, please contact Agnes at 027-7423815.