The Forsakers

The Forsakers

INTRODUCTION:

1.      

DISCUSSION: When You Forsake, You Are Forsaking…

I.         The Scriptures.

1.      "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25,)

(1)           Notice v. 23 – Let us hold fast.  --  Fidelity / Faithfulness not product of evasion.

(2)           Faithfulness comes not from abandoning, but actively seeking.

2.      "Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another." (Romans 14:19, NKJV)

(1)           Notice again --  pursue,  edify --  Both words of action.

(2)           Lit. = “let us keep on pursuing.”

3.      "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33, NKJV)

(1)           Someone might read the passage and think, “Hey, obey God and I’ll get everything…”

(2)           Better way to observe it = “Give everything you go to obeying God and you won’t be worried about these other things, which have a way of taking care of themselves.”

4.      It starts here, we need be faithful to Scriptures.  But that is where this includes this assembly – In process of your being faithful to the assembly, be reminded that some are not, and scripture obligate you to them.

II.      Your Function  - A Member Of The Body.

1.      " For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many." (1 Corinthians 12:12-14, NKJV)

(1)           Body is one unit;  Body has many part;  Parts work together as one.

(2)            

2.      f

3.      Romans 12:1-5

(1)           Take note – The basis of the appeal = God’s tender mercy.

(2)           Take note – Superiority of NT covenant.  Not dead animals.  Living.

(3)           Main point = body is not here to serve you.  You are here to serve body.

A.          We know people who live and think otherwise.

B.          There are various people absent from our assemblies (and others) for various reasons.

C.         Some don’t think they are missed.  Some don’t think they are essential.

D.         Some think they’ve heard enough.

(4)           When you forsake, you are leaving behind your service to the body.  You are here to serve it.  Not the other way around.

4.      "but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:15-16, NKJV)

(1)           Paul is here at the heart of his writing this letter.

(2)           Paul is saying that these gifted brethren need to grow to be more like Christ.

III.   Your Future – Perhaps That Of Others.

1.      "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." (Matthew 24:44, NKJV)

2.      1 Thess. 5:1-11.

(1)           One reason to assemble = One day Jesus will come back, and we don’t know…

(2)           You will either be prepared or you will not.  --  Where better to be than here?

3.      " For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Heb. 5:12-14, NKJV)

(1)           As a member of the body, you are equally responsible to GROW!

(2)           When you as an older member in faith are not here… those younger don’t benefit.

4.      "having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation." (1 Peter 2:12, NKJV)

(1)           Such a short window of opportunity with your children.

(2)           If honorable conduct could influence the Gentiles,  surely is will influence your children.

CONCLUSION:

1.     Should you attend every service?

        (1)     Scripture obligates you.

        (2)     Your responsibilities as a member of the body obligate you.

        (3)     Your future obligates you.

2.     Why would you not be glad when they say to you “Let us go into the house of the Lord” (cf. Psa. 122:1).