Walking alone

[B-A-C]

There's a old saying...

Going into a church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than going
into a garage makes you a car.

This is true, and yet almost all cars have to go to a garage every now
and then, for new tires, an oil change, a tune up, or some minor thing
that is broken, and occasionally.. even something major.
Sometimes cars get into accidents and fender benders. It seems the
more miles they have on them, the more often they need to go to garage.

In Acts one 1:14; talks about the members of the church praying together
in one accord, now all car jokes aside... some Bible say one mind, or
one purpose.

Romans 15:5-6; talks about being of the same mind with one another,
so that in "one" accord, "one" voice we can glorify the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:2; says we should be of the same mind, maintaining the
same love, united in spirit, and intent on one purpose.

If the church is made up of many members, we should still be in "one"
spirit, purpose, accord and prayers. Wee should be one voice worshiping
God together.

Eph 5:18-19; says we should be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one
another in psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making
melody to the Lord together.

It's difficult to do this with "one another" if we are alone.

Col 3:15-16; says we are called to be "one body". Not only at a global
church level, but even at the local neighborhood level. We should be teaching
and admonishing "one another" with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs
with thankfulness in our hearts to God.

Again.. it's hard to do this to "one another" if we are alone.

There is strength in numbers. Even Christian numbers.

Matt 18:20; For where two or three have been gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst"

Heb 10:24; and let us consider how to stimulate "one another" to love and good deeds,
Heb 10:25; not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another;
and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

We should be encouraging, praying for, and loving one another.
Not "forsaking" getting together from time to time.

Eccl 4:9; Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.
Eccl 4:10; For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.
Eccl 4:11; Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?
Eccl 4:12; And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

There is strength in numbers... even Christian/spiritual numbers.

We are told to "love one another" over 20 times in the New testament. ( John 13:34; John 13:35; Jon 15:12; John 15:17; Rom 12:10; Rom 13:8; Gal 5:13; Eph 4:2; 1 Thess 3:12; 1 Thes 4:9; 1 Thess 5:13; Heb 10:24; 1 Pet 1:22; 1 Pet 4:8; 1 Jn 3:11; 1 Jn 3:23; 1 jn 4:7; 1 Jn 4:11; 2 John 1:5; etc... )

It's hard to love "one another" if we aren't actively a part of the body. If we are just sitting at home
watching church on TV, we aren't actively loving one another, praying for one another, encouraging one another.

Being a member of the body of Christ, is being one with each other. Being one with other believers.

1 Cor 12:25; so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another
1 Cor 12:26; And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with them, if one member is honored, all the members
rejoice with him.
1 Cor 12:27; Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.

Do you love others in the body? Do you know them personally? Are you encouraging them? Praying for them?
Lifting them up in love? Do you love these people so much that when they hurt and are suffering, you are hurting
with them? Do you love them so much that when they are rejoicing you are rejoicing with them?

We are told to confess our sins "one to another" ( James 5:16; )
Can we do that if we are alone in our walk? We were never meant to walk this path alone.

Jesus told the disciples... By THIS.. all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have
LOVE for ONE ANOTHER ( John 13:15; ) emphasis mine.

We should be so knit together, caring for one another, loving one another, hurting for one another,
if you think about it... this is really the fruit of the Spirit ( Gal 5:22-23; ) this is how
we know Jesus abides in us.

 

[Brother-Paul]

We should be so knit together, caring for one another, loving one another, hurting for one another,
if you think about it... this is really the fruit of the Spirit ( Gal 5:22-23; ) this is how
we know Jesus abides in us.

How true all this is, born-again believers are the true church, not bricks and mortar, but symbolically speaking, we should be 'bonded' together as bricks are in a wall, sharing the weight of life together, being built on a sure foundation in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

[Bendito]

How true all this is, born-again believers are the true church, not bricks and mortar, but symbolically speaking, we should be 'bonded' together as bricks are in a wall, sharing the weight of life together, being built on a sure foundation in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ok Lets say, as an example, that there are NO bible believing churches within a reasonable distance from my town. That makes me alone, as in this case it would not be conducive to spiritual growth or strength to attend churches that do not believe the bible. Yet I believe the bible from lid to lid. There are millions of people who believe like me, meaning I can attend church online now. I can attend a church a thousand miles away.
Recently, as an example of the above, a little girl was stolen and her father murdered..Because of online media the wicked man did not get more than ten miles from the scene before he was caught. Online is one of the most now things going. I'm all for online church.

 

[B-A-C]

Online churches are indeed popular.

Who are you praying for at that church? Who is praying for you at that church? Who is your accountability to at that
church? Who are you encouraging at that church? Do you hurt for people at that church when they are going through
problems? Do you even know what their problems are? Who do you confess your sins to at that church?
Does anyone at that church even know what struggles you are going through?

Attending a church, whether its a building down the street, or an online church isn't what makes you a member of the body.
It's how involved you are with others that makes you a member of the body. It's how we are showing love to others that
makes us a member of the body. Are you visiting these people when they're sick? In the hospital? Bringing them a meal?
Mowing their grass? Morning at a funeral of their love one?

If not, you aren't a member of the body.

 

[Brother-Paul]

I appreciate what you are saying B-A-C, but you can still share the Word online, pray for people online, feel the hurt for people online, offer help to people online.

All these things are important but... we must also be Born Again to be part of the Body of Christ, His true church.

What internet fellowship doesn't give us, that a gathering in fellowship in person does, is intimacy with other human beings, laying on of hands, holding a persons hand, communion, and more.

The one item you mention above that does concern me is, I hope you don't mind me saying, who do you confess your sins to at that church? I don't think you meant to put that. I confess my sins to the Father through Jesus Christ our Lord. He is the intercessor of all prayer, He is the only way to the Father, All authority in Heaven and on earth was given to Him.

I add this as some believe praying to Mary, or through the Blessed heart of Mary, etc is all they need to do. Not according to Jesus it isn't.

 

[Brother-Paul]

Ok Lets say, as an example, that there are NO bible believing churches within a reasonable distance from my town. That makes me alone, as in this case it would not be conducive to spiritual growth or strength to attend churches that do not believe the bible. Yet I believe the bible from lid to lid. There are millions of people who believe like me, meaning I can attend church online now. I can attend a church a thousand miles away.
Recently, as an example of the above, a little girl was stolen and her father murdered..Because of online media the wicked man did not get more than ten miles from the scene before he was caught. Online is one of the most now things going. I'm all for online church.

There is good and evil everywhere in this world and that will not change until Christ's Return and establishes the New Heaven and New Earth.

Dovegiven shared an example a few weeks back where he visited ranchers, miles from anywhere or anyone, he was able to see these people in person who rarely see anyone and don't have a place of worship, or Bible believing place of worship. But when he had left they were on their own again, there will always be places in the world, where people are cut off from society, simply like the ranchers, or like yourself where you feel cut off, there are places of worship but, as you say, not Bible believing ones. But God will always provide. The ranchers may not see many people, they do have occasional visitors but they do have the internet. The way many places of worship are today (not all) it is not surprising they are losing their flock. Only this last week the Pope says he is looking to make divorce easier, only this last week the Church of England is saying they need to relax the issues of sexuality in the church. They are trying to follow world opinions to survive, how blind they are to the Truth in the Word.

God will always provide to those who are faithful to His Word and His Son, 'He will provide for all our needs, 'according to His Riches and Glory in Heaven''

 

[Bendito]

Online churches are indeed popular.

Who are you praying for at that church? Who is praying for you at that church? Who is your accountability to at that
church? Who are you encouraging at that church? Do you hurt for people at that church when they are going through
problems? Do you even know what their problems are? Who do you confess your sins to at that church?
Does anyone at that church even know what struggles you are going through?

Attending a church, whether its a building down the street, or an online church isn't what makes you a member of the body.
It's how involved you are with others that makes you a member of the body. It's how we are showing love to others that
makes us a member of the body. Are you visiting these people when they're sick? In the hospital? Bringing them a meal?
Mowing their grass? Morning at a funeral of their love one?

otIf n, you aren't a member of the body.

Lets see...We pray for each other, we pray for the Pres. We pray for all of the world leaders. and many other things too. Anyone I ask to pray for me will pray for me. Also the church as a body prays for all the online members. The people of the church are our brothers and sisters. We interact with them as much as possible and they with us. We know many of them fairly well, in fact we know many better than we knew people when we attended a 'real' church. And yes, we do get to minister to them in prayer, knowing what it is we pray for.
Obviously we do not get to minister in the flesh but we do get to minister. And guess what? We get to minister to folks around us here at home too. Neighbors and acquaintances.
You said "If not, you aren't a member of the body" This is simply judgment and legalism. You are NOT in the position to say whether or not a person is a Christian. You do NOT know the heart of man. You do NOT have all the facts. In fact you have NOTHING on which to base a judgment. Even the Word will fight you on this.
The fact of the matter is. I can never be alone. I have the Holy Spirit living In me. Jesus is my brother and Lord. He said He will never leave me nor forsake me. So who am I answerable to? JESUS!!!

 

[Brother-Paul]

But Bendito

What internet fellowship doesn't give us, that a gathering in fellowship in person does, is intimacy with other human beings, laying on of hands, holding a persons hand when they share the issues they are experiencing or struggling with, communion together bread and wine, singing God's Praises together as a group.

The internet can provide in part but not fully. Without the ability to have personal conversations with people to pray for them there are restrictions to how much people say on a public forum (Chad please consideration personal messages, maybe what can be called a prayer room).

 

[Bendito]

But Bendito

What internet fellowship doesn't give us, that a gathering in fellowship in person does, is intimacy with other human beings, laying on of hands, holding a persons hand when they share the issues they are experiencing or struggling with, communion together bread and wine, singing God's Praises together as a group.

The internet can provide in part but not fully. Without the ability to have personal conversations with people to pray for them there are restrictions to how much people say on a public forum (Chad please consideration personal messages, maybe what can be called a prayer room).

We have a personal relationship with Jesus. He is my covering. As to people, I am quite reclusive anyway.

 

[B-A-C]

All these things are important but... we must also be Born Again to be part of the Body of Christ, His true church.

Agreed.

The one item you mention above that does concern me is, I hope you don't mind me saying, who do you confess your sins to at that church? I don't think you meant to put that. I confess my sins to the Father through Jesus Christ our Lord. He is the intercessor of all prayer, He is the only way to the Father, All authority in Heaven and on earth was given to Him.

I believe there are certain sins we commit against God. Sins that no one knows about. Some of these don't really
affect anyone but us. Maybe a lustful thought toward a woman. Maybe an unloving thought toward a brother ( maybe
we thought "what an idiot" to ourselves ).

Other sins we commit against one another. I stole $50 from your wallet when you weren't looking. I hit up on your girlfriend/wife
and flirted with her when you weren't around. I told a lie about you, I know it wasn't you that backed into that car at the store,
but I told everyone it was you.

I believe we need to confess all these sins to God (He knows we did them, we can't hide anything from Him)
but the sins we commit against other people, we need to confess to them. We need to forgive others, and ask for
forgiveness from them. ( Matt 5:23-24; Luke 17:3-4; Matt 18:15; James 5:16; )

I honestly feel James 5:16; is why some people don't get healed.

1 Jn 1:9;

 

[Brother-Paul]

The comments above prompt me to confirm a prayer I have prayed for years, one that I still pray at least once every month probably more.

Father forgive me my sins, (and confirm what they are as I ask for forgiveness for them, we all do this) but then I continue...

Lord forgive me all my sins, those that I am aware of and those which I am not, cleanse me through your precious blood and make me acceptable in your eyes. In Jesus Name Amen

This is the important part I think... 'those that I am aware of and those which I am not'.

We all sin and don't realise sometimes we have done so, or when praying only ask forgiveness for the ones that come to mind.

Maybe this will help some, I find it is a wonderful way of knowing in my heart that I have asked for forgiveness of ALL my sins.

May the Lord Bless you and keep you, may the Lord make His light to shine upon you, and grant you His Peace.

A Peace in our hearts of knowing we have asked for 'total forgiveness' of 'all our sins', in Jesus Name.

Bless you.