Together in Jesus

Matthew18:18: Truly, I say it and you need to hear it, whatever you restrain on earth is restrained in heaven: and whatever you release on earth is released in heaven. 19: Again I say and you hear, That if two of you agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20: For where two or three are gathered together in my name and submitted under my authority and purposes, there am I in the midst of them.

Turn Out
Jeremiah takes a turn in his challenge to the church. Now, he is talking about those that have left and need to come back and get involved. It is one thing to be born into a family or congregation. It is something else to come back after leaving. The stresses are different. The needs are different. When we have been apart for a while, we need some extra love and attention to get back in the groove.

So often, when we are a part of a group, we forget to keep the doors open for others to join. Families are meant to always get bigger and bigger. It has been our joy for years to have a family reunion of the family of my wife’s grandparents. 30 years ago there were a few. Now the teenagers of those years have married and have had children who will soon be having children. Seven becomes 30 becomes 90. A congregation should be grafting in new families not just growing on the older ones. There is always a new marriage or a new looker at the reunions. There is always one that has not been for a decade that comes once again to see family together.

Sometimes those families move away for the wrong reasons. They need to come back. There needs to be a wide open door for them to enter.

Jeremiah 31:15: Thus says the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. 16: Thus says the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, says the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy (the harvest of souls will be great). 17: And there is hope in your end, says the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border (those that have left and lost their way will come back home to the assembly of believers). 18: I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; You have chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn me, and I shall be turned; for you art the LORD my God. 19: Surely after that I was turned, I repented (great, real repentance will overtake many),; and after that I was instructed (revival will come according to the Words of God, the scriptures, the breathings of the Holy Spirit – look at Psalm 119), I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.(conviction and commitment to do it right sets in) 20: Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, says the LORD. 21: Set you up waymarks, make you high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, (make it clear and easy how to be a part) even the way which you wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities (the assembly of believers, expressions of the body of Christ, the places of safety, satisfaction, and supply.)

First Timers
There is always a place for the person that never knew. We need to remember that. So many times, we can get focused on those that know Jesus and lose sight of the ones that need Him desperately. First timers are important in the sight of God. They are part of the assembly. We need to seek them out and bring them in. They are part of the ones brought together in Jesus. For years as a deacon and a pastor, I would come to Sunday services early and float the congregation looking for first timers. It is easy to come to a group where everyone knows you and be accepted. It is harder to put aside being known and seek out those that may not know anyone. It is humbling. You won’t be called by name or title. You won’t get that welcoming family smile from someone who loves you and knows you. But you can sure make an impact and a connection with a precious person loved of God and lonely for a friend.

First timers tend to come early. They sit alone. They put their heads in a bible or other book and pretend to be a part, not knowing that real church folk come in and talk to each other. They are new. They need a friendly face, a friendly touch, and usually a friendly prayer. This beautiful person did not come because life was wonderful. Something unsettling has happened, and the new person is looking for answers and friendship. God sent you to bring it.

Coming Back
Yes, coming back can be accomplished. The scripture says that children will come again to their border. There was a place in Jesus that was protected for them. It had borders. It had lines drawn to keep the enemy at bay and the sheep in the fold. Something or someone violated the border. Somehow these are taken outside the border and need to come back into the fold. Our arms should be open and ready with new borders of protection and provision. They are part of the ones brought together in Jesus.

Connections:
Krons and Maria were tired. After weeks of preparation, planning, and inviting others, they found themselves alone in the coffee shop. XiRo was such a wonderful idea. So many friends told them they would be a part of helping. Now, when it came down to being there on a cold January Sunday afternoon to clean, only a few had come. Most had gone on after a few minutes of work. Jerry and another were in the back working on a blown out heating system. Being dejected crossed their minds. Why not just be a dejected martyr for a minute?

The front door creaked open and a group of 15 people entered. Only two of them were vaguely familiar. Okay, those two had been at the bible study last week in Krons and Maria’s home. It was the first time they had come. Who were the rest of these people? They looked a little scary. Anthony and Sheba came smiling up to Krons.

“Remember us? These are our family from the neighborhood. We decided to come help you clean up. This place is a real dump right now. But, we can help. Got any extra cleaning stuff?,” said Anthony.

It was a miracle. Maria just began to laugh and weep at the same time. Here was a group of people they did not even know. They came from this neighborhood to help knowing how badly the storefront needed repair. The bible study and prayer group had stayd away and only half-heartedly helped. What would happen?

In a few minutes the members of the family had scattered to different tasks. Some were washing walls. Some were cleaning floors. Some were sweeping. It was wonderful. Krons took the time to introduce himself one by one. They were shy. But, these people were workers. What was God doing? Krons had a lot to think about.

Real Repentance
Turning back is what repentance is all about. Our journeys can take us into unknown and unfriendly territories. We get separated from friends and family. Repentance brings us back. Turning around, we see the warm fellowship of the saints for what God meant it to be. It is not about form and function and deeds and doings. It is not about religious arms of flesh and rules. Our turnaround must be to come back into pure religion and undefiled. Our turnaround is to do justice and love mercy and walk humbly together with our God. Our turnaround is to spend ourselves on behalf of the hungry and reach out to the afflicted souls. (Isaiah 58) Our turnaround is to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Our turnaround is to love God with all of our heart and soul and might and love our neighbor as ourselves. Real repentance means real faith based on a loving relationship with a loving Father, who sent His loving Son to bring us into the family. ( John 3)

The Revival of the Word
After the turnaround, we are face up with the scriptures. They become the instructional instruments of the Holy Spirit to convict us of what is out of synchronization and convince us of directions we need to pursue. Revival is not only moving away from sin. Revival is moving toward life. REAL REVIVAL means that the life of God is stirred up to do the works of Jesus again in our lives. REAL REVIVAL is based on the scriptures, the breathings, and the life of God spoken into our lives. REAL REVIVAL is the believers in Jesus coming together in Him based on Him, the Living Word.

Taking Inventory on Together in Jesus
When was the last time you experienced the presence of God? Were you with others?

Have you ever been convicted of an action to stop it and change?

Think about the last firm commitment to a idea or group you made? Did you do something as a result? Did that action include others?

Taking Action on Together in Jesus
This week, find two other believers to meet with. Have a cup of coffee or a donut or lunch together. Get the conversation turned to something you might do together that would help someone else who is not a believer.

Prayer on Together in Jesus
Father, You are family. You are the main family creator and sustainer. Too often, I get caught up in my needs and my focus and my wants. Father, You are family. Help me to see the others with whom I can assemble. Show me how to take positive action to get together with them and enjoy each other's company.
REVIVE me, Father. Commission Your Holy Spirit to breathe fire into my soul. Burn out complacency. Burn out lack of commitment. Convict me, Lord. I open myself, my most inner hidden man of the heart and ask You to search me out. Convict me of unrighteousness. Cause it to be black and ugly before my sight. Cause me to get sick of looking at sin and repeating it. Cause me to see the light of Your righteousness that will melt it out of me.