The Ministry of Attendance

Greetings To All,

 I want to share with you some truths from Hebrews 10:23-25. It says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 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.”

The longer I pastor, the more I see the need for what I am about to share. There are no such things as “Lone Ranger Christians.” We are made to connect and stay connected with a body of believers. The culture of the world system, the cravings of our own flesh, and the ploys of the Devil will constantly buffet us. Staying consistently connected is a major part of overcoming!

We are exhorted to practice three truths found in these Scriptures. 1.) We are to hold fast without wavering. 2.) We are to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. 3.) We are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together and encourage one another. As you can see, none of these practices can be fulfilled without regularly gathering with the body of Christ. They all involve relationships, partnerships, and people! Allow me to unpack each of these three truths…

1.) We are to hold fast to our godly confession and assurance of hope no matter our circumstances. We need people who help us do theses things. Hold fast is a nautical term. It is the idea of holding on with all you might in a storm at sea. These deck hands work in groups of two or three so they can help each other if they fall. Often, the storms of life must be faced, not avoided. We do our best and need others to partner with us.

2.) We are to stimulate one another or stir up to a righteous riot of love and good deeds. The love and good deeds that come to my mind involve discipling one another to walk with the Lord. We need to help younger men learn to be godly husbands and fathers. We need to help younger women become godly wives and mothers. As we stimulate each other, let us love and serve the body as the Holy Spirit reveals and releases giftings.

3.) We are to be faithful to assemble with the body of Christ. Our focus is what I am going to name “The Ministry of Attendance.” Just our presence together makes a powerful difference. We are so much more together than we are as one person. We each have a part, but not the whole. God has designed it this way. We are to worship together, hear together, minister to each other, give corporately, and serve our community as the Holy Spirit reveals to our body.

Let me finish with a story. Several years ago, I lived and pastored in Loveland Colorado. The leadership from eight churches were gathering weekly to pray for revival and an outpouring. Another pastor was invited but would not join us. He pastored a large and growing church. He felt he and his church were enough to reach the community. He did not need anyone or care about unity. There was competition and comparison. One Tuesday morning he showed up seemingly humbled and ready to join us for prayer. He told about a dream he had the night before. In the dream, his index finger was severed from his hand. The hand painfully survived, but the finger withered and died. The Holy Spirit said to him, you are that finger. If you do not humble yourself and repent, the church I have assigned you will wither and die too. Go pray with your fellow-pastors. I want to bring revival to this city. He obeyed and God did what He promised. Three months later, our church went through a move of God. Two hundred plus people were saved in an eighteen-day period. Other churches throughout the city experienced moves of God too! What was wonderful to me is that the man with the withered dream finger’s church exploded in growth. His name is John Stocker and he pastored Resurection Fellowship. The church was relocated at the corner of I-25 North and Highway 34. It grew to over 7000 people, planted many churches and sent out numerous missionaries. Oh! How important it is that you attend faithfully and plug in to what God is doing here. He wants to start here and ripple out as we partner for our region. I am contending for transformation and His kingdom to be established here in Northwest Arkansas.

Advancing His Kingdom,

Tony