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THINK ABOUT IT- THE GATHERING

When I was a young Christian, I loved to read the word; truthfully, I wasn’t the best reader on the block. I have always battled dyslexia, and letters get mixed up because they look backwards and too much like other letters. In bible college, it took me twice as long to complete an assignment as it did for anyone else, and I was constantly exhausted the next day in class. It was a miracle that I finished my four-year course to earn my Bachelor of Theology.

The reading of the word of God in my life is essential, but second only to my prayer and fellowship with my Holy Spirit. The deep things of God are always found in that close, searching seeking of God's direction in my walk. That is where the heading of this writing was generated. At the end of these few pages, please THINK ABOUT IT, but what are you to think about, THE GATHERING.

In Chapter 14 of the 1st. In Corinthians, many scriptures cover the spiritual gifts bestowed on the people of the church. Read them to understand the proper way to use those gifts. I will not cover them here because I want you to be challenged and to know that these are gifts from the Lord. These gifts are alive and functioning today because the Spirit of God resided in you. These are the POWER gifts that cause the church to grow and prosper. Sadly, in many denominations, they are frowned upon and not allowed to manifest in the local congregation. These churches and their people will always be stunted in their spiritual growth. Remember the second chapter of the book of Acts: Peter stood before thousands of people from all over the known world at the time, speaking to the many. People from other countries were amazed that they understood Peter, even though he was not a learned man. Peter spoke by the unction of the Holy Spirit in an unknown language, and everyone understood him in their own language. Sounds pretty cool. Is this for today, you might ask? Well, since it was brought about by the Holy Spirit and stated that there is no shadow of turning in God and that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. You tell me, don’t you think that sounds like all the gifts are for today? This is why the world around Christians so easily sways them. They lack the power to stand firm. The churches that teach that the gifts were for the early church to establish it use that as an excuse not to be more diligent in urging their people to receive the power available to them. I will soon show you how this creates a man behind the pulpit in control of a disaster. It was never meant to have benches in a church as in a theater. We are not to be entertained by a few but were meant to participate in the workings of the chur, thus THE GATHERING.

In chapter fourteen, it directs people that before gathering, they must eat at home, not at the gathering. Those things should be handled at home. Also, and most importantly, you must seek the Lord in prayer before gathering together. Why? Let us find out.

1 Corinthians 14:26 What is the come then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm. Has a teaching. Has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

After Vs 26, the proper working of the church when it gathers. Read it you will be amazed at all that you have been missing.

This is the proper order of the GATHERING that we should be participating in. When you're prepared in your daily fellowship with the Holy Spirit, your communication isn’t just one-way. As you communicate with your loved ones, so it is with your time with the Holy Spirit. He can impart to you truths, and you need to grow; in turn, those truths are to be shared with others at the gathering. These times of sharing are to challenge each other to greater growth and to develop adults in the chur. We are given gifts to be the body of Christ to adulthood.

The man behind the pulpit has a responsibility to oversee a few believers and to encourage them to a greater walk. This was the body of Christ's benefit, but if he controlled the church in such a way, he stunted the growth. I am not against the local church; I am just saying that the present method of the church's operation shuts the Holy Spirit out of the urge to grow. He desires a relationship with everyone, but you and I have to open the door. He will not force His way in. Wouldn’t you rather be a powerful witness for the God that saved you and has given you an eternity of peace and joy? In these writings, I will keep encouraging you to a greater walk with your God. He wants to give you everything that He and He alone knows what will make you that perfect piece that fits perfectly into the wall of defense that God is building. He has a plan for you, and your life would be better for it if you would only start in prayer and fellowship with the almighty creator.