The importance of our combined witness of Jesus Christ

As we journey through the Book of Revelation I’m reminded further about the importance of our collective witness. Jesus said this to his disciples immediately before He ascended to Heaven, “It is not for you to know the time or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth,” (Acts 1:8).

The trouble is that Satan is dividing the church and minimising it’s power. We are offered so many alternatives on a Sunday that it is easy to convince ourselves that worshipping collectively is not necessary for our faith. However, Hebrews 10:25 says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the day approaching.”

This week I met with all the Baptist Pastors in south Auckland, as I do once a month. We were looking at what our focus would be for 2019. We decided that we needed to stand together as one, sharing resources, uplifting each other in prayer, and together praying for our communities, and strategising outreach. Satan will often destroy leaders first and we were all very aware of this. I came away feeling so much stronger from our collective witness. Not today Satan!!!

So how about you? If Satan has told you that Sundays are not important, or meaningful, or helpful, then you need to change the tape. Satan’s strategy in today’s world is to isolate. If he can get you mixing more with non-believers than with the church and God, then he is winning.

Let’s stand together and be the collective witness that Christ commands, and lets all say “not today Satan.”