Even Zebras Can Fight Off Lions…

[soso]

Even Zebras Can Fight Off Lions…
Tuesday, December 3, 2019

“… not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…” (Hebrews 10:25 NIV)

Predatory animals run at their prey /to try to separate just one animal /from the herd; and that is the one //that they attack and kill.  The fact is that even zebras can fight off lions, but not alone. Neither can a Christian fight the enemy /while being a loner, separated from the rest of the body of Christ.  

Satan knows that there is strength /when Christians are connected /to one another, meeting together and building one another up.  So he tries to separate us, suggesting all kinds of reasons /for why we shouldn’t even be part of a local church:  “I was once hurt in church; there are cliques; the pastor’s phony; they only want my money; etc.” But the truth is that, as Christians, we need each other.

When we get saved, we do so as individuals, but we are automatically put in community. Jesus taught us to pray,

“Our Father,” and he sent his disciples out /to do his work, not alone, but two by two. When he died and rose again and ascended back /to the Father, he left his body, the Church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to accomplish his purposes here on earth.  And in heaven, we will be with our brothers and sisters in Christ forever and ever.

In the New Testament letter to the Hebrews, we have a command for every believer, made under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:  “Don’t give up meeting together.”  In other words, don’t become a loner or a drifter //who never gets involved.  The Bible tells us that “two are better than one” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). 

Think of the power () some of us are missing /when we don’t pray together.  Yes, the Lord taught us to go into our closet to pray as individuals (Matthew 6:6 KJV), but there is also power in corporate prayer and standing with one another /when the going gets tough.  

In the Old Testament, we read that while Moses’ arms were lifted holding God’s staff, the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua were winning the battle against the enemy; but when Moses’ arms grew weary and he was no longer able to keep them up, God’s people began to lose the fight.  That’s when Moses’ companions, Aaron and Hur, stepped in—one on one side of Moses and one on the other side—and they lifted Moses’ arms /until the battle was won. 

(See Exodus 17:8-16).  

Think of the strength () there is when we fight together in prayer!  Conversely, just imagine how many would lose out on the encouragement () they need in the midst of their battles /if we were to become disengaged from the fellowship of believers.

* Lose out on : to fail to secure or make use of

Let’s not miss out on the blessings //that come /when we love each other

and are in communion with one another /as part of the body of Christ! 

* miss out on: 1. to fail to use an opportunity to enjoy or get an advantage from something:

Read Hebrews 10:19-39.