Greetings Brothers and sisters in Christ I pray all of you are doing well and peace is with you
I wanted to share with an interesting fact the pastor perry and I learned when we were at class when the Pentecostal revival movement started in Los Angeles in the early 1900s the congregation gathered 5 times a week worked together and shared what they had the revival movement lasted 3 years and went from a small assembly to over 600 million Pentecostals worldwide today! Brothers and sisters does this sound familiar?
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47 NIV
Brothers and sisters powerful things happen when we as the body gather together daily in the name of our most High King and Savior Jesus Christ Let us gather together as much as we can there is a parent's group that happens the first and third Thursday every month we break bread and share our burdens as parents as it is written
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2 NIV
We are not meant to do this alone being a parent is hard especially in this day in age post covid where it seems as this generation my generation seems to make excuses of why we can't get together like we look forward to canceled plans we owe it to each other and our children to show and live out the importance of gathering together as it written
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the day approaching.
Hebrews 10:23-25 NIV
We need to gather together that we may strengthen each other bearing with those who are weak in the faith for the Day of the LORD is approaching and our enemy prowls around like a lion seeking those he may devour
Have you ever seen a lion hunt? He doesn't charge into the heard of antelope no he is patient and lies in the grass looking for the old the weak the sick the feeble and the young.
Brothers and sisters when we dedicate a child here we all take an oath to help raise that child in the way they should go we take an oath to hold each other accountable and help each other with one of the most important task we have as believers raising our little ones up in the Lord that they may be firey arrows in his quiver against the enemy
We as parents need help especially from our elders who have the wisdom of experience as it is written
You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
Titus 2:1-8 NIV
This culture is so broken so against the sound doctrine that teaches.
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
Titus 2:11-15 NIV
let us gather together Brothers and sisters in unity in love let us be iron that sharpens iron and remember it is written
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Matthew 18:20 NIV
And if God is for us who can be against us!
Let us be confident and doers of his word not just hearers only let us be the light in this dark world that shines brightly glorifying our Savior redeemer King and LORD Jesus Christ
Blessings to you and your family
Pastor Dakota Swinton