Holy Spirit we invite you as our teacher. Make Jesus real to us as we study God's Word. All these things we ask in the mighty Name above all Names, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who died for us, was buried, resurrected on the third day, seen by many witnesses, ascended into heaven, who now rules and makes intercession for us with the principalities and powers under his feet! And we rejoice that He has raised us up with Him and we are seated with him in heavenly places tonight! Hallelujah!

Praise the Lord. Last time we were studying about Jesus temptation and how he defeated satan WITH THE WORD, "It is written". The Word of God is our sword of the Spirit and our weapon against temptation. Then we began to study about the beginning of Jesus ministry.

If the Son of God, who was in constant communication with God, felt the need for regular attendance at worship; how do we excuse ourselves from it? Are we "good enough" already? Can we be Christians "on our own"? Can we stay at home on Sunday and watch TV preachers, and "get just as much out of it"? Can we just chat online and that's enough?

Then we began to discuss the benefits of regular church attendance.

1. Jesus is present with us when we gather together: Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

k - we have to assembly together to encourage each other like Paul wrote

2. Spiritual nourishment - sure you can study the Bible on your own ( and you should), but you profit by what God has given others as well ( and they can profit from what you know). And we are all blind in areas that need to be corrected. We also profit from other's experiences.
   
3. Spiritual strength - We all need others at times. The Bible says that one can put l,000 to flight, but two can put 10,000 to flight!

Athie - We need fellowship in the house of God . We need each other .

4. Encouragement - to keep going.
   
5. Some one may need YOUR help, and they wouldn't receive it if you stayed home.

prodigal son - It lifts our spirits to be around other believers. they give us support and joy.
k - God wants us to assembly together first as a family then as a growing Christian family
Good point K, we are a family through Christ Jesus - and need each other! Another reason to assemble together is that's the only way we can enjoy:

6. Communion - which brings us spiritual benefits. What are some of the benefits of taking Communion or the Lord's Supper?

k - Remembering the Lord's love and sacrifice for us

OlePappy - It brings a realization that we are a part of Jesus

eternally secure - It has a cleansing effect, as we are to examine ourselves first and then partake. Then we can have fellowship with Him. And we are reminded of His death for us.

Athie - WE are remembering the death of Christ . His Body and His Blood.

The Body of Christ has two meanings: first, we remember Jesus actual body as we partake of the bread, his body that was broken for us to bring us salvation. Understanding this is essential to our salvation.

Secondly, we ARE the Body of Christ, and if we don't recognize each other as such, we are rejecting a brother/sister for whom Christ died.

eternally secure - yes, every believer is represented in the loaf.

In the early days, the Lord's Supper was an actual meal, followed by taking the bread and the wine as Paul instructs. But the people acted in an ungodly way - eating up all the food before everyone got there, and making it a worldly thing instead of a solemn meditation on Christ's death.

They didn't discern or recognize Christ's Body in the bread they were eating, and didn't have a concern for some members of the Body of Christ.

†Cowgirl - Also wouldn't we be rejecting the (Jesus that lives in each of us)?

k - we have to know Jesus came to the earth before we can have salvation and in the end we will be judged on whether we know Jesus as our personal Savior or not

So going to church is necessary so we can partake of Communion or the Lord's Supper.

The most important thing in our life should be the gospel that we have received and on which we have taken our stand. Otherwise our whole life is lived in vain. When we meet together we remind each other of who we are in Christ and what we stand for. The thing that should be of "first importance" or the top priority in our lives Christ and his death, burial and resurrection.

Ok these are some reasons why I think we should meet together regularly. You may come up with others. But, Jesus was the Son of God. Why do you think Jesus made attendance at worship a custom or a habit?

jesusfreak - I think Jesus made attendance a custom because Christian's need to fellowship with one another.

k - because things that are habits we keep doing

Athie - Jesus was -is our example. We are to be like Him.

prodigal son - He was following the word of his father

†Cowgirl - I know why I do, so I can receive all God wants to give me and so I can be a blessing to others. To be fed spiritually.

OlePappy - because that is what God wants us to do after we become members of His family

Right! very good answers. I came up with 5 reasons:

1. As a human, He also needed that close communion with God in the presence of other worshippers.
2. He realized that He came to fulfill the LAW that was read every Sabbath, and He needed to be there when it was read.
3. He is our example, and He knew how badly WE need it. Remember that Jesus did not come to BE served, but to be a servant, and everything He did and said was for our benefit.
4. The Sabbath was for rest and refreshment, and that is what He came to bring us.
5. Remember He was trained by His earthly parents to attend worship, and we also have an obligation to train our children to go.

Praise the Lord. So if you aren't regularly attending a Bible believing church (I say that because there are some that aren't - sad), then look at what all you're missing!

Going to the synagogue was more than a habit with Jesus. He went with a purpose. He took the synagogue service as an open door for ministry and as an opportunity to meet human needs with God's Word and the power of the Spirit. The earliest Christians followed this example . They went to the synagogues on Saturday to witness. Then they met on the following day for their own worship and to encourage and edify one another. Whenever you read in Acts that Paul spoke in a synagogue, it had to be on a Saturday. When he spoke to a church, it was (usually) on Sunday.

eternally secure - He went to the synagogues, to show them that their Messiah was there, but they rejected Him. He was God in flesh, Only HE could forgive sin and heal, but the Jews rejected Him and crucified Him.

What an idea! To go TO church to witness! Yet, there are a lot of people who attend church who are not born-again Christians, and our testimony may actually win them to Christ!

Athie - I thank God for my love for His church.

Jews were commanded to keep the Sabbath (Saturday) holy, but were not commanded to attend the synagogue in the Old Testament. The custom probably began around the time of the Babylonian captivity (c700 BC). Eventually the synagogue became the center of community life, being used for worship, study of the Scriptures, school and social activities, the way the church USED to be in America. And praise God, some churches are getting back to being totally involved in the community with schools, social activities, as well as worship and Bible study.

This was a reminder at every service who they were worshipping, and what He required of them. It was also a reminder for them to teach these things to their children. We've mentioned before about tying the Word of God on the hands and foreheads. These were called phylacteries and were tiny leather boxes with some verse in them, tied to the forehead or forearm with leather thongs. They also had a little box of Bible verses nailed on their doorframes. So they were reminded coming and going of the Lord!

Notice that the book of Isaiah was handed to Him, he didn't ask for it. It was ordained of God that Jesus read from this book to announce His ministry. Now in those days they didn't have books as we know them, but scrolls of a paper-like material called papyrus that were rolled up when stored. Jesus unrolled the scroll and searched until He found the right passage. They also did not have chapters and verses in those days. Each book of the Bible was written as a complete document.

What do you think verse 18 means: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me"?

So Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit at His baptism. This anointing showed that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, both which mean "anointed one". He was anointed as prophet, priest AND king, and was given all power and authority on earth.

Athie - It was time for Jesus earthly ministry to begin.

The Spirit anointed Jesus for the TWO-fold Ministry of the Messiah: anointing to preach and to heal.

Jesus is ANOINTED TO PREACH the gospel (good news) to the poor (the destitute, needy). "Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes all despised the common people. They taught that if a person were right with God they would be wealthy and prosperous. But the poor were getting poorer. They struggled under a heavy burden of taxation and were often sick and hungry. Jesus came to meet their need."

The religious leaders of that day thought that if you were poor or sick, it was because of sin in your life. Therefore, they despised you and would not help you. But Jesus CAME especially for the poor and needy, the sick and diseased. And He is anointed to heal us!

Z - OT....didn't the pharisees...preach it..but not walk it themselves??

The Pharisees also avoided the poor and sick for fear they would become "unclean" and have to go through a lot of rituals to become "clean" again. So the very leaders who were supposed to be caring for God's children were the ones who were neglecting them for selfish reasons.

Hebrews 2:14-15 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

Jesus died to destroy the devil and free us from slavery. Hallelujah! Jesus was anointed to preach release and pardon to captives who were enslaved by satan and bound by chains of sin. I John 3:8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.

In America we are taught religious "toleration", but often the devil uses this to promote his work. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.

Z - OT...what's religious toleration????

Z, it's accepting everyone's beliefs, so matter how far fetched or damaging they may be. It's saying "There are many paths to God. Choose the one you like the best" instead of what Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me." I'm not advocating HATE of other beliefs, just that we don't have to accept everything that comes down the pike in the name of toleration.

Z - ok OT...so that's why there are so many "cults" , denominations, etc...all taking part of the Word, but not all of it...right??

k - Because many are rebellious and don't want to accept the whole BIBLE as the Word of God, also others are following forms of Baal

Jesus is ANOINTED TO PREACH the acceptable year of the Lord (a new age when God's favor and acceptance would be made available through Christ). In the 60's we were told that it was the dawning of the "Age of Aquarius" and the new agers have continued to proclaim this. BUT this is NOT what the Bible says is the year of the Lord's favor!

Z - YES!! It is Jubilee!! Jesus is our Jubilee!! the year of God's favor is here!!! Jubilee is the return of all that was once taken...in the old times.it meant that slaves were freed, land returned...

†Cowgirl - Jubilee is the year of restoration! Everything satan has stolen will be given back to you.

Z - it is a releasing....a releasing of what was taken(restoration) and also a releasing (letting go) of those things we hold on to...

JoyoftheLord - The real test is for fruit. The fruit of the spirit we can know doctrine of this and that but the question I am asking myself if do I have fruit? Do I love God with all my heart mind and soul and others. Am I learning to die to myself daily?

Z - so....if u b holding on to things....release them!!! God will restore and provide!!!

short stuff - I think we all have trouble of letting go even as Christians, with some things in our lives

†Cowgirl - (((((LET GO AND Let GOD))))

"Leviticus 25:8-55 required that every fifty years slaves had to be freed; debts cancelled and property returned to its ancestral owners. This law of the year of Jubilee was seldom observed (Jeremiah 34:8-16), but for the prophets and later Jews it represented the time of God's great liberation, the Messianic Age."

JoyoftheLord - what does it actually mean to us as Christians and what does God want us to do?

short stuff - God can not use us to our full potential if we don't let go, we need to be like Moses was

Now I know that the land of Israel is celebrating the year of Jubilee this year because it has been 50 years since Israel became a nation in 1948. But the REAL fulfillment of the Year of the Lord's favor was JESUS!

"When the atonement of Christ is fully embraced; the sick, sinful, helpless, and needy are restored health, holiness, power, and prosperity, and full dominion over Satan and membership and communion in God's family."

Jesus is ANOINTED TO HEAL the broken in heart; mind, soul and body; the brokenhearted: those crushed, or disillusioned in mind and heart. Sin, sorrow, disease, shame, and every kind of sorrow and loss gave way to forgiveness, healing, and restoration at His Word or Touch.

What is your need today? The Messiah is here by His Spirit and He is anointed to give you the good news, to heal you body, mind and spirit, to set you free from the powers of darkness, to open your eyes to see, to announce God's love and unmerited favor to YOU. Receive all He has for YOU!

Father God we look to your Anointed One, the Messiah, and our Christ, for healing in mind, body, and spirit. Set us free from all captivity of the enemy - from doubt, fear, disappointment, and discouragement. Open our eyes to see YOU, our ears to hear your Word. We received your grace - your unmerited favor and love! AMEN

Tell the Lord what you need and receive it from Him in Jesus Name. He is here to set the captives free! Confess your sins and let him purify your heart. Hallelujah!

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. (I John 1:9)

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal [of the flesh] but are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting out imaginations and every vain thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of Christ and bringing every thought into the captivity of Christ.

†Cowgirl - I receive it in Jesus Name and I agree those of others in need be healed and Lord forgive us for always seeking your hand and not your face. Thank you Lord for your power!!!

Luke 4:20-21 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

Amen, ES, if only ALL eyes were fastened on Him today and understood Who they were looking at!

Isaiah chapters 52:13-55:13; 60-62 are a prophecy of the Messiah as God's Suffering Servant, who will bring redemption to Israel When Jesus proclaimed that He was the fulfillment of this scripture, the people clearly understood that He was calling Himself this Messiah.

Isaiah went on and wrote of judgements that will accompany Christ's Second Coming. (OT prophets did not see the time interval between the two comings). But Jesus stopped with the announcement of God's favor, rolled up the scroll, and gave it back to the minister (Chazan - servant, attendant) in charge of the synagogue books (which were community property due to the extremely high cost of books in those days).

This was the passage that Jesus was reading from the Old Testament, He stopped in the middle of verse 2 "to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor". Why do you think he did that?

Luke does not record His entire message, but obviously, He touched a responsive chord in the hearts of the people. At first, all spoke well of Him and were amazed at the gracious words (His message about the grace of God). Then their attitude began to change, "Isn't THIS Joseph's son?"

They could not seem to reconcile the fact that Jesus was (apparently) Joseph's son with Isaiah's prophecy. It seems quite evident that the villagers did not know about His divine origin.

"THIS" in v. 22 has a hint of contempt. This fellow is not a great rabbi. We know his family. How can a carpenter's son make such claims? They had never heard such words from Him in the 30 years He had lived among them.

They also may have also been jealous - some people have such petty minds that they find it difficult to believe that one of their own numbers has made good. The people at first liked the idea that a great messianic prophecy was being fulfilled in their day. The thing that upset them was that Jesus claimed to be the instrument by which these things would come to pass.

Ok, this is a good place to stop. Next time we'll talk about how his hometown people rejected him and even tried to kill Jesus!