Rev. Afolabi Samuel Coker, Senior Pastor, The King’s Chamber, Ilupeju, Lagos, has made a clarion call to the believers in Christ not to take lightly the privilege and responsibility of gathering together, saying in these times of spiritual and moral challenges the unity and collective strength of the believers are more crucial than ever.
He therefore appealed to all the believers to heed the call of scripture, prioritize physical attendance in worship services and experience the fullness of God’s presence and power in their midst
This is contained in his message below to the believers that he titled: “THE CLARION CALL -1 and shared with Christian Benefits magazine.
19TH JULY, 2024
THE CLARION CALL –1
Beloved in Christ,
Calvary greetings , in the name of Jesus.
I hope this epistle will meet you well and also spread it to help someone in this endtime? God bless you exceeding abundantly, in Jesus name.
The gathering of the saints is not merely a tradition, but a divine mandate and a source of immense spiritual strength. The Word of God calls us to come together, to worship, to edify one another, and to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit in a corporate setting. Let us reflect on the scriptural foundation for this call to gather physically for worship and fellowship.
1. The Biblical Command to Assemble:
The writer of Hebrews exhorts us: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24:25 ). This passage highlights the importance of assembling together, not just for our own edification but to encourage and strengthen one another in our faith.
2. The Example of the Early Church:
In Acts 2:42, we see that the early believers “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” Their commitment to gathering together was integral to their spiritual growth and community life. Physical presence allowed them to share in the sacraments, to pray collectively, and to learn from the apostles’ teaching.
3. The Power of Corporate Worship:
Jesus Himself promises us in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” There is a special manifestation of Christ’s presence when believers gather together. Corporate worship brings a unique opportunity for collective praise, worship, and experiencing the power of God in a profound way.
4. Strengthening the Body of Christ:
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many.” Our physical gathering symbolizes and strengthens our unity as the body of Christ. Each member’s presence is vital for the body to function effectively.
5. Mutual Encouragement and Accountability:
In Romans 1:11-12 Paul expresses his longing to visit the believers in Rome, saying, “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” Physical gatherings provide an irreplaceable opportunity for mutual encouragement and accountability, helping us to stay strong in our faith.
6. The Joy of Fellowship:
Psalm 122:1 declares, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD!'” There is joy in coming together to worship and fellowship with other believers. It is a celebration of our faith and an anticipation of the eternal fellowship we will enjoy in God’s presence.
Beloved, let us not take lightly the privilege and responsibility of gathering together. In these times of spiritual and moral challenges, our unity and collective strength are more crucial than ever. Let us heed the call of scripture, prioritize our physical attendance in worship services, and experience the fullness of God’s presence and power in our midst.
Yours in His service,
AFOLABI SAMUEL COKER
SENIOR PASTOR
THE KING’S CHAMBER
42 ASSOCIATION AVENUE ,PURPLE BUILDING OPP TAXI PARK, OBANIKORO BUS STOP ,ILUPEJU , LAGOS STATE.