Journey to Pentecost

April 11, 2010    John 20.24

Missed opportunities!  I can’t tell you the times that I have missed a sale by a few minutes, missed a great deal on a car by a few minutes (I always envied the guy who “Just got here probably five minutes before you!”) or missed  something spectacular at the event I was just too tired to attend.   It is what it is and sometimes it is frustrating to miss opportunities you may never get back. 

When it comes to worship services, a good friend of mine by the name of Ralph Sikes (international evangelist) once said, “If you miss the apex of a worship service you can never get it back.  You can’t clap it back, shout it back or sing it back.  It’s gone – never to be retrieved from even the bank of good intentions.”   

The first time Jesus appeared to His disciples – Thomas was not present.  He was somewhere doing something – but He wasn’t where he could have received one of the most powerful “God visuals” he could have ever received.   He missed the premier opportunity of seeing Jesus immediately after His resurrection.  Because Thomas missed that original and intentional appearing of Jesus – he remained in a place of doubt and confusion.  Too bad. 

He would get a second chance but the faith and revelation of who Jesus was had already taken place with the others.  Thomas would play catch up with his faith.  He was behind already.  He would have to put his fingers into the scars on the body of Jesus.  He would have ultimate proof that this was the real Messiah.   He would come in second on the issue of revelation knowledge. 

How many times have we missed being in the presence of Jesus and missed a blessing or missed being a blessing?  How many opportunities of personal prayer have we missed because we are just too busy to pray?  How many worship services have we missed being ministered just by failing to be in the presence of Jesus?  How many times have we let petty issues, sickness, weariness, being tired, exhausted and run ragged keep us out of church.  How many times have we missed a blessing by not being where the rest of the “group” or congregation was at.  Does God really bless gatherings over individual times with Him?  It’s obvious He does!  There are times that ordained group meetings take precedent over  individual times with God.  Thomas missed an opportunity to be blessed with the premier revelation of Christ after His resurrection….to a group.  Mary had her individual moment with Jesus.  He then instructed her and eventually other followers to go to Jerusalem and wait on the Promise of the Father.  Group settings where distinctive blessings flow.  How many times have you missed being in them?  

Over the next few weeks our Journey to Pentecost why not try to miss absolutely none of our scheduled services.  Be here and be with the group for a group blessing.  Be here and be with the group to enjoy His presence.   Let’s not forsake the assembling of ourselves together as we near the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

 Hebrews 10:25

Not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.