Last night in our prayer group we talked about accountability. Our little group has been meeting for a year now! It is amazing how far we have come -- how much our faith has grown. We have seen countless prayers answered. We have enriched our spiritual lives and matured as Christians. We have seen a few sisters come and go - but those who can no longer be with us for one reason or another will always be a part of us. All of our original five are still attending except for one who has taken a night shift position - (she's a nurse). There are several more than five of us now. We enjoy a mutual Christian love and affection that cannot be surpassed. I cannot begin to tell you how much these women mean to me and how they have helped me grow. I am eternally thankful for all the blessings God has rained down on us since we began (both individually and as a group). Truly we can never thank God enough!
We have discussed many different scripture passages and topics as we have gathered to pray. And yes we pray. Our gatherings not just some kind of gossip session. We talk about what is going on in our lives. We share the events we want to celebrate about as well as the events we want to cry about. We also confess our weaknesses and what we might be struggling with at the moment. Then we pray. It is our safe place. But as we share our struggles and temptations and pray over them -- then we hold each other accountable. We challenge one another to examine ourselves. We give each other encouragement and advice on how to battle temptation and overcome our sins. And from one week to the next we might hold each other accountable for what we have asked for prayers over. Prayer is such a powerful tool for the Christian!
So yes, we talked about accountability last night. Often we promise if we see one another start to go astray that we will go yank that person back in line. I think we mean it. Not only have we seen the power of God in our lives; but we all have seen and experienced the power of the devil in our lives, too. For we know that none of us are perfect -- we are merely forgiven sinners.
There are many scriptures on prayer. Also many scriptures could be mentioned on confessing our faults and forgiving one another and in bearing one another's burdens. We know that James 5:16 tells us to "Confess our faults to one another and pray for one another that we may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." We also know that Paul tells us to "pray without ceasing." I suppose I could go on and on with all the scriptures about prayer. We know that the apostles and early Christians went from house to house and continued in prayers and fellowship. Even before that in Acts 1 the Bible says there about 120 people in an upper room praying. Christians met to pray for Peter when he was in prison. I think it is pretty obvious that God wants us to pray not only for each other; but with each other-- to confess our faults -- and pray. This is all part of the accountability plan.
In Hebrews Chapter 10 God gives us a very important message. To me this passage explains much about why we meet together, why we hold each other accountable and why we pray for one another. Many of us are familiar with Hebrews 10:25 -- where we are cautioned not to forsake the assembling ourselves together. And maybe there will quite a few who are familiar with v. 24 - that tells us to provoke (stir up) one another unto love and good works.
So many times when these verses are used in a message - they are chosen singly and only the one verse is discussed. But when you read and study -- oh say, verses 23 through verse 32 -- you see with verse 24 and 25 with a whole new perspective.
"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised." -- Hold on to your faith and don't let go. God will keep His promise to you.
"And let us consider one another to provoke (stir up) unto love and good works;"
Think about each other. Consider each other -- love each other and provoke or stir up each other to love God and our fellow man and to show that love by good works we do for others. In other words - Hold each other accountable.
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." -- Stick together. Take advantage of your fellowship and worship together to encourage and exhort and to stay stirred up as in the last verse. Don't miss a chance to be together. You need to exhort one another -- and it is all the more important as you see the day approaching.
Now I haven't read any commentaries so I don't know if the writer is talking about the day of worship here -- or the day of judgement. Either day is important. It is a dangerous thing to fail to meet with the saints and worship God and His Son, Our Savior. We need to strongly encourage each other to be a part of the family of God at our local congregations. And we all know how important it is to be ready to meet Christ. So we exhort one another - we hold each other accountable. Because we are all part of the same family - the family of God -- and we love each other. So then as we love one another, we look out for each other and we say .... "Uh, sister -- don't go down the road. Remember Christ is coming back one day. I don't think you want to face Him after you do that"
OK - I'll try to get through the next few verses without interrupting myself; so beginning with verse 26: "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace: For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth to me; I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
There you have it!! That is why you hold each other accountable. Not only are you helping your brother or sister in Christ - but you are helping yourself. For in reminding them not to "trod under foot the Son of God;" in cautioning your sister against sin to keep her from doing "despite unto the Spirit of grace" - we are also reminding ourselves. Jude says to have compassion on some - making a difference. For love and compassion is what will save some souls. Then Jude says - but others save with fear hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Hate the sin - not the sinner. Remind them of the power of God and the danger of facing Him with sin in your life.
So holding each other accountable is part of loving each other -- of saving each other. Why? Because it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
So don't miss a chance to be with your Christian family. It's important.
Hold onto your faith. Don't waver. Consider each other. It's important.
Provoke each other to love -- and to do good works. It's important.
Why? Because He is coming. And it is a fearful thing to fall into His hands.
So we hold each other accountable -- so we can help keep each other on the straight and narrow way. It's important.
It's important because we all want to make it to heaven together and we all need help.
Love each other enough to hold each other accountable.
Christ above all things,
Robin
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