OUR GOSPEL MEETING:

A Unique Experience

Victor M. Eskew

 

            Our gospel meeting begins today.  We have been anticipating it for many weeks now.  What is about to happen is a unique experience.  Let’s look at some of the reasons this gospel meeting is a one and only experience.

            First, our meeting is unique because we will be studying a neglected subject, “The Minor Prophets.”  Since this writer has been with the OceanSide congregation, we have not studied the Minor Prophets.  Note, they are not “minor” because of the subject matter they cover.  They are minor only because they are shorter in length than the five books known as the Major Prophets.  We will be focusing specifically on the themes of these twelve books of the Old Testament.  Each was written with a specific purpose in mind.  When we understand “why” the writers penned their prophecies, the prophecies often become easier to understand as we look at them verse-by-verse.

            Second, our meeting is unique because we do not have just one preacher who will proclaim the message to us.  We will have three men opening the Good Book and sharing the truth with us.  Each of these men loves God.  Each is educated, experienced, and passionate.  They love God’s Word.  They have given their lives to the proclamation of the Word of God.  They love to tell the story to others.

            Third, our meeting is unique because the power of God’s Word will be on display.  The apostle Paul wrote:  “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:  for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16).  The writer of Hebrews agrees with Paul.  In Hebrews 4:12, he tells us:  “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”  Every time God’s Word is spoken, there is power that goes forth into the hearts of men.  That power is designed to prick and cut the hearts of all who hear.  It is designed to bring change in the thinking and lives of sinners.  It is designed to mold Christians more and more into the image of Jesus Christ.  Each time we assemble, we never know how the power of God’s Word will impact those who are listening.  Our prayer is that this series of lessons will draw someone to the Savior, Jesus Christ.  We know that faithful Christians who listen attentively will be benefited.  They love God’s word.  They allow it to effectually work in their lives at all times (See I Thess. 2:13).

            Fourth, our meeting is unique because a different crowd will assemble each evening.  Oh yes, many of the same people will be at our meeting each evening. But, we will never have the same crowd at each assembly.  There will be some members who will not attend every service.  (NOTE:  Why this happens, they and God know).  There will be visitors from other congregations.  They will be some visitors from the community.  Even those who attend every night will be different from night to night.  Every day, things happen in our lives that influence us.  Sometimes these things cause us to be more attentive to the divine message one night than we were the night before.  Yes, even though we are the same person, there are ways in which we are not the same person who assembled previously. 

            Fifth, our meeting is unique because it will provide us with opportunities to teach God’s Word that have not been provided in the past.  There will be visitors who can be contacted and asked for Bible studies.  The OceanSide congregation will put all of these lessons out live on Facebook.  Too, they will be downloaded to YouTube.  If we so desire, we can have copies of these lessons made and we can hand out CDs to people we know who did not come to the meeting.  We will be teaching individuals about the Minor Prophets long into the future.

            Sixth, our meeting is unique because faithful Christians have been praying for its success for several weeks.  We have prayed for boldness on behalf of the speakers.  We have prayed for open hearts on the part of the non-Christians who attend.  We have prayed for our own personal honesty and introspection as we listen to the lessons from day to day.  God is listening to the prayers of His children.  James promises us that “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).  Someone’s prayer may be answered in the next few days.  Perhaps he has prayed in the past for this very thing, but it has not come to pass.  God just might bring it to pass in the course of this gospel meeting.

            Yes, our meeting will be a unique experience.  Today is the first day of this five-day event.  We hope that you will make the decision to be with us every service.  If you haven’t cleared your schedule please do so.  Make this meeting unique to your life.  Make up your mind that you are going to partake heartily in this spiritual feast. Determine that you will learn as much as you can from the Minor Prophets this week.  Commit to being an example that others in the church should follow.  Dear reader, be unique this week.  Be faithful!