by Vanessa D. Alexander

Created on: July 21, 2008

A very small congregation or very large one has no particular favor with Jesus Christ. We are all members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. What defines a church has changed in this post modern world and is more defined today by the machinery of business than the clear declarations of the Bible.

If a small church disbands it has to do with the corporate influence that has permeated the hearts of believers. The Church was birthed by prayer on the day of Pentecost. There is nothing therefore than can keep churches together but the prayers of God's people within a church.

Matthew 18:11-20

For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. 15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Jesus said where two or three are gathered together in His name, He is in the midst of them. If a group of people are not gathered in His name, they are already disbanded.

On the other hand,there are places in the world where believers gather against great opposition from Satan's Kingdom. The persecution is very great. If only two gather in such places are they any less a church before God?

If they are praying saints Jesus is in the midst. Many do not even own Bibles. But they have the Living Word.

Disbanding churches is a purely western invention born out of too many conveniences and far too much comfort in a modern world. A church on its knees praying in the Spirit have their hearts united by the Spirit.

Abraham interceded before God who was preparing to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for its wickedness. He asked God if he found righteous men in those cities would he destroy it. He first asked if fifty were found would he destroy it. God said he would not.

Finally, Abraham asked if even ten were found would He destroy it. God said he would not. He was unable to find ten men who were righteous (Genesis, Chapter 18).

If God would have spared two cities for the presence of a mere ten righteous men, He could certainly preserve a very small congregation with men who pray like Abraham prayed.

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