OUR GATHERING IS A RESULT OF DIVINE WHISTLE (HISS)

TUESDAY 04 APRIL 2023

The book of Zechariah is a book that contains the prophetic utterances attributed to prophet Zechariah, and in today's referenced Scripture, we shall gain and absorb every vapour associated with the in-depth knowledge of Zechariah's wordings below.

Zechariah 10:8 English Standard Version (ESV) “I will whistle for them and gather them in, for I have redeemed them, and they shall be as many as they were before."

Although in the real context of this Scripture, prophet Zechariah was discussing about God's work of rebuilding the people of Judah and reviving their spirits, this also relates to every born again Christian today. God is building His Church and Christ is the head of the church. In Matthew 16:18 (NIV), Jesus says, "I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome or prevail against it." Beloved, indeed, all the powers of hell put together, cannot conquer it.

Moreover, what is the significance of today's referenced Scripture in our time?: "I will whistle for them and gather them in, for I have redeemed them, and they shall be as many as they were before." It denotes the gathering of the saints and Bible study meetings, where Christ builds His church. Translations like JPS Tanakh 1917, Literal Standard Version, Webster's Bible Translation, English Revised Version, King James Bible, and American Standard Version applied the word "hiss" instead of "whistle." It reads, "I will "hiss" for them, and gather them." The latin word for hissing is "sibilus", which simply suggests an act of hissing or whistling.

"Hiss" is a word used to attract alacritous and ardent attention. In full, it says, "I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them; and they shall increase as they have increased." Who are those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb? The born again Christians; they have been born of the Spirit because they've been purchased by His precious blood. Where does Christ gather His purchased people or possession? In the great assembly of brethren. However, remember that this "hiss" is God-breathed.

To hiss for us to gather is to order us to be present in our Christian gatherings. In other words, within the New Testament Scriptures, the "hiss" is God-breathed, reinforced by this very verse: Hebrews 10:25, which reads, "And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near" (NLT). Again, that is the full meaning or interpretation of His "hiss" for us today. He has summoned us to be present in Christian assemblies, in order to build all of us up in the way of His will.

In such assembly, we experience the process of being built up by the Word of His grace. This means that the gathering aims to put fully-developed muscles in our faith walk, and can also give us an inheritance among all those who are sanctified, as Paul noted in Acts 20:32 (NIV). This "hiss" that orders our gathering also grants us an honest desire to do right, which preserves us from error. So as we gather in the assembly of the brethren, and profit by the truth, a lot happens in us internally, ensuring that our spiritual growth is being actualised. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Matthew 18:20; Acts 1:13-14; Hebrews 3:13; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 10:16; Acts 5:42; Acts 20:7.

Guided Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, I thank you for your hiss that rescued me out of the state of ignorance and domain of darkness and transferred me to your marvellous light. This same whistle has drawn me to the gathering of the saints by the powerful and efficacious grace in Christ Jesus. In every gathering of true saints, the mystery of your power is made manifest in our lives, making us willing to submit to your perfect will, to embrace the eternal truths, and to walk in the way of the Spirit in Jesus' Name, Amen!