The General Assembly that God is Looking For
General Assembly Sunday is a day when we reflect on our affiliation with the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church and pray for the General Assembly and the works that God will accomplish through it.
- The Origin of the General Assembly
The content of the Bible is referred to as the history of redemption. This history of redemption begins with Adam and Eve and their children, showing the form of individual or small family churches. As the number of believing descendants grew, by the time of Abraham, we see the emergence of a patriarchal church with a larger family structure. By the time of Joseph, Jacob’s family of 70 migrated to Egypt, and God grew the Israelites into a large national church of over two million people.
After the Exodus, when they arrived at the wilderness of Sinai, God asked the people if they would become His covenant people, and they all responded that they would. On the 6th day of the third month, God proclaimed the Ten Commandments with His voice to the entire assembly of the Israelites gathered together. This is the first instance in the Bible where the term “assembly” is used.
In Deut 5:22, it is clearly recorded that God spoke to the assembly with His voice. In Deut 10:4, this day is described as the “day of the assembly.” Over two million people came out of Egypt. However, they were not called an “assembly” until they confessed at Mount Sinai their commitment to becoming God’s covenant people. Thus, the term “general assembly” refers to the gathering of all those who have decided to believe in God and become His covenant people.
This is why Number 20:4 refers to this assembly as “the Lord’s assembly.” And Judges 20:2 calls it “the assembly of the people of God.” This year’s General Assembly meeting will be held on August 11 at Grace Church in Busan. Our founding pastor emphasized that the General Assembly is not about commemorating an organization or events within it, but about remembering and celebrating that we are members of the holy assembly.
For the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun located near the Sea of Galilee, life was marked by constant warfare. If they only focused on themselves, they would easily become discouraged. The tribe of Benjamin was the smallest tribe living on the land apportioned from the tribe of Judah.
When the Prophet Elijah was exhausted from fighting against idol-worshippers and said, “I can’t go on anymore.” God told him, “these are 7,000 who have not bowed to Baal or kissed him” Hearing this, didn’t Elijah find renewed strength? (1 Kings 19:18)
Today, we may be gathered in our own local church, but all churches today are remembering the General Assembly. As we think of the churches in Singapore, Indonesia, Pyungkang Cheil Church, and Evergreen Church in the United States, let us remember that we are all one church in faith, a part of the General Assembly. May we be renewed in the strength given by God, with faith as His covenant people, we can faithfully carry out the history of redemption that God has entrusted to us.
- Types of Assemblies
- Wicked Assemblies
First, there are assemblies gathered to oppose leadership. In Numbers 16:3, it is written that people gathered for the purpose of opposing Moses and Aaron.
Second, there are assemblies gathered to put Jesus to death (Matt 26:59; Matt 27:24-25). Since assemblies are ultimately gatherings of people, they can become meetings that go against God’s will. Therefore, when we gather as an assembly, we must strive to ensure that it remains gathering that follows and pursues God’s will to the end.
- Holy Assemblies
First, there are missionary assemblies (Acts 15:5-21). These are assemblies gathered to proclaim God’s Word to the Gentiles.
Second, there are assemblies with Jesus Christ as the head (Eph 1:22-23; Col 2:18-19). Without Jesus Christ, we cannot live or even exist. Even if we were to live, we would become like the descendants of Cain, forgotten and erased from God’s history and memory. This is what Revelation refers to as having a name that claims to be alive but is actually dead. Therefore, we must thoroughly make Jesus Christ our head. Those who make Jesus their head are people who live a temple-centered life and a worship-centered life.
We learned about the Sadducees in our studies. The Sadducees also lived and emphasized a temple-centered life. However, their focus was not based on faith but on the wealth and profit that came from the temple.
God commanded the people to remember the Jerusalem temple and requested all men to gather in Jerusalem three times a year. This is the essence of the assembly. We must remember our Father God’s church not because of material wealth or money, but because God has a purpose and work He desires to accomplish through this assembly, through you and me.
Conclusion: The Assembly of the Firstborn
The assembly that God desires is the assembly of the firstborn (Heb 12:23). First, the assembly of the firstborn consists of those who hear and obey God’s Word (Deu 10:4; Exo 19:5).
The Hebrew word for “hear” is shama, which means to hear and obey. The word for “keep” is shamar, which means to guard or protect. The term “assembly” was first used when God’s people gathered to hear His Word. Therefore, the most fundamental quality of God’s assembly is listening to His Word. Moreover, listening to God’s Word includes obeying it.
Second, the assembly of the firstborn consists of those who have God as their Father (2 Cor 6:18; Rom 8:15).
Today, we have gathered to remember and commemorate the General Assembly. However, this assembly is not something far away: it is you and me. This assembly is one that hears and obeys God’s Word. It is an assembly that has God as its Father. I pray in the name of our Lord that you and I will believe we are members of this holy assembly, take strength in knowing that God has planted and preserved such people of this assembly throughout the world, and dedicate ourselves to God’s work.
The Lord's Covenant Church Malaysia 