The Regathering of God’s People

Life is never meant to be lived alone. Faith is never meant to be exercised in isolation. The light of a lamp is not meant to be covered under a basket, as the gospels say, but put on a lamp stand to give light to all who are in the house. 

The Lord reveals to us in his Word that he wants us to abide in Him in the context of a thriving community. This is how we will ultimately find the most joy in Him. This is also the mechanism through which more people will come to see the glory of Jesus and trust in him. 

This is what a local church expression is all about and why we have started Sent Missional Church Community in Hanover, NJ. 

Now more than ever is the time to heed the call to come back to God as a people “for his own possession” (1 Peter 2:9). You may have been driven into isolation these past few years and feel disconnected from God and others who are in Christ. The good news is that God is regathering his people out of isolation through new church expressions like Sent Missional Church Community to shine the light of Christ in a world overtaken by fear, depression, division, and strife. 

We see this beautiful plan for God’s people in Zechariah 8. The Jewish people had been living in exile for 70 years, but God brought them back to their homeland. At first, the people started strong and faithful in the Lord - building a new foundation for the temple of the Lord. But the worries of life’s circumstances caused the people to stop the work for the next 17 years. They became complacent, preoccupied, or just got used to a lifestyle that didn’t include time for God or God’s people. 

Maybe you once had a thriving faith but have found yourself far removed from those days. You once felt connected to a community of people but now are isolated from any life-giving connection. The Lord has not abandoned his people, and he has not abandoned you. He is regathering his people from a season of isolation and stagnation. This new season is happening right now, just like in the time of Zechariah:

Zechariah 8:3

Thus says the LORD: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts, the holy mountain.

God says “I have returned” and “ I will dwell.” God’s presence went before the people to prepare the land for this re-gathering. We must pursue and partake in this presence, the presence of Christ as a gathered people in Him. Unless the Lord builds the house, it’s builders labor in vain (Psalm 127:1). 

Zechariah 8:4-6

Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. Thus says the LORD of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the LORD of hosts?

God’s life giving Spirit will unite the people into a thriving multi-generational community. It will seem marvelous to the people because of the isolation and exile of where they came from, but this was God’s plan all along. If we dwell in what our current circumstances are, we will miss how God is moving. Our trust is in God and his promises. “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

Zechariah 8:7-8

Thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.”

This regathering of the people won’t be like before, with the fear of exile. God will dwell in their midst and be their protection and salvation forever. The fulfillment of this promise is found in Christ, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

The kingdom of Christ is established in faithfulness and righteousness. The gospel message is that our salvation is Christ and him crucified. As a result, we have an eternal union with him as his bride - the church. I am not just his “person” but WE are his PEOPLE and He is OUR God. This imagery of dwelling carries the connotation of a family presence. We are “knit together in love” in Him (Colossians 2:2). 

“God’s life giving Spirit will unite the people into a thriving multi-generational community.”

Zechariah 8:12-13

For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.”

This new community will see peace and spiritual fruit come out of its midst because of God’s promise to dwell with them. 

All of these promises ultimately find their fulfillment in Jesus, and his church are the inheritors of the promise. Just like the people in Zechariah’s day, God has promised to go before us as a church to prepare the land, so that we will be built up into a thriving community in his presence. 

It may seem marvelous now since we are just getting started, but Jesus is on mission to build up his church. 

Not only does he promise to save us, he says we will be a blessing. This implies a missional component to the gathered people. When we gather as a people called out for God’s glory, that glory shines through us as a gospel-light in our surrounding communities. 

Zechariah 8:20-23

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD and to seek the LORD of hosts; I myself am going.’ Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

This is why we have started Sent as a community on mission to advance the kingdom of Jesus for his glory. We see this happening in three distinct ways, just like in Zechariah 8. 

• It all starts with Kingdom Presence - glorying in Christ, letting his presence fill us and work through us, a deep worshipful prayer life.Apart from him we can do nothing, and anything we would attempt to do is in vain. 

• With Kingdom Presence comes Kingdom Building- we become a thriving, life-giving community being built up in Christ, sanctified in the truth by the Spirit. An abiding faith in keeping with repentance.

• And like Zechariah 8:20-23, the fruit of this community is Kingdom Expansion - Jesus works through our community to bring more people into abiding faith in Him. God says “people shall yet come” and people will “take hold of the robe” because they have heard “God is with you.” 

If this new church community is a people rooted in the presence of Christ, then we will be that city on a hill whose light will shine the glory of God. People will say “I want to participate in whatever you all are doing, because I can see that God is in it.” 

So the Lord is regathering his people and reaching nations of people through them. Connect with us or another local church expression that is participating in what God is doing today in Christ. He is the hope of nations, and we are his family sent to proclaim the glory of his name. Our journey is just getting started.