Did you catch the number of those we join with in worship? “An innumerable company of angels.” Too many angels to count. The “general assembly of the church in heaven.” How many is that? Revelation 5:11 calls it ten thousand times ten thousand plus thousands of thousands. Revelation 7:9 speaks of their number as “a great multitude which no one could number…” When we are gathered together for worship we join with the whole host of Heaven in praise to the Lamb. No opponents on Earth are so numerous as that.

So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” II Kings 6:16 NKJV

Often in the Christian life it appears that we are outnumbered by those who oppose the gospel. Our response as Christians to opponents of the faith at work, school, or public places is often to shrink back in fear and weakness lest co-workers, classmates, or anybody else think poorly of our unpopular or politically incorrect stance. How often do you ask yourself if you are actually outnumbered?

Before he came to understand the reality of the situation, Elisha’s servant thought he was vastly outnumbered. The truth of the matter was the opposite of the servant’s belief. The allies of Elisha actually outnumbered the Syrian army. The servant could not yet see this truth with his own eyes but it was nevertheless true. Jesus could have called twelve legions of angels in Jerusalem (Matt 26:52) before His death but He refrained so as to fulfill all righteousness. Those who are with the Christian are more than those who are with the world! This is always true for the Christian even if we cannot see it yet with our own eyes.

In recent years our family has marveled at the lines of people waiting to enter a house of horrors near our church around Reformation Day (Halloween). Our church often has fewer than 50 in attendance for the evening service and at 9:00 at night 5 – 10 times that number stand outside in the cold waiting to enter a place that would entertain them with death, destruction, and dismemberment. Are we outnumbered in church by those seeking to entertain themselves with death?

As the Lord gives instruction concerning our attendance and activity in public worship He reminds us in Hebrews 12 that we are not come to that mountain which may be touched and burned with fire but that we are come to “Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel” (Hebrews 12:22-24).

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