Acts 2:1-4When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Several years ago we were providentially prevented from being in public worship for three weeks in a row. Whether through travel, location, or schedule, we were unable to make it to church on three Sundays in a row. It was more painful and difficult than I had imagined it would be. I recall two respites – breaths of fresh air during that time – during those three weeks. One was when we visited Notre Dame Cathedral, and there was a worship service in Russian at the time. A small group of people had gathered and were praying. God’s Spirit was there – even though we could not understand the words that were being spoken.
The second breath happened in London at St. Paul’s Cathedral. We were enjoying the beautiful architecture of the church. High and beautifully-decorated ceilings, archways, altars, and stained glass conspired to make the church very inspiring. But the moment of breath came when we were asked to remain respectfully quiet during their noon-day practice of prayer. Diane and I sat down as the priest announced that we would be praying for widows, orphans, single mothers, and the ill. Then he prayed the Lord’s Prayer. I could barely speak as we joined in during that brief moment. We were not alone in our faith. We were with others who called on God. It refreshed our souls.
We are stronger together. On that Pentecost Sunday, the disciples were all together in one place. There was a physical location, the opportunity to see face to face, and to hear one another express their faith, hope, fears, and dreams. This was the occasion on which the Holy Spirit’s gale force wind would blow through them and ignite a fire of grace, mercy, generosity, and salvation for whoever would “call on the name of the Lord.”
And there it is: Calling on the name of the Lord, is a weighted phrase. I like this simple summary on the Got Questions website.
The first mention in Scripture of people calling on the name of the Lord is Genesis 4:26: “Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord.” Here, to call on the name of the Lord means that people began to gather for corporate worship and seeking the help of the Creator.
I don’t understand the use of this phrase in Joel (which Peter is quoting in Acts 2) to mean explicitly that those who gather for corporate worship and seek the help of God. We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). There are believers who are completely unable to gather for worship. Think aged, homebound, imprisoned, critically ill. The thief on the cross was not in a public worship service in the normal sense of the term, yet Jesus promised that he would be with him in Paradise.
Some say that they can worship by themselves on the golf course, at the beach, in the woods, or the mountains. Indeed you can. But surely we who believe will want to gather regularly for corporate worship. As the writer of Hebrews says, “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” (Hebrews 10:25). You cannot encourage me and others if you are absent from worship. And that is part of the blessing of corporate worship: the mutual conversation and consolation of brothers and sisters in Christ. Gathering together is a command of God, a privilege and a blessing. We should do it to honor God and to bless our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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