Biblical Building Block #21 Exhort One Another (Hebrews 10:25) PART 1

Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”

Biblical Building Block #21 Exhort One Another (Hebrews 10:25) PART 1
​
Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

I. Let Us Be Consistent in Church Attendance
A. The Imperative. Hebrews 10:25a, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is...”
The word "church" comes from the Greek word "ekklesia" and means "a called out assembly." It is both called out and assembled. (Acts 2:41; I Corinthians 1:2; II Corinthians 1:1 Galatians 1:2; Revelation 1:4).

1. An Essential Assembly
The assembling of believers together in the local Church is of the utmost importance. In this text, we have a direct command from God stating clearly that we are not to forsake the local Church. Paul gives a specific command not to forsake the assembling. This is a strong admonition. They were expected not to forsake the assembling together with fellow believers. The word "forsake" means "to desert; to abandon; to leave behind." The word “forsaking” means "to leave behind or desert." The word “assembling” speaks of assembling or gathering together for worship. That is what the local Church is—a gathering of believers. This is certainly needful in our day.

We are exhorted to assemble together and never to forsake our assembling, not even to neglect it for a brief time. This is the meaning of this exhortation.
Believers are to assemble together...
• for worship
• for prayer
• for the study of God's Word
• for ministry and witnessing we are to assemble together often and never to forsake our coming together.
Believers need each other—the presence, fellowship, strength, encouragement, care, and love of each other. Notice the phrase, "...as the manner of some is..." Some had dropped out of the church. It would seem here that some had forsaken the Christian gatherings, perhaps because of the persecutions referred to in Hebrews 10:32-33.

The pressure of ostracism and persecution had caused some not to attend church ("...as the manner of some is..."). It is true and unfortunate that people do get hurt emotionally in church. I know of churches that are unfriendly and lack the love of Christ. Perhaps they had their feelings hurt by other believers, now they claim that they could worship God better alone. Many times, when people drop out of church, their focus is on themselves, not on God and others. Instead of thinking, “How can I be used of God to exhort others on in love?” often they think, “My needs aren’t being met.” You can practice faith and hope when you’re alone, but you can’t encourage others to love and good works when you’re alone!

You have to gather with the saints to do it! This passage does not warn us that when we skip church, we put ourselves at risk. Rather, it warns us that when we skip church, we put other people at risk. We can’t encourage one another unless we are regularly together. Desiring to become a spiritual recluse is a sure sign a person needs fellowship with other believers. When we are gathered together and encouraging one another, we are also learning to function well as Christ’s body. Weakness comes through division, but togetherness fosters unity and strength. There can be no mutual encouragement if there is separation. A very important part of worship and Bible study is encouraging one another to do acts of love and good works. Personal interaction of ministry is absolutely necessary. Each member of the body needs the other members (I Corinthians 12:12-26).

One grows cold and complacent when apart from the church. We live amidst a Laodicean mentality when folks claim to be Christian and yet have no desire to go to Church. We cannot deny the importance of church attendance whenever the doors are open. When one misses church, they will miss what God has for them! They were avoiding the means God had provided to help them. Remember, when your “get-up-and-go” has gotten up and gone, you need someone who can lift you up. Furthermore, there’s someone ready to throw in the towel who needs you to walk alongside him or her.

I have found over the years that the more people love God, the more it takes to keep them out of church. Psalm 122:1, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” Worship is something that is to be done with other people, not with your television at home. Some may claim, "I'm too tired. I don't get anything out of it." Perhaps the message was not inspiring; or the minster is out of touch. The great task of the church is not only to get sinners into Heaven, but to get the saints out of bed. Vance Havner said, "There is something wrong with our Christianity when we have to beg most of our crowd to come to church to hear about it."

Many neglect church attendance because they don't understand the true purpose of the local church and their own importance among believers. An old fellow in a little country church had lost his hearing and much of his eyesight, too. Nevertheless, every Sunday, he could be found sitting in his seat in the auditorium. Someone asked him why he kept coming even though he could not hear or see what was going on in the church service. The old man answered, "I just want everybody to know whose side I'm on." When you are faithful in church, you are saying to others, "I am still on your side." Your presence encourages others.

Thank you for reading PART 1 of Biblical Building Block #21 of this series. Please visit this website tomorrow for PART 2 of Biblical Building Block #21 of this series.

If this post in any way, has blessed you,
please share this website and its articles with others:
www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com