Highlighting – “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (v.25)
The Church was instituted by God. Every believer should long to have a home church. We are encouraged by the author of Hebrews in these verses to stand firm in our faith and uplift one another in love and good deeds. I’m sure many of you have heard someone say they don’t need to attend church, as they can just watch a service on TV or online, but there is an emphasis on the “assembling together,” which many overlook. Why would Jesus tell Peter on him He would build the church and the gates of Hades would not overcome it (Matthew 16:18)? Because Peter preached to the Church about Jesus Christ on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14 – 36). If there was no need for church, God would not give the church any authority or even establish it to begin with.
We, believers, are the church and I believe we are still called to have a church like the one in Acts 2. The first church exemplifies what our churches should be like today, where the people looked out for one another and walked in their purpose, fulfilling their position in the body (the church) with the power of the Holy Spirit, as God added more souls to the church daily (Acts 2:44 – 47). Paul writes in Colossians 3:16 that we should share the message of Christ by teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit – we do this in our church meetings. We are to support one another, confess our sins to one another, pray for one another, and glorify God together. But there isn’t much engagement with other believers by watching a sermon on the TV or YouTube. Fellowship is important among believers. Otherwise, how could we ever aspire to have an Acts 2 church without, first, the Holy Spirit working in us, and second, genuine relationship with our brothers and sisters in Christ? Relationship requires engaging, and interaction with others, leading to growth.
My prayer for our churches is that we would truly be united in the One Spirit that we all received after accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior (please read Ephesians 4). We will be able to do this once we truly surrender to the Holy Spirit and die to the flesh. We often allow unnecessary things to get in the way of us serving one another as Christ would. May we be less condemning and show more grace, and be humble enough to serve (Matthew 5:7; Ephesians 4:29; Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 4:6).
Dear God, if there are any believers who have left the church and do not see the reason for assembling together with other saints, please convict them to come back. Help me to hold myself accountable to be a true sister/brother in Christ to other believers. Please help our churches to grow in unity, so the body is more effective in sharing the gospel through word and deeds. Lord, we NEED You. Our churches NEED Your presence at all times. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen!
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