Do not Abandon the Gathering of Ourselves Together II

Introduction

Introduction

Ok, next week is the big week. Sept 16 is National Back To Church Sunday.

It is a day to re-establish our priorities, to remember what is truly important and who should be first in our life.

Gathering together is about Jesus. We come to worship, to praise His name. And in gathering we honor Him, and in the process we bless and encourage each other. It blesses me to see you here.

Sadly people slip away from church, they get out of the habit of coming . And it is hard at times to get back into the habit of worship being our priority. But we can get back there again if we try.

Honestly it comes down to what is important to you.

So today, lets go back to the book of Hebrews and lets look at our passage

Hebrews 10:19–25 ESV

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

So we are going to take just a few minutes and talk a little about what I addressed with you last week.

We began with this thought last week.

The author of Hebrews, reminds us that we must hold onto the act of gathering together to worship, to love and care for each other. This place should be a safe haven for the church and a hospital of hope for the lost. But we cannot give up in coming together.So this morning lets find out more as we study the Word of God. lets find

​ ESV19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

1. We Have a New Way Set Before Us....

The passage tells us we have a new beginning, a new way because of Jesus. Remember in times past, the only person who was allowed to pass from the holy place of the Tabernacle to Most Holy Place was the High Priest. He alone would supervise the sacrifices , He would take the blood of the lamb and would go into the presence of God behind the veil and offer the blood upon the mercy seat. It was there what the Lord would see the blood and declare the sins of the people forgiven.But verses 19-20 tell a new story...

​ ESV19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,

That through His body and blood, His sacrificial death, we have hope, a confidence that we know can enter into the presence of God. Do you remember when Jesus gave up His life on the cross, the Bible tells us that the earth shook, and the veil of the temple was torn in to.

​ ESV50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

Verse 20 tells us that what Jesus did for us on the cross, this new and living way opened and gave us access to the throne of God. In this we have confidence, that we can enter into his presence. This new way, this new entrance is one that comes only through Christ. Consider what Jesus told us previously.

​ ESV9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

and then also

​ ESV6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus is the door to the Father, the only true way. We can boldly enter the throne room of God, we can seek His face and intercede for others as well.. Rejoice in it my friends. rejoice in it. Now lets move on to our second thought…

2. Draw Near to God....

In times past it was impossible to draw near to God fully, the old system of sacrifices and worship through the festivals was not enough. We had to have a earthly mediator, a Preist who served in the Temple.

The law placed a heavy burden on the people, a burden that did not produce faith, just works. They left so separated from God. They were lost.

Paul had such a burden for his people. reveals the heart of Paul for his Jewish brothers and sisters.

​ 1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

​ ESV1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

They had a zeal, look at Paul. he said he was blameless under the law, with a zeal so great he even persecuted the Christian church before coming to know Christ in

Their zeal was based on works, not on the true knowledge of the saving power of Jesus Christ. Paul had once lived in this era, the OT should have pointed and revealed to them Jesus of the NT era, but their lack of faith kept them from seeing the truth they were lost...But it is not the same for us who are in Christ We have the true knowledge of Jesus Christ and the work he came to do...let me take you back to verses 21-22

​ ESV21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

The true knowledge is that we have a great high priest, Jesus. He is a high priest after the order of Melchizedek (). He is the one who went once and for all into the temple not made with human hands eternal in the heavens and offered a perfect sacrifice to the Father. Since we know Jesus, we have confidence that we can boldly approach the Throne of Grace.Listen to

​ ESV16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

It is assured to us that we can draw near to God with a heart full of hope.

Then we addressed the next thought of standing firm...

3. Stand Firm...

Standing firm is a Biblical concept my friends. There have been many times in both the Old and New Testaments where one can see the command to “Stand Firm.”

The meaning is very plain.. Don’t waiver, Don’t turn aside, be strong in the Lord in all things.And this is the very implication we find here as we move through this passage my friends...Lets return again to the book of Hebrews chapter 10, verse 23

​ ESV23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

Consider what the author of Hebrews says right off the bat, ...“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering....”

The phrase “let us hold fast” is emphatic in meaning… stick firmly here.

To occupy and refuse to do anything else. It is a very firm command my friends…

Imagine standing right where you are and all around you was death, but you were safe if you stood still, and you hear someone say… Hey, don’t move.... don’t do anything!!!

That is the level of the command. And the matter which we are to hold fast to is our “...confession of hope...”

Our belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, this is our hope. ---------**

He is the way, the truth and the life, No man comes to the father except by Him . **

There is no other name under heaven where by which man can be saved… ...

All we have to do is to stand firm in Jesus.....

How has made all this possible.. God the Father… it is He who has promised… and dear friends, God is faithful… Listen to Paul, as we speaks to the church at Corinth.

​ ESV9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

And then in 2 Thessalonians chapter 3...

​ ESV3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.

And then in also we see God’s promise to Sarah...

​ ESV11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.

Now that is where we have been, so lets move forward and lets consider the last few thoughts The writer here tells us to Encourage one another

4. Encourage One Another......

One distinct joy my friends is the blessing we have of coming together as brothers and sisters in Christ. Young and old, man or woman, boy or girl, it is a joy. I love seeing your faces.

As we come together, we have the absolute joy of being a blessing to each other, to build one another up and yes to encourage each other.

Why or how can we do this… The text we just examined reminds us of that truth..

Lets go back to our text and see what the Lord would hope to say to us today.

Hebrews 10:23–25 ESV

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:

What did we discover? Jesus is the source of our position, our ability to gather and worship, being able to stand in front of God.

So Jesus is the sole reason we can stand firm in our reasoning, in our convictions that our confession is sure and real.

As such, knowing it is all real and certain. Knowing that we have the ability to boldly approach the throne of God. The author says “let us consider how to stir up on another to love and good works.” verse 24.

The phrase “let us consider” speaks to being careful in our thinking… As a member of the family of God, we must step up for each person. I need to do my best to help you and vice vera… listen to voice of the Scriptures in chapter 3, verse 13.

Hebrews 3:13 ESV

13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

The author says

Hebreaa

Powerful...

Exhort means to earnestly support or to encourage another...

Everyday we should seek to encourage one another in the hopes of helping each of us do good works for the glory of God....

the

And listen my brothers and sisters, we should do it faithfully, while we still have today. While we still time, while we still have life and breath.. both will end soon enough.

How can I help you love… I need to consider how I can help you love more.. through teaching, modeling, being a person of love..

And by the same term … good works.

I want you to remember the Bible tells us we have been prepared for this very things...

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

We are here for good works, God set you aside from the foundation of the world, God has set you apart for His glory and the blessing you can do in this world.

Recognize this phrase “Stir up” there in verse 24 has the meaning of “provoke” But not to hatred but to love, to good works. My task is to help you know, believe and be re-assured that God, who is faithful has also called you...

I want you to know, some of you here God has prepared you for missions, for evangelism, for helping others.... As God reveals that to you, it is my job to encourage you, bless you and help you ....

It is your job to encourage and help me as well. it does back and forth.....

My friends, let us encourage one another… for good works but also that we might worship together...

And this brings us to my last taught my friends…

5. Don’t Give Up Your Joy To Worship....

This my friends is the last and the focal point of all the passage is leading up too.

The writer of Hebrews, is reaching out calling people to not give up, especially recognizing they need to gather together to worship.

Look at verses 24-25

Hebrews 10:25 ESV

25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

The commands of verse 24 is carried over into verse 25… we are to encourage and stir one another up (in love) to not give up the joy and necessity of corporate worship.

Some have done this ..... but listen my friends I want you to know it is important for us to come and gather together.

Why?

A. The Command and witness of the Scriptures.... The command is here, we are to not neglect, forsake, abandon the joy, the blessing of coming together as a family.

tells us we are loved because we are the children of God. Listen to the verse

1 John 3:1 ESV

1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

I John 3

Friends, we are the children of God, as children we are to come home, to the Father’s house.

There is joy in coming home.

B. It is witness to the World around us.... Every time a person drives by our church, a witness is given, especially as we gather at service times. says

Matthew 5:14–16 ESV

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:14–15 ESV

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

As we gather, the world takes notice.... just as much as we recognize those who do not gather with us.

C. In this place we gather and remember His sacrifice.

One of the two ordinances of the church is the blessing of the Lord’s Supper, communion.

says....

Luke 22:19 ESV

19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Every time we gather as the body of Christ and we remember the great love and sacrifice of our Lord and Savior. he gave His life as a ransom for sin, that we might be redeemed, forgiven and brought into His kingdom.

Taking the cup and the bread is one of the most loving portions we participate in as brothers and sisters, the children of God.

D. Gathering is important that we might have hear the Word....

The gathering of the body here is important because we have the joy of hearing the Word of God and growing in our discipleship.

The Bible tells us plainly that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, As we continue together corporately rejoicing in our Savior, studying the word and allowing the Holy Spirit to help us grow in our faith, our walk and yes our service to our King.

The early church continued together and devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching.

Acts 2:42 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

I am not an Apostle, but I am here breaking the word of God to you as a under Shepherd whom God has called to minister to you.

we continue, you and I as the body.

Corporate worship is important, please do not give it up, please remain faithful and allow God to be seen first in your life.

So let me ask you a question… If you have not been faithful to his house, confess that to God, ask him to help you.

We (each of us) are important, we are important in this body. I might be a toe, you might be a hand, you a leg, it doesnt matter we are working together and Jesus is the head.

We gather, we bless, we worship and we go out to serve God in this world.

If you say, I havent been doing this… seek His face for help.

Rejoice that you have a home, a family and a Lord who loves you.

5. Dont Give up worshipping Together