Do Not Give Up Meeting Together | Understanding Hebrews 10:23-25

(Hebrews 10:23-25 – Do Not Give Up Meeting Together)

When God created Adam in the beginning, He realised there was something missing. He said in Genesis 2 the following:

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” (Genesis 2:18)

In those few words we see a principle for God’s Creation. God did not plan for man to exist alone. God made man to be a social creature. He intended that man would be with others, and so He created woman to be a companion for man.

This same principle of man not standing alone permeates much of the Bible. First, God wants man to seek Him and have a relationship with the Creator. But then God wants man to seek others for various purposes. It is this sentiment and design that we see represented here in the words of Hebrews 10:23-25. As the people of God, we must remember the need to meet together. These words today remind us of the principle that we do not give up meeting together.

But to what end? And to what purpose?

Our Hope in God and Jesus Christ

As Christians, we hold to a hope in Jesus Christ and God. We hold fast to the hope of salvation. God has promised to save those who come to Him in and through Jesus Christ.

But hope can fade. Hope can grow weak, especially when it is tested. Hopes can be dashed. Hope left by itself is a fragile thing.

So, how do we prevent these things occurring?

One of the ways is to continue to meet together. When we do not give up meeting together our hope is strengthened.

Meeting together reinforces our hopes so that we stand strong.

This is part of the reason why we need to ensure that we do not give up meeting together. It is to assure and bolster our hopes.

Standing alone is difficult, Who will pick us up when we fall down? Who will help us when we are feeling down and out?

The Bible gives powerful examples of the need to come together and the strength that coming together provides. Recall this teaching:

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, they are warm; but how can one be warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

Where one person alone will struggle, two or more together will be strong. Do not give up meeting together because in togetherness there is strength.

Do not give up meeting together as a Church

When Jesus appeared on the earth, He intended that people should come together.

He taught the first disciples the message of salvation and the Good News of the Gospel. Then He commissioned the early disciples, sending them out to build the church.

Jesus always intended that His followers should come together as a church. They were not intended to stand alone. It is too hard to stand alone, as the verses above showed.

And we see the power of not giving up to meet together as a church in the words here in Hebrews 10:23-25.

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 10:23-25)

Several important reasons why we do not give up meeting together are shown in verse 24.

Collectively, we can stir one another up to love and good works. It is by showing love to our brethren that we show the love of God in us. It is also by acts of compassion, kindness, and love towards the members of the church that we grow in love.

Love is not something that we can do or show alone. Yes, we are to love ourselves. But the expression of God’s love in us is to love one another as God has loved us.

Our ability to love is expressed best as a church. This is why we do not give up to meet together. Together we grow strong in love and good works, and so prove we are followers of Christ and children of God.

Make it a habit to meet together

It is easy to fall out of the habit of meeting together.

There are too many Christians today that have left the church. And while it is understandable because there are faults in the ministry of much of the broad church, it is hard to stand alone.

Meeting together is important. In verse 25 we see another important reason why we do not give up meeting together.

The reasons we meet together is to learn, share, and grow in Christ. In this verse we see that a big part of meeting together is to encourage one another.

Again, those who stand alone struggle when there is no-one with them to encourage them. Encouragement is the fuel of success as a Christian. We all need encouragement from time to time. It helps lift us up when we are down, or to do the ministry that God has planned for us.

Without encouragement it is easy to just give up. We may wander aimlessly without encouragement. But when we are encouraged, we stick to the task and focus on what we are doing as we walk in Christ.

When we come together as a church there is the opportunity to encourage and be encouraged. This is important because the evil of this world can bring us down.

It is through strength of our brethren in the church that we can overcome and defeat the things that would discourage us.

So, do not give up meeting together because it has great power and offers powerful support as we walk in Christ. And especially in these last days before He returns, because the world is growing more evil and we need the strength, encouragement, love, joy, and support of the church to get us through.

Meeting together as a Church is what the Lord meant for His people to do. And together we will grow to become the Bride of Christ to be with Him forever.

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