Nov 11 Ezekiel 20:45-49, Ezekiel 21, Ezekiel 22:1-22 Hebrews 10:19-39 Psalm 123:1-4

Heb 10:23-25

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 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.

In this chapter we are reassured about the power of the blood of Jesus. Because of the blood of Jesus, we can enter into the holy place – there is no longer an offering for sin because now there is forgiveness. 

If we are assured that this is true (which it is) then we can hold fast to our faith without wavering. We can trust in this truth, it’s more solid than the ground you walk upon. 

He is faithful. We’ve been set free from sin so we can live a life of good works. 

Stir one another up. Encourage one another to live a good life in obedience to the one who gave Himself for us. 

How can we stir one another up? We need to meet together. We need to be around each other as church. Right since this letter was written there were those who did not see the importance of gathering together as a church, the neglected this meeting. 

The writer of Hebrews is encouraging us to keep this meeting together as important. 

Church, or “the gathering” is for Christians to come together and stir one another up, through fellowship, preaching and worship. We gather so we can grow, so we can do good works. That’s the function of the gathering. It’s all very well to look to be “seeker friendly” but the main purpose of the gathering is to spur us up to reach people outside the gathering. 

The good works we encourage each other in is the work of the kingdom and the spreading of the gospel. It happens outside the gathering. 

It’s not an either or situation. We gather so we can go. Don’t neglect either.