BENEFITING FROM FELLOWSHIPPING WITH BELIEVERS
The biblical Word of God’s tells followers of Jesus Christ: “Let us not neglect meeting together” (Hebrews 10:25). For God would have his people to receive important benefits of meeting together.
THE WORD OF GOD REVEALS THAT BELIEVERS BENEFIT IN IMPORTANT WAYS FROM MEETING TO TOGETHER.
The Word tells believers not to give up “meeting together,(A) as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another(B)—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).
The Bible shows that some believers in Christ considered it important to meet together. And it tells why God’s people today should consider it “all the more” important to meet together.
The Word says: “There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people…
12In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:1-13 NIV).
SOME PEOPLE OF THE EARLY CHURCH ARE EXAMPLES OF MEETING TOGETHER TO ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER.
Jesus and his disciples encouraged one another in their meeting together. Even though Jesus was their Lord, he manifested a need for encouragement by meeting together with them, especially when he was troubled with facing death on the cross for the salvation of the world. He told his disciples at the last meal they ate together: “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:15). And just before being arrested to be crucified: “He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed” (Luke 22:37-39).
After Jesus was crucified, resurrected and ascended in to heaven, the disciples continued to meet together: “When the day of Pentecost was fully come, and [the disciples] were all with one accord in one place,” they were filled with the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised them (Acts 2:1).
And being filled with the Spirit: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching(A) and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread(B) and to prayer.(C) 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.(D) 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.(E) 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.(F) 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.(G) They broke bread(H) in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.(I) And the Lord added to their number(J) daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42-47).
BELIEVERS TODAY MAY BENEFIT AND BE ENCOURAGED IN VITAL WAYS WHEN THEY MEET TOGETHER IN FELLOWSHIP.
Jesus said: “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). The Lord said, Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice” (Psalm 50:5). Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words [spoken by God]” (Deuteronomy 31:12-13; Matthew 4:4).
And, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16)–“Comfort yourselves together, and edify one another” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
“Bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). Be mindful to “encourage one another daily,(A) as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness “ (Hebrews 3:13).
In meeting and fellowshipping together, we may more effectively use the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given each believer “for the common good” of all (1 Corinthians 12:7).
