Let’s Get Together
12/06/2012
“Let
us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is
faithful that promised; And let us consider one another to provoke unto
love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so
much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:23-25. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together”.
This part of verse 25 above is one that is continually used to convince
the sheep to remain in their seats. One major flaw with this verse is
that it doesn’t say exactly what the leaders of the “churches” want us
to think it says.
The
writer of the book of Hebrews is admonishing the “in Christ” faithful
to hold fast to that faith without wavering. Why? At the end of verse 25
above he states “as you see the day approaching.” The Greek word for see is “blepō”
which actually means to discern, as in discern the times. A day was
approaching when life as a Christian was going to become very difficult
and the writer of the book of Hebrews knew it. When we take those three
verses above and read them in context (together) as one thought, we are
confronted with something quite different than that which we’ve been
taught. In the not so distant future the true follower of Jesus Christ
will be confronted with some very tough decisions. We will need to hold
fast to the faith (without wavering - unmoved) by what we see
approaching, as that faith will be our only refuge. There will come a
time, in the not so distant future, when the true followers of Jesus
Christ will find themselves being horribly persecuted, and much of that
persecution will come from denominational and nondenominational
assemblies of the last days professing Christians.
Perhaps
there’s more to Pauls admonition to not forsake the gathering of
ourselves together than what many understand. The Greek word “episynagōgē”
means to gather or assemble together. So far so good. Interestingly,
there is no mention in that verse above of how many of the faithful it
takes to make up such an assembly or gathering, not to mention where the
faithful are to gather. But there is a verse in the book of Matthew
where our Lord Himself explained to the faithful just how many
constitute an assembly of His followers.
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20. Jesus says where two or three are gathered in His name there He is also. Our Lord uses the same word (episynagōgē)
as does the writer of the book of Hebrews in chapter10 above.
Obviously, God considers two or three a significant representation of an
assembly or gathering – a congregation. Of course it can be many more
than just two or three but there’s no prerequisite that there must be
dozens or hundreds to make up such a gathering. Are you still with me?
Just
as significant is this point, the followers of Jesus Christ are never
specifically told to gather together only one day a week. Luke, the
writer of the book of Acts, tells us how the early Christians met and
how often. “And
they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking
bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and
singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the Ekklesia daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:46-47.
First of all, these early Christians assembled together in what the
Bible refers to as the Temple, but where they met was in the courtyard
of the Temple not inside a building associated with Temple worship. How
do I know this? Think about it. The Pharisees and Sadducees would never
have allowed an assembly of Christians, whose leader they had just
murdered, to hold worship services inside of their sacred Jewish Temple.
Therefore the gathering “episynagōgē”
had to have been alfresco (out in the open but in a courtyard). As Luke
continues explaining the meetings of the early Christians he says they
went house to house, breaking bread, sharing meals. This means they were
a daily part of each other’s lives. The gathering of the saints
occurred every day, and with gladness and singleness of heart. They were
praising God, fellowshipping, loving one another. This is exactly what
Jesus taught His disciples, that they were to love one another, which is
what they did.
According
to Luke’s account of those early Christians they were very active in
one another’s lives. They worshipped and praised God openly every day.
There was an intimacy. In the last days “churches”, where we find
ourselves today, that intimacy has all but vanished. Those early
Christians saw that their purpose was to love one another and to share
their belongings, food/clothing, etc. with one another, exhorting one
another to good works. To the early Christians, this was a “lifestyle”
and they cherished it. They were also to spread the Gospel of Christ as
they met new people, and they did. This was obvious by Luke’s following
statement “And the Lord added to the “ekklesia” daily such as should be saved” Acts 2:47. Every day God added to His “ekklesia”.
But unlike many of the believers of today, their faith in Christ was
the most important part of their lives. Nothing was going to disrupt
their daily fellowship, nothing that is except persecution. What
disrupts your fellowship today? I can think of many disruptions that
lead the saints to distraction, and many of those distractions occur
within the walls of Christian sanctuaries. Persecution will soon be the
order of the day for those who faithfully follow Christ.
“But
speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which
is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together
and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the
effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the
body unto the edifying of itself in love. This I say therefore, and
testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk,
in the vanity of their mind,” Ephesians 4:15-17.
Speaking the truth in love? The body fitly joined together? That every
joint supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of
every part? And this body making increase unto the edifying of itself in
love? Be honest with yourself now, do you see this occurring in your
congregation? Or is this concept about 1,900 years removed from the
congregations of today? Surely, we can see most professing Christians
still walk as the Gentiles in the vanity of their mind – another good
indication that mankind is standing on the precipice of the final days
before Christ’s return.
“That there should be no schism (division) in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” 1 Corinthians 12:25.
God had a purpose when He called out His “Ekklesia”, but over the
years, through some bad English translations and misinterpretations,
God’s purpose has become lost or at the very least diluted – in most
cases purposely. We are to be set apart from the world but not from each
other. The unity of purpose that God initiated has grown into a vast
array of divisions, which is completely contrary to God’s written word.
Every building that houses a congregation has a different name on the
outside, but in most cases the Name above all names is conspicuous by
its absence. Divisions are killing the body of Christ. Why does Paul
make the following statement: “…there should be no schism (division) in the body”? Because division in the body of Christ is of Satan. It should be obvious that Satan has infiltrated the Ekklesia
and that he has been very successful at corrupting the body of Christ,
otherwise there would be no division. Not only has division been
instituted successfully but diversion away from the inerrant truth of
God’s word has and is occurring without hindrance.
“Howbeit
the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the
prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will
ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?” Acts 7:48-49.
God does not dwell in “Churches” or any other building; the focus of
God’s congregations is not to be on material temples but on the temple
that houses God’s Holy Spirit. We are to be looking after one another
with loving kindness and we can do that much more effectively and
efficaciously if we are two, three, or even six or eight as we assemble
in our homes in the manner of the early Christians. How many of the
people in your congregation are you personally in close loving sharing
contact with on a daily basis as was God’s first century “ekklēsia”? As that day approaches you’re going to want that intimacy to have already been established.
Ever
wonder why the enemy has had such a field day infiltrating the
“churches?” They were never meant to be set up under the auspices of the
doctrines of men. Doctrines of men are not God’s doctrines. That
departure of the emphasis on the temple that houses the Holy Spirit has
permitted the enemy to come in our midst and pick us off one
congregation at a time. The reason is the unity of this “church age” is
so incredibly fragmented that the “Ekklesia” today has become powerless, even ignorant, when it comes to false teachings infiltrating the congregations of the saints.
In the scriptures we’re told that we are one body joined together, we
are one in Christ. Jesus was and is the foundation of His Ekklesia. He
is the Head of the body of saints. He is the Husband to His bride. The
early believers had no hierarchy such as a clergy lording over them. Yes
there were Elders, Bishops, and Deacons but these were ministers,
servants of the Ekklesia, able men of good report who were capable of
teaching others, not as lords seeking fame, fortune, and their own
self-importance.
The
early believers met in their homes, and they functioned like the cells
in a body and as members of a close knit family. As the time of the end
becomes more and more evident, we need to get back to that closeness the
early Christians embraced. Food for thought.
God bless you all,
Ron Graham
www.straitandnarrowministry.com
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