Eld Lee Kong Sing

The Blessings of Christian Fellowship

“24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 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 10:24, 25

Introduction

Christian fellowship when practiced according to Scripture can bring about many spiritual blessings to God’s children. Such blessings are unique and cannot be replaced through other means. Although God has intended Christian fellowship to help the believer, sadly, many experience the blessings of Christian fellowship more as an exception rather than the rule.

The doctrine of Christian fellowship is a vast topic that cannot be covered merely by one passage of Scripture. However, our passage for consideration nonetheless contains precious truths that enable us to understand how Christian fellowship can be practiced in a manner that brings about much blessing to believers.

Context

The primary audience of the book of Hebrews were the Christian Jews of the early church. Many of the converts suffered intense persecution from fellow unbelieving Jews when they converted to Christianity. They became ostracized and rejected by friends and communities. Many lost their property and livelihoods, and some were even in danger of losing their lives. Beyond physical pain and suffering, the faith of many was also constantly attacked. The unbelieving Jews cast doubt on whether Jesus of Nazareth whom they have believed in was truly the promised Messiah. The Christian Jews were severely tried from all quarters and in time to come another new attack would be added and this time by the Romans who will begin their scourge of all Christians in the Roman empire after Nero burned Rome and blamed it on the Christians. Many struggled with their faith and some might have even considered compromising or forsaking Christianity altogether.

With this backdrop, the author of the epistle of Hebrews set out to strengthen the faith of the Jews in Christ by establishing the fact that Christ was truly the promised Messiah of old. This forms the dominant theme of the epistle where the first ten of a total of thirteen chapters teach Christ as superior to the angels, Moses and the Aaronic priesthood. This teaching placed the Old Testament into its proper context in relation to Christ and in the process, the Christian Jew would be able to see the perfect unity of God’s sovereign plan of salvation that ultimately pointed to Christ. This knowledge would have given them the assurance and the strengthening of their faith in Jesus as the Messiah. Their faith was not a mistake. They have truly believed in the one true Messiah that was promised of by God in OT times.

With this knowledge, the author of the epistle spends the remaining chapters encouraging the Jews to persevere in faith, righteousness and holiness. We find the great chapter of faith in Hebrews 11. We find the uplifting call in Hebrews 12:1 to run the race with patience and perseverance looking to Jesus as the Author and Finisher of their faith and many other precious passages that believers today hold dear to. The epistle of Hebrews continues to be a great blessing to believers today as it must have been in the time of the early church.

Our passage of Scripture for consideration comes at the end of a series of three “Let Us” found in Hebrews 10:22-24.

1. Let us draw near to God in faith and with confidence. (v22).
2. Let us hold fast to the profession of their faith and not fail the Lord under the pressure of persecution. (v23)
3. Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works. (v24, 25).

These three exhortations come after having established the superiority of Christ as the promised Messiah. The intention is that if Christ is the Messiah, they were therefore to do these things. One can sense the weight of these three statements. It is written with the purpose of strengthening and lifting up the Christian Jews who were enduring great persecution and suffering. These were very important commandments.

Understanding Hebrews 10:24, 25

The author instructed the Christian Jews not to forsake Christian fellowship knowing how necessary it was for their faith.

“let us consider one another”. The phrase “let us consider” is one word in the original and has the idea of observing fully, to perceive, to discover. The phrase “one another” is also one word in the original which means mutually among Christians. It is important to note that the author could have started the statement by simply saying “we are to provoke one another..”, however, he did not do so and instead insert this phrase prior which in the process places emphasis on the action as something that needed to be done prior to the next action. What it means is that the Jews were not to simply act on the required action, nor were they to simply proceed with little or no thought. Instead they were required to first take a moment, take a step back and to give thought before acting. The subject for consideration would be other believers.

“to provoke”. The word “provoke” means to incite, to stir up, to cause someone to respond. The same word is only found in one other place in the NT; Acts 15:39 in which it is used twice and translated as “contention” and “sharp” describing the intense disagreement between Paul and Barnabas regarding Mark. The idea of the word is far from passive. To provoke is something done consciously, actively, deliberately with thought and premeditation. When used in the context of provoking one into anger it means to deliberately and consciously cause one to become angry. However, the application in Hebrews 10:24 is very different. Instead of provoking one to anger, one is to provoke other believers to something very different; “unto love and to good works”.

“unto love and to good works”. “Love” here is “agape”. It is expressed towards God and man. To love God and to love both friends and enemies. “Good works” are works that are constitutionally, intrinsically good.

Hence the complete phrase “let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” would have meant that the Jews were to take the time, effort and thought to consider the condition and needs of their fellow believers and to think or even device ways to provoke, cause or encourage another person to exercise love and good works.

The act was meant to be done mutually and continuously. The Christian Jew sets out to give to another in need without expectation of receiving anything in return. He was to persevere in continuing to stir other believers around him to love God and to do good deeds. For example; when a Christian sees another believer weeping due to the loss of his father who was martyred for the faith and was the sole provider of the family, he was to help in any practical way possible. He was to visit, provide food and material needs to the family and in so doing, he will stir the family to love God and themselves to do good works for others. The love of the larger Christian family is now experienced by that family. The giver himself may one day be in need himself and others were to see how they too can minister to him. In So doing, there is mutual care and love for one another.

“not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together”. To escape persecution, many Christian Jews would have left their homes, indeed many would have lost their homes. They were scattered about, some may even have been in hiding. Hence the call to assemble together was not something that could be obeyed easily nor lightly. Coming together would have put their lives at risk. Yet, the author says not to forsake doing so, even if it would have meant getting caught in the process. The reason is simple; coming together was crucial for their spiritual well-being. They cannot afford to neglect doing so. They gathered for worship and prayer. They gathered to study the Word together. They gathered to hold each other’s hands to comfort and support one another in the faith. When others were down they helped to lift them up. These were precious moments in times of need where the faith of fellow believers were strengthened.

“as the manner of some is”. Indeed, some have forsaken assembling together. They have failed to keep this commandment. Perhaps the fear of getting caught was too great and the faith to trust in God lacking. Or perhaps, there were some who continued to live their lives unto themselves with little thought for others in need. What was referred to here was not a the forsaking of meetings such as worship services. Rather, it referred to the habitual dereliction of the Christian duty to provoke others unto love and good works where staying away from Christian fellowship so much so that it had become a way of life. Their lives did not impact or encourage others simply because they did not share their lives with others. There can be many reasons that have prevented them from doing so, however, suffice to say that they have allowed these reasons to prevent them from obeying God’s Word. It has become a sin.

“but exhorting one another”. “Exhorting” has the idea of drawing near to. Here it means to draw close to someone who may be hurting or in need of aid, to help, comfort or encourage that person. Something done in the spirt of love, care and concern. It effectively means to interfere in a good way in the lives of fellow believers. One shares in both the tears and joy. One weeps with those who weep and rejoices with those who rejoice. Like two pieces of coal that come in contact with one other, causing each other to burn brighter in all things spiritual.

“and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” This refers to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. It signals the end of opportunity for the Jews to serve Christ while on earth and it also means apostasy and the difficulties that accompany the end times would become greater for believers. Hence, the more the Jews needed to come together to support one another in the things of the Lord. There is a sense of urgency. He knows that his time of service on earth will soon be over. Once the Lord returns the day of salvation is over and the day of judgement begins!

 Application

We today may live in very different times and circumstances from those of the Christian Jews of the early church. However, we would be mistaken to think that the spiritual challenges faced by us today are any different or perhaps even easier in comparison. Spurgeon wrote; “It is a dangerous thing to be prosperous. The crucible of adversity is a less severe trial to the Christian than the refining pot of prosperity… Rest assured it is harder to know how to be full than it is to know how to be hungry.” The command found in our passage of consideration was easier to fulfil in the days of old then it is today. The Jews knew how important and needful it was to come together and to help one another and be helped because fear and suffering were their constant companions. We today live in such physical comfort and luxury that we become blinded to notice the emptiness of our spiritual barns and our need of others. The world offers so many other ways to fill the spiritual gap and although it does so inadequately, we are contented to let things remain. Laziness and worldliness for us today have become much harder to overcome than for the Christian Jews to bear persecution.

Trials and suffering among believers often make us less selfish and self-centred. Great trials in the midst of brethren draw believers closer together. A gathering of believers become stronger in their charity for one another in the process. It is true that trials from the Lord are a gift. While there are difficult times, there are also many blessings that come out of it.

The essence of reaping the blessings of Christian fellowship lies in the selfless exercise of charity towards one another and in provoking one another to grow in spiritual things.

When I meet another believer, my first thought should be how I can help him, how I can give to him, how I can serve the Lord by helping him to be more Christ like. I will take the effort to consider his needs. I will understand what are his trials and difficulties. I will see how I can encourage him. I should be void of any thought of what I can gain from the other person. My motives are not selfish instead they are always about what I can do for another. Fellowship is not waiting to be served, it is to be the one serving, expecting nothing in return. Yes, sometimes, it is not easy to give, perhaps because the person is hard to love or for some reason, one feels vulnerable when he gives. Yet that is the point of true charity, it is to give selflessly which includes being ready to gain nothing and even willing to suffer personal pain and loss in doing so.

Coming together and being ready to help another person is a good starting point. However, it is also very important that the content of the fellowship must be correct. For the Christian Jews, the content of the fellowship was love and good works. It applies to us similarly today. When we come together, we too must mutually provoke one other unto love and good works. The content of our gathering should work towards causing one another to love God and others more which should lead on to how we can help one another to grow in the faith. This understanding should then shape our conversations and the nature of activities when we come together. Coming together should result in you and me helping one another to look to Christ more and more. Coming together should not be dominated by carnality and worldliness. Activities and conversations should not revolve only around sports, entertainment, travel food or the best time to sell or buy a car just to name a few. Instead of being pointed more to Christ, one is pointed toward the world. Instead of being encouraged in the things of the Lord, one is encouraged to be more and more worldly in thought and action. This is not Christian fellowship but carnal fellowship.

Coming together should result in spiritual edification. We should go away from a fellowship gathering feeling spiritually refreshed with thanksgiving in our hearts. We should feel blessed and we should look forward to the next time that we will meet again. Every thought of the fellowship warms the heart. Fellowshipping once awkward and uncomfortable, now becomes an indispensable part of a believer’s life. Coming together should cause me to love Christ more and more. It should cause me to want to be a better servant of God. It should cause me to want to live a holy life. It should want me to be more and more like my Saviour.

Conclusion

Christian fellowship is never meant to be a burden. It is meant to be a very important part of a believer’s life for our blessing. Where there is true Christian fellowship, believers are always blessed. When brethren come together and put into practice godly fellowship, it can truly be like heaven on earth.

May God help us all to learn to fellowship correctly and to enjoy the blessings that come from it.