DO NOT FORSAKE THE ASSEMBLING TOGETHER OF THE BRETHREN
DO NOT FORSAKE THE ASSEMBLING TOGETHER OF THE BRETHREN
(fellowship is important)
By Evangeline Unity Esaaba Folson
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Fellowship is defined in the dictionary as friendly association, especially with people who share one’s interest. Christian fellowship is the coming together of believers or Christians to worship God and encourage one another with hymns, songs and testimonies. (this is mine definition)
A man of God explains Christian fellowship with this illustration
It is like a burning fire of coals. Each lighted coal helps the other ones with little or no fire to burn brightly. If you remove one coal from the fire and put it far off from the fire, the lighted coal loses its fire.
In the same way, when we meet together in church as Christians, your fire and mine fire will make a bigger fire. If you stay away from church for a long time you can easily lose your faith and become an easy target for the evil one.
Like the passage from Ecclesiastes 4 says two are better than one for they have a good reward for their labor. When one falls, the other helps to lift him up. Fellowship is very important as explained above. What can we do to stay in fellowship with other brethren?
We must
Provoke one another to love and good works
Hebrews 10:24
Psalm 23:6
Do not neglect the assembling of the brethren
Hebrews 10:25
Psalm 1:1
Call on the lord or pray
Jeremiah 33:3
Ephesians 6:18
Provoke one another to love and good works
Psalm 23:6
Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the lord forever.
There is one important issue I want to emphasize on this verse. The goodness and mercy of the Lord will follow us, when we dwell in the house of the Lord.
Dwelling in the house of the lord means worshiping together with other believers and serving in the house of God
Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works;
In this verse, the emphasis is on being our” brother’s keeper” if you observe a friend is absent from church, cheek on him or her. Is there any problem you could help solve so your friend can return to church?
For instance, if your friend is having problems with finding money for transport, you could help by giving him or her some money or offering to pick him/her to church. By doing this you are provoking one another to love and good works.
Do not neglect the assembling of the brethren
Psalm 1:1
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor sitteth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of scorn.
The verse above is trying to admonish Christians to spend more time with believers in church, Christians programs, household of faith meeting (cell meetings where church is divided into smaller groups). it is important to stay away from gatherings and meetings that will draw you away from your faith in God.
Hebrews 10:25
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.
If you stay away from church frequently, you will loose your fire or gradually move away from the faith. These days people prefer to have online services but once in a while go to church and spend time with your Christian friends.
Call on the Lord or pray
Jeremiah 33:3
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Ephesians 6:18
Praying always with all prayer and supplications in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
There is nothing we can do successfully without prayer. John 15:5
Says “———– for without me ye can do nothing”
We need to pray at all times for ourselves and also for all saints that we keep the faith.
References
