Good morning brothers, sisters, young people and friends. We have often heard Hebrews 10:25
used in the introduction to our exhortations.
Hebrews 10:25 states:
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some; but
exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
From time to time some have used this verse to chide one into attending the memorial
services and other events. But a careful examination of the scripture portends a deeper revelation.
And to get at that deeper meaning we must take the chapter as a whole.
If we start reading at the beginning of Chapter 10, we will see that the writer of Hebrews
is comparing the law, sacrifices, and Levitical Priesthood, (which were only a shadow of things
to come) to the teaching of Christ and the Apostles.
Now let’s look at verses 19-25: Here we see the ultimate fulfillment of what the Jews
waited for. To be assembled together in the presence of God, with a true leader, and a renewed
covenant.
“19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20
By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to
say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near
with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil
conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
As you can see by the above scriptures there is an assembling taking place, but it is not to
be located now, here in this building, or in any building for that matter. It is in a totally different
sovereignty. You see brothers and sisters, we are to enter into the Holiest of all, following the
lead of our High Priest, for He is our pattern. He is the door to the Fathers house which is not of a
mortal system of religion.
In verse 25 the scriptures declare an assembling of the people of God. The Greek word for
assembling in this verse is episunagogh (episynagoge) from the verb episunagw (epi-syn-ago)
meaning to assemble or put together. This word has 3 parts.
ago means to lead.
syn means together
and epi means at or to.
synago (from which we get the word synagogue) means to lead or gather together. The
word for assembling (epi-syn-agoge) therefore means a gathering together at.... and bespeaks of
a gathering together at a specific location, in this instance at the right hand of Christ. It is used
only one other time in scripture, 2 Thessolonians. 2:1.
“1Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our
gathering together unto him, 2That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled,
neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at
hand”.
This particular verse is a parallel to Heb. 10:25. They both are in reference to the
Parousia or Presence of the Lord, they both are dealing with the entering into immediate
presence of Christ, and both verses are dealing with the Day of the Lord, which, given the events
around us, we are even now entering into.
We should not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, but let us forsake the
traditions of men that make the word of God of none effect. For we are being called to a Holy
convocation beyond the veil, that is to say His flesh. Yes, there is a spiritual ingathering
happening, but they who are minding the things of the flesh will not see this meeting, nor will
they understand. But to those that do understand, be encouraged. The Lord Jesus Christ walked
and lived 2,000 years ago and is living and walking in this day through a people, the Body of
Christ. Consider it an honor to be made partakers of the suffering of Christ. He is in this day
waiting outside of the camp.
For Hebrews 13 tells us starting at verse 12:
“12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered
without the gate. 13Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his
reproach. 14For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.”
And I John 4;17 tells us:
“17Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment:
because as he is, so are we in this world.”
And as far as those who are still within the walls of the city, those who believe the lies of
organized religion, we are to have a right spirit towards them, even as David did toward Saul.
But hear this my brothers and sisters, Saul’s reign is coming to an end, and David is ready to take
his rightful throne. We can see it happening around us, the reign of flesh is coming to it’s end.

Hebrew 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 you see the day approaching.”
The assembling of the believers is a vital aspect of our existence and experience as the body of
the Living Lord. If we look closely at the nature and quality of our meetings here together, one
might judge that our coming together has taken on the characteristics of a gathering rather than
that of an assembly. Meaning that we are often unprepared, unresolved to worship, and
inattentive ........... disjointed. Has our assembly simply become a gesture? Do we come to
meeting just because it is expected of us? Or because it makes us feel better? The body of Christ
should not be profaned for self-gratification. As we are joined together through a covenant with
Christ, that fact should never be left out of our gathering. Rather it should be the focus of it. We
need to be an assembly not just a gathering.
We must be either building an atmosphere in which God dwells in or a culture that can be
His favorite and frequent resort. If our relationships are not pure or binding, then we are building
a house for destruction. Just as the human body is not carelessly put together, but each part
assembled in it’s correct place to perform its specific task for the overall well-being of the body,
even so must every member of the body of Christ be carefully assembled for the overall health of
the spiritual body. That assembling is the result of the deliberate and conscious effort of every
member of the community. That has to be the mental framework - that each member approaches
the gathering, thinking carefully and decisively about what he or she is supplying to the body.
Only then can we be assembled.
We can no longer live in a state of deceit believing that because we are all gathered in one
place that we are assembled. The word “assemble” means to fit or put together the parts of as in
the building of a machine. It is the fitting together of parts that make a whole. If there is no
affinity, or gravitational pull towards one another, there is no assembling, but a gathering
together. The writer of Hebrews clearly declares in Hebrews 12:22-24,

“22But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly
Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23To the general assembly and
church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to
the spirits of just men made perfect, 24And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and
to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”

We have come to the “general assembly” and meeting of the first born who are registered
in heaven. Thinking of our assembly merely as a gathering is not an accurate or legitimate
interpretation of the scripture. Our mental position at this time must be assembly or being
assembled, fitting together as a whole, fully functional and pleasing to God.
We must continue to declare the intent of the Lord to establish the household that God
has built and validate it through our thoughts and actions. To read the scriptures and declare what
it says without living in the spirit of the word is to be defeated by sin. To assemble means that we
are being built up stone by stone, joint by joint.. Not just some joints but every joint. There must
always be a sense of relationship to each other through covenant. We are joined together through
a covenant with Christ. That factor should never be left out in our assembly.
There cannot exist the issue of some being more committed than others in our assembly.
We must be bonded together in Truth and love. For those who are jointed weakly will be swept
away with the judgment that is coming. The Lord is already in His house reforming all its wrong
positions. Every vessel that does not contain that which is pure will be thoroughly purged
without prejudice or preference. This is the day for rebuilding God’s house, He is even now
gathering the materials and assembling them with great wisdom.
The prophets of old have already declared the blue print and the dimensions of the house.
God has sent in the wise, master builders and the materials are being assembled. There is not a
force on earth or in the heavens that can hamper such a powerful divine declaration to have the
household of God established. To take an inward stance against the word of Hebrews 10:25 by
“living in our paneled houses” while the house of the Lord rests in ruins, is working against the
flow and expression of God’s kingdom on the earth. A position that will be appropriately
rewarded as the revenge of God sweeps across the planet.

To better understand and appreciate the flavor and spirit of Hebrews 10:25, let us use the
following scenarios. A heap of stones is not a house, neither is a load of building materials on a
plot of land. The materials of a building are the main ingredients and parts of the building and
they may give definition to the building. But unless they are put together in manner that has been
carefully thought out and consistent with an architectural design, they amount to very little. The
materials together have the potential of producing a building, but more importantly, is how these
materials relate to each other or are put together, that eventually manifest them into a building.
Many times the saints of God are “gathered together” as a lot of material and “spiritual
stones” but are not assembled, or built together. Peter, in I Peter 2:4-5 says,

“ 4To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God,
and precious, 5Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy
priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”

The stones of that house are not just dumped on the site or put together in any haphazard
fashion, but are skillfully joined and placed together to form a magnificent structure. This is what
the writer of Hebrews had in mind when he wrote about “not forsaking the assembling of
yourselves together.” The trend of thought here is not just a warning against disregarding
attending the meetings on Sundays, or during the week. More importantly it is about not
neglecting the aspect of each member’s contribution in the form of spiritual substance, that
creates the joining to produce an assembled structure. This must first be accompanied by a
mental position that the coming together must be, to be assembled and not just to meet or have a
gathering.

The principle in the Hebrews 10:25 reference, though written to a people to whom the day
of the Lord was an imminent situation, applies strenuously to us today. The format of our
gathering has not changed much from then until now, but the purpose and quality of those
structures sure has. The reason for assembling as living stones is to produce a building based on a
predetermined plan. The process of assembling requires that each piece be joined appropriately
and not carelessly or superficially, with the result of putting the building at risk of being easily
compromised against the slightest resistance. Our coming together must always be for the
purpose of building something, or else we are not coming together for the better but for the
worse.
When we come to the Meeting or anytime we meet together, we are with others who meet
with Christ. When we come to Jesus, we meet the other people who come to Jesus. Of course
this agrees perfectly with what Jesus himself said. His words were: 'Come to me' - not 'Go to the
meeting'. He also said, 'where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the
midst of them.' He is the meeting place.
Let me relate a little parable.
Once I saw a circle with myself and others standing on the circumference. I wanted to get
closer to my brothers and sisters, and so I moved round the circumference in one direction. But
as I got closer to some I got further away from others. When I reversed my direction it was no
better. Again I got closer to some, but further away from others. So I gave up, and stopped trying
to get closer to my brothers and sisters, and instead moved towards the center of the circle, and
others did the same. And what do you think happened? We all got closer to each other. And who
do you think was at the center of the circle? The same one who said, 'Come to me.'

Now brothers and sisters, we cannot get all the strength, comfort, and guidance that we
need from just partaking in the Memorial Service. We need to find the brothers and sisters all
around us and discuss God’s Word, comfort, and encourage one another. Let us not forget, the
Ecclesia in the Bible is not a building, it is God’s "people called out ".
Now I admit that there is no more beautiful sight than a people gathered together to
worship God the Almighty. But many think there are more important things than to attend the
Memorial Service or any other gathering. They think it more important to work or rest. Do they
miss God’s word that tells us in Matthew 6:33 "seek ye first the kingdom of God and his
righteousness; and all these thing shall be added unto you."
There are also those who are disappointed, they see other people as hypocrites. Whatever
reason one may have for not meeting to worship God, I see such people under a heavy load of
burden, and our Lord says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest.” (Matthew 11.28.)
And still others think it's right just to worship God in their own way, in their hearts. But I
cannot imagine why God would send His only begotten son, have him despised and tortured, put
to death on a cross of wood, raise Him on the third day and place Him at his right hand, just to
say...”It’s OK you can do it anyway you want to.”
There are a lot of good benefits in our meeting to worship God. Let's note some of them:

In the worship assembly is where Jesus meets with God’s people.
“Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Matthew 18:20
Our worship is the way of salvation.
“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord.”
II Corinthians 4:5 and
“In Him there is life.”
John 1.4
We find comfort and strength in our worship.
“My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”
Philippians 4:19
In worship we learn the wisest way to live.
“Through thy precepts I get understanding... Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light
unto my path.”
Psalm 119:104-105
In our worship assemblies, we meet those who care for us.
“whether one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.”
1 Corinthians 12:26
In worshipping together we set a good example for our children.
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6
At our meetings to worship God, we give for the support of God's Kingdom.
“Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.”
Proverbs 3:9
In the worship assembly there is time for meditation, prayers and songs.
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, 0
Lord, my strength and my redeemer.”
Psalm 19:44
At the worship assembly, God's word is studied.
“They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine.”
Acts 2:42
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness”
2 Timothy 3:16
In our meeting to worship the Lord, God gives his blessings.
“Blessed are they that dwell in thy house”
Psalms 84:4
But the most important reason that I can think of to attend the Meeting is for what the
individual can offer the whole. Even if you are strong in your faith, stout in your support of the
body, and feel that missing one meeting or gathering will not harm your integrity, remember that
we are not just a gathering but an assembly and those around you need your support. Remember
that this body, this Ecclesia, counts on you for support. And as we are a small structure, the lack
of one supporting beam or even just one tiny nail can shake us to our foundations with the wind.
We must urge each other to stand up for God by not forsaking any gathering to worship Him. It is
in meeting to worship God that the joy and benefits we mentioned above can be found. And
where we can convey to others their own importance in the assembly of this, the “Body of
Christ.”
I think part of the problem here is that we all underestimate our contribution to the whole.
Each of us may think that we are unimportant, or our contributions are minuscule but I contend
that there is not one of us with the help of God who can not support the whole at one time or
another. And we need each other desperately. And we need Jesus and our Father in Heaven.
We need to pray.
"Search me, O God: reveal me to myself. If I am deceived, undeceive me ere it be
eternally too late. Enable me to measure myself faithfully by Thy Word, so that I may discover
whether or no my heart has been renewed, whether I have abandoned every course of self-will
and truly surrendered to Thee; whether I have so repented that I hate all sin, and fervently long to
be free from its power, loathe myself and seek diligently to deny myself; whether my faith is that
which overcomes the world.”