Today’s New Covenant nugget is from Hebrews 10:25 (TPT)
This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing, because we need each other! In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning.
The Contemporary English Version says, “Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord’s coming is getting closer.”
The Holman Christian Standard Bible says, “Let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
The Holy Spirit is saying through this scripture that ‘as the day of the Lord’s coming draws near’, that something is going to happen to cause the body of Christ to get out of the habit of meeting for worship. The Holy Spirit says through the writer of Hebrews, “Do not forsake the gathering together of yourselves!”
I am very concerned about a trend that is developing around the world where believers are no longer meeting ‘in person’ to worship the Lord together in their local churches. In order to ‘stay safe’, or for many other reasons, believers are staying at home by the millions and no longer participating in worship services.
Gathering for worship in local churches is a New Covenant ordinance and It is taught, encouraged and commanded in scripture…
It is as we gather, as we worship together, pray together, fellowship together, sit under the Word together that we receive impartations together, are endowed with power together and participate in the move of the Spirit TOGETHER, that we SERVE one another, lay hands on one another and give each other encouraging words while looking in each other’s eyes. These things CANNOT be done at home watching online.
I know that many are sick, or for some reason are not able to attend ‘in person’ gatherings, and for those people, participating in on-line services is much better than being isolated without access to a live church service, but those who are not attending church out of a ‘choice’ not to, because they are too busy, because it is not convenient, because they like to sleep in on Sundays, because they are offended, or because they do not want to interact with people, or be accountable to people… forsaking the gathering together of yourselves for those reasons is very unscriptural, and if you are one of ‘those believers’, I humbly, lovingly ask you to reconsider.
The Lord has set this time aside to raise up His remnant church, to equip it, to revive it, to radicalize it, to empower it and to shake the world through it, for such a time as this… go to church… gather in person… go in faith… this is not the time to draw back… this is our time to step up and be counted for!
Those of you that are faithfully gathering to worship, please help me pray for God’s people, His pastors and His leaders, help me pray and intercede. Some inevitably and sadly will slip away and conform to a counterfeit type of ‘online, virtual Christianity’ and will forsake the local church as we know it, but others will be raised up and be used mightily! This is our time church… show up, grow up, and then be raised up TOGETHER as a mighty army for God!
Blessings on you, in His amazing love, Nick
