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Do Not Forsake the Assembling Together” Meaning 

In this passage, the Greek word used for assembling is “episunagoge,” which suggests an official meeting. This could include worship, praying, reading, teaching, hearing, and studying the Word.  

The spiritual reality and need of “do not forsake the assembling together” is more than an official meeting. It’s a call to be empowered by God and do life together. As the Body of Christ, we are to be living proof of a loving God. Hebrews 10:24 says, “… consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,” and verse 25 mentions “exhorting one another” (emphasis added). 

• Stirring Up Love: The word for “stirring up” means to incite or provoke in the best sense. To incite or provoke others in love does not mean loving just happens. Instead, we are to intentionally love, loving those who aren’t always lovable. We are to encourage them to grow in their faith journey and “work out your own salvation” as Philippians 2:12-13 says, encouraging them to water the gift of salvation from within to fruition.  
• Exhorting One Another: Exhorting means to strongly encourage. In Hebrews 3, the writer writes, “exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13). Again, we can see how assembling is God’s instruction for divine protection. When we isolate and do not strongly encourage each other in our faith journey, our hearts are at risk of hardening.  

In short, the writer of Hebrews is informing the Church “do not forsake the assembling together” so they are empowered to BE THE CHURCH.  

Forsaking fellowship gives place to discouragement, doubt, and depression, which multiply in isolation. Without fellowship, there is no stirring up love or exhorting one another.    

• “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”—Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 

Abundant life