This is our word for “stimulate” in Hebrews 10:24. We are to “stimulate” one another. The sense of the word means “to stir to anger, to incite, and to irritate.” The meaning is not that we should make someone angry. That would not result in love and good deeds. We are to strongly, aggressively seek ways to motivate others to love and good deeds. This is not a passive word. It implies strong action.     We cannot do this being absent from church. Our absence effects ourselves and others. So the Holy Spirit calls us to attend church. Apparently, some of these folks were not regularly attending church. Some pastors have used this passage to teach that we should be at church “every time the church doors are open.” That is not the message of the passage. The Hebrews were not spiritually growing. They did know their Bibles. They were in the habit of not attending. They were not just missing church one Sunday a month, or every Wednesday night. They were missing almost all of the meetings. They were habitually not attending. There was reason to doubt that they were real Christians. Christians with a sincere heart, whose sins have been washed away, hold on to their hope and minister to others and not themselves!     Conclusion. How can we strongly, aggressively encourage others to love and good deeds? Here are some biblical ways to do this. First share your money with other (1 Tim. 6:17-19). Second, use your spiritual gift because the Holy Spirit gave us spiritual gifts for that purpose (1 Cor. 12:4-30). Next we should minister to the orphans, widows, strangers and prisoners (Heb. 13:2-3; James 1:27). Finally, we should practice church discipline of members and leaders (Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Tim. 5:19-20). The goal of church discipline is restoration to holiness and not punishment.     God calls us to draw near if we really believe. Then we are to hold on because there is real hope in Jesus. Finally, by ministering to others it benefits them and ourselves. Did you notice the Holy Spirit did not call us to attend church so that we could be encouraged? He calls to attend church so that we can encourage others. Then we are encouraged too! He does not ask us to be passive. He calls us to minister to others.           < Back
	Home | Logo | Search For God | Weekly Study | Q & A | Other Studies Copyright © Like The Master Ministries. All Rights Reserved. Book of Hebrews