How to Stir Up One Another (Hebrews 10:24)

Children's Lesson (click here)

I. “Should You Choose to Accept It”

A popular movie series right now, one based on a popular TV show from many decades ago, repeatedly uses this key phrase: “your mission, should you choose to accept it”. Now think with me: is that a phrase we can apply to Christians; to every follower of Jesus? Has God given you, personally, a mission... and... do you have a choice in terms of accepting that mission? I think the answer to both of those questions, in light of Scripture, is “yes”. God has given every disciple of Jesus a mission, and, we can either accept or reject that mission. Now, that's not to say this mission is somehow optional. If we choose to reject that mission, the Bible warns us about what such a rejection indicates in terms of the condition of our hearts. But when our hearts are full of Christ, we gladly accept that mission, since that mission was and is his mission.

 II. The Passage: “How to Stir Up One Another” (10:19-25)

Turn with me to Hebrews 10, one of the passages from Our Bible Reading Plan. Think with me about that mission as we look together at verses 19-25. Actually...

A. Two Dishes for Our One Mission (v. 24)

Let's begin by look at just verse 24. This is how the author encourages his readers...

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works...

Right away two items from this verse should jump out at us: “love” and “good works”. When it comes to the mission of God, these are two of the most critical components, right. The term “love” should remind us of the Great Commandments Jesus talked about; and especially in this context, the second of those commands, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”. The phrase “good works” in 10:24 should remind us of a critical way in which we demonstrate our love for those around us. Along with an obedient life (love for God, the first command), these “good works” (love for neighbor) are a primary way in which God uses your life to provoke questions, generate conversations, and open doors for the sake of the gospel. Thus, we need to be prepared to speak about our faith when God gives us these love-inspired opportunities.

So very clearly, if you are a follower of Jesus, these two dishes should be on the menu of your life, every day. And just as you would find in any kitchen, part of the way God prepares these dishes in you is by, wonderfully, using other Christians to “stir” you up.

B. Three Ingredients for Our Two Dishes (vs. 19-23, 25)

But to better understand this concept of being stirred up, I want us to see how the context of verse 24 actually reveals three ingredients that God wants to use as He prepares these two dishes in your life. So here's what we discover...

Ingredient #1: Your Advocate. Look with me at verses 19-21: “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, [20] by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, [21] and since we have a great priest over the house of God...”

For two chapters the writer of Hebrews has been explaining how Jesus has fulfilled all the ritual and symbolism of the OT Temple. It was the blood of the Lamb of God that accomplished perfect atonement. Just as Jesus' flesh was torn on the cross, so too, through His death, the veil of the Temple was torn, a picture of the access we know have into the holy places of God's presence.

And as verse 21 confirms, amazingly, Jesus was both sacrifice and priest. But he is not like any earthly priest. Starting way back at the end of chapter 4, the author has spent seven chapters describing how Jesus is the perfect and final priest. He is your heavenly Advocate. Is it reassuring, it is confidence-inspiring to you, to know you have a perfect priest, an incomparable intercessor, a mighty mediator who is always standing for you in the presence of God?

But wait. How does that reality affect the “love” and “good works” to which we are called? Well, that's where the next ingredient comes in. In reminded in verses 22 and 23 of...

Ingredient #2: Your Assurance. Listen to how the writer continues in vs. 22-23: “[since we have this perfect priest] ...let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. [23] Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

The writer has already mentioned the word “confidence” in verse 19. But in these verses he really expands on the idea of how Jesus and His work as your perfect priest, how that reality should affect us deeply. What exactly should grow inside us, in the soil of Christ's work and God's faithfulness? Verse 22: “Full assurance of faith”. And that assurance should lead us to “draw near” to God in prayer and to “holding fast” with perseverance in the face of challenges.

Verse 22 also reveals that the priestly work of Jesus cleanses us from an evil conscience as well; that is, a conscience that is twisted and insensitive to what is truly right and wrong.

So think for a minute about all this in light of the “love” and “good works” to which we are called. The privilege of prayer that is now ours, the perseverance that is now possible, the inner purity you can experience because of Christ, those are all crucial elements when it comes to loving and serving those around us. Are you praying boldly for those in your circle? Are you standing firm in the face of indifference or opposition? Are you allowing God to fill your cleansed heart with genuine compassion for those around you?

But our Advocate and our assurance are also important in light of the last ingredient.

Ingredient #3: Your Assembly. Let's look at verses 24 and 25 together. This is what we read...

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, [25] not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

When you think about the mission of God being carried out through you, in the circle of people God has placed in our life, it's very easy to feel overwhelmed; it's easy to feel like you are going alone into that harvest field. But you aren't. First of all, as we've already seen, you go with a priest on your side, that “great high priest” who is “over the house of God”. But as we see here, God also wants to use each of us in one another's lives as we carry out the mission of God. Look at how ingredient #3 itself includes three related, but distinct elements: First, we are called to “consider how to stir up one another”. This word “stir up” is an interesting word in the original language, a word translated many different ways: provoke, motivate, spur on, stimulate, excite.

But notice that the writer doesn't simply say, 'let us stir up one another'. The command or instruction here begins with another verb. The actual command here is to “consider”, that is, to think very carefully, to take time to contemplate how we can motivate or spur one another on in regard to “love and good works”. Think for a minute. How often have you done this? Consider how and how often you've considered this extremely important way for us to love one another. And if we have not done this very often, why not? I pray we will, more and more.

Second, in a related idea, we see at the end of verse 25 that God wants us to “encourage one another”. As we stir each other up to action in light of our Advocate and our assurance, we also need to encourage one another to “hold fast without wavering,” esp. when the work gets hard, when the days get long, when a harvest seems hopeless.

But third, none of this happens if (v. 25) we are “neglecting to meet together”. If we have not done so already, we need to make room in our lives for our brothers and sisters. Now, this is the verse we are quick to quote when people have a poor attendance record on Sunday mornings. And while I do think the verse does speak to that issue, even the most faithful attender is also missing the point if he or she is not being stirred up for action and encouraged by their interactions with God's people, whether on Sunday or any other day of the week.

III. What Should Change?

So... as we pull back and consider what God is showing us here, let me leave you with three ideas or principles I hope we will prayerfully adopt in terms of our convictions about and our commitments to the family of God. Here they are...

Number one, let's fellowship as those mindful of the mission. The word “fellowship” comes from the Greek word koinania, which is a word better translated as and often is translated as “partnership”. In light of that, I think as we consider “fellowship”, we need to reclaim that sense of laboring together toward a common goal. If we were all soldiers in a platoon on the eve of a great battle, we would be mindful of how our fellow soldiers need to be encouraged and spurred on, right? This is what the writer of Hebrews has in mind in v. 24.

Number two, let's hear as those eager to be equipped. Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that... “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” As you read and study on your own, as you talk together in a life group or core group, as you sit here on Sundays and hear the word of God, you should be asking yourself these missional questions: “How will what I'm learning help me to love God with my all? How will what I'm learning help me to love my neighbor as myself? How will what I'm learning help me to carry out the mission of God in my circle?” Believer, believe that through His word, God wants to train you for righteousness. Through His word, God wants to equip you for “every good work”.

Number three, let's celebrate as those hungry for the harvest. Think about the things you celebrate: a birthday, anniversary, a new baby, graduation. Now remember what Jesus taught us about what heaven celebrates: “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (Luke 15:7) Way of Grace, more and more, we need to celebrate any and every victory in regard to God's mission: yes, over a “sinner who repents”, but also over all the pieces that came together or might be coming together to bring a person to Christ. We need to celebrate new opportunities in regard to our circles. We need to celebrate answered prayers in regard to our circles. We need to celebrate new people who have come into our circles. And we do this... together.

Because Jesus was sent to us, we can be sent for Jesus. Because He emptied Himself on the cross to give us new life, we can empty ourselves for those who still need new life. Two main dishes, three key ingredients. If we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, then let's make it our ambition to stir one another in light of these things: empowering gospel assurance, in an encouraging gospel community... so that others might taste and see. “Your mission, should you choose to accept it...” Why wouldn't we? What's holding us back? Whatever the reason, may our pray this morning be that God would help us to open ourselves up, more and more, to the stirring ministry of others; and that their example would inspire us to do the same.

Turn three chapters forward to Hebrews 13. Let's finish with this beautiful blessing that brings together everything we've been talking about this morning. Look with me at verses 20 and 21...

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, [21] equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21)