Hebrews 10:19-39 - Habit

The Lord woke me up over an hour early this morning to pray for our church.  I went through the names of people and prayed individually.  So many people have been sporadic over this winter with their attendance.  As I was praying, He kept bringing it back that "they will get back into the habit of church."    Interesting….according to the dictionary the word habit means:

Habit

n. noun

1. A recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition.
2. An established disposition of the mind or character.
3. Customary manner or practice.
   
   

We all have a lot of habits.  Some of them are good while others of them are bad.  The Lord led me to Hebrews 10:19-39.  Verse 24-25 are key….And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.


19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings,having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.  32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light,when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.  36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For,

“In just a little while,
    he who is coming will come
    and will not delay.”

38 And,

“But my righteous one will live by faith.
    And I take no pleasure
    in the one who shrinks back.”

39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

It seems like no matter what is said or done when people are out of the habit of doing something it is next to impossible to change their mindset.  Is it a sin to not go to church?  Do you have to go to church to be a Christian?  Will the Lord punish me for not going to church? Those are all questions that go through the minds of people.  I personally don't believe you have to go to church to be a Christian but it sure does help.  We need the fellowship with other believers.  We need to worship in a corporate setting. Sin is something that every individual must answer for and be accountable for.  It is between individuals and the Lord as to whether or not some actions are sin.  

This morning as I was praying I prayed for many to hear from the Lord in what they needed to be doing in their spiritual lives.  I prayed for people to draw nearer to the Lord and to seek more of Him.  I believe as that happens they will become not only more committed to Him but also to the church body.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for dying on the cross so we could live.  Thank You for loving me enough to care about my entire being.  Father, I pray for my pastor this morning as he brings the message You have given him.  I pray for Your words to flow from his mouth.  Lord, I pray against the physical pain he is in to be a distraction.  I also pray for ears to be open to what You have for us.  Lord, I pray for not only the church body to be an encourager but I also pray for You to encourage the church body.  I pray for not only our church body but all of the churches across our district and in our town to be God-fearing, Bible preaching churches.  Thank You Jesus for being My Savior!  Amen.