When we look at the word fellowship, most people think it is about going to church or belonging to a particular group. Fellowship actually means a friendly association, especially with people who share one’s interest. Looking at this definition, it is possible to assume that everyone has some moments of fellowship. We fellowship mostly in a place where we are loved and welcomed. However, there are instances where you have fellowship with people and go back feeling depressed because you were rejected or deep down in you there was just a feeling of loneliness and not belonging. That’s what we call the Orphan spirit. That’s why we will be looking at fellowship from a point of love.
Most of us know what it means to be in Christ and to have fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Our previous articles have a lot on Fellowship with God and the Holy Spirit so I will not dwell alot on it. After you become born again, you are always encouraged to attend a fellowship or gathering of believers so that you can grow in Christ. What happens when you get into a gathering and everyone feels happy but you never feel happy? You go back condemned and depressed. Not because of anything anyone did or what was said at the gathering but your life experiences that have shaped your identity. Apart from new converts to the faith, there are pastors, deacons and other ministers of the gospel who are very charismatic, possess all the gifts of healing, prophecy, wisdom, knowledge, etc but they still feel empty and distant from God. These are the many orphans in the body of Christ. In order to effectively fellowship with God and one another, we need to get rid of the “Orphan Spirit”.
The Orphan spirit is the spirit that feels not worthy to stand in God’s presence, not worthy to receive any good thing in life because of bad experiences, the spirit that makes you feel negative fingers are always pointing at you, etc. The orphan spirit also comes with some kind of spirit of independence that makes you to always want your space and be alone. Other people think they are wired that way whereas it is the orphan spirit dealing with such a person. How then do we get rid of this Orphan spirit in order to enjoy fellowship.
1. The Spirit of Adoption.
Romans 8:14-17 “The spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba Father.”
The spirit of adoption is what makes you feel comforted and loved when you go through the pain. It takes away the spirit of independence and loneliness and replaces it with the spirit of Sonship. Meaning you step into a place and you feel at home. This is the kind of atmosphere of fellowship God wants us to have with him. He wants us to feel loved and at home each time we come into his presence. Even when we feel like we have committed the worst crime and cannot lift up our hands in worship, the spirit of adoption makes us know that God loves us the same way he loves Jesus Christ and that’s why He calls us co-heirs with Christ. Understanding our adoption makes us have effective fellowship with God and one another.
2. The Spirit of love.
After being baptized by water and the Holy Spirit, it is very important to be baptized with the spirit of love. Once we know that we are loved and accepted by the father, it changes our approach to fellowship. We think so highly of ourselves and feel confident to come before our father, no matter how far we have sinned. This was the case with the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32.
When we are baptized in love, we feel the love of the father, which helps us to also comfort other people. Thus, we will never have negative mindsets about ourselves. When other people are going through situations, we can give out this love we have received to comfort them.
3. The Spirit of Forgiveness.
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as God through Christ forgave you.”
To cure the Orphan Spirit, we need to forgive as Christ has forgiven us. Bearing grudges with one another only helps broaden the distance between us and greatly affects our fellowship with them. It also affects our fellowship with the father because our hearts are not in the right place with God, therefore we cannot pray as we ought to.
If there is anyone reading this article right now who is under attack by the Orphan spirit, I encourage you to take a few minutes now and just ask the Holy Spirit to baptize you with the spirit of love, forgiveness and adoption. Ask him to fill you and help you to understand what it means to be adopted and a co-heir with Christ. Ask him to wreck your heart with love. Thereafter, I urge you to join a kingdom family so that you can love and be loved. It may be a church, a small fellowship group or just a group of friends that you meet each other once a week to edify and encourage yourselves. That’s how you enjoy fellowship with God and with one another.
Remain blessed.
I am inspired , thanks for this article