Hello dear friend, have you read our recent posts on fellowship? If you have not, please just click on these links Fellowship and the orphan spirit and The wholeness of God In fellowship to access the previous write-ups on fellowship.
Our focus in this write-up is on FELLOWSHIP TO BUILD. Take a second to ask yourself what is your motive for fellowshipping with other Christian brothers and sisters?
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11).
The essence of Christian fellowship is for the edification of brethren in Christ to worship God, serve God and align with the purposes of God to make manifest His will on the earth.
How then can we as Christians (who make up the body Christ) maximize fellowship to build one another?
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47).
Let us look at some core components of Christian fellowship which builds as inspired by the scripture above.
Fellowship to build entails:
- Teaching and sharing on the word of God. Faith comes by hearing the word of God. Teaching and sharing the word of God is most vital in fellowship. Christians have to devote themselves to studying the word as individuals and fellowshipping with others to share the word of God. Through this sharing, those who stronger in the faith help those who are weaker and this edifies not just the weaker once but also the stronger once as their knowledge of the word also grows in sharing.
- Prayer. Prayer is conversation with God. Conversation entails two parties talking and listening to one another. Through prayers we talk to God and listen so that He can talk to us. In prayers, we submit our hearts to God and this allows God to transform our hearts. Just like regular communication is essential in building stronger relationships, prayer also contributes in building a stronger relationship with God. Also, through prayers, we partner with God to release His power and His will be made manifest on earth. Corporate prayers in fellowship stirs dependence on God and is an act of worship as it brings about intimate communion with Jesus Christ. Corporate prayer of essence in unifying the body of Christ and it is a key aspect in believers encouraging one another. Prayer is a key aspect of fellowship that builds.
- Breaking of Bread. In fellowship, Christians are to partake in breaking of bread (also called the Lord’s super – 1 Corinthians 11:20) and this is to be observed until Christ comes again. The bread and wine used in the meal represent Jesus Christ’s body and blood. Partaking in this meal commemorates the death of Jesus Christ; signifies the seal of the new covenant to believers; indicates the communion of believers with Jesus Christ; and also ignites the mutual communion of believers with each other.
- Unity in the Spirit which vital in building the body of Christ towards attaining unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and becoming mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:1-16). Genuine fellowship breeds unity among believers and gives room for a greater flow of God’s Spirit (the Holy Spirit) and thus, greater manifestation of the wonders and signs performed through the enablement of the Holy Spirit’s power.
- Serving and meeting the needs of one another. Fellowship is a fertile ground to nurture kingdom service by serving others. In fellowship, Christians are to utilize their talents, gifts and resources to serve God by serving one another. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly (Romans 12:4-8). Furthermore, an important part of fellowshipping with other Christians is to identify and help to meet the needs of one another. These needs may be financial, material etc. The Holy Spirit ignites love in the hearts of believers and meeting the needs of others is an outcome of love for one another.
- Evangelism. Along with His word and His Spirit, God uses believers to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ in order to bring unbelievers to the truth and knowledge of God’s word, leading to their transformation. The fellowship of believers is a tool for spreading the gospel through evangelism and winning over souls for Christ.
- Worshipping God. The essence of our existence is to worship God in all we do. Beware, any Christian fellowship without the primordial motive of worshipping God is not a fellowship to build. The essence of fellowship is to worship God. Everything we do in fellowship should be motivated by our love for God and our desire to worship Him.
Dear reader, fellowship with brethren is vital for spiritual growth. Thereafter, I urge you to seek God to lead you to a kingdom family where you can fellowship with other brethren and grow in your walk with God. It may be a church, a small fellowship group or just a group of friends that you meet each other once a week or more to edify and encourage yourselves. Enjoy fellowship with God and with one another.
Remain blessed.