The Advantage of Fellowship

Jesus said "Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am in their midst," emphasizing that Christian fellowship provides a special experience of God's presence unavailable when we are apart.

Remember, Christianity is not a set of principles. Christianity is loving relationships that occur in Christ.

Living in Concert

You are an instrument in the hands of a mighty, mighty God. Do not think your activity is beyond the leading of the Spirit, for a tool only is effective in the hands of the craftsman. I have created you for the godly purposes to be used in conjunction of the whole of My Body. Like notes in a symphony, each plays a part individually, but finds greater purpose in the whole creation. Do not look to your individual place, how you will use My way independent of a larger plan.

I do not look like society. There are no spiritual entrepreneurs, only humble servants and willing hearts, always looking to the Master for their next command. Work in sync with Me. Life loses its meaning outside of the construct of how I designed.

I know this is often difficult for you, My children, to comprehend in your limited experiential world. I go beyond experience. Do I not raise up fools in the world's eyes to do My work? What earthly things carry weight for My tasks? In the past I've called shepherds, fishermen, thieves, prisoners—unlearned in the world's ways. What, in their human poverty, could they have offered Me? Do not focus on getting ready to do, just be ready to become.

I. Why Fellowship is Important

To Complete Our Private Prayer Life. The experience of God starts in personal prayer, but it doesn't end there!
To Participate in the Nature of God. Fellowship images God's very essence, three persons in one dynamic nature—the "Holy Synergy" .
To Be Members of God's Family. You are closer to the Christian you've never met than to an unbelieving blood relative.
To Be Members of the Body. Each believer is a unique, indispensable member in Christ's active presence in the world.
For Synergy. A friend received a vision of individual Christians being like beautiful streams flowing into a lake, providing swans, turtles, ducks a gathering place which was even more beautiful.
For Practical Mutual Support. "Two are better than one. If one should fall the other can pick him up... A cord of three strands is not easily broken." Ecc 4:9-12.
For Real Growth. Christian relationships should be close enough for strong support and at the same time honestly challenging.
To Experience Power. I was intitially amazed at how rarely Christians experienced the gift of tongues without fellowship, and later discovered the gifts are given to build Christianity.
To Bear Fruit. As the saying goes, sometimes "God withholds fruits if we never lay down roots."
To Safeguard Against Selfishness. Accountability is unnatural, yet key. One of the strongest Methodist societies grew from 10 people committing to weekly meet and confess sins to each another (which is not the modern method!)
To Provide a Place to Serve. Often we are comfortable loving the abstraction of "humanity" rather than actual people in our lives. Fellowships help us love Christ present in specific people, with specific names and faces.
For Protection From the Enemy. In war the first move is to eliminate communications. In the greater, spiritual war Satan does the same; working to isolate Christians.
For Power Against the Enemy. Many resist evil, but mistakenly fight alone. It's better to enlist in God's army rather than try to be Batman for God!
For Effective Evangelization. The most striking aspect of early Christianity to outsiders was not primarily physical miracles, but the miracle of unity. Observers commented, "See how they love each other!"
To Live the Larger Story. What would change if you thought of your personal salvation as a subplot in the larger story of God building his Kingdom on earth?
It's a Key Way God Loves Us. It's just a great way to experience a lot of joy that God wants for us.

II. Tips for Finding Good Christian Fellowship

Realize that God has a specific, regular, healthy Christian environment that He desires for you. Pray for Him to reveal it.
Take initiative to find it, even if you may not see a potential place. God will use your efforts and your mistakes, if offered to Him.
(This counsel was given to me:) You will never find a perfect fellowship, for if you joined it, it would no longer be perfect!

III. Love—The Nature of God

One example of a terrific group is the Thursday Night Fellowship which I attend in the Northern Virginia. I was praying with another friend in that fellowship and he received the following prophecy, which I'll close with.

When you arrive in Heaven you will be amazed at how deep I am and how much there is to know about Me, but you will be even more amazed at how simple I am; for I am Love.

I have created you and everything for you to enjoy. See especially how I have given you each other and how much joy you have with each other. Do not deprive yourself of the relationships I have given you. Invest in the lives of your brothers and sisters as I have invested in you and allow Me to pour My blessing on you.

For when you love one another you participate in my very nature, for I am Love.