And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near. Heb 10:25.
One of God’s great provisions in the kingdom for the saints’ en route the Celestial City is the genuine fellowship of God’s people together. Genuine fellowship is designed by God to deliver comfort, care, encouragement, helps, friendship and strength to the saints as pilgrims and strangers in this world. This genuine fellowship has nothing to do with large religious gathering. In fact, many of our large religious gathering these days are totally bankrupt of genuine fellowship.
Genuine fellowship is best experienced in the small gathering of the saints together. This kind of fellowship is not the same thing as church service. There are many church services missing in the elements of genuine fellowship. Genuine fellowship occurs in either spontaneous or planned environment of the gathering of the saints together. It doesn’t have to be formal: one person or family visiting or calling another person or family to share love and happiness; to show genuine interest in another person’s affair; to encourage and give bits of help where necessary according to abilities and without any string attached.
The end time is here. And Satan, more than ever before, is becoming hostile to the saints of Jesus Christ. If there is any other time when we need the genuine fellowship of the brethren for succor, strength, and support, as we travel the narrow road, it is NOW! We all have bad moments. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a failed exam, money problems, or even a crisis of faith, we can find ourselves down. If we go too low, it can lead to anger and a feeling of disillusionment with God. Yet these low times are why fellowship is important. Spending tie with other believers can often lift us up a little bit. They help us to keep our eyes on God. God also works through them to provide us what we need in darker times. Coming together with others can aid in our healing process and give us the encouragement to move forward.
There was a time in the life of David when King Saul was seeking his life to destroy out of envy and jealousy. During that period, David arrived at a junction of discouragement and despair and she confessed: “I shall now one day perish by the hand of Saul.” It was his low time when all hopes of survival were ebbing out of him. But thank God for the comfort and strength of fellowship which David found in Jonathan-his friend. There was another time when David’s hand was weak at the battle front and was almost struck down by the enemy but he found help in other soldiers who quickly cane to his rescue. There was also a time in the life of Jesus while He was on earth when He was overwhelmed by the reality of the death of the cross! He could not imagine the terrible suffering He would have to endure-an agony worse than dying, because He had to take on himself the sin of the whole world. Jesus also had His low time! And at such time He also sought to annex the comfort and strength available in the fellowship of the brethren. “They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Mark 14:32-34
Everybody needs somebody sometimes. And no man is an island. God has made all of us with an inner need for relationships. Everyone at sometimes needs somebody to give them a hug, touch or caring pat. Someone to say, “I care.” Everyone loves to be loved. There are times everyone needs somebody to be “there” in moments of happiness or tragedies. I often say “alone” is the saddest word and “together” is the sweetest word. It is also possible to be in a crowd and still be alone. Like David, it may seem a time for you when no one cares. “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge (help) failed me; no man cared for my soul” (Psalms 142:4). At times everybody needs somebody… We need somebody to let help during the storms. We need somebody to pray when we are discouraged. We need somebody to exhort us in times of weakness. We need somebody to admonish us in times of wrong. We need somebody to help us with the Word of God. We need somebody to care about our souls. We need somebody who will speak the truth in love. We need somebody to be “there” in the times of need. We need somebody to lean on. We need somebody to talk to when we are uncertain. We need someone to just listen and care. We need somebody who understands. We need somebody to walk in when others walk out. Everybody needs somebody to care. Everybody needs GENUINE FELLOWSHIP!
Genuine fellowship…unfortunately has become an endangered species among the brethren. Rather than genuine fellowship what we have now is gossip, lies, rejoicing in the faults and failures of others, pride, unhealthy rivalry, and competition. This, obviously, is an ATTACK ON GENUINE FELLOWSHIP.
When last did you EXPERIENCE genuine fellowship? When last did you GIVE genuine fellowship? It’s time to bear one another’s burden. It’s time for GENUINE FELLOWSHIP.
“If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care —then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Phil 2:1-4 MSG
Everybody needs somebody!
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