Society likes to promote an individual perspective, especially in the occidental world. Community building is seen as what you can do or can’t do for me and individualism is often praised. The idea of loving ‘self’ is promoted over loving others. It’s about what we want, when we want it, and how we want it. The more I discover God’s character, the more it’s revealed to me that this line of thinking isn’t God’s desire for humanity. God values unity through fellowship. His own being is a triune, a collective of three persons, working together as one.
“For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.”
1 John 5:7-8 (NKJV)
Because we are created in His image (Genesis 1:27), we share this similarity with God. He made sure we further understood the importance of unity by declaring in Genesis 2:18 that it’s not good for man to be alone.
Merriam-Webster defines ‘Fellowship’ as ‘the state of being a fellow or an associate’ or to have ‘a company of equals or friends’. I find that this definition also falls in line with the fellowship of believers that’s shown in scripture. Since God cannot lie nor change His mind (Numbers 23:19), He stays true to His word and nature. When Jesus began His ministry and declared His first disciples, He called them in unity, He called them in twos.
“While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 4:18-19 (ESV)
The Gospel shows us that the initial twelve disciples walked in fellowship with God and with each other. The bible gives us countless examples of God equipping individuals not to be alone. One of the best examples of fellowship in scripture is in Acts.
The Fellowship of the Believers
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:42-47 (ESV)
This passage in Acts 2 gives me a blueprint of what I should look for in my fellowships when it comes to friendships, relationships, communities, and the church. In each of these, the following should be reflected:
- There should be unity
- The believers in Acts – when the church of Christ was first established – are mentioned to share things in common. They’re unified in their desire to help and serve each other and their devotion to follow God.
- There should be worship
- Not only did they share their love for God in common, they also took time to worship and praise together. The passage tells us that they enjoyed attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes.
- There should be service
- They prayed and worshiped together and helped each other. They understood the heart of God and Christ’s ministry by devoting their time to helping those in need.
- There should be purpose
- They acted out their desire to do the work of Christ. It says that many were saved as a result.
The fellowship of believers is important to God so, it should be important to us.
“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (NIV)
Before surrendering to God, I took pride in doing a lot on my own and pushing others away. My heart wasn’t attune to God’s heart or His desire to have me lean on and work with others and also have others lean on and work with me. 1 Corinthians 12 reminds me of the importance of playing my part within the body of Christ and to not isolate myself. The work that God wants to do in us and through us is strengthened and accomplished when we welcome fellowship with other believers.
God has softened my heart to see that this doesn’t have to be hard but it is urgent. I am to fellowship right where I am. What is the current environment I’m in? That’s the community He wants me to pour into and to help those in need. Who are the people near me? Those are the individuals He wants me to connect with and to worship and to praise with. What I have and where I am now is what I’m called to do fellowship with or in.
If you’re struggling with this, I encourage you to ask God who He wants you to fellowship with or to pray that He’ll provide you with a community of believers to fellowship with.
Sincerely,
Anne
Acts and Numbers are great books to study to see God’s intentionality towards working together in unity through fellowship.
Additional scripture to meditate on this week:
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)
“For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy”
2 Timothy 3:2 (ESV)
“Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.”
Proverbs 18:1 (ESV)
“For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.”
1 John 5:7-8 (ESV)
I’d love to hear from you! How do you view fellowship in the body of Christ? Comment below 🙂
Daughter in Waiting Ministry 
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