It was a cold fall morning when we set out to go to the park. We had a plan to meet with people from our home fellowship that morning and exercise together. Despite the cold, a good number of people came, and we had a great time fellowshipping together. As we walked, we shared our lives with each other, discussed joys and challenges, and encouraged each other with the Word.
The home fellowship is at the heart of The Way Ministry. But fellowship meetings are only one of the many aspects of the sweet fellowship we can enjoy with other believers. Let’s consider some of the blessings and benefits that we can enjoy as we make spending time with others from our home fellowships a part of our everyday lives.
When we fellowship with believers, we can be built up and strengthened in our day-by-day walk. At times the challenges and pressures of the world may leave us feeling discouraged or defeated. This is not God’s will for our lives. One resource God has given us to overcome this is His household of believers. We can counter negative feelings by spending time with believers who are encouraging and uplifting. God wants us to be together, edifying and building each other up.
Romans 14:19:
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Spending time together studying the Word or reading edifying books together, such as our ministry’s publications, is a way to build up one another. In my fellowship, we have enjoyed having ministry-book discussions in public places, like coffee shops. Not only do we receive God’s Word, but we have opportunities to invite others to join us! As we cover a specific chapter or topic, it usually sparks a conversation about the Word that applies to our lives. People often walk away with the Word that meets specific needs, providing great strength and edification.
Another benefit of making time to fellowship with believers from our home fellowship is that we are afforded opportunities to give to one another and to experience the joy of service. We each have been placed in the Body of Christ with different long suits and abilities to contribute. Fellowshipping together in a variety of ways provides us with opportunities to make use of those long suits and bless others with what we have to give. And as we give, we experience joy.
Romans 12:6-8:
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith [believing];
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Doing things together that specific individuals enjoy and excel at provides opportunities for those individuals to give and serve. Activities might include practical things like learning how to do a budget or fun activities like baking together or learning a new game. A diversity of topics and activities can appeal to a broad variety of people, providing opportunities to bring others along to experience the love of God manifested in a fellowship of believers.
Strength in community believing is another benefit of making time to regularly fellowship with believers. When one believes for God’s promises to come to pass, there is power. But when two or more believe together, that believing is multiplied in intensity and quality, making a tremendous impact. Prayer is an effective way to believe together. This can happen as part of fellowship meetings, with prayer partners, or really, whenever believers are together.
Matthew 18:19:
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
I have also seen sharing of hearts resulting in mutual believing happen around food. Eating together is another way to allow time for community believing. And everybody has to eat! Why not use it as an opportunity to fellowship together, build one another’s believing, and invite new people?
God set us in a body of believers to function, and we can expect dynamic and victorious results as we choose to spend time fellowshipping with believers. There are so many different ways to build this fellowship time into our daily lives. As we fellowship together in a variety of ways, we will be strengthened and encouraged to overcome challenges. We will have the joy of serving and helping others claim victory in their lives. We will experience strength in community believing. What a dynamic way to live! Let’s decide to make fellowship with believers a priority in our everyday lives and invite others to enjoy the same benefits.