Day Five
FELLOWSHIP
Believers are not compared to bears or lions or other animals that wander alone. Those who belong to Christ are sheep in this respect, that they love to get together. Sheep go in flocks, and so do God’s people.
—CHARLES H. SPURGEON
We are the body of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul uses this language very intentionally in describing the community—or fellowship—of believers. A body is comprised of many different members, all working together to contribute to a highly functional unit. Jesus called this unit the Church in Matthew 16:18. For the Church to be the mighty force that Jesus envisioned, it needs to be operating in unity and in fellowship.
Consider the analogy that Paul draws from. As every member of our physical body works together, we are able to operate at maximum capacity. Likewise, when certain members of our body are not functioning, or worse, functioning in opposition to one another, we are restrained from efficiency and progress.
John Donne rightly acknowledged that, “No man is an island.” As I described in the book, the community of believers has actually been called “the fellowship of the mystery” (Eph. 3:9). It is incredible to contemplate all that this means. When we gather together with other believers, we must elevate our thinking concerning what is actually taking place. It is not simply gathering in a sanctuary on Sunday or meeting together mid-week for a Bible study; it is not just coffee and movies and board games and potlucks.
Something happens in the spirit realm when men and women, boys and girls gather together in the presence of God who all carry within them the same Spirit. There is a multiplied dimension of anointing that is experienced and released. This is a mystery, because we all have equal access to God. The Holy Spirit has been given to every single believer and yes, as Martin Luther and the pioneers of the Protestant Reformation taught, every single Christian is in fact a “priest” before God.
That said, Peter did not use language to imply that God’s priests (you and I) were to work alone. In 1 Peter 2:9, he explains, “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (ESV). What do you notice about his language? It all implies community and person-to-person fellowship. We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people. Yes, we are individuals, but we are also the sum of a whole—the body of Christ. True, we are powerful individually, but just imagine what happens when we come together in fellowship.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Why do you think living in fellowship with other believers is so important when it comes to accomplishing God’s plans and purposes in the earth?
What can fellowship accomplish that individualism cannot?
How are you currently enjoying fellowship with other like-minded believers? Is this experience satisfying? If not, what are some ways that you could enrich your fellowship?
ACTION STEPS
Change the way you view fellowship. This is the key action step you need to take if you are going to experience every blessing that God wants you to draw from being in fellowship with other believers. You cannot approach church as simply “going to church” and sitting in a building. Likewise, you must change the way you see other church-related activities. Remember, when the “fellowship of the mystery” assembles together, power is released. Iron sharpens iron. The weak are made strong. Gifts are activated. Destinies are realized. Potential is activated. This is how you should see fellowship.