Here Paul exhorts the believers to make the gatherings of the saints high times of spiritual growth, fellowship and encouragement. As you read the epistles it becomes ever more evident how central the gatherings of the saints were to the lives of each individual believer. The sense of family, of community, of shared purpose, fellowship and friendship, was so compelling and attractive that this alone became a powerful magnet for the unsaved. In our insular, individual, Western and so very busy lives this is something we find difficult to practice. As a result the joy and delight to be found in the richness of Christian fellowship, brotherhood and sisterhood, is often missed and diluted to the point where it often becomes a fiction. Something referred to, aspired to but somehow just not experienced to the degree we see in the New Testament. That the Lord Jesus enjoyed the easy, social fellowship of the home can be seen in the frequent glimpses we get of him sitting and enjoying meals and easy fellowship in the house of Simon the Leper, for example in Matthew 26:6-7, or John 12:2 in the home of Lazarus, Mary & Martha and so on. On these occasions the Word was shared, spoken, discussed and proclaimed as effectively as on any other occasion. As we gather let us seek to excel, to get better and better at sharing the Word, fellowship, friendship, encouragement and enjoying the presence of the Lord in our midst more and more –‘Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.’ Hebrews 10:25.
‘Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.’ 1 Corinthians 14:12 (KJV)
Here Paul exhorts the believers to make the gatherings of the saints high times of spiritual growth, fellowship and encouragement. As you read the epistles it becomes ever more evident how central the gatherings of the saints were to the lives of each individual believer. The sense of family, of community, of shared purpose, fellowship and friendship, was so compelling and attractive that this alone became a powerful magnet for the unsaved. In our insular, individual, Western and so very busy lives this is something we find difficult to practice. As a result the joy and delight to be found in the richness of Christian fellowship, brotherhood and sisterhood, is often missed and diluted to the point where it often becomes a fiction. Something referred to, aspired to but somehow just not experienced to the degree we see in the New Testament. That the Lord Jesus enjoyed the easy, social fellowship of the home can be seen in the frequent glimpses we get of him sitting and enjoying meals and easy fellowship in the house of Simon the Leper, for example in Matthew 26:6-7, or John 12:2 in the home of Lazarus, Mary & Martha and so on. On these occasions the Word was shared, spoken, discussed and proclaimed as effectively as on any other occasion. As we gather let us seek to excel, to get better and better at sharing the Word, fellowship, friendship, encouragement and enjoying the presence of the Lord in our midst more and more –‘Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.’ Hebrews 10:25.
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AuthorI trust these articles will bless and encourage the reader. They will usually consist of the fortnightly article I write in our E-Newsletter to those who gather for fellowship in Melville, Hamilton, New Zealand. However, from time to time I will post other articles and thoughts as occasion and inspiration may serve. Please feel free to comment or add your thoughts. Comments and contributions will be moderated, however, this is to safeguard against the possibility of objectionable language or anything unnecessarily provocative etc. by those who may feel to take advantage of the forum for some reason. Genuine and sincere contributions by fellow believers who love and follow the Lord Jesus will always be very welcome, as will questions or inquiries from those who may be genuinely seeking clarification or answers to help them find faith in Christ. Archives
April 2017
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