Greetings My
Friends
Defined as a
community of interest, activity, feeling, or experience.
For most of
my life, I had never experienced fellowship as it relates to church. The
religion I was brought up with, at least in our church, except for everybody
being there at the same time, there was no fellowship.
I was so
turned off by our religion that I left the church at a very young age. Except
for one attempt when our son was born, I had not gone to church in many years.
I never even thought about it. One day I heard a preacher on TV. It sounded different. He had a real Bible-based message, and I started
to watch him semi-regularly. The next thing I knew I was a regular, and I
started looking for other preachers. After a while, I was watching three or
more preachers every day besides the original one.
I started
reading the Bible and watching my preachers. I learned a lot from them, and I
felt that this was a terrific substitute for church. At one time or another
they all talked about finding a good local church that was Bible-based. I
wasn't too keen on the idea. I don't know if it was because of my past
experience with church, or just plain laziness, but I fought the idea for a
while.
One day my
wife said that she thought we should find a church so we could be with other
believers. At that point we started to checkout churches. We're looking for a church
that taught what we were learning on TV. When we got to church number five, we
found it. Well when we started going to the small church, no one had to explain
fellowship to us, because this was a church of believers that felt like family.
Kind of the way the Bible describes the body of Christ.
All I can say
at this point is, I believe in fellowship for several reasons. You really get
to know people. If one needs prayer, some or all of the others pray for them.
If someone is struggling with something, you get a chance to help, or someone
helps you. You learn from each other and witness to each other. Also it is
written "when two or more are gathered together in my name I will be there
also".
If you've
never associated with other believers, you are a juicy target for satan. Yes
you have power over him in Jesus name, but he can make you so miserable until
you remember that. If you call someone from church, we help each other to
realize sooner that you are children of the most high God, and satan has no
power over you in Jesus name. At the same time the fire of the word is
rekindled in your heart. There really is no substitute for fellowship and the
life of a believer.
God Bless You
and Remember
Jesus Loves You;
Prayer of
Salvation;
"Oh God in heaven,
I believe with all of my heart that Jesus has been raised from the dead. I
receive Your Word, and I repent of sin. I renounce the past. Come into my
heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed
and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your
Spirit, in Jesus name. Amen"
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