The provisions of FELLOWSHIP
A Place of Praise
FELLOWSHIP IN A LOCAL Church ”ECCLESIA” PROVIDES
A PLACE OF PRAYER
A PLACE OF PRAISE
A PLACE OF PREPARATION
A PLACE OF PROTECTION
A PLACE OF ENCOURAGEMENT
A PLATFORM FOR PREACHING
A PLACE OF PARTICIPATION
Matthew21:12-13
Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. It is written, he said to them, My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.
ACTS 12:11-14
When Peter came to himself, he said, Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting. When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.
FELLOWSHIP IN A LOCAL Church ”ECCLESIA”
which is not a building “but people” PROVIDES a place of prayer
a. The provisions of FELLOWSHIP
Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, Peter is at the door! They said to her, You are out of your mind.
LYNN RECENTLY MENTIONED LISTENING TO A MINISTRY I BROUGHTA WHILE AGO AND I WANT TO MENTION 3 IMPORTANT POINTS IE:
Everyone needs these 3 people in their lives
A Paul (mentor)
2.a Timothy(a Disciple)
3. a Barnabus (an encourager
I had the privilege to have had a mentor like Sam Ennis in my life who I was able to go to when I needed guidance, I listened to SOME of his sermons on our AGF WEBSITE RECENTLY AND WAS BLESSED.
I have had the privilege too of been able to disciple numerous people in my years in the ministry
the local Assembly ”Ecclesia
Provides the perfect place to have all 3 of these types of people in your life
I have had a number of people who have been encouragers in my life and ministry, and there are too many to mention but I want to highlight a few.
Noel timely SMS’s
Lynn always has a word of encouragement
Peter Nel
My wife
My brothers and my sisters (blood family) including my parents have been a great support and encouragement when I went through the pain of a divorce.
All the folks in this Assembly that have so faithfully prayed for me and encouraged me in this difficult time that I have just gone through and a number of years ago when I had to go to court on defamation charges some folk sat with me in court during all the proceedings, I Truly love you as a family and am blessed to be your Pastor
Hebrews 3:13.
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
Fellowship is a way that we can do this, the persecuted church places a great importance on fellowship, and we should do likewise they even risk imprisonment and martyrdom
Hebrews 10:25.
Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
I read a story once that says Satan once held a sale and offered all the tools of his trade to anyone who would pay the price. They spread out on the table and each one was labeled – hatred, malice, envy, gossip, lust – all the weapons that everyone knows so well. However, off to one side lay a harmless looking instrument labeled DISCOURAGEMENT. It was old and worn looking but was priced far above the rest. When Satan was asked why this was, he replied, “Because I can use this one so much more easily than the others. No one knows that it belongs to me, so with it I can open doors that are bolted tightly against the others. Once I get inside, I can use any tool that suits me best.”
I wonder what heroic and inspiring accounts were never written because Satan effectively used his tool of discouragement? The Bible records many sad stories of people who lost heart and gave up. When Moses sent the spies into the Promised Land, all but Caleb and Joshua came back with discouraging news. The fearful saw the size and strength of their opponents rather than remembering the signs and strength of their God (Num. 13-14). Elijah did great things for God which resulted in the conversion of thousands of Israelites (1 Kings 18:1-40; 19:18); yet, he had become so discouraged when Jezebel threatened his life that he deceived himself into thinking that he was the only servant of God left
(1 Kings 19:1-18) Elijah then asked God to take his life
ENCOURAGEMENT IS A GREAT BENEFIT OF fellowship As I mentioned in a devotional not too long ago,
I was truly blessed on the first Sunday morning that I was able to once again have fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ AFTER MY hospital stay.
It is something that perhaps I have taken for granted in the past, but it was very encouraging to see some of the folks that I hadn’t seen in over a month or so and I was truly humbled by the love and concern and the warm welcome I received. Sunday morning made me freshly aware of the need to be in a spiritual family. Despite our different personalities, and different giftings and preferences the Lord has placed us together in one body and we need one another
The local church provides a place for mutual encouragement.
Even though my gifting may carry a different responsibility I can assure you that I need you and I am grateful for each one of you and am very thankful for your prayers for my health and wellbeing, I was reminded of this scripture when I got back home after my first Sunday back in fellowship
Acts 28:15.
The brothers and sisters in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God.
It was truly encouraging to see you all again
I remember Sam telling a group of us pastors that most Pastors resign on a Monday
2 Timothy 4:16-18
At my first defense, no one came
to my support,
but everyone deserted me.
May it not be held against them.
But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen
1 Thessalonians 3:1-5
So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.
What is encouragement?
Oxford Dictionary: To give hope or confidence or stimulus.
Vines Gk noun: Paraklesis IE: a calling to one’s side, same as comforter or burden bearer.
1 Thessalonians 5:11.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Corinthians 14:26
When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.
I was blessed last week when I saw my grandson praising the Lord, it reminded me of the scripture in Matthew 21:16
and said to Him, Do You hear what these are saying?
And Jesus said to them, Yes. Have you never read,
Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have perfected praise’?
Psalm 8
O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens! Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants. You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?
For You have made him a little lower than he angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen. Even the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea. That pass through the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8 Commentary enduring word
Because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy: The reason why God displays His strength in unlikely vessels is because it works to silence the enemy; Satan and his fellow adversaries have nothing to say when God works so mightily in an otherwise weak person. One dramatic example of this is the story of Job. In it, God silenced the accusations of Satan against both God and Job by the way that He sustained Job with His unseen hand in the midst of profound weakness.
Luke 19:38-40
Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!
And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, Teacher, rebuke Your disciples. But He answered and said to them, I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.
Chuck Swindoll.
Article by Bob Fetterhoff
* everydaywithgod.com
“If the Milky Way galaxy were the size of the entire continent of North America, our solar system would fit in a coffee cup… Yet this vast neighborhood of our sun- in truth the size of a coffee cup – fits along with several hundred billion such galaxies in the universe. To send a light – speed message to the edge of the universe would take 15 billion years!”
Philip Yancey
James Dobson
So, Take a walk outside and say to your Creator, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, who am I that you would love me enough to make it possible for me to have a relationship with you?” And worship YOU!
Which of the following approaches do you take to corporate worship?
Sleep till last possible minute before having to get ready for church, drive onto IN just as service is beginning, grab coffee while singing is going on, and walk into the service bleary-eyed and trying to find a seat, getting your bearings and figuring out what is going on just as the last song ends.
Arrive prayed up, knowing verses and songs so you can express yourself well and have the sensitivity to hear the voice of God. You can continue to have limited, dull, lifeless experiences, OR you can take the steps to prepare your heart and mind to encounter the Holy Spirit in a life-transforming and church- revolutionizing way. Approach Sunday morning corporate worship expecting something special to happen!
Live by faith!
Let me mention this one last thing at you…
Worship is a response. It isn’t a list of songs or a dedicated period of time on Sunday morning. Worship is what happens when we catch of glimpse of who God is. It is what happens when we realize what He is doing in and through us. When we see Him, we will naturally respond by being in awe. When we see Him, we can’t help but drop our jaws and fall to our knees, surrendering ourselves to His majesty.
Maybe our worship experience is a little flat because we don’t have anything to respond to. Maybe we have crowded him out of our lives, leaving no room for Him to work the miracles that only He can work. Really. When was the last time you took a leap of faith, having no handrails to hold on to, and you just had to trust that HE was in charge of the result?
What does that look like? For me it is often giving when I have no money. Serving when I have no time. Sharing when I have no patience. Speaking out when I don’t have the words. Standing when I have no courage. It is when I can’t that He proves that He can. He works. I worship.
Basic to true worship is the reality of meeting with God. But if you want to meet with God, he sets the terms.
Psalm 24:3-5.
Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his heart to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully.
James 4:8.
Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands you sinners and purify your hearts you double minded.
Where there is insincerity, dishonesty and deception, true worship is not possible. I have met too many professing Christians who love to participate in emotionally charged worship but are dishonest and lack integrity in their dealings with others.
We may be truly said to worship God, though we lack perfection; but we cannot be said to worship Him if we lack sincerity.
Corporate worship is only an overflow of your private worship?
If we are only worshiping at Sunday morning services, something is wrong. Private worship (meaning personal worship outside of the church) is the necessary fuel for strong and passionate corporate worship. Don’t we believe in the biblical truth that worship is a 24/7 kind of thing? (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Jesus reminded us in John chapter 4 when he was talking to the Samaritan woman at the well, that worship doesn’t only take place in a building or church. Rather it’s a personal aspect of our faith that is without walls. Jesus is our well when we’re thirsty. He is our portion and our supply. Why do we only wait until Sunday morning to ‘worship?’
The challenge before us, is to take time out of our day, and spend time in worship. Your private worship will only add and accentuate your corporate worship.
How much time are you spending in private worship?
What Jesus said about worship.
Luke 15:8-9.
These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.
John 4:19-24.
Sir, the woman said, I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem. Woman, Jesus replied, believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14
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. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
God placed me in this family, it was a God idea and not a good idea.
I trust that each one of you know that God placed you here