Randy Bell
31 Jul 2017

Kingdom Life Principles

The Power of Communion

Our communion or breaking of bread together is a practice that our Lord established but in our day the true reason and purpose have almost been forgotten. As Acts records, communion (breaking bread) was one of the four essential practices of the narrow road followers of Jesus.

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.  Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” [Acts 2:42-47 NKJV]

First, we must remember that Jesus presented communion as a blood covenant. This is recorded in Luke 22:20 (NLT). “After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.”

Paul speaks to the church at Corinth and states, “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread” [1 Corinthians 10:16,17].

The symbolism of the blood covenant was very clear to the first disciples, God made a blood covenant with Abraham. Such a covenant contains lifelong obligations and commitments. Therefore it is serious business with God and the Christian today also.

And while the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship are foundational for church health and growth, God uses the Lord’s Table as the key to ensuring the purity and power of the church. “In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.”

“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world” [1 Corinthians 11:25-32].

Then the power of breaking bread together is centered around the need for purity of the church. Just like the liver of the body removes impurities and keeps a person healthy, the Communion Table is also designed to cause each Christian to thoroughly examine themselves and clear their conscience of wrongs. If these sinful impure practices are not removed the body of Christ becomes weak and sick. In fact, physical death can result. “For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.”

Paul’s words “…not discerning the Lord’s body” is suddenly very significant! This is the stated reason for many Christians becoming weak and sick and dying early. The body of Christ does not just mean His human body. Here it is clearly speaking of the church, the “body of Christ.” “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” [1 Corinthians 12:27]. Since we are connected, what one member does hurts the rest of the believers of the local church.

We cannot downplay these grave warnings from Paul’s letter to these first century Christians. This is not superstition! God demands holiness in his church because He has given precious promises, the Holy Spirit, and his amazing grace to deliver us from the bondage of sin.

Can we dare say the “reason many are weak and sick among” us, “and many sleep” is the sin that pervades the modern church today? Do we take the Word literally? Is communion is a cleansing time or an old ritual in your church? Sacred must always mean we take God’s Word seriously and actually examine ourselves and respond in repentance to God’s Word.

You must come to know that sin is a medical cause of some physical disease and has been proven to be a direct cause of many medical diseases. For example, many medical textbooks now agree with the Bible and state that fear and anxiety are a primary cause of coronary artery disease, angina, and heart attacks. The scripture even states people will be dying from heart disease, “Men’s hearts failing them for fear” [Luke 21:26].

Many have found out as they truly deal with their sin, they receive physical healing also. This is why Proverbs warns, “He that covers his sins shall not prosper: but he who confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy” [Proverbs 28:13].

Americans always think as individuals and refuse to see the damage and effect they pour out on others in their families, churches, and nation. And here Paul reminds us that our sin infects the church like a disease. Like Eve affected Adam and both infected mankind, every Christian defiles the local church if they live in sin.

Paul is clearly connecting the church, the “body of Christ” with the individual Christian who is also the “body of Christ.” “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” [1 Corinthians 12:27]. Since we believers are connected, what one member does affects the whole body of the local church.

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!” [1 Corinthians 6:16]. Our sin infects the whole body of Christ. We offend the entire local church and will be judged for it.

1 Corinthians 6:15-20 (NLT)
15  Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never!
16  And don’t you realize that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, “The two are united into one.”
17  But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.
18  Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.
19  Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,
20  for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

As you see, your bodies are called God’s temple, and if you do not keep it pure God reserves the right to destroy it. If your actions damage the church by what you teach, or how you act you will suffer by God’s hand if you refuse to repent. Again Paul warns if you are, “not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.” God is not silent on this matter even in our present times.

1/ Therefore, if the church is to prosper through God’s blessings, it must examine itself and clear up all past offenses between its members. Now small churches need to have communion frequently because the possibility of hurts and offenses is accelerated by their close associations. Misunderstandings easily happen.

2/ Remember “a whisperer separates the best of friends” [Proverbs 16:28]. “And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases” [Proverbs 26:20]. And also remember the early church met very frequently for “breaking of bread” because it was vital to spiritual growth and God’s hand of blessing.

3/ Maintaining a clear conscience is a powerful weapon to protect us from spiritual disaster, “…having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,” [1 Timothy 1:19]. If our church expects a powerful time of prayer and miraculous answers, we must have effective, purifying times of communion.

This is why we suggest churches follow the pattern of Acts 2:42 and have the teaching of scripture first, then the saints can be convicted and purified by the Word of God. By then responding with confessions, repentance, and obedience, everyone affirms the Word, testifying of God’s grace in their lives, confessing their faults publicly to one another, and exhorting one another. This prepares the whole church for the Lord’s Table, where all examine themselves, confess and repent of any sin God reveals.

Next, after everyone has cleared and purified hearts, they are ready for the sacred cup of communion with God. This always causes rejoicing, and praise with a pure heart releasing powerful worship. If the church concludes with group intercession, crying to God with clean hands and pure hearts, the family of God finds answers to their prayer.

Therefore, the close social union of membership demands constant times of spiritual examination. Sin is subtle and the enemy loves to see believers defeated, powerless, and unable to have their prayers answered. As we fellowship and exhort one another we inflame one another to obedience and purity. When the body of Christ is clean, it is healthy. A healthy church bears much fruit, and so glorifies God!

God empowers His church then to fulfill its mission and together with one voice proclaim the Good News of Christ and His kingdom. The common distribution of our spiritual gifts ministers God’s love throughout our church and community. And the deep communication of our loving exhortations, confessions, and testimonies matures the saints around us.

Never forget, Communion is not a mundane ritual. Forever remember your duty to keep your blood covenant with the Lord Jesus, to fully obey His commands and wholeheartedly serve only Him. Paul exhorts you to“…keep yourself pure” [1 Timothy 5:22].

,
Randy Bell
30 Jul 2017

Kingdom Life Principles

The Power of Fellowship Part 1

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. [Acts 2:42-47 NKJV]

Narrow road followers of Jesus practice the power of fellowship: Your local church is called to be a Heavenly Community and our duty is to unite as a team to help one another and share salvation with our neighbors and friends.

[bctt tweet=”Narrow road followers of Jesus practice the power of fellowship.” username=”RandyMBell”]

Our fellowship together is defined as koinoônia from the Greek language of the New Testament. It means partnership, close social union, deep communication, and common distribution. Like a piece of plywood, God wants our local church families to be glued together in such a union that the pulling apart of any one Christian will hurt and scar the group. The Holy Spirit formed “original church” exemplifies this for us. This is clearly presented in the language of our text, “All who believed were together;” “all things in common;” “continued daily with one accord;” and “breaking bread from house to house.”

According to Acts 2:42-47 we are partnered together in four ways: membership, mission, ministry, and maturity. Therefore we must understand what fellowship embraces. Fellowship is based on the “one another commands” of the New Testament.  “Love one another;” “exhort one another;” “comfort one another;” “bearing with one another;” “forgiving one another;” edify one another;” “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs;” “we are members of one another;” minister your grace gift “to one another;”, and “pray for one another” are examples of at least twenty-three one another commands. Therefore, as the local church gathers for worship it must follow the teaching and example of how the Bible guides the church to fellowship. We must interweave into our gatherings the opportunity for believers to obey these commands. Did the early church?

As Paul instructs the church at Corinth to use their spiritual gifts to love one another and not be spiritually self absorbed, he states: “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.”  [1 Corinthians 14:1-3 NKJV].

The obvious teaching is that when they met on Sunday they came to fellowship with God and their Christian family. The reason we gather, Paul instructs, is for “edification and exhortation and comfort to men.” We can have fun alone with God and worship God in our “closets.” Yes we can have incredible prayer in our “closets.” But, when we gather a partnership unfolds. A common distribution of love and ministry must begin. Everything must happen so that “loving one another” is clearly practiced.

Further evidence of this is expressed in chapter 14: “…prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.”

“How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.””

We can be grateful to the Lord that the church at Corinth was immature and out of control because we have clear evidence of how God wants all his people to take responsibility for loving one another. Paul had to rebuke and correct these new believers who were doing just about everything wrong with great zeal. They were a wild bunch of little spiritual kids that desperately needed a mature voice of leadership, and Paul stepped in. Because of this, God reveals to us that local churches must gather and allow everyone to speak words of encouragement,  correction and support for each other in the faith.

As we examine our example of Acts 2 and compare it to 1 Corinthians 14 we find an unsettling fact about our modern church worship in America. We do not follow God’s instructions. “Local churches are for the feeding of the flock, the edification and fellowship of believers, and the demonstration of God’s mighty power through prayer and crying out” [How to Make Your Church a POWERFUL HOUSE OF PRAYER, copyright 2002 IBLP, Box one, Oak Brook, IL 60522-3001]. Far too often church fellowship has fallen to eating food together. Even though fellowship can happen around food, there is a larger and more effective way God has designed for true fellowship to happen.

As the early church gathered together they studied the apostles’ doctrines; then they responded and affirmed God’s Word through mutual fellowship [edifying, encouraging, etc. one another as a group; they had communion together [“love feasts” according to Jude] examining themselves for purity as described in 1 Corinthians 11; and then prayed together, crying to God to expand His kingdom through His power. Like a four legged table, it works when all legs are up and holding together the surface. The church works when as a group the whole church participates in all four elements together. This is the secret of spiritual growth and blessing.

If you research you will find that most church worship services are patterned after Old Testament temple worship. We sing first, take an offering, have a special song or presentation, have a message, then a closing song. Even the use of the word “service” is connected to serving up an animal sacrifice to God. We are no longer under the law! But, God’s organized church meeting gives all four elements necessary to glorify Him and fulfill the purpose of fellowship.

What would happen if we got radical and changed? Could we benefit from following the New Testament church?  The pattern of Acts 2:42  has the teaching of scripture first, and the saints are purified by the Word of God. Once everyone’s hearts are probed and the saints respond to the scripture, then all are ministers [priests according to 1 Peter 2:5] and able to “love one another” by affirming the Word, publicly testifying of God’s grace in their lives, confessing their faults one to another, and exhorting [encouraging] one another to walk faithfully in the narrow way.

The evidence of God’s blessings are the results of amplifying the teaching of the pastor’s message. Everyone is greatly fed spiritually, even the pastor! Once all have examined themselves [“Examine your motives, test your heart…” 1 Cor 11:28 (MSG)], confessed and repented if necessary, they are ready for the sacred cup of communion with God. As scripture verifies, this always causes rejoicing, and praise swells up from pure hearts which releases powerful praise and worship. Then if we conclude with group intercession and crying to God with clean hands and pure hearts, the spiritual family of God finds powerful answers to their prayers.

Therefore, the close social union of church membership includes the responsibility of serving and caring for one another as we gather. Our fellowship of mission melts us into one voice proclaiming the Good News of Christ and His kingdom. The common distribution of our spiritual gifts ministers God’s love throughout our church and community cementing us with God’s love. And the deep communication of our loving exhortations, confessions, and testimonies matures the saints around us.

Yes it is true, fellowship is costly and dangerous because you must open your hearts and allow others to get close to you. Fear not! Some will hurt you. But for Christ’s sake, deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow Jesus! Learn to forgive and love without receiving anything in return. Obey the God who knows us best, and truly enter the fellowship God designed for the church, before the foundation of the world!

,
Randy Bell
30 Jul 2017

Kingdom Life Principles

The Power of Fellowship Part 2

Introduction: When a person begins to follow Jesus, our Lord God wants his narrow road followers to take responsibility by making major life changes. No longer can you be a selfish individual, following your dreams and living your life, but instead you are required to enlarge your perspective and live in the counterculture of Jesus.

Acts 2 illustrates the immediate change God wants as this historical account reveals how 3000 STRANGERS turned from their sin and followed Jesus. It was not an individual and personal religious experience. It was a total transformation to a community of life involving all of Christ’s followers becoming BEST FRIENDS. It was an immediate alteration of thinking and living.

Their new life was based on four major changes of their lifestyle. “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.” Acts 2:42 (NLT) By immediately making these four commitments to Jesus and His followers, they quickly became best friends together.

First off, these strangers from all over the Roman Empire took a risk and immediately joined the church, the rest of all the local followers of Jesus, and gathered with them to learn from the church leaders the teachings and mind of God. They did not go home for a private Bible study to decide for themselves what they would follow or not follow. They did not start a private family worship time as they preferred it with their children. They did not start a new small group that fits their fancy.

No, they submitted to the leadership and humbly listened and learned how to follow the Lord Jesus. The apostles’ doctrine was the teaching of Jesus’ commands. See Matthew 28. They joined the Christian collective and became important parts of the ministry. They immediately connected in fellowship with their new community of friends.

This is the second important life change that they fully committed themselves to on the very day they followed Jesus. Not months or years later when they got around to it. Fellowship is the real response of love to one another as commanded throughout the New Testament. God expects immediate action on your part. Love is not a feeling but fellowship in action.

And not only did they join the Christian crowd and learn the teachings and involve themselves in fellowship, they also joined the community by gathering in the homes of the fellow disciples of Jesus to eat together and celebrated the Lord’s Supper as a church. And also, they joined the large groups and together they prayed for God to continue His mighty work of salvation to others to come to know the truth.

But for this talk, we need to look closer at the responsibility of fellowship. You must participate in fellowship. This is not an option, but the will of God for your life.

Our fellowship together is defined from the Greek word koinoônia. It means a strong partnership, close social union, deep communication, and common sharing. Like a piece of plywood, God wants our local church families to be glued together in such a union that the pulling apart of any one Christian will hurt and scar the group. Honestly, isn’t this what being best friends is all about?

1/ Christ commands us to become best friends with his disciples immediately when we follow Him

So first let’s look at the words of Jesus. In John 13:34-35 (NLT) “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35  Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

  • We are to love each other just like Jesus loves us
  • We want Jesus to be our BEST FRIEND, don’t we?

2/ Jesus commands this because He wants the world to marvel and desire Him also

This is why fellowship is essential and commanded: I want you to see how comprehensive the Bible is in its’ Love One Another Commands. First, the Lord clearly demands that we, His followers are to LOVE EACH OTHER. This is not an option or suggestion, but His orders to us. And He explains how far this is to go in our lives.

John 15:12-14 (NLT)

12  This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

13  There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

14  You are my friends if you do what I command.

So the foundation of friendship is fellowship which is based on the fact that Jesus commands us, does not ask us to “Love one another” [John 13:34,35; 15:12,17] And as we understand that “God is love” [I John 4:8], we then have our standard or measuring rod to give us specific instruction of what this means.

He does not mean to just be nice or friendly. God is the truth of love. If you want to understand love you look at God. If you are practicing love you must measure yourself to the absolute truth of love which is God and what He instructs in the Bible. What the Lord God does, says, and illustrates is love. And Jesus makes it clear, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Self-sacrificing love is God’s standard. “Agape” is the Greek term which explains this type of love, which is caring and giving with no strings attached or selfish demands for returned favors. No, only selfless giving. Love is given without trade or need of a return gesture or a pat on the back.

This is the foundation of how to measure genuine love. Therefore, His intent is that church people, His true followers that are miraculously born again members of His family, are expressing His love to one another in such an extreme way that it impacts the world so deeply that they become jealous of what all “those Christians” have.

And one more thing about this concept. Genuine love is defined as providing for and protecting the people you love [see Ephesians 5:25-32]. Again understand this, it is a measurable and visible action, not something hiding deep inside people’s imaginations. Fellowship is the Biblical opportunity for the expression of God’s love to fellow believers, your BEST FRIENDS.

To be concise, God commands his people to love one another and then breaks down how to do it with many descriptive “one another” commands. These actions are the actions of BEST FRIENDS!

So let’s start with what is to take place when the church gathers together. For example, Paul instructed the new local church in the city of Corinth, Greece [1 Cor 12-14] that all prophecy [public speaking and preaching the word of God] is for all of them to fellowship together by encouraging, building up, and comforting each other when they gather together on Sunday. Is this not what best friends do?

Is this not what best friends do?

The rest of the “one another commands” are actions practiced, mostly without public speaking, but with “agape” attitudes and actions cemented together, and practiced no matter when and where Christian friends are together – and whether all or part of the church family is in one place.

And this is why this is the completely new way of life or the new counter-culture created by God for His followers. And never forget, that is what sets us apart from the world under Satan’s control. God intends to have a new society on earth, His called out ones, just like He has in heaven which is glowing with love.

Today we are scattered in local churches all over the world in the same way our country puts ambassadors in other countries. God established the local church as the embassy of the Lord Jesus, allowing the foreigners and enemies of God to see what they are missing. God loves the world and sends us to reach them with the Kingdom message.

So now let’s focus on the Lord’s commands for the weekly worship gathering for the rest of this article. What is your responsibility when you gather with your friends to worship the Lord?

1/ FELLOWSHIP MEANS WE GIVE A WARM WELCOME TO OUR FELLOW CHRISTIAN

“Greet (embrace, hug) one another” [Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Peter 5:14] Obviously this means to care as much for a Christian as your own family member and show it by the genuine warmth of CLOSE FRIENDSHIP. We easily show our care to our family, but it takes a risk to do this at “church.” You must choose to love your fellow Christ follower the way Jesus loves that same Christian.

And there are no exceptions in God’s command. The person you do not like is the first one you must warmly reach out to and greet. In obedience, you choose to love as Christ tells you to. If you have a problem with someone, the way it is cured is “to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” This means you choose them to be your friend, and you choose to do whatever is necessary to sacrifice for them until they know you love them. “The man of many friends [a friend of all the world] will prove himself a bad friend, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 (AMP)

2/ FELLOWSHIP MEANS WE HUMBLY BEND TO THE PASTOR’S LEADERSHIP

“Submit to one another” is voiced in (Ephesians 5:21) and the context clarifies it by telling wives to submit to husbands and children to obey their parents. In other words, God has established family roles and an order of authority delegated in His wisdom and by His divine commands. Humility and servant attitudes are greatly valued by God, not the ungodly. So intentionally subordinate yourself under your authorities by helping and pleasing them.

Here’s what Jesus said, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ 26  But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.” Luke 22:25-26 (NLT) So obey your pastor’s leadership and follow and submit to your ministry team leader’s directions.

“He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, ‘Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.’” Mark 9:35 (NLT) Christ is looking for those who are driven to serve, not take control; help a friend, not bully someone.

Peter adds, “In the same way, you younger men must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, serve each other in humility, for ‘God opposes the proud but favors the humble.’” 1 Peter 5:5 (NLT) True fellowship involves submission to God’s ordained authorities, and Americans have a lot of pride, so work hard at this. Also, friendship is to be real between the young and the elders. “I am a friend to anyone who fears you— anyone who obeys your commandments.” Psalm 119:63 (NLT)

3/ FELLOWSHIP MEANS WE LOVE OTHER BELIEVERS ENOUGH TO WARN THEM OF SPIRITUAL DANGER

“Admonish (caution and warn) one another” [Romans 15:14; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16] Just like any member of your immediate family [children, brothers and sisters, etc.] Christ expects you to caution and warn other Christians when you see them doing wrong or erring in judgment. This is clearly explained, in Hebrews 3:13 (NLT) “You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.” This will take love to risk a backlash or rejection, but fellowship is expanding your love into a deep friendship, not with the intent of condemning or taking control over others. Loving care will drive you to say something when you see a Christian friend in real danger.

4/ FELLOWSHIP MEANS WE LOVE OTHER BELIEVERS ENOUGH TO BE HONEST LIKE CHRIST IS TO US

“Tell the truth to one another” (Colossians 3:9) Be completely truthful to each other and do not try to deceive or hide the facts. Truth mingled with grace and mercy allows transparency in your friendships.

“Who may worship in your sanctuary, LORD? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.” Psalm 15:1-3 (NLT)

Every word must be given through love, not revenge or fear.

5/ FELLOWSHIP MEANS WE LOVE OUR FELLOW CHRISTIANS BY ENCOURAGING THEM TO KEEP ON KEEPING ON THROUGH EVERY SITUATION AND NOT GIVE UP

“So encourage each other” (1 Thessalonians 4:18; 10:25) The Holy Spirit indwells all true believers. His presence releases grace, which is the divine influence on the Christian’s heart causing new holy desires to obey and please God.

The same Greek term used of the Holy Spirit is used in this “one another” command, but speaking of us makes it clear that we must come alongside each other to invite, invoke and cause each other to desire God’s will and the hope of heaven. Hebrews 10:25 (NLT) commands, “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

We must motivate all believers to obey and trust Christ through the everyday struggles. We must become like individual coaches and come alongside them and help them achieve victory over sins, problems, etc. We must be the friend that encourages, again and again, so that our friends know that through it all, we can and must be overcomers!

6/ FELLOWSHIP MEANS WE LOVE EACH OTHER ENOUGH TO HELP OUR FRIENDS GROW AND MATURE

“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) Like a house builder, we must help construct each other’s spiritual faith, or in other words, we must lean into each other’s lives, and help build each other up in the faith. We are to confirm the truth of what God teaches and strengthen them, by giving testimony of answered prayer, by affirming the changes God has made in our lives by His grace, and by reminding others of His Word. We are called to build our brothers into spiritual leaders and help them become complete [mature] disciples. Only lifelong friends can do this!

7/ FELLOWSHIP MEANS WE ADMIT OUR FAULTS OPENLY FOR THE HELP WE NEED FROM OUR FRIENDS

“Confess to one another” (James 5:16) This takes guts! you are to openly acknowledge your weaknesses and sins to other believers for the sake of needed support and prayer. If you really love Jesus and want to please Him you need help. Pride hides sin and suffers, but humility dares to ask for help and gains spiritual freedom. Overwhelming problems demand the hands of many friends.

 

8/ FELLOWSHIP MEANS WE SPEND REAL TIME PRAYING FOR OUR SPIRITUAL FAMILY

“Pray for one another” (James 5:16) We tend to pray for others with great needs or crisis situations like tragic disease or accidents. But the Word tells us the main focus of our prayers is to be very specific.

“Epaphras … always prays for you that you will grow to be spiritually mature.” (Colossians 4:12a NCV) “May you be able to feel and understand … how long, how wide, how deep, and how high [God’s] love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves” (Ephesians 3:19a TLB). “I pray… that you will always be eager to do right” (Hebrews 13:21 CEV).

“I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him” (Romans 15:13a NCV). “I pray that the glorious Father … would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation” (Ephesians 1:17a GW).

Only by crying out to God for deliverance and grace can anyone be set free from their bondage and spiritual blindness. Read the group prayers of the church in the book of Acts. Learn what to pray for and join others in seeking the Lord through group prayer meetings with best friends.

9/ FELLOWSHIP MEANS WE SERVE AND HELP OTHERS BY USING OUR GRACE GIFT TO HELP THEM EVERYDAY

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” (1 Peter 4:10) Discover your grace-gift [Romans 12], and put yourself to work serving your fellow believers in the church. For example, if you are a servant, clean the church building without being asked and not grumbling that others do not help. Agape love never needs recognition.

Set the rest of your fellow saints free to serve you and the Lord with their special abilities, by serving them first, because their gifts are different than yours. Don’t make them feel sorry for you! And do you know what? This actually means to become deacon-like [slave-like] with your gift and do all the menial tasks that are attached to your gift to show endless love to your church family while you glorify God by laying down your life for them.

10/ FELLOWSHIP IS MAKING A JOYFUL NOISE TOGETHER TO GLORIFY GOD WHICH ACTUALLY HELPS YOUR CHRISTIAN FRIENDS

“Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19) As we worship the Lord God together in music, we do not just worship God, we also strengthen and teach one another as we sing together. Your passionate worship builds up others. Music is a great way to memorize scripture and Biblical concepts. Corporate worship electrifies the soul of every believer.

For now, remember… FELLOWSHIP is living life together as a church full of BEST FRIENDS united in a strong partnership, close social union, deep communication, and common sharing.

It only works when it is driven by God’s love deep inside you, no political or antichrist social order forced upon men will ever duplicate this powerful life. So when you personally take these commands seriously, obey them joyfully, and freely give yourself to your local church you will begin to really experience the Kingdom of God here on earth!

Also, remember what Jesus expects of you. “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.”

Don’t miss part 3 and as always… For more answers go straight to the Book, the Bible. Thank you for reading the TRUTH BLOG for Narrow Road Followers of Jesus.

Randy Bell
30 Jul 2017

Kingdom Life Principles

The Power of Prayer

 

Narrow road followers of Jesus practice the power of prayer: Our local church is called to be a House of Prayer and our duty is to cry to God for help for one another and the salvation of our neighbors and friends.
 
Randy Bell

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.” Acts 2:42-43 NKJV.

“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” [James 5:16] The explosive, intense, and spirit empowered begging of a righteous Christian brings supernatural results!

As the early church gathered together they studied the apostles’ doctrines; they responded and affirmed God’s Word through mutual fellowship [edifying, encouraging, caring, and helping each other as a group]; they faithfully united together for communion [love feasts according to Jude]; and prayed together with intense crying to God with all their hearts to expand His Kingdom through His power.

For example, Luke reports in Acts 4:23-31 (NLT2):
23  As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said.
24  When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—
25  you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying, ‘Why were the nations so angry? Why did they waste their time with futile plans?
26  The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the LORD and against his Messiah.’
27  “In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed.
28  But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will.
29  And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word.
30  Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31  After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

Like a four legged table or a cake mix of various ingredients, God blesses the church and works when all four elements are operating together. This is the secret of explosive spiritual growth and blessings.

A Call to Care!
“For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:20,21 NKJV Even Paul found it hard to find sincere, mature saints who would focus on obeying Jesus.

God’s will for every believer is a ministry to the church and a mission to the world. We are needed to care enough to serve the body of Christ and be a united team reaching out to the lost world of people. We must keep ourselves strong and healthy and love God with all our strength in expanding the Kingdom of God. We must work together to mature and help others grow up spiritually. Also, we must love God enough to follow His will and unite our efforts with the other Christians in evangelism.

A Call to be a House of Prayer!
Our one and only source of spiritual power is Almighty God. That renewing power is only released through much fervent prayer. The hypocritical heartless type will not move God to action, only the heart rending, soul stirring emotional outcries of a desperate people will. If we need a miracle we must ask, seek, and then KNOCK! And then continue pounding on Heaven’s door until He rises up and answers! Jesus taught it this way…

Luke 18:1-8 GW
Jesus used this illustration with his disciples to show them that they need to pray all the time and never give up. [2] He said, “In a city there was a judge who didn’t fear God or respect people. [3] In that city there was also a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice.’
[4] “For a while the judge refused to do anything. But then he thought, ‘This widow really annoys me. Although I don’t fear God or respect people, [5] I’ll have to give her justice. Otherwise, she’ll keep coming to me until she wears me out.’ ”

6] The Lord added, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge thought. [7] Won’t God give his chosen people justice when they CRY OUT to him for help day and night? Is he slow to help them? [8] I can guarantee that he will give them justice quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Our Lord looks at saints who keep praying under hopeless conditions as the ones who really have faith. Did you notice that in verse 8? It is not those who sit back and “accept their fates” that Jesus is looking to bless. And He certainly is not blessing those who “trust” God by accepting injustice.

We have been warned that when Christ comes back it will be like the days of Noah. “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days of the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Matthew 24:37-39 NKJV

It does not matter that the Bible predicts that the end times will be filled with godless people, doing godless things while living, drinking, marrying, working, and simply ignoring God. They will be so consumed with their selfish pleasures they will not realize their wickedness is angering God.

You are to be on the narrow road with Christ Jesus your Lord. You are not to accept this, tolerate it, or join them in heartless, self-centered living. Despite the warnings from Noah, all the people ignored God’s call to repentance. ALL the people died and entered hell.

Jesus rebuked the Jews in Matthew 21:13 (NLT2) because they did not care for the people all around them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!” And Paul reveals in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT2) that we, the church, are God’s temple today! “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” 

The Almighty expects us to act like Noah, by joining with other Christians and warning the perishing wicked, AND being a House of Prayer by gathering together and wearing out the Father with our cries to have mercy and turn them from their sin. We must continually come to God with requests for rebellious sinners. He will bring a herd of “lost souls” into the safety of the church. He promised! Those who Christ finds crying for souls to be saved at His coming are the ones who really have faith.

Will the Lord Jesus be able to say that you really have faith?

A Call to Share!
“The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God.” [Psalm 9:17 NKJV] “When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.” Ezekiel 3:18,19 NKJV

The Apostle Paul is our example. He stated: “Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.” Acts 20:31 NKJV. Do you notice the heart felt caring, persistent warnings, and emotional outpourings Paul confesses he had for the city of Ephesus. This went on for three long years of obeying his call to preach the gospel. It was not heartless, like we see in America today, but an agonizing experience of love. And here is his call…

Acts 26:16-20 (NLT2)
16  Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. You are to tell the world what you have seen and what I will show you in the future.
17  And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles
18  to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’
19  “And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven.
20  I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do.”

With a passion, he cared for the lost, warning everyone about their danger of God’s wrath that will come to them. In sinful rebellion, men will perish, which is an unpopular belief in our day of tolerance and atheism. Our new scientific knowledge puffs up our world leaders in such pride that they think they do not need the Living God. Our culture has thrown off the shackles of God’s Laws and made their own rules! But the Creator of life will not tolerate their rebellion, and His justice will be fair and everlasting.

Final Warnings
God judges this way … “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you…” 1 Samuel 15:23 NKJV Partial obedience is rebellion against His Law.

His established Ten Commandments are the foundations of His holy nature and character. Any move from these is seen as a threat to God’s sovereign rule. Iniquity is the bent heart of stubbornness of ignoring God’s will that leads to actively living out your will instead of God’s will, no matter what you claim you believe with your mouth. Stubbornness and self-willfulness are just as evil as outright anarchy through witchcraft and idolatry.

It takes genuine love to care enough for others to risk rejection and harm, while you try to warn them. Heroes are always those who risk it all to save others. Hollywood is built on fables and myths of invented heroes, but God’s kingdom is built on real, eternal heroes. Will the Lord come back and find you full of care, insistent faithful prayer, and the eagerness to share the Good News?

E. M. Bounds wrote, “That which has been done in spiritual matters can be done again, and be done better. This was Christ’s view. He said: ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on Me, the works that I do he shall do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.’ The past has not exhausted the possibilities nor the demands for doing great things for God. The Church that is dependent on its past history for its miracles of power and grace is a fallen Church.”

“God wants elect men – men out of whom self and the world have gone by a severe crucifixion, by a bankruptcy which has so totally ruined self and the world that there is neither hope nor desire of recovery; men who by this insolvency and crucifixion have turned toward God perfect hearts.”

“Let us pray ardently that God’s promise to prayer may be more than realized.”

, , ,