“Each one of you is part of the body of Christ and you are chosen together in peace” (Col 3:15CEV)

Life is meant to be shared. The Body of Christ, like your own body is really a collection of many small cells. God has made an incredible promise about small groups of believers.“For where two or three have gathered together in my name, I am there in their midst” (Matt 18:20) The Real Fellowship:

(1) In real fellowship people experience authenticity. They share their hurts, reveal their feelings, confess their failures, disclose their doubts, admit their fears, acknowledge their weaknesses and ask for help and prayer.

(2) In real fellowship people experience mutuality. Mutuality is the art of giving and receiving. It’s depending on each other. Read 1Cor 12:25,Rom 1:12; Col 3:12)

(3) In real fellowship people experience sympathy. Sympathy is entering in and sharing pain of others. Sympathy meets two fundamental human needs (a) the need to be understood; and (b) the need to have your feelings validated. The simplest levels of fellowship are (a) the fellowship of sharing and (b) the fellowship studying God’s Word together.

(4) In real fellowship people experience mercy. Fellowship is a place of grace, where mistakes aren’t rubbed in but rubbed out. Fellowship happens when mercy wins over justice. You can’t have fellowship without forgiveness. God warns, Never hold grudges (Col 3:13) Forgiveness is letting go of the past. Trust has to do with future behaviour. Forgiveness must be immediate. Whether or not a person asks for it. Trust must be rebuilt over time. (Rick Warren)

PRAYER LINE: My father and my God, help me to appreciate real fellowship with brethren, This I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

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We’re never without a helper because we have the Spirit within.