Godly fellowship as a witness
“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.” (KJV) 1 Corinthians 15:33-34
One of the outstanding duties, privileges and joys of the Christian life is the opportunity to belong and share our thoughts and aspirations with God our Father and other believers through godly fellowship. Do not underrate the power and potential of godly fellowship because it forms the root upon which every Christian grows and develops. You need to get roots before you can bear fruits in all aspects of human life including spirituality. When we see how Jesus chose the Apostles and worked with them, we begin to appreciate the importance, and the necessity, as we strive daily to follow the perfect example He left for us in terms of godly fellowship.
Life now is complex and challenging because of the scientific revolution and modernism in general. A lot of things are pushing and pulling Christians from identifying who we are and what we are called to do. Sometimes, many lose focus in pursuit of spirituality because of the distractions that are being offered by the world and the enemy. All the distractions by the world and Satan are directed towards disrupting godly fellowship that forms the foundation of Christian growth and maturity.
There are many appropriate ways to express our love to God: by praying, singing, obeying, trusting, giving, testifying, listening and responding to his Word, thanksgiving, and many other expressions. God - not man - is the focus and centre of our worship and godly fellowship.
Although unbelievers cannot truly worship, they can watch believers worship. They can observe the joy that we feel. They can see how we value God’s Word and how we respond to it. They can hear and see how the Bible answers the problems and questions of life. They can notice how worship encourages, strengthens and changes us. They can sense when God is supernaturally moving in an assembly, although they won’t be able to explain it.
When unbelievers watch genuine worship, it becomes a powerful witness. In Acts 2 - on the day of Pentecost - God’s presence was so evident in the disciples’ worship service that it attracted the attention of unbelievers throughout the entire city! Acts 2:6 says “a crowd came together.” We know it was a big crowd because 3,000 people were saved that day.
Brethren, godly fellowships are very critical for our growth and maturity in Christianity. Furthermore, it is a very powerful tool that can serve as a witness for unbelievers to see God. Do your best to be present and commit yourself fully to the fellowship of God’s people to receive blessings from God and witness to others. AMEN!