JESUS SPEAKING
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Mathew 18: 19-20.)
INSPIRED THOUGHTS
The word ‘Amen,’ so commonly spoken at the end of most prayers, essentially means ‘I agree.’ ‘Amen’ is an expression used when two people have finished praying together. Like so many Christian practices, prayer is meant to be exercised in community (as well as alone.) No one can have a full relationship with God until they share Him with others. When two or more gather together to celebrate Christ his Spirit is made manifest in the heart of every believer; those who are weak become strong; doubt is replaced by faith; the empty are made full, and every weary soul becomes glad. An isolated Christian is a Christian who is weak and vulnerable to attack. To avoid fellowship with believers is to avoid fellowship with Christ himself.
I have been answering prayer lines at my church for nearly two years. Over that period of time I have been able to make some profound observations. Those who are not involved in a church fellowship, or a small group bible study, suffer great difficulties. Many isolators are doing drugs and struggling with grievous sins; nearly all who remain detached are in some kind of continual crisis. On the contrary, those who express a spirit of joy are actively involved in service work; they usually attend a small group fellowship; most have made close friendships with other believers; and nearly all of them intimately share God with those who call Jesus their Lord.
Are you involved in a fellowship today? Do you have close Christian friends that you pray with regularly? Is your experience with Christ exercised in community, or in isolation? If you are not plugged in to the body of Christ, go down to your church and ask them about weekly fellowships you might attend. They usually have lists, and you can always find one that fits your schedule. Make friends with other believers, and pray with them daily; become a part of God’s family and be renewed by the Holy Spirit. Without fellowship, you will never know the fullness of God’s power in your life.
“Lord heavenly Father we come before You and ask that You help us to be members of Your body. We desire to share You with others, and to be in fellowship with our eternal brothers and sisters. May we draw near to one another as we all draw near to You. May Your Spirit flow freely between us. If we have isolated, give us opportunities to fellowship with others and to grow strong. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you.
Jesus Speaks 