So far we’ve looked at 3 ways to know Jesus better:
Praying, Reading the Bible, and Hearing the Word of God.
Each of these steps begins with Jesus alone. But now you are not alone. Once you came to the Good Shepherd, you joined His flock; we are “the sheep of His pasture.” So today, we are going to look at the 12 ways we can know Jesus better through Christian fellowship and worship
What is Christian Fellowship & Worship?
As a believer, you have been welcomed into the church Universal, and you are already a part of that eternal congregation, but there is more ahead. He has chosen you for a reason and wants you to grow, be a blessing to others, and build the kingdom of heaven.
However, in order to do this, we must spend time with other believers! Within a CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY you can experience so many different blessings.
1. Fellowship and Worship means Meeting other Believers/ Publicly standing for Jesus:
We are not meant to live a solitary life. God placed us all in families, and now that you belong to Him you will be surrounded by other Christians who will be a blessing to you.
After you are born again, which I discussed in Does Born Again Mean Saved? you must be baptized, and this is a public event. Jesus went through this Himself very publicly, announcing to the world that He was of the kingdom of heaven.
By being baptized you declare your salvation and passage from death unto life!
2. A Heavenly Model for Fellowship and Worship
As you gather with other believers you will find a fellowship where Jesus presides and reveals more of Himself to you as you bow before Him, sing His praises, and allow the Holy Ghost to work.
Jesus regularly went to the synagogue, and we must also go to worship with His people every week.
3. Hearing the Word is a Catalyst for Fellowship and Worship
God speaks through his Word and through the pastor’s sermon.
I recently heard about a study when 40% of what believers said blessed them in the sermon was not in the sermon!
And it is not only the sermon that delivers the Word. So do Sunday school lessons and testimonies of other believers and the prayers of the people.
4. Acountability in our personal spiritual walk is an Essential part of Fellowship and Worship
As we worship together the Word we hear will convict us when we fall short and remind us of the “holy calling” we have. I can never hear the Sermon on the Mount without realizing how far I have to go!
As we gather together we learn God’s standards and our own responsibilities and come to see His will for our lives. In fellowship we haves a place to confess our sins to one another and ask for help.
5. Fellowship and Worship encourage exercising the gifts of the Spirit
While the Holy Spirit often gives gifts to individuals directly, sometimes they come through “the laying on of hands” by the elders. Both Joshua and Timothy received gifts in this way, and in many cases the Baptism of the Holy Ghost followed the “Laying of of Hands.”
I will never forget and always remember how holy men and women of God laid there hands on me and gave me the gift of faith.
6. Experiencing Physical and Spiritual Healing
Believers are taught to call for the elders of the church when we are sick to be anointed with oil and promised that “THE PRAYER OF FAITH” will save, raise up and cleanse. (James 5:14-15) God has healed me of asthma and throat cancer through His goodness and mercy, but both healings were activated by the prayer of faith by my believing friends.
Always turn at once to Jesus and His people when sickness comes.
7. Fellowship and Woship means Receiving and giving others encouragement and support
I need encouragement every day. Many of us do. Following Jesus is not easy. We have to “take up our cross daily” to be His disciple. And sometimes we feel the weight of that “cross” so heavily we just want to take a break.
Our brothers and sisters in our fellowship will help. I will always remember Brother Richard, who gave out the hymnals in our church. As each one entered he would give them the book and then say, “Good morning, Ken. It’s so good to see you!” My spirits were lifted at once.
8. Gaining protection from spiritual attacks through Fellowship and Worship
Once we start walking with Jesus the devil challenges us. My Dad use to say, “The devil ignores you while you’re walking with him, but change your direction and watch out!” St. Peter tells us the devil goes about like a roaring lion seeking those he may devour, and you and I are on the menu.
We need to run to our church for protection. And not just the Sunday morning worship. Every believer needs to be in a prayer meeting weekly, to make known our requests and be attuned to those of our fellow believers.
Here we operate in the authority of Jesus and His Word and cast out evil spirits whose goal is our destruction.
9. Fellowship and Worship help build your faith
As we gather, we will hear the Word of God, and this will build our faith. So too will the testimonies of others’ answers to prayer and ways God has engineered the circumstances of their lives to bring them to the place He wants them to be.
It is through faith that we obtain salvation by grace and also become enlightened to the truth the Bible shows us. Faith is “the victory that overcomes the world!” (1 John 5:4)
10. Fellowship and Worship Helping the local congregation
Sometimes God will put us in a place that is in trouble, and in such situations, we can both learn and help. Many times just your presence will encourage saints who have felt neglected and abandoned by their loved ones and friends who have moved on.
You may be able to see and fulfill a need there, such as teaching, singing, praying, or simply encouraging others with a word of blessing and peace. Sadly, many churches no longer have Bible studies or prayer meetings, or Sunday schools, and you may have been chosen to meet such a need.
11. Building a city on a hill is one amazing goal of Fellowship and Worship
You and I are part of those called to be Christ’s church and to build His kingdom. As we fellowship with one another as He is in the midst of us, we become what the Apostle Paul calls“a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle…. holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:27)
Jesus tells us, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” (Matthew 5:14) As we shine for Him, we are building that city.
12. Spreading the Gospel through Fellowship and Worship
From that city, we hold up the truth and beauty of the Gospel, of the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We become missionaries, modern-day successors to those commanded to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.
And in the end, we will join with those believers of the past, present, and future in becoming His bride and enjoying forever our place in the kingdom and rejoicing with the angels over our great salvation bought with the blood of the Lamb.
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