DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT WEDNESDAY - FELLOWSHIP IN THE CHURCH.

Our love to God is measured by our everyday fellowship with others and the love it displays." - Andrew Murray.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. - Acts 2:42.

It was no coincidence that our text was written in this order; TEACHING leads to FELLOWSHIP; fellowship leads to COMMUNION; communion leads to PRAYER; prayer leads to fellowship with Him.

The church is the only cooperative society in the world that exists for the benefit of its non-members. - William Temple.

I once was asked by a friend, what my ‘proficiency’ was in Church Planting (we are in our 12th Church Plant in 22 years), and I replied: “Acts 2:42-47.” These are the verses that have underpinned our ministry.

Yes membership in a confessing body is fundamental to the faithful Christian life. Failure to do so defies the explicit warning not to forsake "our assembling together." His understanding of this prompted Martin Luther to say, "Apart from the church, salvation is impossible."

Not that the church provides salvation; God does. But because the "saved" one can't fulfill what it means to be a Christian apart from the church, membership becomes the indispensable mark of salvation.

"So highly does the Lord esteem the communion of His church," Calvin wrote," that He considers everyone a traitor and apostate from religion who perversely withdraws himself from any Christian society which preserves the true ministry of the word and sacraments." - Charles W. Colson.

If we have solid teaching (especially the teachings of Christ), then the rest of the principles follow; resulting in; awe, many wonders, miraculous signs, unity, giving, joy, excitement, sincerity, praise, worship, happiness with all the people, and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved! What a wonderful God we serve!

When it was built for an international exposition in the last century, the structure was called monstrous by the citizens of the city, who demanded it be torn down as soon as the exposition was over. Yet from the moment its architect first conceived it, he took pride in it and loyally defended it from those who wished to destroy it. He knew it was destined for greatness.

Today it is one of the architectural wonders of the modern world and stands as the primary landmark of Paris, France. The architect, of course, was Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. His famous tower was built in in 1889.

In the same way we are struck by Jesus' loyalty to another structure--the church--which he entrusted to an unlikely band of disciples, whom he defended, prayed for, and prepared to spread the gospel. To outsiders they (and we) must seem like incapable blunderers. But Jesus, the architect of the church, knows this structure is destined for greatness when he returns. - John Berstecher.

WE ARE THE FAMILY OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD , LET US FELLOWSHIP TOGETHER, FOR HIS GLORY!

Loving Father, I thank you for your word that teaches us that fellowship with each other is important. Lord. By the power of the Holy Spirit, help me to continue to live out all of these principles. In the wonderful Name of Jesus I pray. Amen

Be encouraged!
GBYAY