Prayer For Fellowship With Other Believers

Praying to Have Fellowship with Other Believers

One evening, years after we were married, Michael and I had a heated argument as we were getting ready to go to a friend’s house for dinner. We had misinterpreted each other’s intentions and said words that were hurtful and pain-provoking. I was reduced to tears and he to silence.

Great! I thought. The last thing I want to do feeling this is be with other people. I silently ran through a list of reasons we could possibly cancel, but they sounded too feeble so I resigned myself to the evening.

During the entire drive to our host’s home we sat in silence, except for Michael’s asking, “Are you not going to speak to me all night?” To which I cleverly replied, “Are you not going to speak to me all night?”

I started thinking about the couple we were going to visit. Bob and Sally Anderson were one of the first Christian couples Michael and I had befriended after we were married. We had a lot in common, including our children.

Their daughter, Kristen, and our son, Christopher, were born about the same time and had become good friends.

We loved being with them because they were solid in their relationship as well as their faith, and we knew there weren’t going to be any weird surprises in store for us.

It was as if the goodness of the Lord in the Anderson family had rubbed off on us and we were strengthened by it.

This kind of thing happened so many times that when Pastor Jack exhorted us to “be in fellowship with other believers” and waved his hand across the congregation as if to get his sheep moving, I understood the need for it.

More Than Just Friendship

The word fellowship sounded strange and “churchy” when I first heard it. It reminded me of tea and cookies after a missionary meeting or a potluck dinner in the church basement.

I’ve since discovered it’s much more than just coffee hour. The dictionary definition is “companionship, a friendly association, mutual sharing, a group of people with the same interests.” In the biblical sense, it’s even more than that.

“Fellowship has to do with a mutuality in all parts of your life,” Pastor Jack taught us. “You bear one another’s burdens and fulfill the law of Christ.

You pray for one another, you love one another, you help one another when there is material need, you weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice.

It’s growing in an association with people who are moving in the same pathway you are and sharing with each other in your times of victory or need or your times of trial or triumph. It’s growing in relationship.”

Fellowship is instrumental in shaping us.

The Bible says that we become those we spend time with and good friends sharpen one another just as iron sharpens iron (Prov.27:17).

This is reason enough to spend time with other believers, but there is even more to it.

Inside the Church

First and most basic of all, it is very important that you find a church home and spend time with that body of believers in Church.

I certainly understand if you have been hurt or burned out by a church, but please hear me out. No two churches are a. Each has its own personality. Some are great, some good, and some not quite what you hoped they’d be.

Somewhere there is a church that is right for you, and you need to ask God to help you find it.

The next important indication of a good church is that you sense the love of God there and you receive it in abundance from the people. Some churches make an outgoing display of love, yet others who are more reserved may be just as genuine.

If you pick up feelings of pride, competition, selfishness, self-righteousness, or coldness, determine whether that is the overall atmosphere or an isolated case. Remember that in any church you could find someone to exemplify these traits. Ask yourself if you generally feel love and acceptance there.

You also need to be aware that you can’t go into a church and demand that people love and care for you. You can communicate your needs, but you can’t dictate how others should relate to you.

If you go to a church that doesn’t believe in being born again or being baptized, you need to find a church that does.

If the pastor can’t bring himself to talk about the Holy Spirit working in power in your life and the members of the congregation don’t praise and worship the Lord, you haven’t found the right place yet.

God can’t work as powerfully in a church that limits Him and doesn’t practice certain basic steps of obedience.

Continue to look until you’ve found a solid church you can call home.

If you are in a church where you’re miserable, get out. It’s hard to receive God’s love and life from a church you detest. This is not license to “church hop” whenever the pressure to grow is on, but don’t fall for the “Now we gotcha!” trap either. Leave any church that tries to control your every breath.

Once you accept Jesus, you have eternal life whether you ever go to church or not, but I’m talking about living in the fullness of all God has for you. I’m talking about expelling the pain from deep within and living in love, peace, and joy. I’m talking about doing God’s will.

Certain visitations of God’s power happen only in the midst of such gatherings of believers. Make it a point to be a part of that.

Outside the Church

There is also strength in being with believers outside the church. When you make friends with people who follow the Lord, there is a strong bond of love that makes other relationships seem shallow. Such friendships are the most fulfilling and healing. They can also be the most frustrating because we expect Christians to be perfect when in reality only Christ is perfect.

It’s helpful to think of all fellowship with believers as beneficial: the pleasant encounters are healing and the unpleasant ones are stretching. When you run across believers who stretch you more than you feel you can handle, don’t turn away from God. Remember, He is still perfect and good even if some of His children aren’t.

God always loves and respects you, even if a few of His offspring don’t. I know that nothing hurts worse than a wound inflicted by a brother or sister in the Lord. Having been wounded many times that myself, I am forced to remember that we will be imperfect until we go to be with Jesus. So we need to be merciful to those who “stretch” us and forgive quickly.

Besides, we are probably stretching others ourselves.

The Bible says we should “not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14), but this doesn’t mean you have to avoid them.

It just means that your closest relationships, the ones that deeply touch and change your life, need to be with believers. Ask yourself, Am I a godly influence in the lives of my unbelieving friends? If so, then consider the relationship good.

However, if they influence you away from God and His ways, then cut off the relationships immediately.

If your spouse is not a Christian, don’t let his or her negative response to Jesus keep you from receiving the Lord’s restoration for you. Check around for a Christian prayer group, Bible study, or a group with similar interests. I know someone who joined a Christian arts and crafts group and found great healing.

If our first goal in any relationship is our own fulfillment, we will ultimately be let down or disappointed. As painful as it is, we have to give up that desire and lay it at Jesus’ feet.

However, there may be times when we have done all we can do in a relationship and it is still filled with problems. As hard as we try to make things good, a certain person may always leave you feeling depressed, angry, insecure, frightened, or hurt.

When that happens, it is best to let the friendship go and give it to God to restore or remove as He sees fit.

Fellowship is a step of obedience that expands our hearts, bridges gaps, and breaks down walls. It encourages, fulfills, and balances our lives. All of this is necessary for spiritual well-being and a fruitful life in the will of God.

Prayer

Lord, I acknowledge my need for other people. I ask You to lead me to relationships whereby I might grow in You and Your will might be fulfilled in me. Show me what steps to take to see that come about.

Tools of Truth

Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another. — Hebrews 10:24-25

Practice hospitality. — Romans 12:13 NIV

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. — 2 Corinthians 6:14

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. — 1 John 1:7

Excerpted with permission from Praying God’s Will for Your Life by Stormie Omartian, copyright Stormie Omartian.

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Your Turn

We need the fellowship of other believers in our lives! Do you have a church home? Church family? If not, start today! Come share with us on our blog. We want to hear from you! ~ Devotionals Daily

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GATHERING TO WORSHIP TOGETHER Bible Verses

Corporate worship is a time designated whether daily or weekly when Christians gathering to worship together as one body of Christ. By doing so, they are not only obeying God’s commandment to assemble with fellow Christians to worship.

Also they show reference and gratitude to God for everything he has done.

Bible Verses in Hebrews 10:25 say about gathering to worship together: “Do not forsake meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the day approaching.”

It’s always an awesome moment when you look down the row while in a church or Christian gathering and see people of all ages worshiping God in their own unique way.

The scripture helps us to understand why worshiping God with other believers is essential.

Bible Verses let us know about that fellowship is the place where believers can love one another (1 John 4:12), obtain spiritual growth and encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25).

Worship is celebrating God for who He is. So worship is a way of reaching God and telling Him we acknowledge Him as God over us. It’s also showing our desire to submit and obey His will. Gathering to worship together brings believers together as one family.

Abraham was called the friend of God, he earns this great title not because he was too perfect but possessed a willing heart of worship (James 2:23) ready to sacrifice his only son to God.

Worship could be in form of singing, preaching, giving or prayer as seen in the book of Psalms where King David wrote different inspirational worship Prayer to God. We pray during worship even though worship is more than just prayer.  One of such worship prayer is seen below.

Worship Together Prayer

Oh Lord Jesus, we are here today to bless your name, please accept our worship and bless us. You reign over all and there is none you in the world and the world to come. The earth shook and heavens drop in your presence oh God.

We put our trust in you knowing that you will never leave neither forsake us. We will lift up our hands and voices to sing of your goodness and loving-kindness.

Let our mouth be filled with your praise all the days of our lives, bless the LORD oh, my soul who has preserved us from all evil, our soul shall continually worship you and love thee forever. Amen

This worship prayer shows worshiper acknowledges God and gives total surrender to his will while trusting his word. God is also recognized as a sovereign being with mighty power over all he has created. Prayer is an effective way of communicating with heavenly father and talking to him a child speaks with his earthly father.

Importance of Gathering to Worship Together with Other Believers

Today, many people worship one thing or the order whether consciously or unconsciously. People worship cars, money, position, power, football clubs, musicians, and some even worship deity.

It really amazes me how people that claims to be Christian still fails to worship together with other believers in the church or any Christian gathering, forgetting that Corporate worship is a sign of a true believer and also a commandment of God for his children because he deserves it, desire it and will surely bless us for it. Aside from this, our participation during the fellowship and practicing of what we learn is indeed of a great importance for our spiritual growth. (Hebrews 10:24-25) says “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

It’s Biblical Mandated – Bible Verses about Gathering to Worship Together

Christian fellowship is a biblical order that we must follow. As a true believer that loves God and want to obey him, we must not depart from gathering with other believers of Christ.

All Christian are one body of Christ, Hebrews 10:24-25 says, we must not forsake meeting together.

By worshiping together with others in the church we are able to partake of the Lord’s Supper, according to 1 Corinthians 11:26 which is the public proclamation of the body and blood of the Lord Jesus.

It Helps Encourage Each Other

Christian fellowship helps many folks during the difficult period to stay fit and keep their faith strong despite the situation they might be going through.

wise, a new converted Christian or believer will never reach full spiritual maturity without the assistance and encouragement of other believers (1 Corinthians 12:21-26). One main important of Christian gathering is to encourage and help one another as one body in Christ.

Worship should edify believers, that is, whatever a Christian say or do should help others to be a stronger Christian not offending one another.

It Keeps us Stronger

When God’s children are gathering to worship together, they stay stronger as fellowship gives strength to the weak and sick ones among us. It is a great avenue to learn and grow in our faith. When the world seems to turn against us leaving us in a difficult situation, this could lead to fall of many if care is not taken.

Corporate worship helps us to keep track and stay fit through the hearing of God’s words, prayers of the saint and testimonies of others. The book of Matthew 18:19-20 says “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them”.

  God’s spirit binds us together as one during worship.

Corporate Worship Helps to Understand Bible Verses

During worship with others that share our faith, we listen to the scriptures and word of God through the preacher. The word is broken down to our understanding while the listeners applied it to their daily life. wise, we are able to interact with spiritual leaders or fellow Christian.

This helps us get to know more about things that are not clear to us concerning the scriptures. It however important to always pay attention to church sermon and jot down what we learn from the scripture.

After the corporate worship experience, believers must ensure that they practice what they were singing, praying, and preaching. This helps to be closer to Christ.

Many Benefits are Attached to Gathering to Worship Together

Aside from honoring and glorifying God through worship, there are many benefits that come along when Christians worship together. Worship usher worshipers to God’s presence forgetting anything else while the main focus is totally on him. It creates a sense of being nearer to our maker.

In corporate worship, we receive spiritual blessings, grace and feel great joy in our heart. It helps grows our faith in Christ,  strengthens our mind while it removes doubt and gives us strong hope. It reminds us of eternal life in Christ, the reason we must keep moving on the Christian race.

Worship is contagious and this can lead to a non-believer attending a church service surrendering to Christ after a divine encounter.

Importance of Corporate Worship

For many Christians their week is incomplete without Sunday service which is regarded as the first day of the week. The blessing proclamation the church normally share at the end of the worship alone means a lot. Corporate worship act as a food for the soul.

It’s just the fuel that helps move cars to its destination. Corporate worship brings unity and touches the heart of God when his children worship him in truth and spirit. Although going to church does not make one a Christian.

True believer will always desire to be in the gathering of other believers. Worship is a lifestyle all Christian must embrace. True worship is knowing the worth of God and accepts to give him the best of everything you have.

So give to God your time, talent, money, and your deeds just Abraham and many apostles during their time. Let’s worship together!

Also read: PRAISE AND WORSHIP – Most Important Prayer

Источник: //prayray.com/worship-together/