Hebrews 10:25:” not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Fellowship is an assembling of God’s children where every believer gathers in a well-built community. Generally, a fellowship takes place in a church and cell groups.
There are two kinds of fellowship: fellowship with the Lord (vertical) and fellowship with fellow believers (horizontal). These two fellowships must have a balance, which means we must have both. Why? Because they will build/produce true spirituality. We must love others the same way we love the Lord. It is impossible to love the Lord, but not others – especially fellow believers.
There are a few consequences that may happen when someone leaves the fellowship. First, they will experience spiritual dryness. In a fellowship, we are taught about the truth of God’s Word, receive spiritual refreshment, our faith is strengthened and our hope in the Lord is renewed. There is the presence of the Lord in a fellowship, Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” When there is God’s presence, there are also miracles, answers to prayers and many other great things.
Other than that, those who leave the fellowship tend to become individualistic. In a fellowship, we practice “one-another” lifestyle – we pray, build up, help and strengthen one another. The relationship with fellow believers will be wonderful when we build a good fellowship with each other. Having fellowship together will also bring a positive impact to our sympathy and empathy, and our willingness to sacrifice for others will be greater.
A fellowship is not only a gathering, it is also a vessel where believers grow together in the knowledge of the Lord and practice the Lord’s love with one another.
In the midst of the world that is becoming worse, let us be more diligent in our fellowship. We will receive many blessings, physically and spiritually. 1 Timothy 4:8, “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.”
hs/Publishing Team, IBC Church