The Pastor’s Pen

I wish to encourage you to value fellowship as our Lord values it. We live in a time when, people who call themselves Christian, increasingly live in wilful isolation from the Body of Christ, the Church. While in their minds, there may be circumstances and reasons that justify this condition, however, here’s the question begging an answer, “Is isolation the best God has for His redeemed people”?

Immunization against this vulnerability is found through raising our understanding of God’s design and intention for fellowship within the Body of Christ. In the Greek New Testament, fellowship (koinōnia), speaks of relationship with partnership, of mutual participation and communion, it expresses the very best of intimacy in a relationship.

It all started in the beginning, with mankind being created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), having the capacity to experience fellowship, as did God. The apostle John summarised the nature of this fellowship in 1 John 1:7, But if we walk in the light, as he (Christ) is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. The richness of authentic fellowship with fellow believers is made possible, firstly, because of the substitutionary blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. Faith in Christ taking our place on the cross activates God’s forgiveness for our sin. Secondly, genuine fellowship only occurs when we mutually walk in the light of understanding obedience to Christ as Lord, this is the expected result of Jesus cleansing us of our sin.

The apostle Paul further explains to the Corinthian believers, that it is Christ who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ’s persevering, securing work in us is because God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:8-9). God’s intention is to fellowship with mankind, through Christ’s fellowship with those who have Him as Lord of their lives. This fellowship is eternal by design, purchased by Christ’s death on the cross, is activated by our gifted faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9), is maintained by Christ, is interceded for by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26), and looks forward to when Christ will present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy (Jude 1:24). Simply put, fellowship is primarily about God, through Christ, energised by the indwelling Holy Spirit. We are simply the participants in this wonderfully divine relationship fellowship.

We should look at our fellow believers, who are no more imperfect than we are, and view them differently from every other relationship, because we recognize the uniqueness of the fellowship relationship that God has placed us in. Our fellowship with God is found in Christ, our fellowship with one another is equally found in Christ, and together, our eternally secure hope of Heaven is found  in Christ with one another. Fellowship is not optional, it is a sovereign working out of the mind, will, and mercy of God Almighty (Ephesians 1:1-14). This is a spiritual working of the triune God within us, as the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14) is manifest in the Body of Christ.

Understanding fellowship enables us to accept why we should not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14). Our privileged position of mutual fellowship in Christ should motivate purity, inspire united worship, spur us to look for opportunities to encourage faithfulness, and grow hope for the ultimate expression of fellowship in Heaven. Indeed, fellowship is a wonderful and exhilarating component of being together in Christ, but only when viewed as God sees it. When self is excluded, fellowship has unimaginable and glorifying potential. Likewise, Christian marriage holds earths’ highest potential for the richest of fellowship.

Being spiritually and physically together in the Body of Christ, the local church, is the only place we can worship together, encourage, build up, train, grow in the knowledge of the Word of God, grow toward maturity in Christ, prepare for evangelism, serve and meet the needs of one other. The church is to be the expressive body and life of Christ on earth, and we make it what it is together in Christ. The local congregation is where we lose ourselves in God’s love; we accept one another, forgive one another, are reconciled to one another, carry and support one another, place no earthly and unreasonable expectations on one another, give time and grace for change to one another, and pray for one another, etc.

A desire to be isolated from the church is sadly a desire to diminish and ultimately extinguish God’s design for fellowship in Christ. It’s a direct attack against the sovereignty, grace and Lordship of Christ as the Holy Spirit strives to exalt Christ within us. The great enemy of God loves it this way, to fragment, to weaken, and to make the Body of Christ impotent. The way to defeat that roaring enemy of ours, is to consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Today, praise God for the privilege of fellowship. Walk as a Spirit filled child of God, in the family of God, ruled by the Word of God. Be encouraged in this sometimes challenging part of Christian life. Encourage others who are outside of God’s will, to get back into fellowship so that God can bring glory to Himself through our fellowship in Christ.

I wish to encourage you in recognising the workings of God’s Word. In this sensation driven world, where spectacular is wrongly portrayed as normal, and there is constant pressure to outperform others, we believers in Jesus Christ rest in the unshakeable and unchangeable written word of God.

In the mercy of God, His Holy Spirit has gifted mankind with the inspired, living and active… word, which is …sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). The apostle Paul writing to the church at Thessalonica, encouraged the believers to recognise how God was working in their lives while they waited patiently for Christ’s return. Paul thanked God constantly… because they received… and accepted the Word of God …not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers (1 Thessalonians 2:13). The written word of the Almighty is timelessly authoritative and relevant. It’s never lazy, nor is it ever out of sync with the sovereign will of its author. Likewise, as Jesus prayed for His disciples, and for us by implication, Scripture is able to sanctify them in the truth; your (God’s) word is truth (John 17:17).

David presents possibly the most detailed and condensed catalogue of titles, characteristics, and benefits of God’s word in Psalm 19:7-9; The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
⁸ the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; ⁹ the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. God’s Word uniquely deposits divine absolutes into the human heart and mind. Truth trains the conscience, transforms the mind, and purifies the heart.  Once landed, that truth cannot be erased, nor can it exist without producing a result of some sort. Scripture does a spiritual work, a convicting work, and, when submitted to, a regenerating work. Truth is never inactive, in spite of our frequent inability to perceive it. We do however, get to witness it’s fruit, the response of its hearers, whether positive or negative.

The Psalmist rightly declares that God’s word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalms 119:105). Scripture alone provides present truth for the day before us, it also sheds truth upon the intermediate future that’s awaiting us, and it instils hope and certainty for the eternal future that is guaranteed us by the Holy Spirit’s presence. Not surprizing then, that David valued God’s Word, more to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb (Psalms 19:10).

If we want God to do His work in us, we must feed on His Word. As Jesus told His arch enemy in Matthew 4:4,“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”  God’s truth sets us free from self, sin and the worldly thinking that constantly tries to influence our Christian thinking and values away from God’s absolutes. Scripture never lays dormant, it’s never incapacitated, and it is never without purpose. It’s author never tires or sleeps, He never wastes words, and never speaks without predetermining the outcome that best gives expression to His will.

Be encouraged beloved, don’t settle for cheap imitations, never accept anything other than the genuine written Word of God. Consume it daily, surrender to its sanctifying truths, place it into the lives of others, and praise God for it.

Remember, God’s Word:

• Revives, regenerates the soul to eternal life
• Makes spiritually simple people wise, enlightening our spiritual eyes with understanding
• Generates assurance and security, while raising appreciation, then speaking out praise
• Causes the heart to rejoice, expressing faith and  hope

I wish to encourage you to rejoice in your weakness. The world would have you believe that any and all weakness that deprive you of fleshly happiness is bad, wrong, and unloving if caused by someone else. This is the grossest of errors at every level. Unfortunately, we Christians can easily buy into this wrong way of thinking if we are not careful to protect our minds through Scripture.

We tend to view our weaknesses as debilitating, and of no value. God, on the other hand, pro-actively employs our weaknesses as His vehicle, or tool, to achieve His glory in ways we never imagined possible. The Lord takes our inabilities, our painful struggles, even our deficient efforts, He adds His behind-the-scenes sovereign power, He stirs peoples’ hearts by His Holy Spirit, He coordinates events and so-called chance happenings, resulting in His providence – the working out of His perfect will in our lives. Most of the time, we’re not aware of His miraculous power at work, however, we often have the joy of seeing the results.

Our Saviour is not a harsh task master, rather, Christ is our high priest who… sympathises …with our weaknesses, …who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Be encouraged to view your struggles as your Heavenly Father views them, as divinely appointed and customised mechanisms for squashing self-dependence while increasing awareness and reliance upon the Lord’s intervening sufficiency’s.

The apostle Paul explains that while in Asia, the affliction they experienced… caused them to feel …so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself (2 Corinthians 1:8). Paul’s attitude toward his own vulnerabilities, difficulties, sufferings, sense of exasperation, and general human weaknesses, are explained in 2 Corinthians 12:10; ”For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong”. Paul recognised the essential opportunities for Christ’s purposes and glory offered by difficulties. He also understood that only through personal weakness can Christ’s strength be experienced, causing contentment. What a divinely difficult concept for our human hearts to accept.

James, the brother of Jesus, exhorts us to Count it all joy… when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  Realising our frequent failure to understand our struggles and inabilities, James offers spiritual relief by identifying that  If any of you lacks wisdom… in relation to your trials …let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him (James 1:2-5).

The apostle Peter, who knew the crushing reality of failure in his Christian life, uplifts his readers by reassuring them that God’s divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence (2 Peter 1:3).

When we are exhausted of all our ideas, energies, and resources, only then are we set free from self to lean in dependant faith upon Christ. Through prayer, we discover consolation in Christ and solace in His majestic character. Through meditation upon His Word, we find comfort from His sovereignty, we find relief through His providential working within our circumstances, we find peace and joy from the mind governing truths of Scripture, and we find hope in His Lordship over time and destiny.

I wish to encourage your appreciation of being “in Christ”. Appreciation, is one of those words we often associate with how we respond when getting what we want. Well, the opposite is true for the Believer! We appreciate God because we didn’t get what we wanted, or deserved. Instead, we got Christ! Furthermore, getting Christ was  purely because of God fulfilling His loving, sovereign will in our lives, and that for His glory!

We all used to be among those who lived for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:21). ​ You and I alike were dead in the trespasses and sins  in which you once walked… (Ephesians 2:1-2). But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, …made us alive together with Christ… (Ephesians 2 :4-6).

In 1 Corinthians 1:28-31 the apostle Paul heralds a profound gospel crescendo to the Corinthian Christians, declaring the staggering accomplishments of God, through Christ, for His glory and our blessing. God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.  And because of him (God) you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:28-31).

Let’s rise in appreciation today, speaking well of God, because He robbed us of all personal boasting by sending His Son to become wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption for us. Christ became everything that we could not do for ourselves, nor did we want to. Christ  fulfilled every requirement of His Father on the cross, meaning , we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1).  His substitutional death and resurrection has become for us everything the Father required, yet we were unable to satisfy. What’s more, God’s choosing of us had nothing to do with any beauty or merit on our part, but wholly because of His gracious mercy – His amazing love.

The more we focus on Christ, the greater our sense of appreciation becomes, because self-righteousness is excluded, starved of its boasting. Don’t allow the worldly attitude of thinking that the Christian life is all about you to have any place in your heart. This wrong perspective will deprive you of the blessings that come from selflessness. Rather, Christ centred thinking elevates God’s glory while growing our grateful appreciation for His undeserved salvation and the security we enjoy in Christ.

Remember, appreciation:

• Keeps our spiritual perspective correctly focused on Christ
• Expresses and extends our joy and hope
• Develops our longing for Christ’s return
• Draws the curiosity of the unsaved people you rub shoulders with, creating opportunities to share the gospel with them
• Is a passionate expression of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, as He focuses everything on Christ
• Unites believers together in service for the Lord and gratitude for each other
• Enriches our sanctification and spiritual maturity

I wish to encourage you to persevere in the faith of Jesus Christ. We live in a world pervaded by floating morals. We change whatever, whenever, and as often as deemed necessary to maximise pleasure. If this ever-floating attitude is allowed to exist in our lives, or in the church, the very essence of permanency of faith in Christ is lost. The best we can hope for is a floating, vague alignment with Jesus, which obviously, will come to an end when we think there is a better offer from elsewhere promising greater pleasure.

God’s Word speaks often of “steadfastness”, that growing quality of hanging in there, of stickability. Stickability best expresses genuine faith in Christ because it reflects God’s stickability in maintaining our secure position in Christ. It’s the Lord who is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one (2 Thessalonians 3:3), and even on those occasions when we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself (2 Timothy 2:13).

As the apostle Paul prayed for the Thessalonians, seeking that the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:5), we acknowledge our dependence upon the Lord to generate within us that determination to persevere. James, the brother of Jesus said, Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4). Here’s the point beloved, if we run away, we not only call into question the legitimacy of our salvation in the first place, but we rob ourselves of the opportunity to mature and attain greater Christ likeness. By running, hiding, or isolating ourselves from the Body of Christ, we steal away the potential for realising how we lack nothing in Christ, regardless of our circumstances. But worst of all, we rob God of His glory in the midst of our trial. And glory is what happens when He makes us complete through perseverance.

Even during the most difficult times, God’s sovereignty is dominant because after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you (1 Peter 5:10). Our Lord’s persevering grace predetermines that no temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13). It is the Holy Spirit’s securing, liberating, and persevering ministry within us, as we believers …beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).

Today, let’s yield to the Lordship of Christ, through the working of His Spirit, to make us persevere. Persevere for God’s glory, persevere for your sanctification toward Christ likeness and maturity, and persevere to encourage and embolden other believers in Christ. Persevere to challenge the unsaved in their lack of faith and emptiness of life. Persevere to leave a legacy for your children and grandchildren. Persevere for the sack of building strong marriages and resilient families that stick together in unity. Persevere as an act of praise to our risen Saviour, for perseverance in Christ is RIGHT!

Remember, perseverance:

• Glorifies God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
• Fuels assurance of salvation and builds the realisation of security in Christ
• Speaks a powerful testimony to the unbelieving people in your life of the authenticity of the living Christ
• Encourages fellow believers, particularly those going through difficulties
• Is a testimony to all angelic beings of the powerful working of the risen Lord Jesus Christ within you