The Gathering of the Saints

Dear beloved:  The third leg of walking in the Spirit is to fellowship on a regular basis with the saints, to gather with them as the writer of Hebrews encourages us in Hebrews 10:24-25 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, v25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.  It is vital in our walk with the Lord that we gather together to encourage and stimulate one another to love and good deeds.  Although many are tempted to stay home and watch television evangelists or listen to radio ministries, the Lord desires that we meet together where we can look at each other and see with our own eyes how our brothers and sisters are doing; do they need prayer, do they need encouragement, do they need financial provision?  These things we can only discern by gathering together with the saints.

The hallmarks of the early church were four things:: Acts 2: 41-42 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls. v42 And they were continually devoting themselves to the 1) apostle's teaching, 2) and to fellowship, 3) to the breaking of bread, and 4) to prayer. The saints recognized and responded to their need to gather together in fellowship.  If we are not in a regular fellowship, it is easy for the devil to isolate and trick us and then remove us from our walk in the Spirit. The importance of the fellowship has been impressed upon me many times by the Lord.  He gave me a dream before I started preaching a crusade in Kibera, Nairobi, that the intercessors for the crusade would be the inmates from the fellowship at the correctional facility where I preach on a regular basis.  In the dream, about 40 inmates were lined up shoulder to shoulder, with their blue jeans, blue shirts, and red hats on, and they were standing on the ground between the platform and the people in the audience receiving the message.  The Lord was saying, these men from the fellowship will be your prayer intercessors and your covering, they are standing strong for you!

John wrote, when writing about his fellowship with Jesus, in 1 John 1:3, what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His son Jesus Christ. v4 And these things we write that our joy may be made complete. v7 but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.  Beloved, give thanks for the fellowship, for the saints that are standing with you, and you with them, so that we can all by our presence with each other and with the Lord Jesus Christ, move forward in His kingdom. Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! May God bless you this day as you move forward in the fellowship.  in Christ, Jim