Phil 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Phil 1:3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
Phil 1:4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,
Phil 1:5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,
Phil 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;.
Blessings all, these words from the Apostle Paul speak volumes of his love for the Lord, the saints and the church.
As I read it, I could relate to every word. Remembering all the saints, praying for them, and appreciating good fellowship in Christ! I have met some wonderful saints over the years, and the thing that brings God’s people together and strengthens relationship is prayer and fellowship!
Paul confirms the word of the LORD spoken by Luke in Acts 2 after Pentecost, when the power of God was poured out in Jerusalem!
Act 2:42, And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
These are virtues that we all need as individuals and corporately as the church, which strengthen the church, and our walk with Christ! There is an old saying that many of us know. “A family that prays together, stays together.” How many of us know, there is something about the prayer that mends our hearts together as we pray.
In other words, there is an anointing when two or three are gathered together in the name of the LORD, and when we agree as touching, it will be done by our father in heaven! Matt 18:19-20
David said in Psalm 133:1-3, “How good and how pleasant it is when brethren dwell together in unity.” If we could really understand the concept of unity, and understand it isn’t about titles, status, or who has this or that, which means nothing to the LORD, truth be told. But prayer and fellowship will strengthen our relationship!
You see prayer and fellowship are not bound by these things. Because every believer and every church needs prayer and fellowship. If you don’t have either one, you will not survive!
Many times, people break fellowship, and we know it happens at times, but the main thing is to keep the peace of God through love, honor and peace. And then there are some, who don’t like to fellowship! But as a member of the body, we need prayer and fellowship!
The Bible says in Prov 27:17, As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
Ecclesiastes, the book of wisdom tells us:
Ecc 4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
Ecc 4:10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.
If we truly understood the power of prayer and fellowship, we would do it more often, because they strengthen relationships, not only in families, friendships but most importantly in the church!
The Bible says that after the people continued in the Apostles doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers, that fear came upon every soul!
Acts 2:43, Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
Why? Because they saw the spirit of unity among the people of God.
If your relationship is shaky with another brother or sister, I guarantee prayer and fellowship will shift the friendship, relationship or church atmosphere! Because there is power in prayer and there is power in fellowship!
Let us always stand strong in prayer and in fellowship, praying for one another, and the church. And let us never forget to stand strong in the Word, and follow the Word, because in it we get the victory in Jesus Name!
God bless, Pastor Quinn