Living Without Christian Fellowship?

Living Without Christian Fellowship? Devotional Reading and Podcast

“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified, and with the mouth, one confesses and is saved.” –Romans 10:9-10

Whether someone witnessed the love and saving power of Jesus or the Holy Spirit spoke to your heart through an online sermon or listening to worship music to accept Jesus as your Savior, we must agree that the beginning of our journey with Jesus brought us joy and excitement.

But what happened next? Each of us has a personal testimony of struggle after our commitment to Christ. Sadly, many new believers become discouraged within three months and return to their former lives. Although there are various reasons, loneliness and church hurt are the top two reasons for giving up on God.

We cannot have the world and Jesus. The commitment to serving God requires us to give up our friendships with unbelievers. At times, we become entangled with individuals who believe in God, yet, they are not interested in living holy. Our walk with Jesus will separate us from our friends and family. The earthly journey prepares us for heaven where our Savior is preparing a forever home to live with Him in a sinless world.

Jesus spoke to the prophet Jeremiah regarding His love for believers: “…Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness, I have drawn you.” –Jeremiah 31:3

Christians have a spiritual bond with Christ. From Christ’s heart, we receive Agape love flowing from His heart to our hearts. Love allows us to have a deep relationship with Christ that begins on earth and will last throughout eternity

Because we are commanded to love others, we seek fellowship with other believers who can give us spiritual support, which helps us to persevere through hardships. Because we have renounced the world, our relationships should extend beyond attending church once or twice weekly.

It is a joyful occasion when those who love the Lord socialize with each other. Not only do we build loving relationships, but we can also freely rejoice in the goodness of God and help others in their time of need. Yes, believers share a spiritual bond because we love Christ, are blessed with the gifts of joy and peace and look forward to our heavenly reward of eternal life.

The Family of God: Through scripture, the apostle Paul tells us of God’s original plan and expectation of the family of God, for us to have loving relationships and fellowship with each other.

“And 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, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” –Hebrews 10:24-25

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” –Colossians 3:16

Let’s address the struggle of loneliness that many believers share in 2023. If God said it is not good for us to be alone, why am I alone? The answer must come from God. Pray and ask for the Holy Spirit to reveal your spiritual assignment.

Following Jesus’ baptism, He was led by the Holy Spirit to go to the wilderness for forty days and nights and to fast from food [Matthew 4:1-11]. God was preparing His Son for the anguish of rejection and suffering on the cross of Calvary.

God separates us when He is preparing us spiritually to use our gifts and talents for His glory and honor. During this time, we should pray, study the Scriptures, fast, and learn to listen for the Voice of God. The Holy Spirit speaks to us in many ways, He uses the Scriptures, places thoughts in our minds, and speaks to us during prayer, and sermons. Sometimes God will use a believer to whom you have not revealed anything to provide spiritual guidance.

The most important aspect is for us not to become discouraged, but to remain patient and obedient during our time of preparation.

“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” –Revelation 21:2

Church hurt is misunderstood. In the Bible, the church is referred to as the bride of Christ. The truth is that people hurt people. Last week, I listened to a sermon and the pastor stated, “There are no mean Christians! To be Christ-like is to love others and treat them with kindness and respect.” “The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but He loves those who pursue righteousness” Proverbs 15:9.

Christian–Christ-like Characteristics

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such, there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, or envying one another. Galatians 5:22-23

“But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.” –1 Timothy 6:11

We cannot rely on our judgment when looking for a church home. As believers, we must rely on the Holy Spirit to answer the challenges in our spiritual journey. The best advice I received from another believer is to Pray, Wait, and Obey.

Pray and ask for God to reveal a Bible-based church that performs baptism by water immersion. Study Romans chapter 6 for the Apostle Paul’s explanation of baptism and its significance. Water baptism has spiritual significance, we are now dead to sin and experience a spiritual rebirth through Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ baptism is recorded in Matthew chapter 3. And we also learn of the Triune Godhead at Jesus’ baptism, God, the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

Link to the significance of Baptism: https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/1284.2

In Matthew chapter 28, verses 18-20, Jesus gives His disciples the Great Commission to Go and make disciples. Every Christian believer has been given the non-negotiable spiritual assignment of making disciples by witnessing the love and saving power of Jesus Christ. The only difference is how each of us will use our spiritual gifts to accomplish witnessing to others. Again pray for the Divine guidance of the Holy Spirit.

We have a great work to do before the Second Coming of Jesus! Focusing on oneself is a distraction that keeps us from fulfilling our spiritual purpose. Stay close to God. He will reveal your path and purpose.

Prayer: God, we pray for your disciples who are without support from fellow believers. Holy Spirit, we ask for You to comfort and reveal their spiritual gifts and how they should use them. Jesus, we thank You for Your love and sacrifice on Calvary. Please direct and give us strength. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.