Fellowship

In a fiercely individual society, there is a deep need for Godly fellowship. We struggle to acknowledge the need. We struggle to develop relationships where we can be honest and not in competition with one another. Yet, Acts chapter 2 describes the new church having fellowship that crosses racial boundaries, different backgrounds, and economic and social differences. What enabled them to “fellowship”?

Act 2:42

42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

There are four items mentioned. They studied the Apostle’s beliefs, communion, prayers, and fellowship. Three thousand people were saved on the day of Pentecost, and they initially remained in Jerusalem. They learned to fellowship. This life-changing event had occurred, and it radically changed them. This was the one thing that held them together. They had all been adopted into the family of God. They ate meals together, they worshiped together. This was the beginning of the church and this is what the church should look like today. People from all walks of life, with different backgrounds and experiences. I recognize that in the individualistic society we live in this is countercultural and counterintuitive. Take note of what Revelation 7:9-10 says, “9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Pentecost was a picture of what John saw in Revelation 7:9-10. John saw a family that was united around Jesus. Backgrounds, race, economics, victories, and failures did not matter, only a relationship with Jesus did. Stop today, look, who do you need to fellowship with today? Who do you need to get to know?