Part Three – Five Vital Signs of a Believer – Fellowship with likeminded Believers.
Five Vitals of a believer continued.
Fellowship with Like minded believers below is a check list of the 5 Vital signs.
The 5 Vital signs of a Believer.
1. Read and study the Word of God
2. Praying and speaking in Tongues
3. Fellowshipping with Like Minded believers
4. Financial Giving
5. Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ (witnessing)
Yesterday we looked at the second vital sign of a believer which was praying and speaking in tongues. Today we will look at the third vital sign which is fellowship with like minded believers.
As we grow in our relationship to God, by reading and studying His word and praying to Him and speaking in tongues much in our personal life, the desire in our hearts grow that we want to fellowship and be with other like minded believers. The reason the desire is so strong to fellowship with other believers is because we have been strong, in our reading and studying of God’s word, and praying to God and speaking in tongues much in our private life as well as living and applying what we are learning. The first two vital signs of reading and studying the word of God and praying and speaking in tongues are the beginning of our foundation as Gods children. As we begin fellowshipping with other like minded believers we begin to grow stronger and stronger, because of that fellowship with one another, the desire to share the word of God will grow in us, the encouraging words we are listening to through that like minded fellowship will be feeding our desire to know more, so we can live it more, then the desire will grow to share Gods word with other people by witnessing to others what God has done for us. Our fellowship with God will reflect in our relationship and fellowship with others.
In the book Act on the day of Pentecost when God ushered in the age of Grace by sending holy spirit and the Apostles spoke in tongues for the first time. It says the about three thousand souls, that Peter had just boldly declared God word too was added to the church.
Let us read this record in the book of Acts.
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Act 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
The about three thousand souls that gladly received Peters word continued in the apostles
doctrine, see they just did not hear it got blessed for that moment and then went on their
merry way, the words that Peter spoke were Gods words energised by the spirit of God in
him, and it pricked the hearts of all that heard his words. and the ones that received his words
gladly also continued in the words, they hung about they were hungry they wanted more, the
rest of the record in Acts 2 shows you there was great respect among every one and they eat
food together, they prayed together, and because of the love and respect for the words they
were being taught and the humbleness of their heart, towards God and each other, many
wonders and were done by the apostles. we will look at verse 44 -47
Act 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
Act 2:45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
Act 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their
meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Act 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
I love verse 44 it says all they that believed were together and had all things common
the ones that believe will always been together and be likeminded on the truth of the
word of God spoken in love. There are times in my past that I was not really fully believing
and I did not really want to be with those who were believing, and the same is true for others
too, when your believing is hot you will want to be with other hot believers, but when your
believing is low, you may not feel like being around the ones that are hot.
Verse 44 says they sold their possessions and good and parted them to all men as every man
had need. They were so blessed by the Apostle and words they spoke they sold the things that
was not a need in their lives and gave to those who did have need.
Verse 46, say they continued daily with one accord (unity of purpose, like minded) in the
temple and eating together from house to house with gladness and singleness of heart.
These wonderful believers were so blessed so built up with the apostle words from God to
them that they wanted to be together they made sure every bodies need were met, not just the
Apostles, see it was not about what they could get but rather what they could give.
Act 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people.
And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
These guys hearts were on fire they praised God together as well as within their own hearts of
thankfulness and they had favour with all the people, they were not bible bashing others but
they were witness of Gods great grace and love, living in their lives and they were having favour
with all the people. Others saw the favour of God in the lives of these wonderful first century
church believers, setting a wonderful example for us to follow.
In this record of Acts 2:41-47 we can see these vital signs alive and living in these
Wonderful believers lives, which God had recorded for our benefit and blessing.
when we are looking to God and desiring what He what in our lives then we run
Gods way not the worlds way. We too will be strong and hot with God having a heart for
the things of God and to live unto Him with our Hearts. Our heart towards God should be not
what can you do for me God, but Father what can I do for you.
2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
The word communion in this verse comes from the Greek word koinōnia which can mean partnership, participation, or to fully share God by way of Paul is showing us that we are no longer unrighteousness but we are righteousness through the accomplished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Now being born again of the spirit of God we are light not darkness. and the two, light and darkness, do not mix together for example if the room is dark and I turn on the light the room is no longer dark if I turn the light off then darkness is there again, showing us light and darkness do not mix together. God is lovingly showing us that believers and unbeliever do not mix together, one will have dominance over the other and that is why we need to be strong in the 5 vital signs we are looking at, so we can by our lifestyle of living the word of God, have favour and win the hearts of those in darkness and bring them from darkness to light
Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
The Book of Ephesians is address to the faithful in Christ Jesus, and the instructions here is to have no fellowship, the fellowship here is translated from another Greek word sugkoinōneō which can mean to share in company with, be partaker of, communicate.
God is again is showing by way of Paul to share no company with the unfruitful works of darkness (unbelievers) company is the people we hang around with and if they are not like minded with you and you are not strong on the word and in relationship with God they can pull you down and win you over, and the way we reprove them is again not just with our words but also by our life style which is living the word.
Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
We are not talking about the local council here, we are talking about guidance the word counsel here means guidance where there is no guidance the people fall, but in the multitude of counsellors this safety. so here we can see the wisdom of God, showing us it is good to be in a multitude of advisers (other strong believers and leaders) that can help us make wise choices in our lives.
Psalms 133:1 A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Behold God wants us to dwell (abide) together in Unity, the word Unity can mean. properly a unit, God is showing that it is good and pleasant for brethren to abide together properly as a unit.
Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
God is showing us from this verse that He wants us, to make effort to guard the oneness of the spirit in the bond of peace.
so we have had a brief look at fellow shipping with like minded believers, and how important it is now we are born again of God spirit to walk in this new life living unto God and following His direction, so we can be a witness to others in our living and life style and set an example to others, of the love God has for us and the world, and shine as those light because we are set free by the power of God and we stay free by continuing in His word.
Much love
Laurence xx
Below is an audio teaching, titled the Importance’s of fully sharing
Teaching By Laurence Torr – Audio Duration 29:23
Click here to Listen
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