Day 14- Forty Days of Fellowship- Better When We're Together

10/11- Saturday Ecclesiastes 4:8-12- 8There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless— a miserable business! 9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. 11Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Bonhoeffer: [when we eat together]…We share our bread. Thus we are firmly bound to one another not only in the Spirit but also in our whole physical being.  The one bread that is given to our fellowship links us together in a firm covenant.  Now none dares go hungry as long as another has bread.”

Thoughts: Fellowship with others is important for it helps us to leave a legacy- giving meaning to work (4:8).  Fellowship allows the synchronicity and serendipity of labor.  Two can do more together than two separately.  Fellowship is lifting another up and allowing someone to lift us up.  Two can keep warm better, fend off attackers better, be intertwined and strengthened better.  In other words, life itself teaches us that fellowship is important- despite dangers or difficulties of being together.  Someone said that where two or three Presbyterians get together there is food.  Eating together is a visible way that we share and encourage.  The Lord knew this- so communion is an encouragement to us to sustain us on our journey. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to believe that fellowship is better than isolation.  Help me to want to work together with others fro your glory.  

There is an organization in our church, affiliated with the deacons called "Helping Hands."  It helps with a meal when someone is sick or grieving. 

3/13- Declaring God’s Glory with Supporting Montreat Conference Center- Acts 2:1; Rev. 7:9-10

3/13- Declaring God’s Glory with Supporting Montreat Conference Center- Acts 2:1; Rev. 7:9-10

When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. (Acts 2:1)

⁹ After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Rev. 7:9-10)

Thoughts: These two great and important verses speak of the power of Christian togetherness.  We are designed to be together.  Christianity is a religion of holy love.  Holiness is shown here too: The Holy Spirit was just about to come on these Christians who were together in Acts 2 in a powerful way- giving birth to the Church.  In the Revelation passage the holiness is found in that what drew everyone together was God.  They were standing before the throne of God praising and singing to Him.  Jesus said, "When two or three are gathered together in my name- there I am in the midst of them" (Mt. 18:20). That is the minimum.  But these passages illustrate the maximum.   When the whole church is together- there is real power, real holiness, real togetherness and the ultimate presence of God.  At Pentecost it was the whole church- no one was left out (no denominations then).  In Heaven it is the whole church- no rooms made up of different denominations there!

      So in a smaller scale- when we are together in holy love here on earth in mass, there is a sense of the Spirit of God.  This is one reason why mega-churches are still growing- there is a sense of excitement brought on by working together, studying together, doing missions together that cannot be done easily in smaller churches.  Yet places like conference centers (like Montreat) are often places of spiritual excitement and answered prayers.  It shows easiest at our youth conferences when youth groups made up of five or ten or thirty come together with thousands singing to God, having fun, reading the Bible and praying.  This is one reason why our church continues to support conference centers like Montreat.  When conference centers have this image of heaven coming down to earth or Pentecostal refreshment as their purpose- the centers flourish. 

Prayer: Today, Lord we pray for conference centers all over the world (especially Montreat).  We ask that you would continue to make a way for thousands of Christians to gather together in holy love.  

(Montreat Conference Center youth conference)

(Late Medieval rendering of saints gathered in heaven)

Here is a praise song that is based on Rev. 7:9-10 (hope it doesn't link to a ad first- but it may)