My Faith Journey
Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 and Matthew 18:18-20
“For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” (Matthew 18:20)
We are good individually but better as a group. From the lesson of the solitariness of the miser, King Solomon pointed to the advantages of fellowship and partnership.
The Need of Fellowship (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).
Two people working together can be more productive and efficient. They can support each other and lift one another up in difficult time. Being alone, you may not have anyone to help in your time of need (v.9-10).
There is pleasure in having a companion to keep each other warm, the benefit of friendship that will not be felt by people who choose to be alone (v.11).
There is always safety in a group, either against attack or taking on a stand on issues to protect the group. This is the power accord to people who band together, working in unison (v.12).
The Purpose of Fellowship (Matthew 18:18-19)
This passage refer to disciplining members who choose to continue to live in sin. The binding and the loosing is the disciplinary action taken. The object lesson is the power of prayer. When people come together prayerfully and in obedience to the Word, God honour the action. He too, will ratify what has been agreed upon (v.18).
Like Ecclesiastes, the reference is not about large assembly, but about two or three believers gather together in fellowship and prayer. By the conformity to the revealed will of God and in faith, their prayer will be answered.
Christ as the Centre of our Fellowship (v.20)
When Christian gather together in Jesus name, they recognise Him as their Lord and Savior, and are will to submit to His authority in obedience to His Word, He will be in their midst. This is Christian Fellowship in its simplest form.
Application (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Make it a commitment to meet together regularly to encourage one another in the spirit of love and doing good deeds together. There will be tough challenges ahead, but as a fellowship, and with Christ as our Leader, we will overcome.
Prayer
Father, lead me to someone whom I can walk alongside with. Let this group be one that will care for each other and those outside the fellowship with the love of God. Guide me that I will not go astray. Keep me steadfast in your Word and in the fellowship of the saints. Amen.
Ecclesiastes 4:9 - 12
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Matthew 18:18 - 20
18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”