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Date: 8/22/2021 4:50:32 PM ( 3 y ) ... viewed 768 times
6 Things All Christians Need to Look for in the Company They Keep
by: Michael Jakes
| Pastor, writer
2021 the 20th Aug
Have you ever wondered why people, young and old alike, tend to behave differently in a group than they do alone? It’s a powerful dynamic that can cause push some over the edge to things that they would not normally do.
Speaking personally, I can recall several times as a young person, following a crowd to do mischief and mayhem. I can remember in junior high school (they call it middle school now), playing tag during lunchtime outside the school. There is nothing strange or improper about this except that we played it on the rooftop of the buildings beside the school, and would literally leap the several feet between the buildings playing the game.
This leap could only be done if we got a running start, but we did it. What was the purpose of this risky behavior? Was it fun?
Absolutely. But I’ve thought about all this many times over the years, and have concluded that though we were young and felt invincible, and we never had any accidents, we were very foolish.
It was unfortunate that we took our lives in our hands all in the name of fun. I’ve also concluded that though they were my buddies, and my pals, this was a case of bad fellowship. We were empowered through the presence of one another to behave dangerously. There is no way, had I have been alone that I would have performed such a stunt.
There are other actions that we can be led into by those we keep company with. The truth of scripture rings loud here. We read in 1 Corinthians 15:33, ‘Do not be deceived, evil communications corrupt good manners.’ Our lives will be negatively or positively influenced by the company we keep. We need good fellowship to spur us on to good works.
Good fellowship will help us to navigate through difficult times. We all value our privacy to a degree, but sometimes we need an ear to spill on, or a shoulder to lean on. Knowing that our ultimate comfort comes from the Lord, and that we do not put our trust in the arm of flesh, God has, however, built this organism called the body of Christ which functions at its peak when we are having good fellowship with one another.
In Acts chapter 4, the newborn Church had just encountered its first bump in the road. Opposition had begun to raise its ugly head, and it would only be the beginning. This opposition yet exists today and it is all because of the name of Jesus. We find Peter and John being arrested and jailed all because they healed a man who was lame. We read from Acts:
They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Acts 4:7-10
After being warned and released, they were warned not to speak anymore in Jesus’ name. What would they do? What would you do? In the face of opposition, we must be careful that fear and intimidation not overtake us. Upon their release, we read a powerful statement that is sometimes overlooked:
And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. Acts 4:23, KJV
Did you catch that? It’s easy to miss. They went to their own company. I love this! What does this mean for us and what kind of company do we need? Allow me to share with you six powerful keys to fellowship with the saints that you and I need to know.
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1. We Need A Believing Company
Peter and John went to a company that was like them; they had things in common—the most important of which was Jesus. We need to see our brothers and sisters in Christ as family; not blood relatives as we understand it, but yet we are related through the most powerful blood of all—the blood of Christ.
This blood unites us and brings us into fellowship with our Lord and with one another. This is the company that we have. We have believed on the only begotten Son of God who has given us life everlasting. This is what the company believes. They were believers, and they went to other believers.
2. We Need an Empowering Company
When we speak of a company in our context, we are speaking of a group of people who will stand by you and support you. Through their very presence, they will empower you to make right decisions.
An old saying states that, ‘You can’t fly like an eagle if you’re walking with pigeons.’ Eagles are majestic in their ability to soar, while pigeons on the other hand, have been perceived as being ‘rats with wings'. And while the moniker does not entirely fit them, the comparison between the two birds are stunning.
Peter and John were no doubt both strengthened and supported in the presence of their brothers and sisters in the Lord, and they were all empowered to continue the work the Lord had called them to do. This empowerment of course came from the Spirit Himself.
3. We Need A Like-Minded Company
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. Acts 1:14
One of the keys to the success of the early Church was of course the Spirit working through the disciples, but this could not have taken place were it not for the fact that they were in one accord. Sprinkled throughout the book of Acts we find this phrase, and it is powerful. It means to be of the same mind, i.e., like-minded.
Another way to describe it is that they were in complete harmony with one another; like a finely tuned symphony. This dynamic would come into play as they cried out to the Lord. We must be careful not to allow the accuser of the brethren cause us to break fellowship with one another; this will effectively break the fellowship which we need to have. We cannot hate our brother whom we have seen, and love our God whom we have not seen (1 John 4:20).
4. We Need a Praying Company
Do you have a passion for prayer? A consuming desire to cry out to Him? A company that has a passion for prayer knows the power and preciousness of time well spent with Jesus.
When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. Acts 4:24
We need those to whom we can call on when we need prayer. If we are honest, we all need prayer more than we realize. A praying company will lead you to the throne of God where grace and mercy can be abundantly found.
5. We Need A Praising Company
As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 2 Chronicles 20:22
Praise is a powerful and underutilized weapon. Through it, Satan is thwarted and confused; burdens are lifted, depression flees and oppression is defeated. A company who knows how to lift Jesus higher, will experience the joy and strength that they promise.
6. We Need a Bold Company
A bold company is a company that is not easily put to flight or intimidated in spite of threats or opposition. When haters come to hate, the company will be prepared to stand their ground and not give up.
Remember the story of my foolish behavior from the beginning? Because of my company, I was emboldened by my comrades to behave recklessly with no benefits except for the fun of it all and the boost that it gave to my pride. The right company on the other hand, will result in certain other benefits. These benefits include necessary spiritual intangibles such as encouragement, comfort, and even correction. These are just some of the direct results of good Christian fellowship.
As we continue to walk with the Lord, let us seek out the company of those who will not harm or halt our walk, but rather those who will go out of their way to keep us in our place. We need the fellowship of those who will lift us up when we’re down, reassure us when we become frustrated, and inspire us when we’re overwhelmed. Let us continue to provoke one another to good works!
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Lyndon Stratford
Michael Jakes is an Associate Pastor, Bible teacher, and writer. He is co-founder of That’s The Word! Ministries, a distinctly Cross-centered outreach. He hosts several live weekly podcasts, including "The Bible Speaks Live," and "The Cutting It Right Bible Study." Michael is also the author of two books, The Lights In The Windows, and Churchified Or Sanctified? He and his wife Eddye have been married for over 40 years, and reside in New York. You can follow him on Facebook and Youtube and listen to his podcasts on Spreaker.
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