You would agree that a good friendship or relationship is where both parties involved are investing equal amounts of intentionality and care into said relation. This doesn’t only stand true in friendships but also in relation between fellow believers in the church family.

Over the past few days, we have seen that koinonia, fellowship with the saints, ought to be the reality of every believer. We are joined together by the Spirit, we grow through shared spaces and intimate fellowship, and we are sharpened through accountability and truth.

Today, we take it a step further and also in a bid to wrap up this series. And our focus today is that fellowship is not just about what you receive, it is also about what you supply.

Let’s begin by taking a look at this Scripture:
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭15‬-‭16‬
‭New King James Version‬‬
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Notice that phrase: “every joint supplies.” This means that the growth of the Body is not dependent on one person only. It is not dependent on the lead pastor only— although his role is very important as the shepherd of the church, still, growth is not dependent on him alone. It isn’t dependent on just the pastorate of the church; that’s not what this verse says. Growth in the faith is dependent on every member. You are responsible for your growth and for the growth of others in your local assembly.

God did not design the Church for spectators; He designed it for participants. People who would give their hearts, time and giftings for the edification of the body of Christ. Every believer carries something: a grace, a gift, a supply. And when you withhold your supply, the Body is affected.

Romans 12:4-6
‭New King James Version‬‬
4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith

This text shows us the disposition we need to have towards fellowship with our brethren. Every member of the church functions as a body, as illustrated in this text, and we ought to act as such.
With the gifts of the Spirit, we ought to reach the hearts of other persons in the gathering of believers and edify ourselves in the Spirit.

The problem with a lot of us is that we seem to think we have nothing to supply and we are in no position to supply. We think our giftings are not sufficient or that we aren’t walking in the Spirit as well as the other church elders are, hence, we have nothing to offer.

But that isn’t true. No one is too small or insignificant to contribute to the things of God, just take a look at the people God used throughout the scriptures as a precedent for this. Each believer has a role, a supply to offer. When every joint supplies in prayer, service, giving, or teaching, the whole body grows in love.

Now, it is your responsibility to find that place where God would have you serve and function in their place within the fellowship, knowing that collective growth depends on your individual obedience.

Finally, we are to pray for each other, encourage ourselves in the word, be open to the holy spirit and be sensitive to discern need in your fellow brethren and supply to them. Why? Because that is what fellowship, koinonia, means.

Prayer Point
Thank you Jesus, for the opportunity to be a part of your Church in my day, thank you for fellowship with other brethren. I pray that from today henceforth, I recognize that I am not alone. I am built up and supplied by koinonia with other saints, and I supply to them as led by the Spirit.