In our modern day, believers live in a dangerous paradox. We exist in an era where technology has made access to spiritual content easier than ever before; one can easily access endless sermons on streaming platforms from the comfort of their homes.

Sadly, this has brought in a wave of individualism, that feeling that one can do their worship on their own terms, devoid of the local assembly. Many have grown unattached. No accountability, no real spiritual family, and no safety nets for when they stumble. This is a radical departure from God’s design. From the very beginning, even before time, God’s pattern has always been fellowship and relationships.

Yesterday, we learned how this relational paradigm was evident in the Godhead and how, in creation, He extended this preexisting relational attribute to man when he established the institution of marriage and gave them the mandate to be fruitful and multiply. This is the heart of God. God intended for His people to walk and live within a community.

You have a family in God!
You see, when you were saved, you were not just saved in isolation. You were saved into a family—brothers and sisters; fellow siblings in Christ. This is no ordinary family. This is a family that’s built on the foundation of Christ: through Christ, we have Sonship in God.

Hebrews 2:10-12 
‭New King James Version‬‬
10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12 saying: “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”

This is amazing! This isn’t ordinary. Through Christ, we’ve been made sons, legitimate heirs of the family of God. But it doesn’t end there. We know this because the Apostle further explains that God is our father.

Romans 8:15-17 
‭New King James Version‬‬
15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

God is our father! Hallelujah! Paul says we can now cry, Abba. We now have access to God. We know this because we have received the spirit, the spirit which bears witness with our spirit that indeed, we’re God’s sons. You’ve been adopted, grafted into the family of God.
And in His Benevolence, he has given the mechanism for this family to thrive—the gift of men.

The bible explains that God gave this family apostles, prophets, pastors and teachers charged with the responsibility of furnishing. The Greek explains that these men are given to build up God’s family.

This is God’s design. His age-long pattern of using men to enrich men. He has structured that the work of growth and spiritual edification is done by His set men. You see, Spiritual growth never happens in isolation. You cannot grow into the fullness of Christ outside of His body.

God’s gold mine for maturity is the local church, with a shepherd or pastor presiding over it. It’s in this family structure, where you’re settled and committed, that you’ll be rooted, that growth is established.

See how much emphasis Paul placed on the importance of a ministry gift in the growth of the family:
Philippians 1:23-25 
‭New King James Version‬‬
23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith

Paul is at a crossroads with two paths—to either go be with Christ, or to remain and continue with the Church.
As blissful as the former is, Paul exemplified the responsibility of every ministry gift, choosing to remain with the church because, with his presence, they would inevitably experience growth and progress in the faith. The result of this was evident in the early church—how they conducted themselves in fellowship with one another.

One of the marks of spiritual growth is love for the saints. This foundational truth is established in:
Acts 2:42-47 
‭New King James Version‬‬
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Can you see the progress? How remaining in doctrine proves evident in the love for the saints. It says that they sold their property and divided the returns for those in need. This is unconventional—it’s the strength in fellowship. Even more so, because of the love that was evident between the saints, the text we read said there were many signs and wonders done amongst them. Where love thrives, the supernatural flows easily.

The amazing thing is this isn’t exclusive to church leaders and pastors. Anyone, so long as they’ve believed the gospel, can flow in the supernatural. This is why the Apostle Paul calls every member of the body of Christ a supplying joint, such that every part does its share in, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

So, a believer must never be in isolation. He’s described as a member of the body, a channel that supplies the supernatural, beneficial to even the whole body. You cannot grow in isolation because God has distributed grace gifts across His body. Isolation is a thief of spiritual maturity. You cannot grow into the fullness of Christ by yourself because you need the supply that comes from others, and they need the supply that comes from you. We must be joined and knit together—not just loosely affiliated—to see the increase that comes from God.

Hebrews 10:24-25 
‭New King James Version‬‬
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

We’re instructed not to forsake the gathering of believers. Isolation reduces the potency of love and good works. You need a community! Love and good works, not devoid of each other, thrives in fellowship. 
In fellowship, we can bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) and rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15).

There is Strength in fellowship.
So today, I charge you, take advantage of your family in God. God has established this for your benefit, for your edification. Know that you are not little in God’s design.

Prayer Point
Father, thank you for the family you have given me. Today, I stand knowing what you have afforded me in adopting me into your family. I do not take gatherings lightly, and I stand as a supplying joint, ever edifying my siblings for the growth of the church.