So often during the course of life. we may find ourselves at a crossroads of sorts. You may meet someone who talks to you and changes your life radically in such a way that you never dreamed possible.
It was shortly after New Year’s Eve of 1974 that I found myself needing something new. I had passed out from smoking hashish that night and missed the festivities that I had looked forward to for some time. “OK – something’s gotta happen”, I remember telling myself. What I didn’t realize I lacked in my life was spiritual light. I had plenty of adventure but no spiritual light.
Then not to long after that I was talked to – witnessed to, if you like – by a person I knew who told me about a group of people meeting each week and talking about the Bible. I didn’t care one way or the other what they were talking about, but it just sounded different.
So I found myself going to my first Bible study fellowship in Berkeley, CA. Life has never been the same since: and here we are, 42.2 years later. Yes, it is God’s Word that made the actual change, but that change has got to happen in people. At that time I was introduced to the Body of Christ. I found this to be a very major, positive change over being with the ‘stoner’ crowd. An understatement now – but that’s how I felt at the time.
In Acts 2:23, the Apostle Peter preached that wonderful teaching after having received holy spirit. In Verse 37, the people responded, “…what shall we do?’ What a wonderful, honest question! Until you hear God’s Word, what are you going to do? Well, you can blow in the wind for a lifetime – or you can do what Peter told them to do: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
This is a spiritual thing made available for people who want to know spiritual matters.
That group of people in that apartment in Berkeley in 1974 wanted to honestly know spiritual matters and I found out that I did too. To really get to know spiritual matters, you’ve got to fellowship – ‘hang out’ – with the Body of Christ.
Acts 17:11 tells us, “These were noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” The point is not the lack of nobleness of the Thessalonians, but the love and discipline of the believers who searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were do.
As part of the Body of Christ, our greatest responsibility is to God. Work His Word daily and speak in tongues as much as you can think to do. You just can’t do this on your own; God didn’t design us to do this on our own. We need each other, to be with each other, to love, to pray together; to search the scriptures daily together.
Ephesians 6:11 tells us, “Put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Don’t think for one minute that you’re going to be able to do this by yourself. The adversary will have you for breakfast before you can put your shoes on.
You need to have fellowship with other believers, as much as is possible. Even if you’re in the middle of nowhere, do what you can to be with other believers and talk to God about fixing it. God will always make a way where there doesn’t seem to be a way.
1 John 1:3: “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.” (KJV) Great fellowship wouldn’t you say?
Acts 2:44: “And all that believed were together, and had all things common.” That should be us! Verse 46 says: “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house (in the home) did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.” Verse 47: “Praising God and having favor with all the people…”
I can’t speak for you, but this is the way I want to go, because I like to praise God and have favor with other believers. And as corny as it might sound, when I try to do this, it helps me to have funglimpses. Thanks for reading! Will Grove