Fellowship Over Ministry.
Often times than not, we as believers, limit the Holy Spirit. Either in our minds or, in our lives. There’s more the Holy Spirit wants to do in us than through us. I have found that the easiest way to limit the Holy Spirit is to focus on what he wants to do through you, rather than in you. Everything He does through you should be an overflow of what he’s done, or doing in you. In other words, “Let your ministry be an overflow of your fellowship”. Ministry without fellowship is entertainment. Ministry without a life of consistent fellowship will only lead to a frustrating, and burdensome life.
Jesus Christ is a great example when it comes to Fellowship over Ministry and He never started any ministry until He was anointed of the Holy Spirit. Acts 10:38 says, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with Power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by the devil for God was with Him” Mark 1:35 gives us an insight into how Jesus depended on his fellowship with the father to carry on His earthly Ministry “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” The Ministry of Jesus Christ was one that was built on His fellowship with the father.
How about the early Apostles? At the apex of Paul’s ministry, he wrote a letter to the Church in Philippi, and in verse 10 of chapter 3, he wrote “That i may know him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto his death”. I find it not only amazing but a lesson in this very verse that Paul wrote, that even though he had done many miracles in the name of Jesus, healed the sick, and cast out many demons, Paul’s desires remained a deeper fellowship with the Spirit of God. He said “That I May Know Him…” He wasn’t talking about awareness, rather fellowship, communion, and oneness with the Holy Spirit.
Whenever we set aside fellowship, and focus on ministry, we begin to limit the power of the Holy Spirit within us, we limit how deep he wants to take us, how far he wants to use us. Let us go back to a place of fellowship, where our faith is revived and strength renewed.
Questions and Reflections:
How has your fellowship with the Holy Spirit being lately?
If you were Jesus or even Apostle Paul, haven’t done these great miracles, would you still find a need to fellowship?