I would like to share this part of a writing by T.A. Sparks. It is entitled Spiritual Warfare.
We meet spiritual antagonism in seeking to win souls for Christ, because it is only in this way that the Church is born. When, however, the full thought of God is brought into view, then the greatest challenge of the forces of evil is registered. This is because it is in the Church and in relation to the Church's destiny that the whole kingdom of Satan is to be met and overthrown. Hence, of course, the tremendous significance of corporate life. Even by small and seemingly insignificant means, moodiness or trifling disagreements, Satan breaks up the flow of fellowship among the saints. It seems strange that the vital power of the Church should be weakened by the moods and temperaments of God's people but so it can be. If the Devil cannot succeed by such simple methods he has many other ploys and complex strategies, all aimed at the destruction of the relatedness of God's people. So spiritual fellowship becomes a real battleground.
Some think that fellowship is a kind of picnic, a religious festival. We praise God for all the joys of fellowship, but the matter is more serious than that, and is so important that it can become a matter of real battle. The exercise and preserving of true heart fellowship with all other Christians - not just with those whom we like but with all - is a field of constant conflict. Fellowship is not just something that happens. We must fight for it. It is a great factor in the spiritual battle.
The whole article can be found here.
Brothers and sisters, this is key. Spiritual fellowship is a real battleground! Let us open our eyes. It's important to realize that there is something real, something important, something vital about corporate life, about the fellowship of the saints. And the enemy knows that, so he WILL come against it. A HUGE thing here is forgiveness. Fellowship is hindered, I would venture to say vitally hindered, by unforgiveness. So, let us let go of every little thing we're holding against our brothers and sisters, for the sake of the church. I certainly know as well as anyone how easy it is to let Satan break up the flow of fellowship among the saints by my mood. But I must make a decision that what the Lord is building (His church!) is more important than my mood or whether I feel like loving a certain person at a certain time.
We meet spiritual antagonism in seeking to win souls for Christ, because it is only in this way that the Church is born. When, however, the full thought of God is brought into view, then the greatest challenge of the forces of evil is registered. This is because it is in the Church and in relation to the Church's destiny that the whole kingdom of Satan is to be met and overthrown. Hence, of course, the tremendous significance of corporate life. Even by small and seemingly insignificant means, moodiness or trifling disagreements, Satan breaks up the flow of fellowship among the saints. It seems strange that the vital power of the Church should be weakened by the moods and temperaments of God's people but so it can be. If the Devil cannot succeed by such simple methods he has many other ploys and complex strategies, all aimed at the destruction of the relatedness of God's people. So spiritual fellowship becomes a real battleground.
Some think that fellowship is a kind of picnic, a religious festival. We praise God for all the joys of fellowship, but the matter is more serious than that, and is so important that it can become a matter of real battle. The exercise and preserving of true heart fellowship with all other Christians - not just with those whom we like but with all - is a field of constant conflict. Fellowship is not just something that happens. We must fight for it. It is a great factor in the spiritual battle.
The whole article can be found here.
Brothers and sisters, this is key. Spiritual fellowship is a real battleground! Let us open our eyes. It's important to realize that there is something real, something important, something vital about corporate life, about the fellowship of the saints. And the enemy knows that, so he WILL come against it. A HUGE thing here is forgiveness. Fellowship is hindered, I would venture to say vitally hindered, by unforgiveness. So, let us let go of every little thing we're holding against our brothers and sisters, for the sake of the church. I certainly know as well as anyone how easy it is to let Satan break up the flow of fellowship among the saints by my mood. But I must make a decision that what the Lord is building (His church!) is more important than my mood or whether I feel like loving a certain person at a certain time.
Thank you for sharing this, Melinda. Amen to what our brother Sparks wrote and to you what you have written here. It is the church in Dahlonega that will overcome the gates of Hell here, but a divided church cannot stand. True, spiritual fellowship must be valued, sought after, and protected. Amen.
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