Love is the primary mark of Jesus' disciples. So fellowship between the
disciples of Jesus is vital. In Matthew 18:18-20, we read of the power
that results from such fellowship among the disciples of Jesus. A
paraphrase of those verses would read something like this: The Lord
Jesus said, "If two or thee disciples of Mine are found in one place and
have no disunity between them, but instead a unity like the symphony ("sumphoneo"
(Greek) = agree) produced by a number of musical instruments playing
together in harmony with each other, then I will be present in their
midst. And then, if they ask My Father for anything, it will be granted
to them. They will have authority to bind the workings of Satan in any
place on earth; and whatever activities of Satan they bind here on
earth, will be bound at their source in "the heavenlies" (from where
these spirit-powers operate). Such believers will also have the power to
deliver (loose) people who are
bound by Satan on earth". The devil knows the amazing power there is in
unity and fellowship among Jesus' disciples, but many believers do not
know it. And so Satan's main aim has always been to bring disunity among
believers so as to make them powerless against him.
What power there would be in a home, if the husband and wife were one in
spirit! Satan would never be able to overcome such a home! What power
there would be in a church if even two of its elders were one in spirit!
Satan would never be able to overcome such a church! Satan triumphs over
most Christian churches and homes, because such unity and fellowship is
not found in them. I am not talking now about casting out demons. Any
believer who has faith for this, can cast out demons in the Name of
Jesus, single-handedly, as Jesus said in Mark16:17. In fact, we read in
Matthew 7:22,23 of even unbelievers who cast out demons in Jesus' Name.
But to bind the activities of Satan, so as to release people from the
problems Satan has created for them is far more difficult. A believer
cannot do that alone. That requires an expression of the Body of Christ
- and the minimum number of disciples that can express Christ's Body is
two!
Only the authority exercised by such a "body" can keep the powers of
darkness at bay.
There must be at least two people at the centre of every church who are
totally united with each other. Satan will always target such a core
seeking to split it up and divide it. If he succeeds, then that church
will become powerless against him. But if that core keeps itself united,
Satan will be powerless against that church. This applies to a home as
well. In every church there will be mature people as well as new
converts - just as there are babes as well as grown-up children in a
family. The babes may fight with each other, backbite, complain and
gossip, because they have not understood the way of peace. Such babes
will be found in every growing church. But they can never hinder God's
work. A core of united elders at the centre of a church can make it an
overcoming church. Babes may constitute the vast majority of every
church. But God is always seeking to build up the core - both
spiritually and numerically. It is this core that fights the battles
against Satan and preserves a church in life and victory.
Fellowship in a church is more important than evangelism. In the parable
of the lost sheep, Jesus said that the 99 sheep in the fold were
"ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance" (Luke15:7). Who
are the ones "who need no repentance"? Obviously those who are judging
themselves constantly. Such people do not need any repentance, because
they are constantly repenting of their sins. Such disciples have no
problem becoming one with each other. If however the 99 sheep in this
fold were constantly fighting with each other and tearing each other to
pieces, then the shepherd would not have brought that lost sheep there -
for that sheep would be far safer on the mountains than within such a
fold where it could be killed! Our churches must consist of "righteous
people who don't need any repentance". Then only will our churches be
places of healing and peace into which lost sheep can be safely brought
in. The Lord leads His sheep into green pastures and beside still
waters. The church Jesus builds is a place of peace. Lost sheep must be
brought in only
into such a church. Most churches are not like this, because their
members are converts and not disciples.
For more articles by Zac Poonen go to:
www.poonen.org/zac