Have you ever returned from a Bible study, prayer or worship session feeling so light, bouncy and stirred up? You’re literally smiling and leaping home, recalling the experience. ‘What a refreshing that was’, you say to yourself. Now you’re looking for the devil and his vices to mess them up. It’s like the living waters of your spirit have been troubled. Yes! In fellowship, we contact strength (Psa. 84:7). To some people it’s mere excitement but to others it’s ignition.

Bishop David Oyedepo once shared a powerful illustration that has stayed with me. He asked someone to turn on the flashlight on their phone, then casually swiped his finger across it, covering the light. He explained how easy it was to obstruct the flashlight. Then, he compared it to a candle, noting how dangerous it would be to try the same with a flame. He concluded with this profound remark: “There’s a shining light, and there’s a burning and shining light” (John 5:35). The Word received is the shining light (Jn. 1:5), when fanned in devotion and fellowship it becomes fire (burning light).

“Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” – Matt. 3:12. The fire serves as a purifier and a defence against the forces of sin (Mal. 3:2 & Isa. 4:5 respectively). So, we must keep the fire on our altar burning by fellowshipping with God daily. “The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it, the priest shall burn wood on it every morning…” – Lev. 6:12. How do we fellowship? Through study, meditation, prayer and worship. 

You are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels… and to the spirits of just men made perfect – Heb. 12:22-23.

Continued…