How do you find the kind of group that is practicing real, mutual commitment on a sound scriptural basis? It is not easy in contemporary Christendom to find a group of people who are united to one another through real koinonia.

By God’s grace, I have served in different capacities in the Body of the Christ, but one of the major decisions I made as a Christian was to re-locate to another town without seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. We decided to leave a town where we lived with a vibrant Church and loving sisters and brothers.

Through a series of events we decided to re-locate because of many reasons, but of course one of them was professional opportunities rather than seeking the kingdom first.

During one of home cell meetings with my fellow brothers, I shared about seeking God first in everything– not to move or make major decisions that were not from the perspective of seeking the kingdom of God first. Guess what? I did not live out what I shared when trials came. I kept on justifying my decisions again and again yet I was warned that I would regret my decision.

Of course there were many challenges in the natural that led to our fateful decision, one of them was the neighborhood was rough which strained our marriage, we had young kids, schools were a bit far from where we lived, job opportunities were scarce after losing one, and many other factors. But our situation would have changed if at all we had trusted the Lord. Was it too late for us to go back to that place? No it wasn’t too late.

We’ve waited prayerfully upon God, quite willing, should He show that we were mistaken, to follow His guidance and go back but we haven’t heard anything. Does it mean the Lord doesn’t want us to re-join that fellowship? I don’t think so.

There are times when you cannot understand why you cannot do what you want to do, even if you feel distinctly before the Lord that it is His will for you to do so. If you decide to go ahead (like we did when we moved), you will end up falling into difficulties that will take years of time to put right. Please wait for God’s time to bring it to pass and He will do it without any heartbreak or disappointment. But if at all you doubt; don’t act. Seek God earnestly.

The Bible says, He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6) When you seek God, He will direct you to the right family of believers where He wants you to be a blessing. Secondly, don’t plant yourself. The Word of God tells us: Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. (Psalm 92:13) The Bible also tells us: God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a dry land. (Psalms 68:6)

First those who are planted in the house of God shall flourish if they’ve been planted in a local church—which is the body of Christ and Jesus is the head of this body (Colossians 1:18)  But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.(1 Corinthians 12:18) This shows that we are not the ones who choose where we go to church. It is the Lord because He is the one who set the members, each one of them, in His body as He pleases.

The problem is we don’t seek the Lord to find out where He wants us to be. It is impossible to fulfill your destiny if you are not in the right location of where God wants you to be. Please if you are a Christian don’t re-locate to a city or country unless you know God’s will and purpose in your decision. One Bible teacher advises that we should ask ourselves some of these questions before we make any definite commitment to any group:

• Is the name of Lord Jesus Christ honored and uplifted in that fellowship?
• Do they respect the authority of Scripture?
• Do they make room for the moving of the Holy Spirit?
• Do they exhibit a warm and friendly attitude?
• Do they seek to work out their faith in practical day-to-day living?
• Do they interpersonal relationships among themselves that go beyond merely attending services?
• Do they provide pastoral care that embraces all your legitimate needs?
• Are they open to fellowship with other Christian groups?
• Do you feel at ease and at home among them?

If the answer to most of these questions is “yes” you can join but remember to seek the Lord first because you will never find a perfect group and even if you found one, please don’t join it, because after you did, it would no longer be perfect. Everybody is normal or perfect until you get to know them, but every act of love is a choice not a feeling. How do we get this love – the answer  is to develop an intimate relationship with the Lord who gives that love for your neighbor as you love yourself.

The Church is where koinonia (fellowship) takes place and God’s children use their gifts to build one another up. It takes commitment to join yourself to a group of believers, but before you do that you need to pray and seek God for His direction in regards to the group of committed believers He wants you to join.

Without true koinonia- which is the sharing of your life with God’s people, you can never be all that God intends you to be. In 1 Corinthians 12:13-27, Paul compares individual believers to the various parts that make up a single body. He explains that no part can function effectively on its own. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” (1 Corinthians 12:21)

We achieve wholeness by entering into a committed relationship with other believers so that we can together function as a single body. John says that is the evidence that we are walking in the light when we have fellowship (koinonia) with one another, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7) Therefore if at all we are not walking in true koinonia, we are not walking in the light and we don’t experience the continuous cleansing blood of Jesus which alone keeps us pure and free from sin.

The cross is both vertical and horizontal. The vertical one represents our relationship with God; the horizontal represents our relationship with our fellow human beings. The first step we take is by confessing our sins to God and receiving His forgiveness. The second step is to put things right with our fellow human beings by confessing our sins to them.

The Holy Spirit through the apostle James tells us to: Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Many Christian groups are poisoned by sins, bitterness, and resentment that have never been resolved. John Wesley recorded in his journal that one of the most successful of the early Methodist societies grew out of a group of about ten people who agreed to meet weekly and confess their sins to one another.

Our responsibility for regular fellowship with a group of committed believers is stated again in Hebrews 10:24-25: And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

First we are to stir, stimulate or encourage one another for good deeds. We do all this by not forsaking one another especially as we see the day approaching. What day? The day of the Lord is predicted in the Old Testament by (Isaiah 13:6-12; Joel 2:28-32; and Zephaniah 1:14-18) Now concerning how and when this will happen, Paul says that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night, but before all this happens Christians are to comfort edify, and encourage one another with the Word of the God:

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.  

You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 NKJV)

The church is not a business or a corporation and it is not of this world. The Church is in the world but not of the world, it is not an organization. The Church is not buildings or programs. The Church is the Body of Christ. The Church is a hidden body of devoted believers who have not wavered in their passion and love for Christ.

Jesus is the head of His Church which Paul refers to as the Body of Christ. (Col.1:18) Jesus says: “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18) Jesus says that He is going to build His Church that no force of evil will ever prevail against it. Peter also reminds us that the Church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone:

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone….

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:4-9 NKJV)

Jesus has subdivided His Church into local churches. The Biblical example of this would be His words to each of the seven local churches in Revelation: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. The Church is gifted with apostles, teachers, pastors, evangelists, encouragers, healers, prophets, and administrators.

The Church is a place where two or more are gathered in the name of Jesus. It is a place where the Scriptures are discussed, interpreted and preached. When the Church meets together, one will bring a hymn, another might bring a teaching, or a special prophetic knowledge. It is a place where everyone can be edified. (1 Corinthians 14:26)

It is also a place where the sick can ask for the elders to anoint them with oil and pray over them. (James 5:14) It is a place where we confess our sins to one another. In 1 John 1:7 the apostle John states that “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”This means we are to be honest and open with each other.

The Bible tells us that we are the spiritual temple built out of living stones (1Peter 2:5) Jesus is its sole foundation and cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 3:11) in whom the Holy Spirit dwells, replenishing and sanctifying the hearts of the faithful. The Body of Christ is the living temple of God.

The Church consists of individual members who walk among people of all races and nationalities. No geographical, political or cultural boundaries identify the extent of the Church because it has no earthly parameters. The Church is admonished not to be part of this world: Paul warns us in Romans 12:2 …. not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

We are in the world but not of the world. We are citizens from every country on the face of the earth; but we are different. Christians are not promised of an inheritance on this earth because we have been promised an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5)

The true church of Jesus Christ is comprised of believers who have an intimate love relationship with the Lord. All over the world—in every nation and ethnic group, in every walk of life, among rich and poor and people of all races–the Lord has individuals who are wholly devoted to Him, believers who have a genuine heart love and surrender to Him. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.

The true church has not prostituted divine salvation for material and financial gain. They are strangers and pilgrims on earth (Hebrews 11:13). They seek those things that are above, not the things that are on the earth. (Colossians 3:2)

The Church is the Ecclesia, those who have been chosen and called out, the Body of Christ on earth, the followers and disciples of Jesus Christ.