Text: Acts 2:42-47
Memory Verse:
“I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Psalms‬ ‭122‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
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Buffaloes are known to have community lifestyle. They walk together and a herd can be over three hundred in number. The smaller, younger and weaker ones usually stay in the middle while the stronger males lead and form the protective outer ring of herd.
Except during ambushes by the lions that scatter, isolate and attack them, most African buffalo casualties are older lone males who have been forced out by the younger ones and the females due to their uncontrollable and aggressive behavior. These old buffaloes abuse their old age and experience which should have been a blessing to the herd.
Likewise, age and years of church membership should ordinarily be a spiritual advantage both to the individual and to the church, like in the case of Apollos, Barnabas and Ananias. However, it can breed over familiarity if a person is not sensitive.
“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
‭‭(I Cor‬ ‭10‬:‭12‬). Some brethren have become too familiar with church, even with God, and this has caused them to despise corporate fellowship. They despise fellowship with the brethren while they brag about their age or length of service. They attend church service anytime they feel like and hide under the pretext of going for personal retreats. Unlike David and the early church, they are not glad about going to church, about praying together, singing together and sharing together. They just want to be alone. Just like the buffaloes, they are the older folks. Paul warned that they should watch so they don’t fall. Sometimes, as a way of detaching themselves from the body, they replace physical fellowship with online meetings, even when there is no reason to do such. They have just become overfamiliar with the church.
Friends, none of us can be wiser than our ‘manufacturer’. He didn’t wire us to stay alone. While He provides great grace when you are alone with Him, yet He reserves some grace only to be released through corporate fellowship. Just as no one can survive and be healthy with only one type of food, likewise you need personal and corporate fellowship for your sustenance.

Prayer points
1. Father, please, deliver me from the temptation of being overfamiliar with You and the church in Jesus name.
2. Father, please, restore the joy of fellowship to all backsliders in Jesus name.

Today’s declarations
1. The first sign of a backsliding heart is the loss of gladness in fellowship with the brethren.
2. I don’t forsake the fellowship with my brethren lest I miss the grace that comes only through corporate fellowship.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng