“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” (1 Cor. 12:12 ESV)

At the moment, I’m sitting in my usual spot in a coffee shop near where I live. It’s where I enjoy a cup of coffee and work on my daily Bible promises. A lot of others are constantly coming and going. I often see small groups of people, Bibles in hand, who are starting their mornings off with Bible study, prayer, and some fellowship. Many of these folks probably don’t know the other people. They probably belong to different churches in our community; we have lots of them. But God, of course, is definitely aware of them all. And I’m sure all of them give and receive a lot of encouragement from each other; there is strength, help, encouragement, and joy in fellowship with other believers. As I ponder all of this, I think of how discouraging, even dangerous, it is for believers to be alone without connection with other believers; they are sitting ducks; and vulnerable to attacks from the enemy! We do need each other!

Elijah fell into the “I am alone” trap!

In the Old Testament, in 1 Kings, chapters 18 and 19, we read an amazing story about the mighty prophet of God, Elijah. He called fire down from heaven and destroyed the false prophets of Baal. It was a mighty victory and demonstrated God’s mighty power. But after Queen Jezebel heard about what he had done, she became angry and threatened to kill him. He became frightened and ran away and hid himself in a cave. God then said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah complained to God and said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” In short, Elijah was having a pity party! His big complaint to God was that he had been zealous for God and was the only one left and completely alone! But God had some wonderful news for Elijah. He said, “Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” Elijah was not the only one left! There were 7,000 others he could fellowship with! Think of what a wonderful and and encouraging support group that could be, and what it could bring to all of them if they got together, especially to Elijah. Wouldn’t you love to be present at that meeting?

Therefore

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matt. 18:20 ESV)

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thess. 5:11ESV)

“not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Heb. 10:25)

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts. 2:42 (ESV)