The design of GOD for You as a believer is to be planted in a local Church.
This is so important that when You arrive at a location one of the first things to do is to find a company of believers and associate with them immediately. That is, find a Local Church.
You CANNOT live the Christian life fruitfully in isolation.
Many works of the flesh in the lives of believers today is traceable to isolation and/or ‘pseudo’ membership of a local Church.
2Ti 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Apostle Paul admonishes Timothy, just as it also applies to believers everywhere today, to flee youthful lusts!
Lust here refers specifically to a longing for that which is forbidden.
Paul says to flee – to SHUN it!
The instruction that follows actually shows how to SHUN these lusts. He says “BUT FOLLOW” !
Follow means to give oneself to something.
Here’s the list of what to follow:
Righteousness, Faith, Charity, Peace.
He says do so WITH THEM who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Call on the lord implies worship, devotion; a relationship that is ongoing.
The Greek Word from where that phrase is interpreted appears severally in the New Testament; 32 times to be precise.
It means to be NAMED or SURNAMED!
It is used for Believers many times.
So Paul is encouraging Timothy to company with the Saints.
There’s no room for isolation in Christianity.
It is important to BELONG just as it is to BELIEVE!
In the local Church, you find strength and support to truly live the Christian life.
Most times both believers and Pastors/Ministers mismanage their relationship with the local Church. This is why many keep changing churches.
You see, the plan of GOD is for a believer to belong to ONE local Church for life! That how You will grow!
Of course, exceptions abound…such as a leading to start a new work, relocation, cases of outright rebellion or immorality on the path of leadership etc.
