RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP, A MEANS OF EXPANDING THE GOSPEL

RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP, A MEANS OF EXPANDING THE GOSPEL.




And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.  Galatians 2:9

The gospel of Christ is beyond what an individual or a group of people can handle all alone.  James, Cephas and John perceived the grace of God that was on Paul.  They gave to him and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship for them to go to the heathen.  The right hands of fellowship mean the right encouragement and the needed support.  They saw themselves as partners in the work of the kingdom, not for their pocket, not for recognition and not to be seen to be better than one another.  Human status was completely not their pursuit.

The gospel of Christ will expand faster when those that God has made to be pillars act like James, Cephas and John.  The young ministers on whose head God is releasing grace need the right hands of fellowship from the “pillars of the gospel”, that is our “fathers in faith” at various levels.  The constraint today is the desire for the one to be supported to be a “son” or “mentee” before right hands of fellowship could be extended to him.  Was Paul a “son” or “mentee” to any of James, Cephas and John, when for the sake of the gospel, they gave him and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship?  The consideration then was the “perceived grace” not a “”son in the house” or a “mentee”.

The “pillars of the gospel” of this generation should not attempt to cover everywhere all alone.  God intends to make the work go faster before the coming of Christ, that is why he is releasing grace on more vessels since the harvest is plenty but the labourers are few.


With the right hands of fellowship more men would be encouraged in the call of God.  There are many vessels struggling with the work, not because they are not called but because the “pillars of the gospel” have refused to give the required right hands of fellowship. - Pastor Sam Adebayo(BHC)