ARE WE DEVOTED TO FELLOWSHIP?

INTRODUCTION

The early church during the period of the apostles devoted themselves to fellowship. As important as they were devoted to the teachings of the apostles, breaking of bread and prayers, so important was it to have fellowship with one another (Acts 2:42). Their fellowship was so genuine that they even sold their possession to meet the needs of others, they gathered every day at the temple courts, met in their homes for the Lord’s supper, shared their food with joy and sincere heart, praised God and had the favor of all people. Now, God added to their number many who were saved (Acts 2:44-47).

FELLOWSHIP DEFINED

i) BEING TOGETHER & HAVING THINGS IN COMMON – (as in a family) (Refer Introduction) (Acts 2:44)

ii) PARTNERING AS CO-WORKERS – Paul mentions Titus as his partner and fellow-worker (2 Corinthians 8:23). Paul calls the Philippian church as partners together with him because they helped him in his imprisonment and also in his sharing of the gospel (Philippians 1:7). Paul writes to the Corinthians that because they share in his sufferings they will also share in his comforts (2 Corinthians 1:7).

iii) SHARING OUR RESOURCES WITH OTHERS – By sharing our resources with others we lay a sure firm foundation for our future – our eternity (1 Timothy 6:18-19; Luke 16:9). This may mean to help with our money (1 Timothy 6:18), our physical strength (Luke 5:7) or to do good (Galatians 6:10) and especially support co-workers of God (3 John 8). In Luke 5 we Jesus working a miracle catch of fish. But still Peter needed the help of his friends to bring the fish in two full boats to the shore. By receiving and helping servants of God we are considered as fellow workers of the Truth. (3 John 8).

iv) PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP – We are called as children of God so that we would have a personal intimate relationship with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (1 John 1:3; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 2 Corinthians 13:14). But that is not all. The basic reason for our fellowship with God is to have fellowship with the saints of God (1 John 1:3).

THE FIRST & SECOND GREATEST COMMANDMENTS

We are therefore called to have vertical relationship with God and inevitably horizontal relationship with our family, fellow believers and also our neighbors (Matthew 22:37-39). It is only through our love, care, providence and responsibility towards our family do we really love and have relationship with God. Otherwise, we are LIARS says the Word of God (1 John 4:20). Only when we love and have fellowship with one another, the world will know that we are His disciples (John 13:35). The proof of a man who says that God is with him is that he will love or at least try to love and make peace with others (1 John 4:12).

JESUS’ PRAYER FOR OUR UNITY

Before going through the cross, Jesus prayed to the Father for the protection of His disciples and for their unity with one another as Jesus was united as One with His Father (John 17:11).

FELLOWSHIP THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

The Scripture says that we gain access to the Father through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit helps us to attain it. Through our fellowship with God we acquire fellowship with the saints and members of God’s household and thus we become members of God’s family (Ephesians 2:18-19).

THE CHURCH IS ONE

Just as the body is composed by many parts so is the church made up of many members but it is one in Christ (Romans 12:4-5). All of us partake of that one Bread, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:17). We are all baptized into one body and nourished by one Spirit – no difference at all, no Jew or Greek, no slaves or free men (1 Corinthians 12:12-13).

ONE-MINDEDNESS OF THE CHURCH

If as children of God we claim to be one in Christ, we are urged not to do anything out of self-ambition but consider others more important than us, look into the interests of others and most of all stand united in spirit and purpose (Philippians 2:1-4). It was when the apostles waited in one accord, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and were used mightily (Acts 2:1, 46; 5:12).

FELLOWSHIP OF THE CHURCH

The church has to grow in fellowship with one another in the following ways:

* CHURCH GATHERING to learn, have fellowship, to break bread, to pray, to sing praises to God, to exhort one another, to operate spiritual gifts, especially prophesy (Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:25; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Acts 14:13, 23-25)

* SMALL GATHERING of faithful people to make them able teachers (2 Timothy 2:2)

* INDIVIDUAL MEETING to share the truth, build one another, care for their needs, burdens, concerns and challenges (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Romans 12:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 14, 15; Hebrews 10:33)

PAUL’S ATTEMPTS TO ASSOCIATE

As we all know, Jesus Christ encountered Paul on his road to Damascus and he straight away went to serve God. The disciples of Jesus were not ready to accept him, for as humans they considered his past behavior. But we see that Paul made several attempts to get associated with them, and Barnabas mediated on his behalf and gained their access (Acts 9:26-27). Paul could have just ignored them and keep running on his call, but he knew the importance of fellowship.

After carefully recognizing the grace that was given to him, James, Cephas and John acknowledged Paul as their companion in apostleship (Galatians 2:9).

Also, Paul considers the church so important that he writes back to the Corinthian church that had grieved him with tears not to grieve them but to show them his love (2 Corinthians 2:4-5).

REASONS FOR LACK OF FELLOWSHIP

i) SELFISHNESS – Competition (Mark 9:34), desire for position (Mark 10:35-41)

ii) ETHNICITY– (Acts 6:1)

iii) QUARRELS, JEALOUSY & PARTISAN – (1 Corinthians 1:10-11; 1 Corinthians 3:3; )

iv) FALSE TEACHERS – (Romans 16:17; Jude 1:19)

v) GREEDINESS – (James 4:1-2; 1 Corinthians 11:18-20)

PERMITTED DISSOCIATION IN THE CHURCH

i) FALSE & CONTROVERSIAL TEACHERS – (2 Corinthians 11:2-4; 1 Timothy 6:3-4)

ii) IMMORAL PEOPLE INSIDE THE CHURCH – (1 Corinthians 5:9-10; Revelation 2:20)

iii) MOCKERS OF THE COMING OF GOD – (2 Peter 3:3-4)

iv) IDLE & IRRESPONSIBLE BELIEVER – (2 Thessalonians 3:5-6)

v) ANGRY & HOT-TEMPERED MEN – (Proverbs 22:24-25)

vi) DEAD CHURCH – (Revelation 3:1-2)

HUMAN ASSOCIATIONS – NEED OF THE HOUR

So, though we ought to be intimate with our God for He is our all in all, we need human associations – men like Abraham who can rescue Lot from the enemy (Genesis 14), men like Abraham who can intercede for Sodom (Genesis 19), women like Rahab who can hide the when they are on God’s assignment (Joshua 2:15), men like Job who can pray for his friends (Job 42:10), men like Jonathan who can tell David the schemes of his foe (1 Samuel 19:1-2),  men like David who can feed the lame Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9:13), men like the armor bearer of Jonathan who was ready to do anything for his master and won victory over the three squads of Philistine armies (1 Samuel 14:1-15), men like the followers of Paul who helped him escape from Damascus (Acts 9:25), women like Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna and many others who served and funded Jesus in His ministry (Luke 8:1-3), men like the nephew of Paul who revealed the plot to kill him (Acts 23:16), helping neighbors in times of disasters (Proverbs 27:10) and many other examples from throughout the Scriptures.

CONCLUSION

Thus, our fellowship with God and men strengthens, comforts and helps us grow spiritually. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! (Psalm 133:1) God bless you!