We have seen in previous studies how God has worked to bring us back into relationship with Himself through the work of Jesus on the cross. We have seen the ongoing necessity of repentance and faith if we are going to actually have that relationship with God and escape the judgment that is coming on all rebels. Now we must see that God's first priority for us in our new lifestyle of trust and obedience is that we have loving fellowship with other believers of the kind that Jesus had with the apostles. We need to be with people who will exhort us daily lest we be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:13). We must understand that we have been called out of the world into a community of believers. Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34,35) The purpose of this lesson is to begin to examine what God expects of us as far as our commitment to love and be with other real Christians. In the process we will begin to understand what God means by "church" and what our relationship to the church must be as part of the new family of God.
The word fellowship in the New Testament is translated from the Greek word "koinonia". This word means an association, community, communion, joint participation or intercourse. It means sharing with other people. To be involved in Christian fellowship with others means to share your life with others. We share our lives with others and also with Christ who promises to be with us when even two or three are gathered together in His name (Matthew 18:20). Fellowship with Christ and other believers involves feeding on the Word together. Sometimes it means eating meals together. (Acts 2:46). In fellowship we share our time, our gifts and talents, both spiritual and natural. We also share of our money as God leads, and according to the needs (2 Corinthians 9). This does not mean that Christians should expect other Christians to support their families. Read 1 Timothy 5:8. Christians are commanded to work diligently and honestly so that they have something to share with those in need (Ephesians 4:28). Christian fellowship exists not only to meet the needs of Christians - emotionally, socially, mentally, spiritually and where necessary, financially. It also exists to demonstrate to the world the meaning of Christian love and to call people out of the world into that fellowship with Christ and His body. In fellowship with Christ and with one another, we are coming not only to receive but also to give. This is where our dedication to Christ's Lordship will be made practical, and hence, proved real.
People are created by God for relationship. When God said, "It is not good that man should be alone" (Genesis 2:18), Adam already had a wonderful fellowship with the Heavenly Father. But God does not want us to live like monks, doing nothing but talking with Him. God wants us to have wonderful relationships with people, especially His people. His plans for us can only be fulfilled as we learn to relate correctly both with our brothers and sisters in Christ and also with those who, because of ignorance or rebellion, are still outside the family of God.
To be lonely and isolated is not God's will. "God sets the solitary in families." (Psalm 68:6). The natural family is God's idea. (Colossians 3:18- 21). However, many families don't express the love God intended. God's plan is to put us immediately into a wonderful family - His family - the moment we turn from our sin to Christ. Here are some major motives for entering seriously into committed relationships with real Christians (those who are trusting Christ and turning from sin).
1. The people you choose to asscoiate with affect your destiny. "He that walketh with wise [men] shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed [broken]." (Proverbs 13:20)
"Do not be deceived: evil company corrupts good habits (morals)." (1 Corinthians 15:33). Your destiny is determined by your character, and your character is affected by those you choose to keep company with. By spending quality time with people who love and obey God and follow His Word, you will become wise yourself and make right decisions. By refusing this, you choose to be with rebels and rebellion will enter you. This rebellion separates from God and destroys spiritual life.
It is important to be involved in a church where the leadership seeks holiness. Even if some have the form of godliness or right doctrine, they are not good leaders if they have no hunger for righteousness in heart and life.
2. God has planned for you to receive love and encouragement from His family on earth. Real Christians walk in love. "By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35). "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." (1 John 4:8).
God's family is a family of love. But you must be open to receive that love. "You also be open" (2 Corinthians 6:13). We all need encouragement and care at times. God will often provide this through His people. He told us to do it for others too.
3. God wants you to learn to give love and encouragement to your brothers and sisters in Christ. "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." (1 John 4:7). "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Other Christians will need your help. Even by being faithful to the church you will encourage the rest of the church and also the leadership. God wants you to help and encourage those around you in the church according to your ability and call.
4. You can learn wisdom from more mature Christians by being with them. "He who walks with wise men will be wise" (Proverbs13:20). By having fellowship with more mature Christians you will grow in love, faith, wisdom and holiness.
5. You can be built up in faith by hearing the preaching of anointed ministers of Christ. Faith comes by hearing. (Romans 10:17). The preaching of the Word should build up your faith and confidence in the promises of God.
6. If remain in a church where the people don't listen to the Word of God and obey it, their example and their teaching will lead you to hell. Paul instructed Timothy as follows: "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit
their own likings" (2 Timothy 4:2,3). Note also that Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." (Matthew 7:21). "Let them [the Pharisees] alone: they are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leadeth the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." (Matthew 15:14)
7. God wants you to serve Him effectively. You can't do it without co-operating with other Christians. God has made us the body of Christ, and members individually. (1 Corinthians 12:27). And just as a hand disconnected from the body cannot fulfil the purpose of the head, neither can you if you are not in right relationship with Christ's body - the people of God. Common sense tells us that without co-operation great things touching many people cannot be achieved.
8. When you repent and receive Christ by faith as Lord you are summoned into the body of Christ. You have a part to play in Christ's body. Your gifts and talents complement those of others. Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-28.
9. You cannot fulfill the commands of Christ and of the apostles without entering into fellowship. How can you love one another, enourage one another, admonish or counsel one another, serve one another if you are never with "one another". These commandments were given to churches. Read Romans 12:10; Romans 15:14; Ephesians 4:32; 1 Thessalonians 5:11 as examples of some of these important commands and ask the Holy Spirit to show you what it means for you.
10. God commands you to come to attend church gatherings regularly. "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much more as you see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:24,25). See also Hebrews 3:13. We must exhort one another daily.
BARRIERS TO COMMITTED FELLOWSHIP
1. Spiritual pride, independence, rejection and rebellion spirits.
Spiritual pride says like this: "There are no churches worth going to. None of them are up to standard."
Independence says, "I just follow the Holy Spirit. I won't listen to man." A person with a strong spirit of independence will not submit to God's leadership in the church. Therefore he will not build up the church as God wants.
People affected by rejection spirits have been deeply hurt in the past. They tend to act and say things that make them offensive. They try to reject the love of others. Then they withdraw from fellowship because they feel hurt and unwanted.
Rebellion is the enemy of God and is the spirit which considers itself more right, more smart and more just than God or His representatives. A rebel wants to do his own thing - not God's.
2. Fear of getting involved in a false sect. In some countries the traditional formalistic dead churches have put the idea into the common people that any other religious organisation is likely be part of an evil sect which does strange thing at night, possibly brainwashing and sexually abusing people. In fact, any religious organisation or structure which claims that it is the only true way to God is itself a false sect. It doesn't matter how many millions of followers it may have. No church has a monopoly on Jesus Christ (John 14.6) Meditate on the lesson of Mark 9:38,39. If anyone had a right to say they were the only ones who should minister in Jesus' name, it was the twelve apostles. But Jesus did not give them that right to forbid others to minister.
3. Persecution from family, friends or authorities. Persecution may come from any or all of these sources. If you won't obey Christ for fear of persecution, you cannot be a real disciple of His. "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12). Read carefully Luke 14:26-33. God promises you persecution and affliction in following him (Acts 14:22) but he also promises to eventually deliver you out of all such things (Psalm 34:17,19).
4. Love of the world. Paul the apostle said towards the end of his ministry,
"For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world." (2 Timothy
4:10). The
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