CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP  -   PART TWO  

 

Memory Verse: ”And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayer.” Acts 2:42

 

Bible Passage: Acts 2:42

 

INTRODUCTION  : Ordinarily, Christians have fellowship when they get together in sizeable numbers for worship at Church. But fellowship can also be sweet when only two or three informally meet together to talk about the Lord, Matt. 18:20.

As for the early Church, they considered fellowship an essential part of their new life in the Lord, Acts 2:42. To them, and also to us today, fellowship was not just a matter of attending a meeting or a Sunday morning service. They saw it as a “give and take” process in which every member contributed something, be it a song, a testimony, offering, and so on.  You cannot enjoy Christian fellowship if you are “present in body, but absent in mind”, or “locked away in your own world”, without participating in the “giving and taking” process.

 

THE PURPOSES OF CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

Some of the purposes of Christian fellowship include the following:

1). To strengthen one another in our faith in the Lord.

2). To encourage one another as we face difficulties and problems in life. Let us always remember that many that may have smiling faces can also be carrying aching hearts and burdened souls.

3). To share experiences (testimonies) for the mutual benefit of all. Our testimonie can prevent others from getting into the same trouble as we found ourselves in. Or they can encourage those going through trials or difficulties to know our God is able to see them through just as He saw us through, etc.

4). To show forth our joy and gratitude to the Lord. For instance, if we tell how God has answered our prayers, others will be encouraged to keep praying, in the assurance that our God hears and answers prayers, Psalm 50:15.

5). To weep with them that weep, Rom. 12:15.

6). To help one another in improving our understanding of the Word of God.

7). To exhort and encourage the backslider to return to the Lord. Our offer of fellowship may remind him of happier days and create a longing to return to the Saviour and His blessing, Luke 15:17-20.

 

WITH WHOM IS FELLOWSHIP DENIED?

1). The devil and his henchmen, including witches, wizards, familiar spirits, the occult, etc. I Cor. 10:20.

2). The unfruitful works of darkness, Eph. 5:11. You can think of the sort of activities that require the cloak of darkness before men feel safe and comfortable to participate in them – secrete societies and cults, night clubs, criminal gangs, etc.

3). Those who by their life and conduct show that their claim of godliness normally stops at their lips,

      II Tim. 3:1-5.                                                                        4). Unbelievers, II Cor. 6:14-17(a).

Now this raises the important question:

Do we then shut the unsaved out of our lives and affairs? I Cor. 5:9-11

We must witness to the unsaved but not enter into sharing or participating in their ungodly deeds (which is another word for “fellowshipping” with them).

Fellowship is best and sweetest with those of like Christian faith with us.

 

RESULTS OF CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

Many things result from constant Xtian fellowship in a congregation where the gospel is preached in full:

1). We learn to walk in the light in obedience to the Lord’s will, I John 1:7.

2). We learn to share everything together, even our sorrows, Phil. 3:10.

3). We learn to serve the Lord together, Col. 4:7.     4). We learn to encourage one another, I Thess. 4:18.

5). We learn to pray for one another, I Thess. 5:25.

6). We learn to bear one another’s burdens, particularly when a member of the fellowship is going through a trying time, Gal. 6:2.

CONCLUSION

When we fellowship in the right place and with the right set of people, we grow and glow for the Lord. Of course the starting point for true Christian fellowship is to commence fellowshipping with the Lord.

Have you started there?