Christian Family Fellowship PDO, Muscat.
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
INTRODUCTION
1 John 1.7, "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another".
1 John 1.3 "... that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ."
The secular meaning of fellowship is association of a friendly character; comradeship; common interest of those in fraternal orders; friendly companionship.
Christian fellowship is much deeper, sweeter than secular fellowship; Bible fellowship means spiritual communion, a joint partnership, a joint sharing, mutual partakers.
College fellowship has little in common (same school, same hobby), but Christian fellowship is far more inclusive; it involves much more; it encircles whole life. All born of the same Father (John 1:13); bought with the same price (I Cor. 6:20); members of the same Body (Col. 1:18); taught by the same Spirit (John 16:13); walking in the same path (II Cor. 5:7); serving the same Master (Matt. 23:8); heirs of the same inheritance (Rom 8:17).
I. BASIS OF FELLOWSHIP
Fellowship is conditional upon our walking in the light, I John 1:7. Sin breaks fellowship; broken fellowship can be restored by repentance and confession. Isa. 59.2, "But your iniquities have separated you from your God."
1 John 1:7 provides the formula for restored fellowship-cleansing in the Blood of Christ.
This Blood application is not automatic; it comes as we confess our sins — I John 1:9. Walking in the light means walking in obedience to the will of God; following His footsteps daily; following His footsteps we do no sin — I Pet. 2:2 1, 22.
Fellowship is based on an intimate family relationship to Christ and His family. We have fellowship, for our status has changed from that of an enemy to a fellow citizen of that heavenly land.
II. WITH WHOM DO WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP?
1) With the Father and the Son — I John 1:3, we are born into God’s family and now as a real member of the family we have heart-to-heart fellowship. I Cor. 1:9" .. .called unto the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord"; the basic call is fellowship rather than sacrifice or service.
2) With fellow Christians ---I John 1:3,7; fellowship with the apostles, disciples, believers. Christians love to be together; to talk together; to pray together; to sing together; to laugh together; to weep together; just to be together. Christians love to come together to speak of the things of the Lord and to share experiences and testimonies. We need this fellowship for mutual strengthening and encouragement; the isolated Christian may be starved and lose out spiritually. First seek fellowship with the Lord in prayer and Bible reading and then with His other sons and daughters; fellowship radiates in the face of the saint.
III WHY MUST WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHERS
Heb. 10:25, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is." Fellowship is God’s ordained order for mankind; God created man to labour six days and be free to rest, fellowship and workshop on the seventh day. God recognized this principle in creation for He said, Gen. 2:18, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make a helper suitable for him"’ this refers to marriage but is equally true in Christian growth as well. Jesus recognized this principle hen He sent out His disciples two by two —Mark 6.7.
IV. THE PURPOSES OF FELLOWSHIP
1) To strengthen one another; even if we do not need fellowship we owe it to others to give fellowship to them; in the process we too will be blessed.
2) To encourage one another in the hard places of life.
3) To share experiences for the mutual benefit of all.
4) To manifest our joys that all may rejoice with us.
5) To weep with them that weep.
6) To enlighten the weaker brother in the mysteries of the Lord our God.
7) To exhort the backslider to return to the Lord.
V. HOW DO WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP?
Ordinarily by getting together for Church worship; but there is also fellowship in prayer meetings, Bible studies, and street meetings (Home cells).
The early Church thrived on fellowship; they considered it absolutely essential. Fellowship is not a passive thing; it isn’t just attending a meeting; fellowship is when we contribute something to the meeting; it is a "give and take process."
VI RESULTS OF CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
1. We learn to walk in the light in obedience to the Lord’s will, I John 1:7.
2. We learn to suffer together, Phil. 3:10, this fellowship can be very meaningful.
3. We learn to serve together, Col. 4:7; fellow servants of the blessed Lord Jesus.
4. We learn to comfort one another, I Thess. 4:18; by sharing the Word and experiences.
5. We learn to pray for one another, I Thess. 5:25; fellowship in sharing requests.
7. We learn to rejoice with joyful, Rom 12:15; joy is happily contagious and invigorating.
8. We grow and glow for the Lord, II Pet. 3:18; we give and receive reciprocal blessings.
CONCLUSION:
Begin the day with fellowship —Godward in the Quiet Time, prayer and Bible study. Meditate much on the Word of God during the day; let the Lord be our predominant thought.
Keep company with believers of like faith but constantly make contacts with the unsaved waiting for opportunities to witness to them and invite them to be saved.