High Voltage Shareware/high1.zip/high1/DIR46/ALPHON_2.ZIP/FELLSHIP.F04

Text File | 1992-10-31 | 8KB | 168 lines

FELLOWSHIP                                    Study No.4.

The word "fellowship" means "sharing something in common with
someone else": it is a partnership; a participation in, and
partaking of something together.  Its use in the New Testament
cannot be understood apart from the idea of "community" - a
literal gathering of people who share in a common experience of a
mighty salvation.  The first Christians were brought into a
dynamic new relationship with God that drew them together in a
bond of commitment that had no limits.  Day by day they met "in
fellowship" to hear teaching from God's Word, to eat together, to
pray and to worship God.  Everything they were and had was
committed to Christ and to one another for the fulfillment of God's
plan for them.  Read Acts 2:37-47.

FOUNDATIONS FOR CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

Many people today are not sure with whom they can fellowship, for
many who say they are Christians do not belong to God at all.  As
a result some accept only those who belong to their own
denomination or group and believe the same doctrines.  But God's
Word establishes clear foundations for our fellowship which cut
across man-made walls and divisions of all kinds, and lead us into
close relationship with one another around the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 . Relationship with God through Christ.
     "That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you,
     so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship
     is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ ... if we
     walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship
     with one another.
     John 1:3-7 (RSV).  Read 1 Corinthians 1:9-10

The basis of all fellowship is the experience of salvation that
brings us into relationship with God.  It is easy to share with
another who knows and loves Jesus.  As we experience God's light
and love, and are open and honest before Him, so we can freely
communicate with one another.  In any areas where we refuse to
open to God's light through pride or fear, many prejudices and
misunderstandings can arise with other Christians, causing us to
limit the partnership God has given us in the gospel.

2.    A commitment together.

a.    To the Head - Christ.

Jesus is the Head of His Body, the Church.  Each of us must
acknowledge Him as Lord: the "Head" who directs all our actions.
The Body of Christ is made up of all who have this relationship.
Read Colossians 1 :18.

b.  To the members of Christ's Body.

As each one is connected to the Head, intimate contact with other
members of the Body Is unavoidable! We are actually members of one
another - we belong to each other.  As we seek to draw closer to
God we also automatically come closer to others who share our love
for Him.  Read Romans 12:4,5; 1 Corinthians 10:17; Ephesians
4:15,16.

c.  To God's purposes for His Body.

God has a purpose for each Individual life and for His Church as a
whole.  True fellowship Is only possible as everyone Is totally
committed to the fulfillment of God's will alone, not for our own
benefit, but for the extension of His kingdom (or reign) on earth
and the revelation of Christ to the world through His Body.  Read
Matthew 6:10; Philippians 2:13; John 17:21-23.

d.  To truth.

There are many different points of view regarding doctrine held by
equally committed and spiritual Christians.  A love for the truth
and desire to understand and know God's Word as He intends Is
essential.  Our fellowship however, does not rest In our agreement
on all points, but in our joint commitment to seek the truth and
our willingness for the Spirit to lead us Into a full
understanding of truth.God's purpose is the unity of the faith, and
it comes as first we are united in His Spirit and submit to His
work through His servants in the Body of Christ, building us
together till we come to the "fullness of Christ".  Read Ephesians
4:3,11-13.

FELLOWSHIP IN PRACTICE.

Although we acknowledge our oneness with all members of the
worldwide Body of Christ, fellowship is worked out in practice in
local churches or communities where our love and commitment to one
another moves from theory to reality.  God desires each of us to
involve ourselves in the local church of His choice where we can
be molded together into a functioning unit for His purposes.  Read
Psalm 68:6.
The practical success of fellowship depends on the proper
participation and attitude of each "partner".  There are a number
of basic ingredients of genuine fellowship.  Philippians 2:1.

1.   Unity.
     "Complete my joy by being of the some mind, having the same
     love, being in full accord and of one mind".  Philippians 2:2
     (RSV) Read Ephesians 4:1-6; Psalm 133; Acts 1:14; 2:1,44,46;
     4:32.

The members of one body cannot logically be disunited unless they
are cut off from the head.  We do not have to strive for unity.  It
is given.  Our only responsibility is to maintain it, through:

a.   unselfishness.  Philippians 2:3
     Concern for our own interests and advancement at the expense
     of others destroys unity.  We are to trust God to take care
     of us, and consciously put others' interests ahead of our
     own, even being willing to lay down our lives for one
     another.  Read Psalm 75:6-7; Romans 15:1-3; 16:3,4; John
     13:34; 15:13.

b.   meekness.  Philippians 2:5-8.
     Jesus is our example in all things: His life was fully
     surrendered to the will of God.  This meekness is expressed
     in:  -  submission: willingness to accept authority and adapt
          our own needs and ways to the wishes of others.
          Ephesians 5:21; 1 Peter 5:5.
          -  service: being aware of the needs of others before
          our own.  Matthew 20:25-28,John 13:3-5, 12-17; Galatians
          5:13.
          -  longsuffering: willing to suffer wrong and freely
          forgive without complaint or resentment.  Ephesians
          4:2,31,32; Matthew 6:14,15; 1 Corinthians 6:7.
          -  honouring others above ourselves: Romans 12:10;
          Philippians 2:3b
          -  fulfilling our own place: meekness is not exchanging
          pride for inferiority.  God has given each of us a place
          and we must seek to fulfil this.  Romans 12:3-8; 1
          Corinthians 12:27,28 - 14:26; 1 Peter 4:10,11.

c.   openness and honesty.
     Misunderstandings and disagreements can be totally stripped
     of their divisive power simply through communication (another
     word for fellowship).  Honest discussion in love, with a
     willingness to receive correction ourselves, results in
     mutual adjustments and peace. 1 John 1:7; James 5:16; Acts
     15:1-35.

2.   Responsibility for one another.

Salvation :Is for the "whole" man, not merely his soul.  In the
context of Christian fellowship, God has provided for our needs to
be met in every sphere through loving relationship to one another.

We are to:
a.   Build one another up in faith, courage and zeal.  Romans
     14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11,14; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews
     3:12,13; 10:24,25.
b.   Bear one another's burdens and minister God's comfort.
     Galatians 6:1; Romans 12:15: 1 Corinthians 12:25,26; 2
     Corinthians 1:3,4.
c.   Practise hospitality - open our homes to one another, taking
     special care to include the lonely.  Romans 12:13,
     1 Peter 4:9.
d.   Take responsibility for one another's physical needs.  Acts
     4:32, 34,35; Romans 15:7; 2 Corinthians 8:1-4, 13,14.

What is the real key which will cause us to share in fellowship?
LOVE - the work of God's Spirit within each one which binds us
together and distinguishes us as Christians from the world. 1
Corinthians 13:4-7; Romans 13:8-10; Colossians 3:14.

THE END