Koinonia - Fellowship Divine

[Loner]

This is an article from our church mag which really blessed and challenged me:



Fellowship Defined The instinctive desire within the heart of Man is to identify and associate with someone with whom he can freely relate. This relationship-need includes social, physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects. A word often used to express this engagement is "fellowship". When this word is used in the Scriptures, however, it implies a far more demanding meaning than is generally intended. Our general usage implies "getting together" to share common interests and friendship. The Fellowship that God's Word refers to involves a commitment between parties that includes acceptance, bonds and liberties that unite them to the point of sharing with each other, "holding all things common".

          Through the Gospel of Jesus, God directs His Amazing Grace to bring reconciliation between Himself and the wayward sinner. And this Grace deals totally with the sinner enabling him to enter into perfect fellowship with his perfect God. The avenues now open to Man in this fellowship with his Creator are mind-blowing.



Fellowship Selected   Man is very selective of his company and ensuing fellowship. Generally he is possessive of his personal goods; sharing his goods does not come easy with him. After the revival that followed the Day of Pentecost, the Church experienced an incredible sharing in the power of God as those early believers surrendered their hold on all their worldly possessions. They had all things in common; some even sold their possessions to lay the proceeds at the Apostles' feet. Choosing to be in fellowship with God makes its demands; God will not let His children share fellowship with Him and any other god.

          James declares in his epistle that any alternative fellowship choice is disastrous. He says, "know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God". Choosing to be in fellowship with Jesus means being in fellowship with those with whom He is in fellowship. The Church that Jesus has built is a classless society. In fact, for this building, He has chosen materials which are base and despised. When we choose to be in fellowship with Jesus, we abandon our liberty to select the members of the Body into which He places us. As the Head of His Body, Jesus shares His life with His members enabling His unity in the Church. And this unity is not to be selectively organised but implemented. Here fellowship is LOVE SHARED.



Fellowship Found Fellowship with God can never be found in a "frilly tea party" waffling hot-air discussions around the lacks and weaknesses of fellow believers. Neither is it the weekly religious huddle seeking to satisfy the need to "serve God". The true evidence of fellowship will be seen in the unconditional sharing of our lives with the members of the Body of Christ.

The style of fellowship practiced in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles is totally in keeping with the Spirit of Jesus Who demonstrates the fellowship that Heaven extends. Jesus, though God, became man; He was willing to share in Man's poverty and became poor so that Man could share in His wealth. How we love to share in the blessings God extends through His Son. Fellowship, however, must always be a two-way matter.

To enjoy the privileges of fellowship one must surrender to the discipline associated with the fellowship offered. Man's relationship with God is based upon the conditions set in His Word. By the power of His Word, God's power and resources flow to all who will believe. The discipline of the Word not only opens Heaven's windows of blessing, it is also the sword to slay the old-man nature that ever stands as to block Heaven's blessed flow. We so enjoy receiving the blessing; but how we despise letting go of our old nature!



Fellowship Eternal  When it comes to associating with our fellow man it might appear that we have many options. But when it comes to the matter of eternal fellowship into which all hope to enter, the options are but two. God's Word declares that "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all". Those who are willing to walk in the light of God's Word can have true fellowship with each other, and "the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all our sin". This is the ultimate of fellowship; being totally at peace with our fellow man and with our God.

            In our world so dark with violent darkness and selfish deception it is hard to conceive that there is a place where uncontaminated fellowship can be found. Fellowship in the Light enables each to trust the other without the fear of hurt in any way; it enables each to share with the other without the fear of abuse or loss. Therefore there is good reason to be in fellowship with God, both for now and eternity. Come, let's walk with God - higher up the mountain. In His Light we will see the fountain and the Blood that cleanses from all sin. And what of resurrection Glory? That will be the most awesome FELLOWSHIP! It is imperative for us to ensure that we get into godly fellowship with each other, and maintain it, so that we may be truly in fellowship with our God!