Believers’ Fellowship
TOPIC: BELIEVERS’ FELLOWSHIP
TEXT: Psalm 133; Genesis 49:10; Acts 2:44-47, 1 Peter3:8, 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 John 1:3; Matthew 5:21-26; 1 Corinthians 6:1-12; Matthew 18:15-20.
MEMORY VERSE: “Not forsaking the assemblies of ourselves together as the manner (habit) of some is, but exhorting (communing with) one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching”. Hebrews 10:25.
INTRODUCTION: We have concluded in our last study series about act of the “True Worship” of God, we shall be considering in this new series “Believers Fellowship” another act of being in Church. When we come together we don’t only come to worship the triune God – God our Father in the name of Jesus by the Holy Spirit – but also to fellowship with each other in the faith of our God and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. When you are born again, you become a member of a family, God’s family. Hence you are to share intimately with other members of the same family, particularly in a locality. This gathering together of the believers is referred to in the Bible as the Church, the Assembly of believers, and the fellowship of the brethren. The Church is a local and universal body of born again and spirit-filled believers in Christ Jesus having a Shepherd (Head/Leadership).
In Greek the word Fellowship is called KOINONIA meaning Communion, Fellowship, a sharing of something in common – Heb. 12:22 – 24, Psalm 122:1; Gen. 49:10b; 1 John 1:3. Every believer needs the fellowship of other believer. It is here that we are built together as a holy habitation for God. A believer that does not fellowship with others misses a lot. This is why you should understand what the Bible says about believer fellowship, what you should expect during a believers fellowship and other things. Please open your heart to the Holy Spirit so that He may explain the Word of God to you – Psalm 122:1.
DISCUSSION (Study Analysis):
1a. What does the bible mean by Believers’ Fellowship or Assembly of Believers?
i) It means Communion (1 Corinthians 10:16-22) Meaning Common Union, that is, something in Common and in Union – The act of sharing something in common. If we are to have fellowship, we must have something in common, and must be shared in true unity and union. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17.
ii) Partners (Luke 5:8-10) Meaning we are partner together in the same mindset of kingdom business in spite of our diversity (not in opposition). We are in partnership, working together for the same God as co-worker, all pulling together rather than pulling against each other.
iii) Contribution (Rom. 15:26-27) Meaning the act of giving to each other – spiritually, materially and financially etc. The early Church kind of fellowship contributed to each others need without any wanting in the midst. They gave liberally to each other – (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-37; 2 Cor. 8:13-15)
iv) Partaker and Sharer Meaning to share with one another’s lives – is to rejoice with them, pray with them, mourn with them etc. Fellowship cannot be remote- it must be personal, caring, and loving. We partake with one another, we share with one another, we love one another in the deepest sense of the word (1Cor. 13:4-8a).
v) To Participate In and With Meaning to be part of them, to be one, even as the Father and the Son are one. (John 17:20-23).
NOTE: True Christian Fellowship, as outlined above, is a rare but beautiful thing. No wonder Apostle Paul counselled us to be “eager and willing to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).
1b. The need for fellowship.
a) Hebrews 10:24-25; b) Psalm 133:2-3; c) Malachi 3:16; d) Acts 2:44; e) Psalms 119:63; f) Matthew 18:18-20; 5:21-26; g) 1 Corinthians 1:9.
2. What do we expect at a believers Fellowship:
a) Psalm 133:1-3: Divine love share; The Anointing of the Holy Spirit; and the Lord blessings.
b) Deut. 23:12-14, Obadiah 1:17-18, 2 Cor. 6:16: The Presence of God; The Power of God to save, deliver help and heal.
c) Acts 2:42-47, 4:31-35: The Holy Spirit and divers help.
d) Eph. 5:19-20, Col. 3:16-17, Heb. 3:12-14, 1 John 1:5-7: Fellowship, exhortation, etc.
e) 1 Tim. 3:15; 1 Corinthians 14:26
3. With whom are we to Fellowship:
a) The Father – 1 John 1:3, Jn. 14:23, 17:21-23, 2 Cor. 6:18, Isa. 57:15.
b) The Son – 1 Cor. 1:9, 1 Jn. 1:3, and Matt. 18:20, Jn. 14:23, 15:2-8.
c) The Holy Spirit – Rom. 8:9, 1 Cor. 3:16, 2 Cor. 13:14, Phil 2:1.
d) The Brethren – Acts 1:14, 2:1, 42, 47, Matt. 13:55-56, Eph. 5:15, 1Jn. 3:3-7.
4. Who not to fellowship with:
a) The Ungodly – Psalm 1:1.
b) Workers of Iniquity – Psalm 6:8, 26:5.
c) False Teachers – I Tim. 6:3-5.
d) The disorderly 2 Thess. 3:6.
e) Infidel, Idolaters, and fornicators – 1 Cor. 5:9-11, 2 Cor. 6:14 – 7:1
f) Unbelievers 2 Cor. 6:14.
g) The Devil – Eph. 5:11,
h) Fallen Angles (demons) – Rev. 8:12, 1 Cor. 10:20, Rev. 19:20b, Deut. 32:17, Psalm 106:37,
i) Worship of Holy Angels – Rev. 19:10, Rev 22:8-9, Heb. 1:13-14
NOTE: The act of fellowship has nothing to do with relating with Heathens but with the system and life styles which contradicts the Christian faith. For there is a very great difference in terms between in the act of relationship and fellowship considering them in the context of the scriptures.
5. What are the blessings of consistent fellowship with God and other believers: A) Psalm 119:165, b) Matt. 18:18-20, c) 1 Jn. 1:7, d) Rev. 3:20, e) Psalm 3:8, f) 125:1-2, g) Jn. 10:28, h) 2 Tim. 2:21, i) Rev. 3:21.
CONCLUSION: A separation and Isolation Christian is a contradiction in terms, we need the love and fellowship of one another for a stable spiritual growth and efficiency. Every believer needs the fellowship of other believer. It is here that we are built together as a holy habitation for God. A believer that does not fellowship with others misses a lot. This is why you should understand what the Bible says about believer fellowship, what you should expect during a believers fellowship and other things.
MEMORY VERSE: “Not forsaking the assemblies of ourselves together as the manner (habit) of some is, but exhorting (communing with) one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching”. Heb. 10:25.
Compiled by Revd Chukie MORSI