FELLOWSHIP

I had the greatest time getting my motorcycle serviced a couple of days ago! Does that sound crazy? It was some of the best fellowship I’ve had in a long time. Yes, fellowship!

I towed the bike on a friends trailer and he rode with me in the truck. We talked about several things but everything centered around Christ. While the bike was being serviced we met his son, also a Christian, for lunch. Again, while we talked about many different things, Christ was the salt of our conversation. Another Christian biker that none of us had ever met joined us for 15 minutes or so and again, Christ was the center which the conversation revolved around.

Too often when we think about fellowship in the church, we think about pot lucks and eating. Can that be fellowship? Absolutely, if we are engaged in godly conversation and loving each other. Does fellowship have to involve eating? Look at verse nine from 1 Corinthians chapter one:

God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Now obviously we don’t chow down with Jesus, at least not in the physical sense.

The word fellowship is the English translation of the Greek word koinonia. It is translated Fellowship 12 times, Communion 4 times, Communicate one time, Communication one time, Contribution one time, and Distribution one time.

It is defined by Thayer’s Greek Definitions as fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, the share which one has in anything, participation, intimacy, the right hand as a sign and pledge of fellowship (in fulfilling the apostolic office), a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, as exhibiting an embodiment and proof of fellowship.

I know, that’s a lot of words, but I want you to notice that our fellowship is to be centered around Christ.

That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. ⁴And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. 1 John 1:3 - 4 (NKJV)

Fellowship among Christians should NOT look or sound like the fellowship that the world engages in. We, as Christians, are called to be holy, separated from the world. There is to be a difference!

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

COURAGE

Do you ever get discouraged? Perhaps it’s the high price of gasoline, too much homework, no compliments from your boss, or some other thing that causes you to feel this way. For some it’s a boyfriend or girlfriend breaking up with them. For others it’s a spouse of several years leaving, or not having a job. Whatever it is, we all get discouraged at some point in time.

I get discouraged when I look around at the apathy found in many of today’s churches. I’m not talking about any one particular church…it seems to be a national epidemic.

It’s ok for me to feel that way for a moment, but that “feeling” can easily become “the place where I reside.” Letting that happen is unscriptural, it’s unhealthy. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 1:21 (KJV),

Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.

Problems should get our attention, but not our devotion. Your boyfriend left you. Ok, you had your moment of sadness, but don’t be discouraged. Why not?

Because God tells us not to be afraid or discouraged. He tells us why it won’t be a problem in Deuteronomy 31:6 (NKJV),

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.

Do you believe that? Do you believe that the God who Created the Universe, who helped the Israelites safely cross the Red Sea while destroying Egypt’s armies, who sent His only Son do die for your sin…that God is the One who goes with you into and out of all your problems. He promises not to leave you and not to forsake you. Your job is simply to trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

WHITE

We awakened this morning to 4-6” of snow in Southeastern Arizona. As I looked out upon the white landscape, it reminded me of the purity of God. The color we know as white is often used in the scripture to indicate purity and holiness:

“I watched till thrones were put in place,

And the Ancient of Days was seated;

His garment was white as snow,

And the hair of His head was like pure wool. Daniel 7:9 (NKJV)

When Christ was transfigured the scripture says, “His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.” (Matthew 17:2). The angel that greeted the women at Jesus’ tomb was dressed in “clothing as white as snow” (Matthew 28:3).

You and I are called to that same holiness, that same purity, only available to us by faith in Christ Jesus. The scriptures tell us that we are to be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). The only way we can do that is to present ourselves to God, surrender to Him, on a daily basis.

And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. Romans 6:13 (NKJV)

Isaiah 1:16 - 20 (NKJV)

“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;

Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes.

Cease to do evil, ¹⁷ Learn to do good;

Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor;

Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.

¹⁸ “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord,

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

They shall be as white as snow;

Though they are red like crimson,

They shall be as wool.

¹⁹ If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land;

²⁰ But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”;

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Enjoy the snow if you got any and let it remind you that God is holy and desires the same for you.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

PRAY

This “word” is a continuation of yesterday’s entitled “Warfare.”

Ephesians 6:17 - 18 (YLT) and the helmet of the salvation receive, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the saying of God, 18 through all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the Spirit, and in regard to this same, watching in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

The Young’s Literal translation above tells us to “receive” the helmet of salvation as opposed to “take” in the King James. I like that. We don’t have any power, or even an inclined will to take something that precious and good, although I know what the translators were meaning. Still, if we are going to be effective in the spiritual battle in which we are engaged we must receive the precious gift of God’s Son, salvation.

Ephesians 6:17 - 18 (KJV) ¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: ¹⁸Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Another difference between the Young’s Literal and the typical rendering is the use of the comma just before verse eighteen. The King James does come the closest with its use of the colon, but most translations use a period and even a new paragraph distancing the two thoughts.

Notice what happens when you consider the two thoughts together, the latter being a continuation and expansion on the former:

Take (or receive) the saying of God (literally, the utterance) through all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the Spirit,

To me that says, unless we are praying in the Spirit we will not get or understand, what God is saying.

The Holy Spirit forbids or prompts when to speak the word of God (Acts 4:31, 16:6), gives us the words to say (Luke 12:12). The Holy Spirit will also teach us all things and bring to our remembrance the word (John 14:26).

This says to me, that we must be in tune with the Spirit of God if we are going to be of any effect in the spiritual battles we are faced with every day. We must confess our sin, admit our weakness, ask God for His strength, mentally and physically, and for His guidance and direction in our lives.

PRAYING ALWAYS…about everything, small to large decisions

with ALL PRAYER and supplication…

• Public prayer
• Private prayer
• General prayer
• Specific prayer

WATCHING for what God is doing in regard to your prayer.

With PERSEVERANCE…not giving up on your praying and not giving up watching what God is doing in regard to your prayers.

The battle is real. Be prepared and be effective.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD