The Meaning and Importance of Spiritual Fellowship

Meaning & Importance of Spiritual Fellowship

7-16-16 Bend
7-23-16 Medford                                           

Introduction – One of the dilemmas of life is the deceitfulness of familiarity.

• What I mean is that what we do repeatedly becomes so automatic that we tend to forget the details.
• Ex. directions to your house
• Your phone number
• Tying a tie
• In these cases, what is known as muscle memory handles many of these tasks.
• This is why to tie a tie on someone else, you have to stand behind the person to do it.

SPS – Today’s sermon topic is not about any of these tasks or even about muscle memory.

• But it is about the deceitfulness of familiarity in respect to the meaning and importance of oft-used terms.
• Specifically—fellowship
• What is meant by fellowship; and why is it important?

“Poor communication has been the plague of mankind ever since the tower of Babel. Such statements as the following reveal that we face problems when trying to communicate to one another: ‘I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.’

“We can sometimes be misunderstood because of mispronunciations as when [a Protestant minister’s] child told a friend that his father taught in a “cemetery.” Sometimes sound-alike phrases are misunderstood as with the child in a Christian school who was asked to draw a picture depicting the hymn “Gladly the Cross I’d Bear” and instead drew a picture of Gladly, the cross-eyed bear. But if we have problems understanding the concepts of each other, that is nothing compared to the problems we encounter understanding the concepts of God, for His thoughts are not our thoughts, they are foreign to us.

“Now, God has given us His thoughts in the Bible and explained them carefully, but as time has passed, they have become “greek to us” and we have warped His thoughts and reverted to our own practices concerning His word. One such concept that has been especially warped in its biblical meaning is the concept of Christian fellowship. Today, churches have fellowship halls, fellowship dinners, and fellowship retreats, but very few have real fellowship. Yet for a church that seeks to be guided in principle and practice by the New Testament, fellowship is very important” (sermon on bible.org).

I would like to begin by asking you how you understand what is meant by fellowship?

• To avoid embarrassment, I will ask you to write out your answer on the slip of paper you are being given.

Dictionary definitions:

• “friendly association, especially with people who share one's interests” (Google)
• “a friendly relationship among people, the relationship of people who share interests or feelings, a group of people who have similar interests” (Merriam-Webster)
• “the condition or relation of being a fellow, the fellowship of humankind, friendly relationship, companionship,  community of interest, feeling, etc., communion, as between members of the same church, friendliness, an association of persons having similar tastes, interests, etc.” (dictionary.com)
• “Friendly association, especially with people who share one’s interests, A group of people meeting to pursue a shared interest or aim (Oxford Dictionary)
• “Christian fellowship or communion with God or with fellow Christians; said in particular of the early Christian community” (freedictionary.com)

So now let’s see what the Bible says on the subject.

• You probably know what’s coming next— the meaning of the Greek word (koinōnia).
• “close association involving mutual interests and sharing” (BDAG lexicon)
• Sharing what we have in common—by what we say and do
• Not just what we have in common but sharing it (“an action word”)

NLT Acts 2:41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day-- about 3,000 in all. 42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals … and to prayer.

• This first occurrence of koinōnia in the NT is an example of the freedictionary.com definition of fellowship.

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

• The fellowship that the Bible refers to is a spiritual fellowship that involves God.

NLT 1 Corinthians 1:9 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 John 1:3, 7 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….

7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

NLT 1 John 1:7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

• We all share the same Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling.

NLT Ephesians 2:18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free -- and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

1 Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

NLT 1 Corinthians 10:16 When we bless the cup at the Lord's Table, aren't we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren't we sharing in the body of Christ?

• The context of this passage is the boast of some in the Corinthian congregation of their ability to eat meat in an idol’s temple without being affected (1 Corinthians 8:10).

NLT 1 Corinthians 10:14 So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. 15 You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true. 16 When we bless the cup at the Lord's Table, aren't we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren't we sharing in the body of Christ? 17 And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body. 18 Think about the people of Israel. Weren't they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar? 19 What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? 20 No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don't want you to participate with demons. 21 You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord's Table and at the table of demons, too.

2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship [metochē] has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

NLT 2 Corinthians 6:14 ¶ Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?

Let’s get even more specific:

Philippians 2:1-5  Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,  2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others.  5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus….

NLT Philippians 2:1-5 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate?  2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.  3 Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.  4 Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.  5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

NIV Hebrews 3:13 But encourage [Gr. parakaleō] one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

• The context of Hebrews 3-4 is the failure of OT Israel, who were focused on self instead of on God and each other.

NLT 1 Corinthians 12:20-27  20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.  21 The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you."  22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.  23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen,  24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity.  25 This makes for harmony among the members so that all the members care for each other.  26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.  27 All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it.

• We are all in this together is the concept of koinōnia.

NLT Ephesians 4:1-6  Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.  2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love.  3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.  4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.  5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  6 and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.

NLT Ephesians 4:16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

The Sabbath is a special time when fellowship should be at its peak.

• New people attend not just for the sermons; they can get them without being here.
• They come here for fellowship, which is also why we all should come—not only to get fellowship, but also to give it.

Isaiah 58:13-14  13 " If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the LORD honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words,  14 Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD….

• What does this mean?

NLT Isaiah 58:13 "Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don't pursue your own interests on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the LORD's holy day. Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day, and don't follow your own desires or talk idly.

• The Sabbath is a special time—a spiritual oasis from the wilderness of this world.
• It is not a time to drag the world or routine matters of everyday life into your conduct or discussion with others.
• It is a time to edify and encourage as well as to be edified and encouraged.
• That presupposes that God and His plan are uppermost in your heart and mind.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9   6 " And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.  7 "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.  8 "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  9 "You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

• The Israelites were told to post the laws on God as reminders, including wearing tassels.
• But there is an even better and more important way under the New Covenant.

Jeremiah 31:31-33  31 "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah --  32 "not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD.  33 "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

Hebrews 8:7-10   7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.  8 Because finding fault with them, He says: "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah --  9 "not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD.  10 "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

• The point is that you cannot give what you do not have.
• That is a fundamental principle of human life.
• You can’t draw money out of the bank unless you have previously put money into the account.
• The same principle is true regarding what you talk about.

NLT Matthew 12:34-36   34 For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.  35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.  36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.

• Where did we read the expression “idle word” previously?
• Answer = in Isaiah 58:13
• So I will read the passage again:

NLT Isaiah 58:13 "Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don't pursue your own interests on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the LORD's holy day. Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day, and don't follow your own desires or talk idly.

• The Sabbath is a special time—a spiritual oasis from the wilderness of this world.
• It is not a time to drag the world or routine matters of everyday life into your conduct or discussion with others.
• It is a time to edify and encourage as well as to be edified and encouraged.

Conclusion – So let’s all take this to heart so that we can experience the kind of fellowship that God intends us to enjoy—especially on the Sabbath.