5. Fellowship: Part: A

Fellowship is a company of equals or friends: John 15: 15; Philippians 2:1-8; 1: Corinthians. 10: 16-17, 24: John 15:14-16} Act 2.42-. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer.”

Fellowships are groups of people who follow the teachings and the apostolic teachings of Jesus Christ. The attitude of compassion, humility, and respect shown by one another can also be called fellowships.

Fellowship is an essential quality among Christ’s disciples [not all Christians are disciples]. Singing songs, listening to sermons, or doing many other things together does not constitute fellowship. It is only an organization. Worldly peoples also have organizations. They also do a lot of good things.

In this regard, what the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 2 is significant. “If there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”

This is the basic principle of Christian fellowship. No person should deviate from this. Whether it is a pastor, a priest, a leader, or a simple believer, this Word of the Holy Spirit does not change.

we must consider why the Fellowship of Saints is included as one of the fundamental doctrines. Some people live a life of faith by themselves, without going to any community or having a relationship with anyone. Some go to church groups, but others go without having any connection with anyone. They may have their reasons for that. Communion with saints has been a fundamental apostolic teaching and practice since the first century. Fellowship is essential for a believer’s survival, spiritual growth, enthusiasm, spiritual activity, and study of the Word of God. As God’s children stand together to resist satanic activities and bring victory, the prayer of fellowship is very effective. Examples abound in the Bible and empirical evidence.

For example, in Acts 12.5, we read, “While Peter was being kept in prison, the church was attentive and prayed to God for him.” It can be understood that Peter’s release from prison was the careful prayer of the Church. The fellowship together is beneficial to help in the needs of the children of God, to work together, to pray in unity, and to evangelize the respective land.

Jesus Christ’s teaching about unity and fellowship is essential. In Matthew 18:19,20, the Lord says; thus, “If two of you agree on anything on earth, it will be given to them by my Father in heaven. I tell you that wherever two or three come together in my name, I am in their midst.” This promise and presence of our Lord is the life and strength of our fellowship.

Each one should look not only at his benefits but also at the benefits of others. Let it be said based on the precept that the attitude of Christ Jesus should be in you. 

The Church should understand that the offering and collection of money taken from the local Church is not only for the help of some pastors and other so-called gospel workers but also for the needs of other fellow believers. That the early Church was like that can be understood from the Acts of the Apostles and other epistles, and even from the history of the early Church. Acts 2: 44–47 All the believers gathered and counted everything as common property and sold their native land and property and distributed it to everyone as he had need. They gathered in the temple daily, broke bread at home, ate joyfully and sincerely, praised God, and felt the people’s grace. The Lord was daily adding the saved to the Church.

The offerings and fundraising in the early days were realistic and according to God’s Word. I do not understand where the idea of ​​taking an offering at every spiritual meeting came from. Fellowship gatherings are for spiritual growth. Not for the collection of money. Tithes and offerings are not the rules or promising practices in every fellowship meeting. Today it has changed or made the change. In the New Testament church, there were only bountiful gifts.

From the epistles, we can understand that the apostles received it according to the needs of the saints and used it for the needs of them. It was to settle the needs of God’s children. Today it has become a profession and a way to earn money. I was shocked to hear a church’s policy states that membership is only given to those who tithe at least $2000 (dollars). It is hard. What can we say but the decline of our societies?

The Holy Spirit and the apostles conceived them without turning these established cooperative relationships into mere organizations {clubs}. Stand in the Word’s purity and the Holy Spirit’s power. God’s children should try to be obedient to God. And let us pray for our holy fellowships; they should not be worldly organizations.

This article continues. Readers’ comments and support are welcome

By Pastor M G Abraham. 

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