The Ministry of Encouragement Through Fellowship

FEBRUARY 12, 2023 STUDY NOTES ROMANS 1:12-13 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES THE MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGEMENT THROUGH FELLOWSHIP INTRODUCTION Paul had a strong desire to go to Rome, we talked about his trip to Rome last week His trip was not the way he would have planned it, it was more difficult than he expected Yet throughout his journey to Rome, he had many opportunities to teach and preach God’s Word Once Paul arrived in Rome, he was able to fulfill the ministry God had willed for him Paul gives three reasons why he longed to see the people in Rome Note the word “that” in Romans 1:11,12, & 13: “That” I may impart unto you some spiritual gift (vs. 11) “That” I may be comforted together with you (vs. 12) “That” I might have some fruit among you also (vs. 13) Our study this past Wednesday night was Romans 1:11 The second reason Paul gives for wanting to go to Rome is found in, Rom 1:12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. “That is” refers back to his desire to visit with the Roman Christians Another reason why he wanted to spend time with them was to experience Christian fellowship “That I may be comforted together with you” identifies with Christian fellowship Paul understood the importance of Christian fellowship, we need to understand it today Many different church events today are called “fellowship,” all of which do not qualify as such We need to recognize the difference between social activities and Christian fellowship If we understand the truth of Christian fellowship, we can have fellowship at a social gathering “Fellowship” is one of the great meaningful terms of the New Testament Fellowship is vital to the daily Christian life and central to the spiritual life of the church Christians must have a clear understanding of “Christian Fellowship” and daily experience it Our English word translated “fellowship” comes from the Greek word “Koinonia” Which means a joint participation with someone else, sharing something we have in common Fellowship is something far beyond friendship, much stronger than friendship or a social activity Fellowship begins with our relationship with the Lord, which John explains to us, 1Jn 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. John indicates two areas of fellowship, one with God and one with other Christians But John is telling us that the two are but one “fellowship” To have fellowship with God is to have fellowship with God’s family (fellowship with us) To have fellowship with God’s family is to have fellowship with God (fellowship with the Father) The average American church of today needs to understand the meaning and importance of “fellowship” One purpose of the “called out” of God is to have fellowship with God and one another We are of the same Spirit, same faith, same baptism, same hope, same grace, same salvation, Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. We can have and we should be living in “fellowship” with one another (Ephesians 4:1-7) The Church is a unique meeting, we are a unique people meeting for a unique purpose, 1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Peter shares four truths concerning the Christian: a chosen generation; a royal priesthood; a holy nation; a peculiar people Then he gives us the purpose of our being who we are, what we can do because of who we are “That ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his Page 1 of 4 marvellous light” Through Christian Fellowship what God has placed in us comes forth out of us to others Fellowship is sharing what we have received from God with those who have also received from God Fellowship praises God by showing forth and sharing the life God has given us through Christ That is why only Christians can experience the true Biblical meaning of “fellowship” Through fellowship we show what wonderful things God has already done for us What He has done within us is worthy to be praised, our salvation is not to be silent and selfish God’s life that has been given us is not just for our own enjoyment, it must be shared with others Eternal life is not just for our own eternal well-being, it is spiritual wealth to be shared with others You will never be satisfied with a selfish salvation or a silent salvation Sit at home or sit in church with your salvation to yourself and you will be miserable Share your salvation with others, you will be blessed, and you will be a blessing to others Fellowship is sharing who Christ is and what He has done for all Christians We are God's own people meeting together with God for “fellowship,” Php 1:3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Php 1:4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, Php 1:5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; (Praise God for the Church) When someone comes in the door of this church, they should sense the presence of God God is present because God’s people have come together in a unique relationship with God Encouraging one another through Christian fellowship is the main thought within Paul’s words Paul knew that ministry was not one-sided, that all of us need to be ministered unto, we need one another Coming together as Christians is to be a time of encouragement, comfort, and strength for each of us Because you are saved, indwelt by the Spirit, and gifted by the Spirit, you can be a blessing to others As a Christian, you have the ability to be a blessing to others, especially in their time of need There is a great need for encouragement in our world today, even within the church family Discouragement is common today even among Christians, yet, Christians have the answer There are many areas of discouragement, it can be health, wealth, work, family, or spiritual state If you need encouragement today, put forth an effort to be an encouragement to someone else It is always an encouragement to be an encourager, it is always a blessing to be a blessing to others Encouragement is a two-way street, it goes both directions at the same time, Php 2:19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. Paul said, “that I may be of good comfort,” literally, “that I may be encouraged” Paul would be encouraged if he received a good report concerning the Christians in Philippi Paul was in prison and could not go himself, the next best thing he could do was send Timothy Which brings us to the question, what are we doing and how concerned are we about others today? Are we so focused on self and our difficulties that we have no thought of the problems of others? To what extent will we go to minister unto others, to excite and encourage others? Who will be an encourager in this service today? Who can PGBC send forth to be an encourager? Paul states that there was a problem, a problem that still exists today, a great need of encouragement Good reports are not what we normally hear from the news media today, that’s not their purpose Good reports are not the most common conversations of today, people discuss discouraging things But a good word and words of encouragement should be common among Christians Every time we come to church, we should be encouraged, we should cheer one another up We may come to church discouraged, but we should leave encouraged We should encourage one another as we come together, Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: The word translated “provoke” means to stimulate or to stir up, to excite or encourage Our meeting together should excite and encourage love and good works among one another We are given the most likely way to excite and encourage one another, Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Page 2 of 4 “Exhorting” means to encourage someone, to help in some way, to be a comfort to someone We must all be involved in the “Ministry of Encouragement,” at church and wherever we are To be “an encourager” should be the natural lifestyle of a Christian, which Paul indicates in Rom 1:12 When he says, “by the mutual faith both of you and me” “Faith” refers to the life they were living based upon what they believed about Jesus (their daily life) “Mutual faith” is the faith of one another, Christian faith must be shared with “one another” Throughout scripture we find how significant it is that Christians interact with “one another” Christians are not to live in isolation, but to live in fellowship one with another Christians who faithfully serve together will continue to grow spiritually together You cannot minister to others without you being ministered unto You will be ministered unto as you are involved in the “Ministry of Encouragement” The “Ministry of Encouragement” is a “fruitful ministry” Rom 1:13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. Many times, Paul had planned to travel to Rome, but the door of opportunity to go did not open up Sometimes Paul’s plans were hindered by Satan, such as his desire to go to Thessalonica, 1Th 2:18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. Sometimes God had other plans for Paul, Act 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, But God always had an open door of opportunity for Paul, 2Co 2:12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, But with every door of opportunity there was a door of opposition, 1Co 16:9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. Which is still true today, Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Paul never served God anywhere without Satan’s opposition, the devil always seeks to devour, 1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: But Satan’s opposition did not prevent Paul from having a fruitful ministry Paul knew what God would do through him in his ministry to the Romans, “that I might have some fruit among you also” Paul wanted to go to Rome, preach the Gospel, and witness the fruit of the salvation of souls But it is evident that the “fruit” Paul speaks of here is the spiritual fruit of a spiritual life Spiritual fruit is the result of salvation and the working of the Holy Spirit within the life of a believer Fruit through the believer being filled with the Holy Spirit, which means controlled by the Spirit Which will result in the “Fruit of the Spirit” in the life of a believer, Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. The “Fruit of the Spirit” is the means of fellowship among Christians and that which encourages us Paul’s personal presence with the believers in Rome would excite and encourage them spiritually Paul’s ministry of encouragement would result in “fruit among them,” which would also encourage Paul Paul had a successful ministry everywhere he went, “even as among other Gentiles” But he did not talk about what he had done, he talked about what God had accomplished, Act 21:19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. Paul’s testimony was not look at what I have done, but listen to what God has done through me, Act 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God Page 3 of 4 had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. Act 15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. Act 15:12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. Be sure you get the point, which is, what God had done with them, through them, and among them CONCLUSION We are to faithfully come together as the church for God to do the same thing for us today We all need to be encouraged to do what God wants us to do today It is encouraging for me to see you today, our church family is encouraged to see you today It is discouraging when we don’t see you in church, when you don’t come to fellowship with us We all know that from time to time there are reasons why you cannot be with us in church Reasons do not discourage us, reasons encourage us, we are encouraged to pray for your well being Praying that soon you will overcome that which prevents you from coming to fellowship with us But too often the reason people are not in church is because of an excuse, which is not a reason An excuse is an attempt to justify your wrong decision, blaming something other than you I could write a book on the excuses I have heard throughout my 56 years of ministry If I ever write such a book I will title it “Devilritis” Devilritis is not “the Devil made me do it,” it is, “I let the Devil do it” The Devil knows how important Christian Fellowship is, you need to know how important it is The Devil knows how encouraging Christian Fellowship is, we all need to be encouraged The “Precious Name of Jesus” should bring us together in the joy of Heaven, “Fellowship” Christian Fellowship in the name of Jesus will fill us with joy and revive us, “Encouragement” We must realize that we have a MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGEMENT THROUGH FELLOWSHIP Listen to the song, pay attention to the message of the song, “Take The Name Of Jesus With You” Bring the “Name of Jesus” with you to church every opportunity you have Let’s encourage one another in the “Precious Name of Jesus” Page 4 of 4