Fruitful Fellowship

Fruitful Fellowship (1 Samuel 18:1-4)

Fellowship = to unite, to be joined, to be in a league together, to bind, partnership, companionship.

Our fellowship has an extreme effect on our faithfulness to God and to others.

You are who you fellowship with!

Comparisons in Fellowship

Eliab (David’s oldest brother) no longer wants to fellowship with David, but God provided someone after the battle to continue to help encourage David, and they were a lot alike! Johnathon in the Hebrew literally means “Jehovah has given.”

Galatians 2:9 “And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.”

They were both Courageous.

David had courage against the Philistines. Johnathon also had courage while fighting against the Philistines. (14)

They were both Confident.

David looked to God for his help.

1 Samuel 17:37 “David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.”

1 Samuel 17:46 “This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.”

Johnathon looked to God for his help as well.

1 Samuel 14:6 “And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.”

1 Samuel 14:12 “And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the Lord hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.”

They were both Charitable.

David gave gifts to his brothers

1 Samuel 17:18–22 KJV 1900

And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle. For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army. And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.

2 Samuel 9:1 “And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

Johnathon gave David his own robe.

1 Samuel 18:4 “And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.”

Fellowship and friendships don’t randomly happen. Likes attract likes. Goals attract goals. Courageous people bond with courageous people. Generous people bond with generous people. THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR THOSE THAT ARE WICKED. THE WICKED BOND WITH THE WICKED. LIARS BOND WITH LIARS. CUSSERS BOND WITH CUSSERS. DRINKERS BOND WITH DRINKERS. Fellowship is fellowship, either the wrong kind or the right kind.

Contradictions in Fellowship

1 John 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.”

1 John 1:6–7 “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Ephesians 5:1–11 KJV 1900

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

David was devoted: Saul was disobedient.

David was courageous: Saul was a coward.

David was a worker: Saul was a worrier. (you ain’t got time to worry if you keep working!)

David was a giver: Saul was a getter.

David was a soldier: Saul was a sitter.

There was a reason Saul hated David. It was because David wasn’t like Saul.

Conditions for Fellowship

Fellowship should be Strong (knit with the soul)

close bonds, Christ-like bonds, comparable bonds (a three fold chord is not easily broken) (2 people plus Christ!)

Fellowship should be Steadfast (made a covenant)

a contract to be consistent in faith, virtues, acts, attitudes. We shouldn’t let anything break our fellowship! (unless because of sin)

Fellowship should be Selfless (loved him as his own soul)

Matthew 22:39 “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

Johnathon was next in line to be king after Saul. Because of Saul’s sin, Saul’s dynasty was stopped and God gave the throne to David, thus Johnathon was excluded from the throne. A selfish person would’ve bickered and been bitter about someone replacing his spot. Johnathon submitted to God’s plan rather than man’s plan (1 Samuel 23:17 “And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.” )

Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

Selfish spirits aren’t interested in self-denial. Selfless means you think less of self and more of others!

Fellowship should be Sacrificial (vs.4)

Love gives. Johnathon gave David his personal robe and military equipment.

David was a peasant at this time and didn’t have royal attire or fancy equipment.

What are we willing to give others when we see them have need?

What are we willing to give others to see them grow?

Each of these conditions for fellowship are attributes of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we want our fellowship to be right with others, we should try our very best to be like Him!