SERVING AS A DISCIPLE - RELATIONSHIPS IN THE CHURCH

Key Scriptures

1 Corinthians 13:1–8

1 John 4:20–21

Acts 4:32–35

1 John 3:16–18

John 13:35

Ephesians 4:13–16, 25

Romans 12:9–21

Philippians 2:1–4

1 Corinthians 12:25–27

1 John 1:7

Acts 2:42–47

1 Thessalonians 5:12–15

Introduction

John Wesley once said, “The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion.” Christianity is a religion of fellowship. Following Christ means love, righteousness and service, and these things can only be achieved through the social relationships found in the church. Nothing can take the place of church attendance.

Christians often give up in their service for the Lord because they feel that they are on their own and no one cares for them. They feel that the problems they are facing are peculiar to themselves alone. Satan will try to convince us, as disciples of Jesus, that we do not need to be concerned about other people. He will tell us that, ‘As long as we have God, who needs other Christians!’ However, the truth is that as Christians, we are living stones that God is building together into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5; Ephesians 2:20–22). True Christians need each other. In fact, true Christians are dependent on each other. The word ‘fellowship’ in Greek is the word ‘koinonia’ and it means ‘communion’ or ‘sharing in common’ (Acts 2:42; 1 John 1:7). This word describes how Christians should live, i.e. as a community of mutual sharers who live in and share the ‘agape’ or selfless, sacrificial love that God has given them (Romans 5:5; John 13:34; 1 John 3:23).

(Finish 26/09/24)

Fellowship of the Spirit

This is an attitude of heart and mind. It is the expression of a bond in Christ Jesus between Christian believers that goes far deeper than the natural ties of family or friendship. It is one of the greatest challenges to our lives as Christians today. As Christians we are not on our own. We have been born, by faith, into a tremendous worldwide family of believers who are joined together, not by race, colour or convenience, but by the blood of Jesus (Galatians 3:26–28). The fact is that we are one because of what God has done in Christ. God purposed this in Christ before the world began (Ephesians 1:4–5). We are what we are because of God’s work in us through the Holy Spirit (Philippians 2:1–2; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

Seven aspects of the fellowship we share in the Spirit

1. The love of the Spirit (Romans 15:30)

At the heart of our relationship as believers stands the love of God. This is not a love which grows out of natural affection or liking for each other, but is rather a love which is produced within us by the direct work of the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). Jesus said that it was the reality of this love which would be the hallmark of our discipleship as far as other men and women are concerned (John 13:35).

2. The unity of the Spirit

Our unity is through faith in Christ (Galatians 3:26–28), and our common sharing in the one Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). This unity is shown by our common access to our Father in heaven by the Holy Spirit in us (Ephesians 2:17–18). It is a unity which is precious and which needs to be guarded and persevered in when necessary (Ephesians 4:3).

3. The temple of the Spirit

Christians are being built together as a holy temple to the Lord in which God lives by His Spirit (Ephesians 2:21–22). This temple, or house of God, is also the place of service, offering and praise (1 Peter 2:5). God holds this building as very significant and we are told to be very careful how we build on the foundations already laid (1 Corinthians 3:10–17). It is no light thing to play around with the temple of God, because we will be held accountable before Him as to what we have done with His precious dwelling place.

4. The glory of the Spirit

Where God dwells His glory is seen (1 Peter 4:14). The transforming work of the Holy Spirit enables us first to behold God’s glory in Jesus, and by that to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus, so that His glory is seen in our lives (2 Corinthians 3:18).

5. The gifts of the Spirit

The gifts of the Holy Spirit may be manifested through individual believers but they are, in fact, gifts to the body and not only to individual Christians (1 Corinthians 12:7). The gifts of the Holy Spirit make no sense, really, apart from the fact of the fellowship of the Spirit. Their operation should be a sign of the unity of the body.

6. The hope of the Spirit

Where there is faith there is hope. Christian hope is a total reality because it is based on the work and word of Jesus and it is born out of faith. This faith is produced in us by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:5–6). Faith, hope and love which the Holy Spirit engenders within us are not merely individually experienced, but are expressed corporately in our lives together in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

7. The worship of the Spirit

Fellowship in the Spirit is a fellowship before the throne of God in worship where we join Jesus who is already there. This is where our fellowship is most deeply expressed. True worship finds its root in the work of the Holy Spirit (Philippians 3:3; John 4:23–24).

One in Spirit

There must be a deep pain in the heart of God when He sees how far short we fall of the ideals He has presented us with in His Son. He has laid the foundation of our fellowship in Jesus and has given us the power to make it a reality through obedience and love in the Holy Spirit. The devil so often seems to succeed, however, in leading us into failure and pain. Of course, at a practical level, we cannot have fellowship with every Christian in a deep sense, nor are we meant to. We are in fellowship with every true believer, whether we like it or not, because we are joined together in the heart of God through the work of Christ. It is necessary for each one of us to discern our circles of fellowship, not in an exclusive sense, but in a way that will enable us to express and fulfil this fellowship with other Christians at a practical level. Three results of fellowship 1. Fruitfulness The Psalmist in Psalm 133 says that unity is like the dew of Hermon falling on Mount Zion. The dews of Hermon are the source of water and life for the land: they bring refreshment and sustenance to the people and enable them to be fruitful. Fellowship does the same for us in that it brings refreshment and nourishment for us in our daily walk with God, which enables us to be fruitful. 2. Creativity There are many areas in our Christian lives where we cannot function properly apart from fellowship with other believers. Christian fellowship is, in the end, not an individual exercise but a corporate one. Most of the challenges we face arise from the fact that we live in relationship with other people. The Holy Spirit moves when allowed to, to bring unity in the body of Christ, and He gives gifts as they are needed, to build up and keep the body whole. There should be no poverty of spirit or lack of spiritual gift in the body, and everybody should be enriched and built up as we share our gifts together in mutual love and service (1 Peter 4:10–11). The Father’s will is for a generosity of spirit which recognises what is of God in one another and fosters it through mutual encouragement and help (Hebrews 10:24–25). 3. Cost To have a really close relationship with someone costs us something, for we have to give in order to receive, and in giving, the protective mask that we all have has to come down. The fact is that when we open ourselves to fellowship with one another we are making ourselves vulnerable. We are far from perfect people and the cost of fellowship is that not only do we receive from each other that which is of God, but we are also open to every influence and natural trait that manifests itself in our lives and personalities. This is why some people find it hard to open themselves up to others, for fear of hurt, misunderstanding or rejection. Although it would seem that by being open to a person we make ourselves vulnerable, the truth is that fellowship will only reach its peak and be truly fulfilling if we do open ourselves in this way. If you are lonely, ask yourself, ‘Am I prepared for the cost of true friendship and am I prepared to open myself up?’ We should humble ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to search the thoughts and attitudes of all our hearts. Our gospel cannot remain credible alongside the continual breakdown and spiritual divorce between true believers. The pain that such separation brings can often be the most crippling factor in our lives and ministries. It robs us of confidence within ourselves and between each other, and it provides the world with a major reason for rejecting our message. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers ... Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:16, 18) What should our attitude be to one another in the body of Christ? We should: love one another (John 13:34–35; John 15:12, 17; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:18; 1 John 4:7, 11–12). encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:25). spur one another on towards love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24). build one another up (1 Thessalonians 5:11). edify one another (Romans 14:19). admonish one another (Colossians 3:16). instruct one another (Romans 15:14). serve one another (Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 4:10). bear with one another (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13). forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13). be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32). be compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32; 1 Peter 3:8). be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10). honour one another (Romans 12:10). live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16; 1 Peter 3:8). be sympathetic with one another (1 Peter 3:8). be gentle with one another (Ephesians 4:2; 1 Peter 3:8). be patient with one another (Ephesians 4:2). accept one another (Romans 15:7). submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21). clothe yourselves with humility towards one another (Ephesians 4:2; 1 Peter 5:5).

teach one another (Colossians 3:16). live at peace with one another (Mark 9:50; Romans 12:18). confess your sins to one another (James 5:16). pray for one another (James 5:16). offer hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9). greet one another (Romans 16:16; 1 Peter 5:14). have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7). agree with one another (1 Corinthians 1:10). carry one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). Things not to do to one another in the body of Christ do not bite or devour one another (Galatians 5:15). do not provoke or envy one another (Galatians 5:26). do not hate one another (Titus 3:3). do not judge one another (Romans 14:13). do not lie to one another (Colossians 3:9). do not slander or speak evil about one another (James 4:11). do not grumble against one another (James 5:9). do not go to the law against one another (1 Corinthians 6:1–8).

Gordon, Bob. The Foundations of Christian Living (The Sovereign World Foundations Series) . Sovereign World Ltd. Kindle Edition.

Gordon, Bob. The Foundations of Christian Living (The Sovereign World Foundations Series) . Sovereign World Ltd. Kindle Edition.