We Need Fellowship
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A Story :The Ember that Cooled
A Story :The Ember that Cooled
A story is told of a man who stopped attending church . one cold winter night, his Pastor came to visit. The man welcomed him in, and sat in silence before a crackling fire place . After a few minutes, the Pastor took the tongs and pulled one glowing ember out of the fire, setting it apart on the hearth . ( the floor of a concrete fireplace area in front of the fireplace.)
Together, they watched as the ember slowly dimmed and died out. Still silent, the Pastor stood, tipped his hat, and left. the next Sunday, the man was back in church .
The ember illustrates a powerful truth : we were not made to burn alone !
Ecclesiastes 4 :8 -12
New King James Version
Ecclesiastes 4 :8 -12
New King James Version
8 There is one alone, without [a]companion:
He has neither son nor brother.
Yet there is no end to all his labors,
Nor is his eye satisfied with riches.
But he never asks,
“For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?”
This also is vanity ( worthlessness ) and a [b]grave misfortune.
The Value of a Friend
The Value of a Friend
9 Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
The Message
The Message
Why Am I Working Like a Dog?
7-8 I turned my head and saw yet another wisp of smoke on its way to nothingness: a solitary person, completely alone—no children, no family, no friends—yet working obsessively late into the night, compulsively greedy for more and more, never bothering to ask, “Why am I working like a dog, never having any fun? And who cares?” More smoke. A bad business.
9-10 It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other helps, But if there’s no one to help, tough!
11 Two in a bed warm each other. Alone, you shiver all night.
12 By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped
1.) Isolation Leads to Emptiness :
Eccle 4 : 8
There is one alone, without compassion… Yet there is no endto all his labors...
This is also vanity ( futility, worthless, a thing or trait regarded as vain , excessive pride .)
There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
Explanation : Solomon identifies the tragedy of a person who works endlessly, but remains alone. -no one to share with , no one to live for. Loneliness drains purpose. without fellowship, even our successes can feel empty.
And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
From the very beginning , God declared that aloness was not good. We were designed for relationship.
Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh
And intermeddleth with all wisdom.
A man who isolates himself, seeks his own desire; He rages ( a violent anger, fury, extreme and violent ) against all wise judgement.
Self- imposed isolation often leads to spiritual blindness and emotional decline. It separates us from correction, comfort, and community.
God setteth the solitary in families:
He bringeth out those which are bound with chains:
But the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
God sets the solitary ( alone, single, not social with anyone ) in families ; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity.
God’s heart is to lift the lonely and place them into loving community —whether in biological or spiritual family .
2.) Fellowship Brings Strength and Support
Eccle 4 : 9 - 11
Two is better than one… For if they fall, one will lift up his companion … how can one be warm alone ?
Life is full of falls, cold seasons, and battles. Fellowship is God’s answer. Companionship strengthens , comforts, and protects us in ways we can’t manage alone.
Bear yea one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Repeat again !
Bear one another’s burdens , and so fulfill the law of Christ !
Carry one another’s burdens isn’t optional— it’s a fulfillment of Christ command to love one another
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 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.
Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of our selves together
Fellowship strengthens our faith and spurs us toward godly action. Regular gathering is essential—not an optional— but for spiritual health.
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Christian faith is both celebratory and compassionate —a community where no one walks through joy or pain alone .
3.) Fellowship Makes Us Stronger Together
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Though one maybe overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
There is power in unity. Alone , we are vulnerable. Together, we are strong, But when God is the third strand , our bond is unbreakable .
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Who’s they ? The disciples of Jesus !
The early church understood that fellowship was foundational to spiritual life and growth — it wasn’t a social club. It was spiritual survival !
That’s what prayer is for , SIRITUAL SURVIVAL !
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
When we gather in Jesus name, His presence joins us , empowering our prayers , healing our hearts, and guiding our steps .
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Now I beseech (request earnestly ) you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Unity among believers reflects the unity of the Trinity and Testifies to the world about Jesus , Fellowship isn’t just for us — it’s a witness to the world.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!
CLOSING :
The Story of Terry and the Men’s Group
Terry was a new Christian battling addiction. After rehab, he started coming to a local church but kept to himself . One day, an older man named Joe invited him to a men’s Bible study.
At first , Terry said no, but Joe didn’t give up. Finally, Terry came.
Over months, that group became his lifeline. They prayed for him , checked up on him, sat with him when he relapsed, and celebrated his milestones.
One night he stood up and said ; I thought i needed recovery . What I needed was you guys, — A place where i didn’t have to be strong alone.
Terry is now helping others find freedom — not just from addiction, but from isolation ( a loner )
Fulfil yea my joy, that yea be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Choose fellowship today !
God never intended for you to do life on your own !
When you isolate, you miss out on God’s blessing’s through others.
When you join fellowship , you receive strength , warmth, and a shred purpose .
When Giod becomes that third strand, your life becomes spiritually secure and powerfully impactful.
Eccle 4 : 12
A Threefold cord is not quickly broken .
* YOU WERE NEVER MEANT TO WALK ALONE ! !
Share your testimony
Go on personal outreach , take some flyers
Tell people about your God
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do yea.
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
And whatsoever yea do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
