Necessity of Fellwoship

Necessity of Fellowship

Text: various

Intro: We have all been there. There are times when we just can’t do a task on our own. It may be that we need more hands, more muscle, or maybe even someone who just feels better than we do at the time. Every human being knows we all need help sometimes.

Theme: Fellowship is necessary to accomplish the work God has set before us.

1. Review:

A. We are talking about fellowship in a time of social distancing – physical distancing.

B. We defined it as: God’s people sharing things that are held dear/ close as a group. Sharing together!

C. We illustrated from Scripture how it is from God Himself.

2. Absence makes the heart grow fonder

A. Hosea 3.3 I said to her, “You must dwell as mine for many days. You shall not play…” ESV

· Hosea’s wife had been unfaithful. To get her to understand the error of her ways, a time of abstinence was set in place. She was not to be getting her desires filled by others, nor was her husband going to satisfy her desires for a time. The abstinence was for a purpose!

o It was, first of all, to help the relationship.

o It was also a picture of what God was doing, and will do, with His relationship to the nation of Israel. See verse 4, and Romans 9

§ Momentary separation can be good. We see that in obvious ways during COVID. However, it must be focused towards a restoration of relationship because we are better when sharing together.

B. The Apostle Paul with John Mark

· 2 Timothy 4.11 “Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.” NKJV

· Back in Acts 15.37 and following, Barnabas and Paul had chosen to go different directions in ministry. The Apostle Paul went west and built a team that was able to help spread the gospel and establish churches. Barnabas and John Mark stayed on the Island of Cyprus, though there is some material outside of Scripture that suggests they went to Africa next and made regular trips between Cyprus, North Africa and Jerusalem until its fall in 70AD.

Now, when 2 Timothy is written, Paul has seen/heard of the maturity of John Mark from afar and desires to enjoy the fellowship of ministering side by side. The word “useful” was a typical word for a travel companion. Paul was not looking to “Use” someone! The years of absence had made a difference and Paul’s heart was now fond of spending time traveling with John Mark as they sought to continue to serve the Lord.

3. Isolation is against sound judgement

Pr 18.1 Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. ESV

· The isolation referred to here is a “discontinuation of association with another,” “a separation from relationships – conscious or not”.

· Same word is used in Pr. 17.9 “Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. ESV

· Notice that this is self-imposed and not brought from an outside source or from the other party in the relationship.

o At the present we have governments around the world that are forcing separation and even isolation In an effort to stop a virus, so they say. That is not what this is talking about.

o Neither is this talking about people who damage or hurt you. It must be said that an abused spouse must separate/isolate themselves so that the sin of abuse does not go on. An abusive relative sometimes has to be separated from to stop the mental or physical torture.

· It is “against all sound judgement”

o We understand the words “against” and “all”. They are obvious.

o The words “sound judgement” means elevated or uplifted counsel; efficient wisdom; abiding success. Brown, F., Driver, S. R., & Briggs, C. A. (1977). Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (p. 444). Oxford: Clarendon Press.

§ It does not sound good to be against your own successful life, but that is what the verse is saying.

§ God is for us and not against us! It is silly to be against ourselves in an ungodly way.

4. 3 cords are better than 1

Ec 4.12 “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.

And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” NKJV

· There are those who love to use the first half of this verse at weddings. It is true that according to the original Greek word, marriage was included in fellowship’s definition. However, the verse goes on to build beyond two. So, I don’t really think that it is a wedding verse. Three people in a marriage is not God’s design.

· As the cords wrap around each other they agree on a direction. They connect and hold that common direction as important to the group. That gives the rope more strength.

o Amos 3.3 “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? NKJV

o This verse is in the context of sin separating us from fellowship with God and fellowship with other believers. We said last week that if we are holding on to sin as more important to us than our relationship with God, then we are not telling the truth and not walking in the light.

o Barb and I often go for a walk. Before we get to the end of our drive, we often have the conversation about going the direction that gets the biggest hill over first, or doing the hill at the end of our walk. Because we want to walk together, we choose to agree on what direction to take. In a practical sense that is what the verse is talking about, but at a deeper level.

The reason we have a doctrinal statement as a church is so that people who want to walk with us can know what direction we are headed. The reason we have a purpose statement as a church is so we can agree what we are on about. The reason we have a membership voting based constitution is so we are assured we have Christians that agree together and bind together to strengthen our church to be stronger together.

1 Corinthians 1:10 “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” ESV

· In 2021 we need to have as our goal to be in a healthy place. A place where we are interwoven together for strength, security, peace, and growth. A place where God’s people are sharing things that are held dear as a group.

Conclusion: Fellowship is necessary to accomplish the work God has set before us. God knew that it was not good for man to be alone. Throughout the Bible He has sought to prove that over and over again. Deep down we all know it. It is good to know it is a Biblical principle to share life together.

1. Much of today’s message has been directed to Christians because we have a deeper level of fellowship than non-Christians can ever understand. Have you accepted God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ? Are you a Christian in your mind, in God’s mind or both?

2. Do you see yourself as an independent operator or as a person who is stronger when connected to others in Christ?

3. What steps have you taken to show your desire to understand the necessity of fellowship?