06/11/2022

THE DIVINE CALL TO TRUE FELLOWSHIP

1 Corinthians 1:9; 2 Corinthians 8:4; 1 John 1:3

God calls us to fellowship with His Son. This call is a command from the Father. We are
also called to fellowship with the saints and the servants of God. Fellowship with the Son
transforms our lives when we come to Him in repentance and continue in relationship with
Him. This transformation brings us into the assembly of the saints and true fellowship with
believers of like-precious faith. Our fellowship with the servants of God, that is, the leaders
over us, is a trustworthy fellowship. Fellowship is a two-way thing. It involves getting and
giving, responding and receiving, blessing and benefitting. It is not being fed, helped, cared
and prayed for without giving anything back. The Son of God has given us everything we
have; to be in real fellowship with Him, we must give something back to Him. The same
thing applies to fellowship with the saints and the servants of God. As we get from them,
we must give back to them.
In our fellowship with the Son, we feed on His word; embrace His will; love His word;
learn His ways; obey His word; withdraw from the wolves (because He guides us as the
true Shepherd); seek His wisdom; help in His work; increase in (the time we give to) His
witness; and praise His worthiness. In the fellowship with the saints, we forgive and
forbear (irrespective of whatever happens between us); edify one another (by sharing the
word of God, testimonies and encouragement together); love and lift up one another;
observe one another; warn one another; serve one another (in love and by faith); help one
another; intercede for each other (especially for those with known problems); and please
one another (Romans 15:1,2). When we have fellowship with the saints, there is no fear,
envy, lying, lust, oppression, warfare, slander, hypocrisy, ill will or pride. To be in
fellowship with the servants of God, we will follow them (know their pattern of life,
understanding, faith, faithfulness, dedication to the word and will of God, testimonies and
expectations (Hebrews 13:7); esteem them (1 Thessalonians 5:12,13); love them; learn from
them (Philippians 4:9); obey them (Hebrews 13:17); walk like and with them (Philippians
3:17); stand with them in times of challenges (2 Timothy 4:16,17); honour them (1 Timothy
5:17); inform them properly (1 Corinthians 1:11); and pray for them (2 Thessalonians
3:1,2).

1. THE BEGINNING AND THE BUILDING UP OF TRUE FELLOWSHIP

1 Corinthians 1:9; John 17:17,21; Acts 11:15-17; John 13:34,35; Romans 12:10,16;
Galatians 5:13; Ephesians 4:2,3,31,32

The foundation of true fellowship is the experience of genuine salvation. The dead cannot
fellowship with the living as darkness cannot fellowship with the light. Demons and Satan
cannot fellowship with Christ; cults cannot fellowship with the Church; human depravity
cannot fellowship with heavenly divinity; the Canaanites cannot fellowship with the true
Israelites and sinners and backsliders cannot fellowship with saints and believers. God
Himself calls us “unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” by sending us
the word of repentance. The Word reaches us and we realise we are sinners. When we
repent and call on the name of the Lord, He saves us and brings us into union and
fellowship with Christ who prays for our sanctification “That they all may be one; as
thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us”. Sanctification
removes the adamic nature or depravity, makes our hearts tenderer and deepens our
fellowship more than it was at salvation level. Before they received the Holy Ghost, the
house of Cornelius was not in good fellowship with Peter. This shows that salvation gets us
in, sanctification takes us deeper and the Holy Ghost baptism aids us to have a richer and
tighter fellowship together.
Thereafter, to proceed to build up the fellowship, we move on to love one another
practically. We do to others what we want them to do to us. To achieve true fellowship, we
should be prompt to attend to the needs and challenges of the brethren in need. Even
when the timing of their request or need causes us some discomfort, for the sake of love,
we should attend to them. “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one
another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another”. We should be kind and not
cruel to members of our fellowship. Snubbing or looking down on them hinders our pursuit
for true fellowship. We should “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly
love; in honour preferring one another”. We must also learn to give each other chance so
the work of God will prosper in our hands. There should be no competition, criticism or
inner strife or warfare with each other. We should rather “Be of the same mind one
toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not
wise in your own conceits”.

2. THE BOUNDARY AND THE BLOCKAGES AGAINST TRUE FELLOWSHIP

Ephesians 5:11,12; 1 Corinthians 10:20,21; 5:11; 1 John 1:5-7; 2 Chronicles 19:2; Psalm
94:20,21

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove
them”. God sets boundary around the fellowship of His people and we must accept and
honour it. True disciples are real followers of Jesus Christ who must not have or maintain
fellowship with anyone, group or assembly involved in idolatry, syncretism, fornication,
adultery, hypocrisy, apostasy, false doctrine, cultism, wickedness or darkness in any way.
We must not contest this command, but accept the totality of the word of God to continue
in fellowship with the Lord. We are not to encourage false religion, idolatry, powers or
societies of darkness. “But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they
sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship
with devils”.
Those who claim to be believers but live the sinful, backslidden life must not be
encouraged by being in fellowship with them. Although we give food and basic help to the
ungodly, we must not fellowship with them as if they are brethren. Judgment came on
Jehoshaphat because he was in fellowship with Ahab. “And Jehu the son of Hanani the
seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the
ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from
before the LORD”. No matter the consequence or cost, we must not fellowship with those
who misuse their authority to make laws to destroy the people, way, gospel and the grace
of God, unless they repent and turn to the Lord. “Shall the throne of iniquity have
fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law? They gather themselves
together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood .” As we
heed this command to remain in fellowship with Him, He will keep us safe and secure.

3. THE BACKBONE AND THE BOND OF TRUE FELLOWSHIP

Leviticus 6:2-5; Matthew 5:23,24; Luke 17:3,4; James 5:16; 2 Corinthians 12:20,21; Mark
9:50; Romans 12:19-21; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 4:7-9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23,24

Fellowship in the family, flock of God, society or workplace has a backbone. The bony
structure at the back, which keeps one standing straight, is the backbone. Without the
backbone, the other parts of the body cannot make one stand like a real human being. The
same thing applies to true fellowship. When the backbone of true fellowship is in place,
then we have the source of support and strength to carry out the activities and our
obligations in the fellowship. Restitution is central in keeping our fellowship. Properties
stolen should be restored; lies and things done to disturb or destroy the fellowship should
be corrected. Those who have benefitted from the grace of God, especially new converts,
should not leave their restitution undone. “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar,
and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift
before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come
and offer thy gift”.
In our fellowship and relationship together as brethren, we might offend each other.
However, when offences come, we must not keep malice but tell the offenders their fault.
Furthermore, we must not misinterpret forgiveness in the fellowship. There must be
repentance to justify forgiveness. It is wrong to keep doing what is not right every time and
expect forgiveness, without repentance, because we are Christians. “Take heed to
yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive
him”. By all means, let us maintain peace in the house of God. “Finally, brethren,
farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of
love and peace shall be with you”.

Congregational Songs
GHS 61, 84 & 232