Fellowship Mend

I’m thinking about fellowship and what it is. Personally, if I could repair any basic need today it would the fellowship of God’s kids. Many times hospitality is considered to be fellowship. Although, very compatible, I don’t think fellowship is hospitality. I’ve got to say in admiration of my husband though, not only does he instinctively know how to fellowship with people he also has a great deal of hospitality in him. Oh, I’ll clean the house and make sure it’s fit for company, take great pains for a meal or snacks and even say a prayer or two for the evening but he can be the welcome committee all on his own. When our guests arrive he immediately takes action to make them feel comfortable and at ease I’ve even seen him go so far as to rearrange our furniture just to make sure they are comfortable. May I mention the rearranging of the furniture used to drive me up a wall?? Yes, well, back to what fellowship is….

We seem to have a knack for it. I can say this because of the feedback given to us. We’ve been told by many, many people who have visited with us that they felt such peace in our home that they felt like a blanket was around them. Many have shared problems with us and then wondered at feeling comfortable enough to do so. Others state that they always have such a good time when they visit with us, etc. It’s the peace thing though that causes me to recognize what all this is about and that it must be from the Lord and please know we don’t take any credit for it.

Fellowship is not sitting on a pew nor does it replace the sitting on a pew (that is for all those pew sitters). Fellowship is not getting together in the ‘fellowship hall’ for a chili supper nor does it replace the chili supper (that is for all the lovers of chili supper, etc.). Fellowship is a function in the church as necessary as anything else in the church.

Fellowship is a safe place where one can open their heart for spiritual heart surgery and share the good, the bad and even the ugly. Fellowship is a time where sin can be confessed in a safe environment so forgiveness and deliverance can take place. It is a place where the power of God can be demonstrated on behalf of the believer. It is vital for it is a basic need in all of us.

“6 If we say, "We have fellowship with Him," and walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say, "We have no sin," we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say, "We have not sinned," we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” 1 John 1:6-10

Probably, fear is the biggest reason fellowship doesn’t happen, i.e. fear of rejection and fear of judgment from God and/or fellow Christians. 1 John 4 explains how perfect love casts out fear because fear has to do with judgment. John, explains the importance of knowing that God loves us and that He loves us perfectly and that we are to love one another even to reach a place of ‘perfection in love’.

“14 And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God--God remains in him and he in God. 16 And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. 17 In this, love is perfected with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; for we are as He is in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love because He first loved us. 20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And we have this command from Him: the one who loves God must also love his brother.” 1 John 4:14-21

As I understand it at this point, this ‘perfection in love’ means that as we fellowship with other believers we are involved with God’s process of forgiveness and/or deliverance for other believers as well as ourselves. Due to fellowship with the Lord and one another we become part of the defense….why? We’ve come to love (agape) one another in Christ through fellowship. We know better who we all are in Him regardless of the weaknesses of our nature. Therefore, our prayers are profoundly more powerful for one another. We are “family” so it’s personal. Peter is a great example. Peter was in fellowship with John and the other disciples having sat around the same campfire in the presence of Jesus. Peter denied Jesus three times and watched his Lord be crucified without any loving support from him. John on the other hand stood close enough to the cross that Jesus was able to tell John to take care of his mother, Mary. Here we have two men who sat around the same campfire with Jesus and two men with two different reactions to the terror and sin of that night. John not only did not deny Jesus he also did not deny Peter. Peter was able to repent. John wrote and explained the reason.

Putting it another way…..when Jesus taught in the temple that was congregational….when Jesus preached on the hillside that was congregational…..but when Jesus spoke around the campfire with his disciples, that my friends, was fellowship.

“1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1-2

“Above all, keep your love for one another at full strength, since love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8