House Church Talk - Fellowship -- Who Needs It?

[goodwordusa at att.net]

Fellowship Do We Really Need It?

That's a question that we each must answer in the presence of our Lord.  We 
can use others as an excuse to miss out on the blessings and the working of 
God, or we can yield to the Lord, allowing Him to teach us.   He teaches all 
who will listen and follow.

I came across an interesting colloection of passages having to do with 
fellowship while reading in my Online Bible (free Bible software) this 
morning.  I changed a few of the references, but mostly left it as it was.  
You may also find it interesting.

Scripture speaks of fellowship

1. With God, consisting in: 

a. the knowledge of His will
Job 22:21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall 
come unto thee.
John 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true 
God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
 
b. agreement with His designs 
Amos 3:3  Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
 
c. mutual affection
Romans 8:38,39  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, 
nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor 
height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from 
the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

d. enjoyment of His presence 
Psalm 16:11  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness 
of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
 
e. conformity to His image 
1 John 1:6  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, 
we lie, and do not the truth...
1 John 2:6  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, 
even as he walked.
 
f. participation of His joy
1 John 1:3, 4  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye 
also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the 
Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.  And these things write we unto you, 
that your joy may be full.

Ephesians 3:14-21  For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he 
would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened 
with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your 
hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to 
comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and 
height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye 
might be filled with all the fulness of God.  Now unto him that is able to do 
exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power 
that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus 
throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. 


2. Of the saints -- with each other
1 Corinthians 1:9  God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the 
fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 

a. in duties 
Philippians 1:4,5  Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request 
with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now...
Romans 12:5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members 
one of another.
1 Corinthians 12:12  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all 
the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
 
b. in observances of faith
Hebrews 10:25  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.
Acts 2:46  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and 
breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and 
singleness of heart... 

c. in grace, love, joy, etc.
Malachi 3:16  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and 
the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written 
before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
2 Corinthians 8:4  Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the 
gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 

d. mutual interest, spiritual and temporal
Romans 12:4 & 13  For as we have many members in one body, and all members 
have not the same office... Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to 
hospitality.
Hebrews 13:16  But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such 
sacrifices God is well pleased. 

e. in difficulties & sufferings
Romans 15:1,2  We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the 
weak, and not to please ourselves.  Let every one of us please his neighbour 
for his good to edification.
Galatians 6:1,2   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.  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so 
fulfil the law of Christ.
Romans 12:15  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that 
weep. 

f. in glory 
Revelation 7:9  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man 
could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood 
before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms 
in their hands...