Fellowship

Monday, May 12, 2014

To have fellowship with other of Gods saints is a blessing in this time near the end of the age since the church is scattered to the four winds and extremely few in number. Jesus said that where two or three are gathered together in his name that he is there also.

KJV Matthew 18:20
20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

It is interesting that Jesus said, “two or three” and not two or three hundred or thousand, indicating that Jesus knew the church would be scattered and few in number.

KJV Hebrews 10:24-25
24. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
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.

It has been my experience that God has never called and chosen a person alone and without a fellow believer to fellowship with. A man alone is prey for the Devil as he has no help if he falls.

KJV Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
9. Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
11. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
12. And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

If the Devil gets a hold on one the other can help him escape.

KJV James 5:19-20
19. Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20. Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

More than one is needed and the more the better as this provides safety from Satanic attack.

KJV Proverbs 11:14
14. Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety.

This was common practice in the first century church.

KJV Acts 2:42
42. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
KJV 1 John 1:3
3. 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.
KJV 1 John 1:7
7. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Through fellowship the saints share the spiritual revelations they receive with one another. As all of Gods saints are prophets and prophetesses they need to hear one another fully and closely, to learn from what is revealed.

KJV 1 Corinthians 14:29-32
29. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
30. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
31. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
32. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

The saints are to speak and believe the same things and there is to be no division over doctrine; this is why fellowship is so important as in a group of two or three false ideas leading to lies can be detected as the others judge what one says. At the word of two or more witnesses is a matter established but the word of one is worthless.

KJV 2 Corinthians 13:1
1. This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
KJV Matthew 18:15-20
15. Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
18. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
KJV Numbers 35:30
30. Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.
KJV 1 Timothy 5:19-20
19. Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
20. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

This agreement of witnesses is a spiritual checks and balance system that prevents error or deception from entering the fellowship. As all the saints have the Holy Spirit and should be skilled in the scripture and gifted with discernment in the truth but the words of a novice, a babe in Christ, must be closely examined and not ignored. It is not a contest to see who is the best at something as all spiritual knowledge is from God and if any of us knows anything this is why. The prophet who is found in the wrong or error must fall into agreement with the majority view and hold his or her peace.

Pride, envy or jealously have no place in these holy fellowships, and remember, Jesus is there with you.

In my personal experiences concerning these things within the small group I fellowship with, I have seen these things in action. There have been times when one of us was wrong and another or the others call him or her on it and bring the issue to debate by comparing what was said by the one with all the truth learned by all over the years and with this group of spiritual minds contemplating and discussing arrive at a decision that remains final unless more revelation comes from God on the subject. We are not to be carnal about this but spiritual. The desire of all is the truth, is it not.

KJV Philippians 3:14-16
14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
16. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

The carnal false churches of this world have experienced division over doctrine and leadership because when one of them seeks to have his or her way over that of the others splinter groups are born.

The true church of God is not a splinter group and no one in this church should ever splinter off when having the Holy Spirit and be in disagreement over a matter. God will handle these issues and not us so there is no need for one to splinter off to correct some supposed error. In patience wait for Gods instruction and be of a mind that can deal with problems without carnal responses for the sake of unity and love in the spirit of God.