Devoted to Fellowship – Sharing Together in the Things of God
Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)The Fellowship of the Believers
42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.43Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.44All the believers were together and had everything in common.45They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
God calls people from all walks of life, different backgrounds in to His Church. Why does He get such different people, who would not ordinarily meet, to come together in fellowship. In Acts2:42we find out that one of the four things the early Christians devoted themselves to wasfellowship. Fellowship was a very important part of their coming together. It was a serious objective. Why?
1. Fellowship helps us to become as united as God intended (1 Cor 1:9-10)
2. Fellowship helps us overcome our weaknesses and develop our Christian values (Col 3:12-13)
3. Fellowship provides us with a community for support (Romans12:15)
And what is this fellowship?
The New Testament breaks it down into the following concepts. Thus
A. Relationship
B. Partnership
C. Companionship
D. Stewardship
These four describe fellowship as it pertains primarily to our relationship with one another. But the basis of our relationship to one another is our relationship with Jesus Christ. It is that vertical aspect of fellowship that forms the foundation and means of fellowship in the body of Christ. Working together then allows for God to work through us to fulfill His purpose, the Church’s mission. It is through our fellowship that the world sees our testimony as we strengthen each other in the Lord.
Indeed fellowship can only be enjoyed by Christians. It is not something the world can experience, possess or know. This is because the world does not know the love of Christ. Without this there can be no fellowship. Only with Christ is true love (John 13:34-35) and true unity (John17:21) possible. May the Lord give us people to fellowship with. Amen.