Believers’ Fellowship

Posted by on June 3, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

TOPIC: BELIEVERS’ FELLOWSHIP

TEXT: Psalm 133; Genesis 49:10; Acts 2:44-47, 1 Peter3:8, 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 John 1:3; Matthew 5:21-26; 1 Corinthians 6:1-12; Matthew 18:15-20.

MEMORY VERSE: “Not forsaking the assemblies of ourselves together as the manner (habit) of some is, but exhorting (communing with) one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching”. Hebrews 10:25.

INTRODUCTION: We have concluded in our last study series about act of the “True Worship” of God, we shall be considering in this new series “Believers Fellowship” another act of being in Church. When we come together we don’t only come to worship the triune God  – God our Father in the name of Jesus by the Holy Spirit –  but also to fellowship with each other in the faith of our God and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. When you are born again, you become a member of a family, God’s family. Hence you are to share intimately with other members of the same family, particularly in a locality.  This gathering together of the believers is referred to in the Bible as the Church, the Assembly of believers, and the fellowship of the brethren. The Church is a local and universal body of born again and spirit-filled believers in Christ Jesus having a Shepherd (Head/Leadership).

In Greek the word Fellowship is called KOINONIA meaning Communion, Fellowship, a sharing of something in common – Heb. 12:22 – 24, Psalm 122:1; Gen. 49:10b; 1 John 1:3. Every believer needs the fellowship of other believer.  It is here that we are built together as a holy habitation for God. A believer that does not fellowship with others misses a lot.  This is why you should understand what the Bible says about believer fellowship, what you should expect during a believers fellowship and other things.  Please open your heart to the Holy Spirit so that He may explain the Word of God to you – Psalm 122:1.

DISCUSSION (Study Analysis):

1a. What does the bible mean by Believers’ Fellowship or Assembly of Believers?

i) It means Communion (1 Corinthians 10:16-22) Meaning Common Union, that is, something in Common and in Union – The act of sharing something in common. If we are to have fellowship, we must have something in common, and must be shared in true unity and union. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17.

ii) Partners (Luke 5:8-10) Meaning we are partner together in the same mindset of kingdom business in spite of our diversity (not in opposition). We are in partnership, working together for the same God as co-worker, all pulling together rather than pulling against each other.

iii) Contribution (Rom. 15:26-27) Meaning the act of giving to each other – spiritually, materially and financially etc. The early Church kind of fellowship contributed to each others need without any wanting in the midst. They gave liberally to each other – (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-37; 2 Cor. 8:13-15)

iv) Partaker and Sharer Meaning to share with one another’s lives – is to rejoice with them, pray with them, mourn with them etc. Fellowship cannot be remote- it must be personal, caring, and loving. We partake with one another, we share with one another, we love one another in the deepest sense of the word (1Cor. 13:4-8a).

v) To Participate In and With Meaning to be part of them, to be one, even as the Father and the Son are one. (John 17:20-23).

NOTE: True Christian Fellowship, as outlined above, is a rare but beautiful thing. No wonder Apostle Paul counselled us to be “eager and willing to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).

1b. The need for fellowship.

a) Hebrews 10:24-25; b) Psalm 133:2-3; c) Malachi 3:16; d) Acts 2:44; e) Psalms 119:63; f) Matthew 18:18-20; 5:21-26; g) 1 Corinthians 1:9.

2. What do we expect at a believers Fellowship:

a)      Psalm 133:1-3: Divine love share; The Anointing of the Holy Spirit; and the Lord blessings.

b)      Deut. 23:12-14, Obadiah 1:17-18, 2 Cor. 6:16:  The Presence of God; The Power of God to save, deliver help and heal.

c)      Acts 2:42-47, 4:31-35:  The Holy Spirit and divers help.

d)     Eph. 5:19-20, Col. 3:16-17, Heb. 3:12-14, 1 John 1:5-7: Fellowship, exhortation, etc.

e)      1 Tim. 3:15; 1 Corinthians 14:26

3. With whom are we to Fellowship:

a)      The Father – 1 John 1:3, Jn. 14:23, 17:21-23, 2 Cor. 6:18, Isa. 57:15.

b)      The Son – 1 Cor. 1:9, 1 Jn. 1:3, and Matt. 18:20, Jn. 14:23, 15:2-8.

c)      The Holy Spirit – Rom. 8:9, 1 Cor. 3:16, 2 Cor. 13:14, Phil 2:1.

d)     The Brethren – Acts 1:14, 2:1, 42, 47, Matt. 13:55-56, Eph. 5:15, 1Jn. 3:3-7.

4. Who not to fellowship with:

a) The Ungodly – Psalm 1:1.

b) Workers of Iniquity – Psalm 6:8, 26:5.

c) False Teachers – I Tim. 6:3-5.

d) The disorderly 2 Thess. 3:6.

e) Infidel, Idolaters, and fornicators – 1 Cor. 5:9-11, 2 Cor. 6:14 – 7:1

f) Unbelievers 2 Cor. 6:14.

g) The Devil – Eph. 5:11,

h) Fallen Angles (demons) – Rev. 8:12, 1 Cor. 10:20, Rev. 19:20b, Deut. 32:17, Psalm 106:37,

i) Worship of Holy Angels – Rev. 19:10, Rev 22:8-9, Heb. 1:13-14

NOTE: The act of fellowship has nothing to do with relating with Heathens but with the system and life styles which contradicts the Christian faith. For there is a very great difference in terms between in the act of relationship and fellowship considering them in the context of the scriptures.

5. What are the blessings of consistent fellowship with God and other believers: A) Psalm 119:165, b) Matt. 18:18-20, c) 1 Jn. 1:7,  d) Rev. 3:20, e) Psalm 3:8,  f) 125:1-2,  g) Jn. 10:28, h) 2 Tim. 2:21,  i) Rev. 3:21.

CONCLUSION: A separation and Isolation Christian is a contradiction in terms, we need the love and fellowship of one another for a stable spiritual growth and efficiency. Every believer needs the fellowship of other believer.  It is here that we are built together as a holy habitation for God. A believer that does not fellowship with others misses a lot. This is why you should understand what the Bible says about believer fellowship, what you should expect during a believers fellowship and other things.

MEMORY VERSE: “Not forsaking the assemblies of ourselves together as the manner (habit) of some is, but exhorting (communing with) one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching”. Heb. 10:25.


Compiled by Revd Chukie MORSI

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True Worship

Posted by on May 3, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

TOPIC: TRUE WORSHIP

BIBLE TEXT: John 4:19-24; Revelation 4 & 5; Deuteronomy 18:9-14; Job 32:8; 33:4; 1 Thessalonian 5:23; Hebrews 4:12-13.

MEMORY VERSE: “God [is] a Spirit and those that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and truth”. John 4:24.

INTRODUCTION: The act – “WORSHIP” – is defined as the feeling or expression of reverence, devotion, veneration, exalting, glorifying, idolising, extolling, admiration, homage and adoration for God. In this study we want to consider the various ways people tend to worship as classified in the Scriptures – The Holy Bible. We will also consider what true worship is all about in the light of the Scriptures. These three ways are:

1. Vain Worship – Matthew 15;1-9

2. Ignorant Worship – Acts 17:22-31

3. True Worship – John 4:21-24

DISCUSSIONS:

1          VAIN WORSHIP:

a. Traditions of men (Idolatry (idol) worship: 1 Cor. 10:19-22; Deut. 18:9-14; 1 Cor. 12:1-3.

b. Unauthorised Doctrinal Acts of Worship: 2 John 7-11; Hebrews 6:1-6.

c. By adding or subtracting The Word of God: Rev. 22:18-19; Deut. 4:2; Prov. 30:5-6.

d. Worship of any but God – Luke 4:8. Remember Jesus ordeal with Satan temptation.

Compare what happened with the following men of God:

i. John v. Angel – Rev. 19:10; 22:6-9

ii. Paul and Barnabas – Acts 14:11-15

iii. Peter v. Cornelius – Acts 10:25-27. If these men of God and the Angel refused to be worship,     why should we not worship men, or any creature or any other god.

Note: Matt. 4:10; Exodus 20:3-5; 34:14; Acts c8:9-25; 19-:11-20.

e. Not believing in resurrection – 1 Cor. 15:12-19; Acts 28:8; Matt. 22:23-33.

f. Observing special days and seasons, abstaining from certain foods that have been authorised by God to be eaten – Colossians 2:16-23; Acts 10:9-15; Isaiah 1:10-17; 1 Tim. 4:1-5; 1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23-33.

2. IGNORANT WORSHIP:

a. Without understanding – Acts 17:22-31; Rom. 10:14; (Prov. 13:15; 21:16). Cornelius the Centuration feared and worship God in Ignorance until in answer to his prayers, God asked him to send for Peter for more education and understanding on what is in worshipping the true God. Acts 10:1-48.

b. Compare Paul’s statement in 1 Tim. 1:3-7. He acted and behaved the way he did out of ignorance until Jesus appeared to him and changed him. Note his words in verse 12. Note also Paul’s address to Athenians in Acts 17:2-32.

3. TRUE WORSHIP:

True worship must be in spirit and truth – John4:19-24. It must be in all good conscience – Acts 23:1; 24:16. Compare Luke 16:15 and Prov. 14:12, and judge yourself whether you have been worshipping God in spirit according to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and in truth void of guilty conscience – because our true God searches the heart and knows them that actually worship Him in spirit and in truth. Note: John 4:24; Jeremiah7:10; Rev. 2:23

4. ACTS OF WORSHIP:

a. Preaching and Teaching as worship:

i. Go and Teach – Mark 16:15; Luke 16:16; Matthew 28:19-20.

ii. Ceased not to teach and preach – Acts 5:42

iii. Preach everywhere – Acts 8:4

iv. Preach Jesus – Acts 8;35; 2 Cor. 4:5

v. Preach the Gospel – 1 Cor. 15;1-4; Rom. 15;19; Gal. 1:8-9; 1 Cor. 9:16-18.

vi. Teach things Commanded – 1 Tim. 4:11.

vii. Teach the Doctrine of Christ – 1 Tim. 6:3.

b. Praying as Worship:

i. Jesus taught his disciples to pray – Matt. 6;5-15; Luke 11;1-4; 1 Cor. 14;15; Col. 3:17.

ii. Pray always and everywhere – 1 Thess 5:12-19; 1 Tim. 2:8; Luke 18:1

iii. Pray for all in authority – 1 Tim. 2:1-5.

c. Singing/Praises as Worship:

i. How to sing – 1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:18-21

ii. What to sing – Hymns of Praises – Matt. 26;30; Mark 14:26;

iii. Teach and admonish by singing – Col. 3:16-17.

iv. Sing and praise with the instrument – Psalm 149; 150.

Note: Moses worshipped God by singing after crossing the Red Sea as could be seen in Exodus 15:1-18. Miriam the choir-mistress song could also be seen in Exodus 15:20-21. David act of could all be summed and found in the Psalms book of the Bible.

d. Giving as Worship:

i. Self First – 2 Cor. 8:1-5; Matt. 6:33.

ii. Christians of old contributed – 1 Cor. 16:1-2.

iii. How to contribute and be blessed – 2 Cor. 9:6-9

iv. Contributing proves your love and commitment – 2 Cor. 9:13-15. Compare Abraham – Gen. 22:1-12; Abel – Gen. 4:4; Hebrews 4:4.

v. Our Tithes and substances – Mal. 3:8-10; Prov. 2:9-10; Luke 8:1-3.

e. The Lord’s Supper as Worship:

i. It is an institution and faith ordinance – Matt. 26:26-29; Mark 14:22; Luke 22;7.

ii. Do not abuse it – 1 Cor. 11:17-22;

iii. Manner of Observing – 1 Cor. 11:23-24.

CONCLUSION:

A true child of God owes it as a duty to worship God and God alone and this must be in spirit and in truth. The Word of God should be the only basis for a Christian faith, since in it alone man found the commands and guidance as to the worship of God. Vain and ignorant worship deprives man of the entry to heaven and God’s presence. If heaven is your goal avoid vain and ignorant worship and make a bold decision now to worship God in spirit and in truth. See to it that you involve yourself in all the various acts of worship for your blessings.

MEMORY VERSE:

“God is a Spirit and those that worship him must worship him in spirit     and in truth” John 4:24.


Compiled by Revd Chukie MORSI

Filed under Scripture Pasture · Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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