Fellowship (2)
Casting a Vision • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Fellowship is something we have seem to have done great over the years. We have gathered for meals and celebrated each other. But, have we truly fellowshipped? Have we fully participated in the design of God or have we just made an attempt? As we think about casting our vision and glorifying God, let’s look at the example of the early church found in Acts 2.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
From this passage, we are going to see several things we need to think about as we look at fellowship.
Fellowship is Intentional (vs. 42)
Fellowship is Intentional (vs. 42)
First, notice that fellowship is intentional. Verse 42 says “they devoted themselves.ht” Of course “they” refers to the early believers. The word “devoted” indicates to me that they were intentional about something. Devoted means to continue steadfastly. If you are going to continue steadfastly about something, you are going be intentional in your actions and you will be “all in” to make that happen. These early believers were devoted to all they were being shown and taught by the apostles. We will talk more about this in our our next point, but they were devoted to the apostle’s teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. In fact, these four elements are essential to the New Testament church. Not only were they essential to the first century church, they are very essential to us as a church today.
These believers were devoted to all. What are you devoted to? There are lots of things that get our attention these days. I would dare say that for the most part family comes first for some. Then devotion is given to work and a whole list of other things. Often, those in the church get pushed down the list a bit until some crisis happens then we will move them up a notch or two until the crisis is over and we go back to the way it was before. Should it be that way? The example given to us here by the early believers is a bit different. The truest example of their devotion is described in Romans 12:10.
10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
How are you doing with that? Are you honoring your fellow believers above yourselves?
The early believers were also deliberate in their actions. They were taking in the teachings and applying them into their lives. Have you ever been like that in your walk or as a part of this church or even another church? As I studied this passage, I realized that the lives of these folks were radically changed because they had a life changing encounter with Jesus. They devoted themselves! Their minds were made up!
15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Do you think they had heard that passage from Joshua before?
They were intent with their actions. I have noticed over the years that when one makes up his or her mind to follow Jesus, they will become dynamic in their attitude. Typically, a person that is sold out to Jesus is one that different. Have you noticed this? Their attitude is different. They are joyful and honestly pleasant to be around! Jesus makes our attitudes different!
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
This verse reminds as our text does for today that with Christ, the former way of life is gone! When we are intentional with our fellowship, we will be dynamic in our attitudes.
Fellowship is Instructional (vs. 42)
Fellowship is Instructional (vs. 42)
Let’s go back to a point I briefly made a few minutes ago. They devoted themselves to the Apostle’s teaching. This means that fellowship is instructional. When you are being taught by a well qualified teacher, you should gain incredible insight. One of the insights these early believers was getting is an understanding of how the Old Testament is linked to the New Testament. We call this today Messianic Christology. It is the study of how the Christ of the New Testament is revealed as the Messiah of the Old Testament. Every book in the Old Testament in some way points to Christ. For example, I was reading this week in Genesis 3. There are several verses in that chapter that point to the suffering Messiah. One that stands out is Genesis 3:15
15 And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”
Christians read the Old Testament in light of the full revelation of Jesus, the Messiah. Jesus gives us deeper meaning and new light to the Old Testament. This passage previews for us the Gospel. The seed or offspring of the woman is Jesus.
4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,
The bruising of His heel is the crucifixion. The crushing of the serpent is what Jesus did for us to overcome the evil one on the cross.
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—
Jesus is the ultimate Victor and Christians can be encouraged by the victory of Jesus from the first of the Bible to the last!
20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
When we fellowship with other believers, we will have instruction that is made known by qualified teachers. Acts 2 tells us that the early early were devoted to the Apostle’s teaching. These Apostles walked with Jesus and had a relationship with Him. A qualified teacher today will also walk with Jesus and encourage others to do the same.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Our instructional fellowship will be based on God’s Word. Be very careful about fellowshipping with those that are teaching things contrary to God’s Word. Revelation 22:18
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.
Fellowship is intentional and instructional. I have also found that fellowship is inspirational.
Fellowship is Inspirational (vs. 43)
Fellowship is Inspirational (vs. 43)
Notice Acts 2:43 again:
43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
Everyone was filled with awe. Awe can mean terror, fear, and reverence all at the same time. If you look further into this, you will see that it is about worship. These folks had witnessed the power of the resurrected Lord. When we fellowship with other Christians, we share the wonders that our Lord does for us. On Wednesday nights, we gather for a prayer and praise meeting. We start our time together talking about how we can praise God. Inevitably we make a list of 10-15 things that we praise God for. These things just pop right out and it is a time of great joy as we list these things. When we share with praises with each other, we are filled with awe and inspiration. The Christian life is forged with amazement! Just like what these early Christians experienced, we will be amazed at the work of the Lord. We will have the same response the people had when they first encountered Jesus.
26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
Our fellowship will be inspirational as we realize we are favored by the Almighty.
16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.
Fellowship will help us realize God’s blessings and how He has bestowed on us the fullness of His grace.
Lastly, our fellowship is instrumental to new growth.
Fellowship is Instrumental (vs. 44-47)
Fellowship is Instrumental (vs. 44-47)
44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Fellowship provides for us the opportunity to grow in Christlikeness. When you spend time with another person that has Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, His Christlikeness should rub off on you.
17 As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another.
Fellowship sharpens you and me. It should never dull us! I am richer, wiser, smarter and more joyful when I am fellowshipping with other Christians!
Guess how else fellowship is instrumental. It is instrumental to generating church members. We are by no means an exclusive club that only certain people can join. We welcome anyone and everyone into our little church. Our text says that “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” There is something contagious about fellowshipping with other believers. An outsider might say, “I want to know more about your smile. Where does your joy come from?” We should be lights that shine. We should be bright and illuminating. We should be people that celebrate the Good, Good News! We should be people that can’t wait to share the love of Jesus!
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Do others know that you are a disciple of Christ? Sometimes in this whacky world it is hard to show it. When we fellowship with other believers, our capacity to love is increased and we are able to carry out this command of Christ.
Do you know what else that does? It grants for us and to us companionship. We can go through life leaning on each other in good times and bad.
9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
Ecclesiastes 4:9 reminds us in King Solomon’s wisdom that “two are better than one.” Let’s be like the early church and make our fellowship unique. Let’s first fellowship as individuals with Jesus by making Him our Lord and Savior. Then let’s share that commonality with each other and celebrate the opportunity before us! Let’s not be selfish but be so inviting, that we see the Lord add daily to our number. Are you ready? Our world sure does need us! Let’s love with the love of the Lord!